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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
- Sprache: Englisch
A straightforward, hands-on starter kit for your exciting new career in IT
Zero to Engineer: The Unconventional Blueprint to Securing a 6-Figure IT Career is an intensely practical, no-nonsense guide to starting or rebooting your career in technology. Author and IT industry veteran Terry Kim gives you a first-person view of how to conquer the tech and cybersecurity realms, drawing on his own two decades' experience in the field.
You'll learn how to get job-ready in less than four months, regardless of your educational background, and enjoy complimentary NGT Academy bonuses, including unlimited access to the CompTIA Network+ Certification Course, a free one-on-one career strategy session with trained IT career specialists, and membership in the Zero to Engineer Community Group.
The book offers:
- Common and intuitive IT career pathways, showing you how to get from A-to-Z in the most direct way possible
- IT employment contract negotiation tips that make it easier to get your first six-figure job offer
- A comprehensive collection of worksheets you can use in your own journey from IT-beginner to subject-matter expert
Perfect for anyone interested in starting a brand-new and exciting career in technology, Zero to Engineer is also a must-read for career changers and professionals interested in pivoting to a new job in tech. Whether or not you have a college degree, it's the insider's guide to IT and cybersecurity that you've been waiting for.
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Seitenzahl: 243
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025
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Table of Contents
Cover
Table of Contents
What people say
Title Page
Copyright
Bonus
Do you have an audience that could benefit from this book?
Foreword
GI Bill Approval
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter One Dare to Dream: Believe No Matter What
Introduction
My Story
Chapter Summary, Exercises, and Conclusion
Chapter Two From Zero to Hero: The Mindset You Need to Succeed in IT
Introduction
Growth vs. Fixed Mindset
Living, Working, and Breathing a Growth Mindset
Clear Mind, Confident Life
Chapter Summary, Exercises, Action Plan, and Conclusion
Chapter Three Habits and Rituals
Introduction
You Must Have a Rising Ritual
Keep Up the Momentum
Chapter Summary, Exercises, and Conclusion
Chapter Four Five-Step Manifestation Success Framework
Introduction
The Framework: Dream, Believe, Create, Execute, Focus
Chapter Summary, Exercises, and Conclusion
Chapter Five College Is Not the Answer: Learn the Industry in 4 Months, Not 4 Years
Introduction
Chapter Summary, Exercises, and Conclusion
Chapter Six Understanding the Entire IT Ecosystem
Introduction
Functions of the IT Ecosystem
Chapter Summary, Exercises, and Conclusion
Chapter Seven IT Career Pathways
Introduction
List of IT Positions
Chapter Summary, Exercises, and Conclusion
Chapter Eight Five Steps to Go from Zero to Engineer
Introduction
Chapter Summary, Exercises, and Conclusion
Chapter Nine Four More Steps to Demand Six-Figure Job Offers from Fortune 500 Companies
Introduction
Chapter Summary, Exercises, and Conclusion
Chapter Ten Bridging the “Gap”
Understanding Gap Analysis
Chapter Summary, Exercises, and Conclusion
Chapter Eleven The Ultimate IT Professional Blueprint
Introduction
Conclusion
Chapter Twelve Student Success Stories
Introduction
Success Stories
Conclusion
Index
End User License Agreement
Guide
Cover
Table of Contents
What people say
Title Page
Copyright
Bonus
Do you have an audience that could benefit from this book?
Foreword
GI Bill Approval
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Begin Reading
Index
End User License Agreement
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What people say
“Terry’s journey is not only an inspiration, but is also a road map to a successful career in IT. Having trained thousands in our IT Engineer Academy and utilizing insights conveyed in this book, I can honestly say Zero to Engineer can serve as a beacon for all aspiring IT professionals.”
— Jacob Hess, Cofounder, NGT Academy
“As a national cybersecurity training academy, there is a certain level of urgency in keeping our country safe. NexGenT’s core values are grounded in making a positive difference in the lives of everyday Americans through innovative training systems and hands-on applications. Transitioning veterans looking for their next career are finding fulfilling opportunities after graduation at NexGenT’s Phoenix-based campus. As cyberthreats continue to multiply, NexGenT is dedicated to providing cutting-edge innovations and solutions focused on the unmet threats aimed at the United States every day.”
— Military Makeover
“NexGenT provides real-world IT engineer training that makes students job-ready (for IT Ops roles like network/systems engineer) in months instead of years, and without the typical student debt from traditional institutions.”
— Y Combinator
“San Jose start-up offers faster, cheaper training for the IT jobs of the future.”
— Silicon Valley Business Journal
Zero to Engineer
The Unconventional Blueprint to Securing a 6-Figure TECH Career
Terry Kim
Copyright © 2025 by Terry Kim. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial intelligence technologies or similar technologies.
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Published simultaneously in Canada.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 750-4470, or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permission.
Trademarks: Wiley and the Wiley logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Further, readers should be aware that websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read. Neither the publisher nor authors shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2024950282
Paperback ISBN: 9781394297849
ePDF ISBN: 9781394297863
ePUB ISBN: 9781394297856
Cover Image: Wiley
Cover Design: Wiley
Bonus
By purchasing this book you get access to these three amazing bonuses!
Bonus 1: CompTIA Network+ (FREE)
You’ll get unlimited access to the CompTIA Network+ Certification Course, which will help you stand out in the fast-paced IT industry. This course teaches you important skills like troubleshooting, configuring, and managing networks and devices.
Bonus 2: Career Strategy Session (FREE)
You’ll receive a one-on-one career strategy session with our highly skilled IT career specialists. We understand that navigating the job market and advancing your career can be tough, but with our expert guidance, you’ll have the tools to achieve your goals and secure the bright future you deserve.
Bonus 3: ZERO TO ENGINEER Community (FREE)
We’re excited to present you with an exclusive invitation to join our Zero to Engineer Community Group. This is your opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who are embarking on the same IT journey as you.
Bonus 4: ZERO TO ENGINEER WORKSHEETS
We’re excited to offer you access to helpful worksheets including a resume template.
Do you have an audience that could benefit from this book?
Bulk Discounts and Promotional links available. Submit an email to [email protected] with your request and we will be in touch.
Foreword
In a world where digital threats know no boundaries, the need for cybersecurity warriors to safeguard our nation has never been more critical. As someone who has dedicated 30 years of their life to defending our country’s cyberspace, I understand the immense importance of staying ahead in the cybersecurity realm. Terry Kim and Jacob Hess, co-founders of NGT Academy, share this commitment to securing our nation’s digital future.
Zero to Engineer is a game-changing book that not only outlines the path to landing your dream IT or cyber job without a college degree but also emphasizes the vital role these individuals play in maintaining our nation’s security. The NGT Academy program, which Terry and Jacob have meticulously crafted, offers military-grade training that equips students with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the cybersecurity landscape. Their dedication to excellence is unmatched, making their academy the best choice for aspiring IT professionals.
I am thrilled to support Terry Kim’s mission through this foreword. Together, we can empower a new generation of IT professionals, providing them with the tools they need to protect our country against evolving digital threats. As veterans and cybersecurity enthusiasts, we understand the importance of preparedness and resilience, and NGT Academy embodies these values at every step.
Anthony Thomas
Former Director of U.S. Air Force Cyberspace Operations
Founder & Principal
Tony Thomas & Associates LLC & Quadrant Four
GI Bill Approval
At NGT Academy, we are proud to offer our Full Stack Network Engineer & Cybersecurity Accelerator program in partnership with International American University (IAU), enabling veterans to utilize their GI Bill® benefits for enrollment. This approval enables us to provide accessible and high-quality training to those who have served our country, helping them unlock new opportunities in the tech industry. By equipping veterans with the skills needed to excel in the tech industry, we’re honored to play a part in shaping their futures and contributing to their continued success.
Apply here: https://ngt.academy/veterans/
About the Author
Terry Kim, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a first-generation Korean American, boasts a career spanning more than two decades in the field of IT. Beginning with a classified top secret clearance during his military service, he ascended through the ranks at prominent tech giants such as Cisco Systems and Arista Networks. His journey underscores that achieving mastery in engineering doesn’t necessarily demand years of conventional education. Instead, he embarked on a mission to revolutionize IT learning, emphasizing practical skill development with mentorship to swiftly prepare individuals for employment within a span of four months, as opposed to the traditional four-year route.
As the Founder of NGT Academy and an alumnus of YCombinator, Terry has garnered an impressive $18 million in venture capital from distinguished sources in Silicon Valley. NGT Academy’s overarching goal is to cultivate one million proficient IT professionals by the year 2030. Terry also interweaves spiritual insights into his pedagogy, motivating learners to not only shape the realm of technology but also to mold their own destinies. This approach is firmly grounded in the transformative principles of Kaizen, a Japanese term embodying “positive change” and “continuous improvement.”
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, to my remarkable mother, your journey and sacrifices have shaped me into the person I am today. From the shores of Jindo Island to the bustling streets of Seoul and eventually to the United States, your resilience and determination inspire me daily. Your belief in my potential, even when I doubted myself, has fueled my drive to succeed. Thank you for being my guiding light.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Jacob Hess for his years of dedicated service and tireless efforts that have been pivotal to NGT Academy’s growth and success. Your contributions have played a vital role in shaping our mission to empower aspiring engineers and redefine education. Thank you for being part of this journey and for the impact you've made along the way.
I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the incredible team at NGT Academy. Your passion, expertise, and commitment are the driving force behind our mission. Together, we’re empowering individuals to realize their dreams and forge new paths in the IT industry. Your dedication to our students’ success is immeasurable, and I am grateful for each of you.
Lastly, a special thank-you to our students and readers, who inspire me with your determination to learn and grow. Your journey is a testament to the transformative power of education and the boundless opportunities that await in the world of IT. Your success fuels our purpose, and I’m honored to be a part of your journey.
With immense gratitude,
Terry Kim
Founder/CEO of NGT Academy
Introduction
At 31 years old, I was employed as a systems engineer (architect) at Cisco Systems, a Fortune 100 tech company. It’s a job that exceeded my wildest dreams in terms of the income it provided. Sometimes, I had to pinch myself to make sure it wasn’t all just a dream. In fact, I have a picture of one of my first paychecks from Cisco, which was nearly $10,000 for just two weeks of work.
Landing that IT job, which had always been my dream, seemed almost effortless, thanks to the secrets and strategies that I will share with you later in this book.
What’s truly astonishing is that I achieved all this with just an eighth-grade education and as a first-generation Korean American immigrant. This goes to show that you don’t have to have an expensive college degree to break into the field of information technology. I obtained my high school diploma by passing the GED in order to join the U.S. Air Force. I joined in 1999, just before the dotcom bubble and right when the movie The Matrix was released. At the age of 21, seeing that movie ignited a passion within me for computers and all things technology. Prior to that, I didn’t even know how to operate a PC. But once I saw what was possible, I was hooked. I instantly realized that this was the future, and I was determined to be a part of the tech boom revolution. I knew I had to learn this technology or risk being left behind. So, I built my first PC, and that was the beginning of an incredible journey.
This mindset of going from nothing to something of value is key when starting any career or learning new skills. Instead of being afraid of failure, all it took was the willpower to say, “This is what I’m going to do, and I’m going to figure it out one step at a time.” That’s exactly what I did, and along the way, I discovered many secrets and industry insights that will save you tons of time, money, and energy, accelerating your path to landing your dream IT job.
After serving five years in the military, I faced a challenging transition to civilian life. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 destroyed my Internet cafe business, which wiped my savings out completely. I was broke, in massive debt, and had no health insurance. I was 26 years old with a family of four to support, and I had been searching for a job for months. I was pretty depressed and getting desperate. Time was running out, and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to feed my family the next day. Instead of fearing failure, I had to take action immediately. With my acquired IT skills from my time in the Air Force, I knew I had the potential to work for Cisco Systems. So, together with my wife, who was my rock during that difficult time, I created a plan to land my first civilian IT job. After much perseverance, I secured an entry-level IT position as a network technician at a local credit union, earning a modest salary of $28,000 per year. But that was just the beginning.
In the upcoming chapters, I will share with you the secrets, strategies, and frameworks that allowed me to increase my income from $28,000 to six figures within just two years. And learning from me, most students get huge pay bumps in much less time. Eventually, I even received job offers ranging from $200,000 to $350,000 from top tech companies within five years of starting my civilian career. With this book, I’ll give you all the insights I learned so you too can become a six-figure earner.
Today, the time to dive into the field of IT has never been better. With advancements in AI, voice, video, Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, Web3, the cloud, and the rise of cybersecurity threats, there is a tremendous need for the next generation of IT professionals. In fact, there are approximately 500,000 open IT/cybersecurity jobs in the United States alone as of September 2024 (www.cybersecuritydive.com/news/white-house-cybersecurity-500000-job/726162), with an average IT salary of $211,856, which is four times the average salary for all occupations! The rise of AI and automation will create even more opportunities in the technology field over the next decade. Clearly, the time is now for you to jump into the technology industry.
After leaving Cisco Systems and moving on to my next dream job at Arista Networks, I was shocked to see that many people were still struggling to break into the IT field despite spending tens of thousands of dollars on a four-year college degree. In 2015, I created a free course on Udemy titled “How to Become a Cisco Engineer Earning Six Figures.” The course received an overwhelming response with numerous thank-you emails and five-star reviews. I knew then that I wanted to make an even greater impact on a much larger scale. I realized that the current college education system is completely broken. The tipping point came when I discovered that private colleges like ITT Technical Institute was charging $80,000 for a bachelor’s degree, and I knew then it was a complete scam. In fact, ITT Tech was shut down in 2016. Six years later, the Project on Predatory Lending released a comprehensive report exposing the abuses by ITT, detailing how they defrauded millions of students, leaving them burdened with student loan debt and worthless credentials.
It was at this point that NexGenT, now known as NGT Academy, was born. Together with Jacob Hess, my co-founder and loyal friend, our mission is to revolutionize the way people enter the IT field, taking them from Zero to Engineer in less than four months instead of four years of college.
With this book, whether you choose to train with us at NGT Academy or pursue the journey on your own, you will find everything you need to break into the IT industry. The blueprint is laid out for you, and it has already helped thousands of people from diverse backgrounds successfully enter the IT industry in a matter of months rather than years. All I ask in return is a five-star testimonial on Amazon after reading the book and once you break in. It will let me know that we are making great progress toward our goal of helping one million people enter the IT ecosystem by 2030. You can find more information about our school and program offerings at the end of this book.
I am thrilled for you as you embark on this IT journey that I know will open up countless doors for you. Whether you choose to remain an engineer, become an IT manager, IT director, CIO, CSO, or even start your own tech company or IT consultancy business one day, the possibilities are limitless.
In gratitude,
Terry Kim
Your Mentor and Coach
Founder/CEO of NGT Academy
Chapter OneDare to Dream: Believe No Matter What
“When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”
— G. K. Chesterton
Introduction
According to Investopedia, and I agree, the American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society in which upward mobility is possible for everyone. It’s a well-known fact that the American Dream is alive and real, and I’m living proof. As a first-generation Korean American with only an eighth-grade education and no college degree, I became a systems engineer at a Fortune 100 company. This is a miracle because, for most of my life, I didn’t even know how to use a computer. Seriously, I didn’t have a clue.
Clearly, opportunity is everywhere, and when I got my first taste of technology, I knew it was the future. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the United States or somewhere else in the world, the information technology (IT) sector is booming. For some perspective: In 1999, there were about 1 million devices connected to the Internet.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is growing exponentially, and ASL Holdings found that there will be 75.44 billion IoT-connected devices worldwide by 2025 (https://aslh.co.uk). That means the number of IoT-connected devices has increased over 75,000 times since 1999!
Source:www.cyberseek.org/heatmap.html
That’s great, but guess what’s tagging along? Cybercrime. It’s climbing faster than ever. To throw some numbers at you, in 2021 the United States alone saw damages north of $1 trillion from malicious actors. Industry expert Steve Morgan, editor-in-chief at Cyber Magazine, states this could hit a staggering $10 trillion globally by 2025 (https://cybersecurityventures.com/hackerpocalypse-cybercrime-report-2016). What does this tell us?
We need cyber warriors, and the IT workforce has ever-growing opportunities for skilled workers.
But amidst so much potential and before diving straight into chasing your dreams, there are some things you need to prioritize. First and foremost is gratitude. That’s right. To harness the American Dream, and any opportunities for that matter, gratitude is key. Gratitude keeps you grounded and driven. It’s the anchor that helps you make the most of these opportunities. You also need the right mindset and to know how to set good habits, creating rituals that give you a rock-solid foundation to build your dream on.
After laying that foundation, I’ll give you my highly proven blueprint for manifestation. When you combine gratitude, mindset, habits, and the ability to manifest, everything in your personal and professional life will benefit. True success professionally is how much your personal life is benefited. We work to live, not live to work. That’s why your career should work for you and not the other way around. Nailing a positive mindset, building healthy habits, and being able to create your dream work and personal life is what you’ll get immediately. And that’s just the beginning!
Later in this book, I’ll give you nine industry secrets that show you how to dive into and grab IT opportunities with both hands. These chapters are filled with information that will change your life and show you what’s possible. But you’re first going to learn to appreciate the power of being thankful. Being grateful for where you are and what’s to come is the fuel you need for this ride. Buckle up, because with gratitude and determination, you’re going places!
My Story
In the fall of 1978, I was born to a single mother on Jindo Island, South Korea. My biological father went into the Korean Army since it’s mandatory to join and serve for two years. But when he left, she was stuck on an island with no electricity or real opportunity. When she saw little kids running around naked and playing in the dirt, she couldn’t imagine raising me there. So, she decided to go back to Seoul. While only she knows the whole story, she didn’t tell anyone she was leaving—she grabbed me, caught the ferry, and got out of there as soon as she could.
She went to work at her mother’s restaurant, raising me alongside her family. After working at the restaurant for two years, she met a man who came regularly to my grandmother’s restaurant. One day, someone was swinging me around in a circle. As fate would have it, my shoulder dislocated and my soon-to-be American dad, who was a medic in the U.S. Army, popped my arm back in its socket. Naturally, he became an instant hero to my grandmother and my mom. Next thing you know, within a year, he and my mom got married. Because of that, I was able to come to the states at just three years old.
We briefly lived in New Jersey, and I got naturalized as an American citizen. We stayed for just one year and then my dad was stationed back in South Korea. Just like that, I ended up back where I was from, but now as an American citizen! This allowed me to go through Department of Defense schools up to fifth grade on the Army post. Then, for the sixth through eighth grades, I entered a Christian school. I wasn’t the most well-behaved young man, and I got expelled after just one month of high school. While I don’t recommend the same for most people, I never finished high school. Naturally, it didn’t take long for me to get into some really bad crowds, going so far as to get initiated into a gang.
Then, when I was 16, I discovered music and became completely fascinated. I was quickly brought into the nightclub scene, and it didn’t take me long to meet my first mentor, a famous disc jockey (DJ) in Seoul. I would hang out with him and go to all his clubs and see him spin. He got me an audition at a club called Hackers (there’s some foreshadowing at its finest) when I was just 16 years old. That world became my life.
I got into the K-pop scene, rapped for a rock band, did a tour at 17 years old for six months, and then landed my own music deal! It was a wild few years. I was on TV shows and really started to make a name for myself. However, after we created a full album along with a female vocalist, our manager scammed us and sold our songs to a more famous K-pop band. I was devastated. But even after that, I so badly wanted to be a world-famous DJ; that was still my dream because up until then, I hadn’t found anything more promising.
My first huge identity shift in life was going from wanting to be a gangster to discovering music. Music got me out of those environments and into something I was passionate about. But after that didn’t work out, I was about to be 18 years old. Therefore, I had to get a job on the military base to get a visa and stay in the country. I worked all kinds of odd jobs at a hotel, from bagging groceries to bussing tables, being a door attendant, and maintenance clerk—you name it. Holding on to my first big dream, I was still doing music on the side.
