#answers.txt

[girlboss-enthusiast]

Please tell us how to get into IT without a degree! I have an interview for a small tech company this week and I’m going in as admin but as things expand I can bootstrap into a better role and I’d really appreciate knowing what skills are likely to be crucial for making that pivot.

Absolutely!! You'd be in a great position to switch to IT, since as an admin, you'd already have some familiarity with the systems and with the workplace in general. Moving between roles is easier in a smaller workplace, too.

So, this is a semi-brief guide to getting an entry-level position, for someone with zero IT experience. That position is almost always going to be help desk. You've probably heard a lot of shit about help desk, but I've always enjoyed it.

So, here we go! How to get into IT for beginners!

The most important thing on your resume will be

✨~🌟Certifications!!🌟~✨

Studying for certs can teach you a lot, especially if you're entirely new to the field. But they're also really important for getting interviews. Lots of jobs will require a cert or degree, and even if you have 5 years of experience doing exactly what the job description is, without one of those the ATS will shunt your resume into a black hole and neither HR or the IT manager will see it.

First, I recommend getting the CompTIA A+. This will teach you the basics of how the parts of a computer work together - hardware, software, how networking works, how operating systems work, troubleshooting skills, etc. If you don't have a specific area of IT you're interested in, this is REQUIRED. Even if you do, I suggest you get this cert just to get your foot in the door.

I recommend the CompTIA certs in general. They'll give you a good baseline and look good on your resume. I only got the A+ and the Network+, so can't speak for the other exams, but they weren't too tough.

If you're more into development or cybersecurity, check out these roadmaps. You'll still benefit from working help desk while pursuing one of those career paths.

The next most important thing is

🔥🔥Customer service & soft skills🔥🔥

Sorry about that.

I was hired for my first ever IT role on the strength of my interview. I definitely wasn't the only candidate with an A+, but I was the only one who knew how to handle customers (aka end-users). Which is, basically, be polite, make the end-user feel listened to, and don't make them feel stupid. It is ASTOUNDING how many IT people can't do that. I've worked with so many IT people who couldn't hide their scorn or impatience when dealing with non-tech-savvy coworkers.

Please note that you don't need to be a social butterfly or even that socially adept. I'm autistic and learned all my social skills by rote (I literally have flowcharts for social interactions), and I was still exceptional by IT standards.

Third thing, which is more for you than for your resume (although it helps):

🎇Do your own projects🎇

This is both the most and least important thing you can do for your IT career. Least important because this will have the smallest impact on your resume. Most important because this will help you learn (and figure out if IT is actually what you want to do).

The certs and interview might get you a job, but when it comes to doing your job well, hands-on experience is absolutely essential. Here are a few ideas for the complete beginner. Resources linked at the bottom.

Start using the command line. This is called Terminal on Mac and Linux. Use it for things as simple as navigating through file directories, opening apps, testing your connection, that kind of thing. The goal is to get used to using the command line, because you will use it professionally.

Build your own PC. This may sound really intimidating, but I swear it's easy! This is going to be cheaper than buying a prebuilt tower or gaming PC, and you'll learn a ton in the bargain.

Repair old PCs. If you don't want to or can't afford to build your own PC, look for cheap computers on Craiglist, secondhand stores, or elsewhere. I know a lot of universities will sell old technology for cheap. Try to buy a few and make a functioning computer out of parts, or just get one so you can feel comfortable working in the guts of a PC.

Learn Powershell or shell scripting. If you're comfortable with the command line already or just want to jump in the deep end, use scripts to automate tasks on your PC. I found this harder to do for myself than for work, because I mostly use my computer for web browsing. However, there are tons of projects out there for you to try!

Play around with a Raspberry Pi. These are mini-computers ranging from $15-$150+ and are great to experiment with. I've made a media server and a Pi hole (network-wide ad blocking) which were both fun and not too tough. If you're into torrenting, try making a seedbox!

Install Linux on your primary computer. I know, I know - I'm one of those people. But seriously, nothing will teach you more quickly than having to compile drivers through the command line so your Bluetooth headphones will work. Warning: this gets really annoying if you just want your computer to work. Dual-booting is advised.

If this sounds intimidating, that's totally normal. It is intimidating! You're going to have to do a ton of troubleshooting and things will almost never work properly on your first few projects. That is part of the fun!

Resources

Resources I've tried and liked are marked with an asterisk*

Professor Messor's Free A+ Training Course*

PC Building Simulator 2 (video game)

How to build a PC (video)

PC Part Picker (website)*

CompTIA A+ courses on Udemy

50 Basic Windows Commands with Examples*

Mac Terminal Commands Cheat Sheet

Powershell in a Month of Lunches (video series)

Getting Started with Linux (tutorial)* Note: this site is my favorite Linux resource, I highly recommend it.

Getting Started with Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi Projects for Beginners

/r/ITCareerQuestions*

Ask A Manager (advice blog on workplace etiquette and more)*

Reddit is helpful for tech questions in general. I have some other resources that involve sailing the seas; feel free to DM me or send an ask I can answer privately.

Tips

DO NOT work at an MSP. That stands for Managed Service Provider, and it's basically an IT department which companies contract to provide tech services. I recommend staying away from them. It's way better to work in an IT department where the end users are your coworkers, not your customers.

DO NOT trust remote entry-level IT jobs. At entry level, part of your job is schlepping around hardware and fixing PCs. A fully-remote position will almost definitely be a call center.

DO write a cover letter. YMMV on this, but every employer I've had has mentioned my cover letter as a reason to hire me.

DO ask your employer to pay for your certs. This applies only to people who either plan to move into IT in the same company, or are already in IT but want more certs.

DO NOT work anywhere without at least one woman in the department. My litmus test is two women, actually, but YMMV. If there is no woman in the department in 2024, and the department is more than 5 people, there is a reason why no women work there.

DO have patience with yourself and keep an open mind! Maybe this is just me, but if I can't do something right the first time, or if I don't love it right away, I get very discouraged. Remember that making mistakes is part of the process, and that IT is a huge field which ranges from UX design to hardware repair. There are tons of directions to go once you've got a little experience!

Disclaimer: this is based on my experience in my area of the US. Things may be different elsewhere, esp. outside of the US.

I hope this is helpful! Let me know if you have more questions!

[stinklebug]

Poking my nose in here like a stray cat that just caught a whiff of fish to go, hiiii, you have thoughts on the fandom's approach to Chai & Peppermint?? (Feel free to DM away if you're worried about discussing it openly 🤣)

i sure dooo! a whole lot. this wound up pretty long (much longer than i intended; i went on a bit of a rant), heh, so i've put it under the cut

i have a Very averse reaction to when people say, "peppermint wants to smash chai's head in with a rock/kill him with hammers/literally any other variation of that in which she wants to hurt or kill him," Especially in regards to people using that for their reasoning as to why they see them as siblings

and after much thought, i realized it's because that literally Isn't Their Fucking Dynamic lmao

the thing is, yes, chai Does annoy peppermint. but She annoys Him, too! she's cocky and smug and gets on his nerves! she's a little shit, too! they're Both shitty to Each Other! but i guess everybody just. Forgot.

plus! yes, they bicker and fight—but as the game goes on, they get on each other's nerves less and less. and yet, people act as though their dynamic stays the Exact same

see, if someone wants to make the claim that peppermint wants to hurt/kill chai, then they better be talking about her at the beginning of the game, because by the End? no! not at fucking all!

even around the beginning, honestly, it's still not really true because she Very Obviously comes to care for him Really Quickly! like, there's even signs of it as early as the end of track 2, when she's so Clearly outraged about the mind control and then later during that same bit when she sighs and her voice gets softer as she says, "just...check this out"

it really irks me when people have peppermint—or any of the others, because i've seen it happen with them, too—constantly be Pissed at chai and have them treat him pretty shitty when they're making content that's set post-game. because by Then, they have changed! not to mention that they're supposed to be FRIENDS! why would they be so awful to him?!

i have literally seen someone have korsica say, "Nice to hear someone with brains talking," upon another character entering the room after having a conversation with chai. and her just generally being weirdly snappish to him for...making a joke.

but. this isn't about those two. it's just sort of related. anyhow.

as for the siblings side of things, i feel like i have to make it Extremely Clear that i don't really care if people see them that way. i mean, i've written writing requests where people ask for that. so.

what i Do have a problem with, is that it's a constant thing in fandoms where people will see two characters who are of the opposite gender who bicker and immediately go, "they're sooo siblings!" so. suffice to say, i was not surprised to see it in this one. however, i am still certainly annoyed by it!

and i never really understood why that pissed me off Until i really gave it some thought, and i realized it's because, truly? it feels like a lot of these people don't actually understand that not every sibling dynamic ever is "i want to beat your head in with a rock" (because that's Always what the dynamic is boiled down to)

sure, that's sometimes the case. but as someone with two siblings, both of whom i have pretty different relationships with and Neither of which are anything like that, it's kind of frustrating to see this generalization. especially when it's fucking EVERYWHERE!

friends, or even romantic partners, can have that kind of fucking dynamic! it's not inherently a sibling thing! and for peppermint and chai, again, it ISN'T EVEN WHAT THEIR DYNAMIC IS!

sigh. sorry. this turned into a whole rant.

[jugemusequencer]

Do you think miquella low-key almost throws up anytime radahn does that comet/meteor move

probably if i had to guess yeah . that crazy ass boy gets crazy motion sickness . it’s like that scene in god of war ragnarok when thor randomly grabs atreus and they fly upwards n atreus goes “warn me next time ☹️☹️🤢🤢🤢”

[luxx-is-sleepy]

WAOW COOL BLOG THEME

Thnx!

[y-eontan]

Hello hello!! Number 43 for the Spotify wrapped game :)

congrats ! it's melting point by zerobaseone !

(send me a number 1-100 and i'll assign a song from my top 100 list!)

[psychangels]

whyd u delete so much shit. that so suspicious

What are you talking about?

If you mean all the stuff I reblog, I didn't delete anything. None of that is here because this is a different blog. I just swapped the user from my main over to this one.

My main blog is now @stinklebug

[smallmothwindchimes]

The way u pint is soooo cool fr fr

Thanks so much!

[turntechgodheaded]

hurt/comfort for the trope game !

ohoho. i am gonna grade hurt/comfort at an a, i fucking love that shit and will go out of my way for it. always.

here are the grades for fanfic tropes!

ty for this <3 mwah

[sunshinesurfacetension]

hey sunshine how much junk is in that trunk

have you ever thought about how easily i can attack you. answer this truthfully.

[aoleetwurm]

you should actually KILL YOURSELF!!!! nobody loves you, you're weird as fuck, the only reason you have anons is because people are delusional as fuck. you aren't dylan. pack it up bud. get the fuck off tumblr and get a life FAGGOT!!!!!! ur partner definitely is cheating on you and hates you (can't stand you) you're lame as fuck stop listening to smashing pumpkins you fake ass fan. stop listening to nine inch nails, you wouldn't even like them if you weren't tcc stop the cap. nobody loves you, hop off and KYS buddy!!!!!!!!

ngggghgg i’m so close baby keep talking like that.. yeah.. nngggh..

[navy-heart]

Sister kwko impressions summary: Maki - not really her type but said shes nice and looks like shes sweet & a little shy but determined and eager to work

Karin - likes the design, looks like shes serious and "the mom of the group" but mean. "focused on her skills" and hardworking and "really pays attention to how her playing turns out". also "like, at the core shes nice.. - or... No. no. she's a bitch"

Reishi - "DILUUUC". "hes probably freaky - he plays the flute, of course he's freaky", a little shit

Akari - "oh the shy one". she kinda uwu-ified her HSHDSH. "the child of the group". also not her type

Suzuka - "Suzume- no wait, Suzuke. Suzuka" (to be fair to her that was the only name she said of them). "*INCOMPREHENSIBLE NOISE OF EXCITEMENT*" her absolute favourite, thinks shes fucking awesome. to quote: "i mean, do i have to explain- RAUUHGHHRAAAEEURHYHFGAHAARRRDHHHRHFRG". tough, cold? a bit of a bitch. "I am her number 1 fan in the world. i need her". big fan of the design, especially the hair. "please emphasize that i love suzuka and that shes my favourite and that i am thankful that she was created"

Kairi - quiet kid. also a little bitch. has to handle everyone "because they wouldnt be able to organise themselves alone". looks cool. "sometimes he gets mad and explodes everyone. it's like that im 100% sure"

to summarize "i like the orange one and Suzuke of course" (kept calling her suzuke a few times lmao but she talks in mixed polish and english to me so i couldnt tell if this was a mistake or if she was declining the name like you would in polish lmao)

She also has a special request (demand) to please give to me to send to her ALL art of suzuka that exists out there. anything and eveyrthing. she wants her so bad. right now.

also she loves suzukes chibi from the like relationship chart meme thingies from the introduction post

... @the-weeperrrrrrr I need you to look at this because holy shit. You alone would be understanding just how accurate a lot of this is.

Tell your sister I'm happy she likes them but also a little bit shellshocked lmao awesome

[girlboss-enthusiast]

what's the deal with firefox

Boy howdy, am I glad you asked! I'll be comparing Firefox to Chrome and Edge.

Firefox uses fewer resources than Chrome or Edge, meaning that your browser and other apps will run faster and your battery will last longer on mobile/laptop.

Firefox is privacy-focused, meaning the browser doesn't gather data unless you opt into it, and by default it blocks third-party cookies, trackers, and other things that track you across the web. You can choose between standard, strict, and custom blocking, plus install privacy tools from the add-on store. This will protect your personal data and help websites load more quickly.

Speaking of ad blocking, Firefox supports ad-blocking extensions on Android devices, unlike the other Big 3 browsers. I don't even use the YouTube app on my phone anymore because if I watch via Firefox, I get no ads. I can actually read articles on news sites without being spammed by ads! It's amazing!

Firefox has equivalent add-ons for almost all Chrome extensions, so you won't lose functionality when you switch.

Firefox accounts allow you to sync across devices, just like Google accounts allow Chrome settings to sync, so moving from desktop to mobile or vice versa is very simple.

The Mozilla Foundation, Firefox's parent company, is a non-profit which advocates for online transparency and users' rights to keep the internet usable for everyone.

Firefox is free, open source, and non-proprietary, and allows you to opt out of all sponsored content, unlike Chrome or Edge.

Firefox does not tie you down to a particular product or corporation, such as Microsoft or Apple. It works on any platform.

Cutest mascot by far.

[stinklebug]

I imagine when Chai gets sick, he gets SICK. Chai can’t get out of bed because he’s hot and cold, body sweating, shaking, sore, and just feeling awful. The gang now has to take care of him: Korsica is researching on how to ease his sickness (maybe working on some emails to cancel some meetings Chai had as the ambassador), Peppermint berating him on taking care of himself while shoving a spoonful of warm soup in his mouth, Macaron desperately trying not to panic at his friend’s state (he probably made the soup), CNMN is…helping in his…usual way.

the universe (fanbase) just loves making this guy suffer

Chai wakes up groggy, sweaty, cold, and with his whole body aching. His nose is stuffed up and his throat is scratchy. The beat is crazy fast. He feels like he just ran a ten mile marathon, but he's still running even though it's over.

Coughing, his body jolts. He hates the fact that each one is in-time.

His first thought is goddammit. His second is I need a nap. Which is followed up by wait, I just woke up.

A beat passes.

Rolling over, he pulls the blanket up over his head and tries to go back to sleep.

Something fuzzy rubbing against his face wakes Chai up. He groans. Someone says something. He can't make out the words. But the voice is familiar. Probably Peppermint. The fuzzy thing disappears after a second.

"Chai? You awake...?" Peppermint asks.

He grumbles in response, too tired to form a coherent sentence.

"...I'll take that as a maybe."

A few beats pass.

Then, she says, "You're gonna have to, y'know, get up soon. Don't you have a meeting today?"

Does he? Chai really can't remember. His brain feels like it's full of bees. Or it's made of soup. Bee soup...

"Hello? Chai?" "Whuh?" "...Are you okay?" "Meh...m'fine...don' worry 'bout it," he mumbles.

About half a beat passes before Peppermint says, "So what you're saying is you're definitely not okay."

He frowns. "No...? S'not what I said...at all."

She sighs.

The fuzzy thing is suddenly back. This time it's rubbing against his arm—and meowing.

Oh. It's just 808.

He slowly opens his eyes and is greeted by the sight of Peppermint looking down at him, her arms crossed. Shifting, he looks down towards 808. Her glowing eyes and LEDs, paired with the light creeping in through the open door, make him squint and grimace. He shuts them again.

808 mewls, nuzzling into the crook of his elbow. With a fond huff, Chai wraps his arm around her and pulls her up toward him, nestling her against his chest. She starts purring a beat later.

Something touches his forehead. It quickly pulls away.

Peppermint mutters something. Then, she says, "You're definitely sick. You really need to take better care of yourself."

Chai has no idea what that's supposed to mean. He takes great care of himself. Eats, drinks, sleeps, showers, vibes...all the things you're supposed to do. Besides, she's one to talk! Need to take better care of myself...psh...

Him being sick doesn't have anything to do with how well he takes care of himself. He probably caught something during one of his concerts. Being around a huge crowd of people does that to you. Plus, there's been, like, a bunch of new human employees that he could've gotten sick from. Hmph. Need to take better care of myself...yeah, right.

"What're you muttering about?"

...Was he saying all that out loud?

...

Doesn't matter. He takes good care of himself, which is what does.

"...Hello? Earth to Chai?" "Nothin'. Don' worry 'bout it." "Bit late for that," she dryly replies.

With a sigh, she says something about 'calling for back-up' and breakfast. Chai hums in response.

He assumes the back-up is just a work-related thing.

As for breakfast...the thought of eating right now isn't super appealing. He'll get himself something later. Right now, he mostly just wants to go back to sleep.

So, rolling over, he cuddles 808 and tries to do just that.

The feeling of something cold and damp being placed on top of his forehead jolts Chai out of his slumber. He grunts, eyes fluttering open.

They widen when he's met with the sight of Macaron. There's a familiar anxious expression on his face. But he perks up a little when he notices Chai looking at him.

"Hey, little guy. How're you feeling?"

Everything aches. His mouth feels like it's full of sand, and his throat is itchier than a flea-covered dog. The entirety of his body feels disgusting. Sweaty and greasy and just overall horrible. He's cold and too hot. His stomach and head are starting to hurt. It's hard to breathe. The beat is so fast. Whatever song is playing is both too loud and too quiet. He's too tired to even guess the genre.

But he does feel slightly better than he did...however many hours ago. Just barely.

"Like dogshit," is what part of him wants to say. The truthful, exhausted, hurting part.

Instead, he croaks out, "Eh. Could be worse."

Macaron smiles weakly. Then, he turns away as he lets out a soft, "Oh!" When he turns back around, he's holding a mug and a glass of water. Steam is rising from the mug.

"Me and CNMN made you some soup," he explains as he gingerly sets them down on Chai's night stand. "It's just chicken noodle. Hope that's alright."

A memory of being sick in bed, eating Gram's homemade chicken noodle soup suddenly hits Chai, and he's left reeling for a few beats.

Shaking himself and sniffling, he slowly sits up. The wash cloth that was on his forehead falls off, onto his lap. It makes him realize that 808 is gone. Must've gotten sick of cuddling with his sorry ass. He frowns. Then, he huffs a laugh. Hah. Sick.

"Chicken noodle's great. Thanks, Mac," he replies, offering the best grin he can muster at the moment. It's ruined by a brief coughing fit.

"Of course! It's no problem."

Picking up the mug, Chai notices some bottles of medicine are also on the nightstand. There's a sticky note attached to one that reads, "Take two of each—WITH WATER!" It's signed by Pep. He smiles.

Turning his attention back to the cup, drinks some of the soup in it. Warmth quickly spreads through him. It doesn't quite taste like home—but it's close enough. Before he knows it, it's all gone.

His stomach stops hurting almost immediately. Now he wishes he had gotten up to eat earlier. Oh well.

Macaron's staring at him with wide eyes. "Good?"

"Amazing!" he replies. After a beat, he adds on, "I feel better already! Tell your co-chef I said thanks!"

He beams. "I'm glad. And you can tell them yourself—if you're feeling up to it. They're just out in the living area."

...It's probably about time he got up. Not only to see his friends, but also because he really needs to piss. Then, he can just take another nap on the couch and sleep the rest of this stupid...whatever he has away. Easy peasy.

"Gimme like...5 minutes." "Alright! See you in a few."

Showered, changed, bladder emptied, and medicine taken, Chai limps over to the couch where Peppermint, 808, Macaron, CNMN, and Korsica are all gathered.

When he'd first left his room and hurried into the bathroom, he hadn't even noticed Korsica. He's surprised to see her here. It's not the weekend, so she should definitely be at work. Actually...Macaron and CNMN should be, too. And probably Peppermint, but she works from home sometimes so her being here isn't that weird.

Wincing from his sore body, Chai plops down next to Peppermint. 808 immediately hops from her lap to his. He pats her on the head.

Then, he looks at Korsica and asks, "Shouldn't you be at work?" "...Hello to you, too, Chai," she says with a frown. "What? It's Tuesday! So it's a valid question!"

"It's actually Wednesday, Mr. Chai," CNMN pipes up. "And hello!" Oh. "Hey, CNMN. Thanks for the soup." "It's no problem, Mr. Chai! I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"As CNMN said, it's Wednesday," Korsica states after a beat, bringing his attention back to her, "but that's besides the point. I'm here because of you."

"...Why?" She blinks. "Because...you're my friend. And you're sick." "...So...?"

"...So I came to check up on you. Oh, and...I handled your meeting today for you. Same with some others you had this week. Just in case."

His eyes widen. "Oh. Thanks. You didn't have to do that." "I know. It's no trouble, really."

He looks toward the others after a beat.

"So, wait—you...all took the day off for me...?" "Sure did, little guy." "Yeah," Peppermint replies.

Chai's not really sure how to feel about that. There's a fuzzy feeling in his chest.

"...Thanks." "Of course!" "Sure."

Another beat passes.

His brow furrows. "Wait. How'd you guys even find out I'm sick?" "I told them," Peppermint states. "...So that's what the 'calling for back-up' thing was about!"

"Huh. I'm surprised you remember that—and that you even heard. I thought you had already passed out."

"Nah. I passed out right after." Peppermint huffs and smiles. "Of course."

[jugemusequencer]

Why is your guy thing bleeding from the weird bandana

he took his eyes out for fun

[luxx-is-sleepy]

I'm sorry that things are so rough for you right now going off of your recent posts.

I bet I'll be fine soon! (Idk)

[stinklebug]

honestly, even if i Did delete a bunch of stuff, i don't see what would be so suspicious about that? like. i've done that before on This blog because i wanted a fresh start, without having to go through the hassle of making a whole new account.

it's not like i have anything to hide or cover up lol.

maybe try not to automatically assume the worst of others.

whyd u delete so much shit. that so suspicious

What are you talking about?

If you mean all the stuff I reblog, I didn't delete anything. None of that is here because this is a different blog. I just swapped the user from my main over to this one.

My main blog is now @stinklebug