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From AI Agents to CCNA Jobs: Your First 5 Years in IT, Simplified
Michael Bowden
September 20, 2025
In partnership with
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IN TODAYS EMAIL:
Latest News 🤖 Microsoft’s AI Agents: What They Are & Why You Should Care
Practical Advice: 🧭 6 CCNA-Friendly Jobs You Can Land (Even If You Don’t “Know It All”)
Latest Episode:Started from the Bottom: How to Plan Your First 5 Years in IT
INDUSTRY TRENDS & NEWS:
🤖 Microsoft’s AI Agents: What They Are & Why You Should Care
💻 The Ping
AI agents are starting to act like virtual teammates — learning, adapting, and doing more than just basic automation. Microsoft’s breakdown of these agent types shows where things are headed.
📑 The Log
Here’s what to know about Microsoft’s AI agents and how they’re already being used:
What is an AI agent? → Virtual assistants that observe, decide, & act. They can be reactive, model-based, goal-based, utility-based, or learning agents.
Where they shine → Teams use them for efficiency: repetitive tasks, decision-making, real-time responses. They reduce manual work so people can focus on strategic stuff.
Industry use cases → Healthcare, finance, retail, manufacturing, education & government are all using these agents to automate workflows, predict issues, and serve customers better.
How Microsoft helps build them → Tools like Copilot Studio, Azure AI, Power Platform make it easier to build, manage & scale agent solutions.
🗂️ Check the Log File
These AI agents aren’t just futuristic toys — they’re changing what it means to work in IT. If you’re in operations, network, cloud, or any tech role with repetition or data overload, agents like these will touch your job soon. Being ready = knowing what types there are, what they can do, and what tools exist to build them.
⌨️ The Command Line
Run this command: Identify one repetitive task in your daily work. Research whether it might be automated by an AI agent (reactive, goal-based, etc.). Try a small pilot using tools like Copilot Studio or Power Platform.
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ADVICE AND TIPS:
🧭 6 CCNA-Friendly Jobs You Can Land (Even If You Don’t “Know It All”)
💻 The Ping
If a posting doesn’t say “must hit the ground running,” I’m applying, buddy. Your CCNA opens more doors than you think—and not just “network engineer.”
📑 The Log
Six roles you can target with a CCNA (what they do, why they’re great):
Network Analyst — Designs, monitors, and troubleshoots networks; often in healthcare, gov, or mid-to-large orgs.
Why it’s great: Broad exposure + real incident handling.
You’ll touch: Device CLI, SolarWinds (or similar), uplink/interface monitoring.
Network Administrator — Installs/configures routers, switches, (sometimes) firewalls; keeps day-to-day running.
Why it’s great: Constant configs = fast skill growth.
Note: Titles vary—this may overlap with “analyst” depending on org size.
IT Specialist (Jack-of-all-Trades) — Systems + hardware + basic networking; escalates complex issues.
Why it’s great: Touch everything, discover your lane.
Perfect for: Smaller shops where you wear many hats.
NOC Support (24/7) — Real-time monitoring, triage, clean escalations for MSPs/ISPs or data centers.
Why it’s great: See many environments quickly; level up pattern recognition.
Core skills: Ticketing, alerts, crisp diagnostics.
Network Support Engineer — Handles escalations, maintenance windows, documentation, patching.
Why it’s great: Deep troubleshooting + ownership.
Pro tip: Good docs = fewer outages and faster wins.
Pre-Sales Engineer (Sleeper Pick) — Bridge sales and tech; demos, POCs, solution design with customers.
Why it’s great: Strong pay potential (base + commission) and sharp communication skills compound here.
🗂️ Check the Log File
Read the duties, not just the title. A “technician” at one company might rack-and-stack only; at another, you’ll be configuring core switches on day one. Small orgs often = more hands-on variety. Large orgs often = clearer ladders (and higher pay). Either way, you don’t need to know it all to start.
⌨️ The Command Line
Run this command: Pick two roles from the list, then:
Update your resume bullets to match their common tasks/tools.
Apply to 5 postings this week—even if you don’t meet 100% of the wishlist.
RESOURCE OF THE WEEK:
🛒 My Amazon Store
Books + gear to level up in tech:
RECENT EPISODE:
Started from the Bottom: How to Plan Your First 5 Years in IT
Your first five years in IT can make or break your career.
I know because I lived it — starting entry-level, making mistakes, finding mentors, and eventually moving into networking.
In my latest episode, I share my personal roadmap — the lessons I learned, the moves that worked, and the habits that still shape my career today.
🔑 What You’ll Learn:
✅ Why certifications + patience help you land your first role
✅ How mentors and encouragement can shape your career path
✅ Why adaptability and soft skills matter just as much as technical skills
✅ How stepping-stone jobs build momentum toward your dream role
✅ The habits that define long-term success in IT
✅ Why embracing responsibility is a career accelerator
👉 If you’re just starting out (or even a couple of years in), this will give you practical advice to plan your IT journey with confidence.