Six checklists you can print and use today
They sit on their own pages at the front of the guide, so you can print just those and start before you read anything else.
- Job searchTailoring, tracking and following up
- ResumeA final check before you hit send
- Interview weekWhat to prepare in the days before
- Interview dayFrom arrival to your questions at the end
- After the interviewThe thank-you, the notes, the follow-up
- The troubleshooting loopOne page for every "what would you do?" question
What I looked for when I was the one hiring
Over 100 interviews, roughly 500 to 1,000 resumes screened, and a team to staff. These numbers are estimates. The pattern was clear.
- People who ask questionsThey work toward the root of the problem instead of handing the user to the next technician.
- People who careEmpathy shows in how someone talks to an upset user, and it is hard to fake.
- People who admit what they don't knowNerves are fine. Five minutes of filler words in place of "I don't know" is not.
A real answer from the guide
Situation: A user was locked out of their account every morning for three weeks. Six or seven technicians had told them it was fixed.
Action: I let them explain, then went through every device on their history. They had changed phones and never wiped the old one. It kept retrying a stale password.
Result: They wiped the old phone, the lockouts stopped, and I checked in for two weeks to make sure.
The guide shows you how to build answers like this from your own experience.What's inside
| Checklists | The six above, plus a Windows command cheat sheet, an escalation notes template and a thank-you email template. |
|---|---|
| The resume | Format, summary and skills, bullet examples (weak next to strong), ideas if you have no IT experience, and what to leave off. |
| The interview | The 7 questions you will almost certainly get, with real stories: a frustrated customer, prioritising urgent tickets, a mistake and what it taught. Six scenarios and questions to ask them. |
| The 30-day plan | One hands-on task per day for four weeks, using free tools and reputable sources. Study practice exams in reverse so you only learn what you missed. |
| Reference | Extra practice questions, sample resume bullets for service desk, deskside and customer-facing jobs, and sample summaries. |
Is it for you?
Good fit if you are
- Aiming for a service desk, help desk or deskside role
- Changing careers, or coming from customer-service work
- Being ignored after applying and not sure why
- Short on time and wanting the essentials
Not what this is
- A certification course or exam prep
- A promise of an interview, a job or a salary. Results depend on the market, your location, your background and your effort.
- A resume template. Copied templates all look the same, so the guide shows you how to write your own.
IT Career Prep Guide
- Printable checklists on their own pages
- Resume and interview advice from the hiring side
- 30-day study plan with a task for each day
- Reference section of extra practice
Questions
Does it guarantee I'll get a job?
No. It can't promise an interview, a job or a salary. It helps you avoid losing a job you could have won because you were unprepared.
I have no IT experience. Is it still for me?
Yes. There is a section on showing you've already started (home lab, informal IT help, customer-facing jobs) and a 30-day plan that builds the basics from scratch.
Is it a certification course?
No. It follows the same fundamentals entry-level exams like CompTIA A+ cover, but it is not exam prep.
How long is it, and what format?
One PDF of about 19 pages: roughly 15 pages of core guide plus a 4-page reference section. The checklists are on their own pages so you can print just those.
Do I need to buy software or courses?
No. The study plan uses free tools and a free virtual machine.
Who wrote it?
Someone with over five years on a service desk, over three years deskside, and over 11 years as a hiring manager for both teams. The interview answers come from real situations.
Can I get a refund?
No. It is an instant digital download, so all sales are final. If you have a problem with the file or your download, contact me and I'll fix it.