Career guidance for people building a life in IT infrastructure. Covers the interview questions that actually come up, how to talk about your homelab on a CV without looking like a hobbyist, which certifications are worth paying for versus which are recruiter bait, and how to move from helpdesk to sysadmin to architect without getting stuck. Written from 18 plus years across public sector, consultancy, MSPs, and independent work. The industry changes but the core progression does not. If you want an honest map of what skills to build, what roles to target, and which technology bets to make, this is where we keep it.
Don’t underestimate the power of a helpdesk role. It’s one of the best ways to get real-world IT experience, build skills fast, and unlock career opportunities—whether you’re just getting started or switching careers.
Why Starting on a Helpdesk Is the Best First Step in Tech Read More »
Just getting started in tech? You don’t need a degree or years of experience to land your first job. Learn how to write a job-winning tech CV using real projects, homelab experience, and the skills you already have.
How to Create an Attention-Grabbing Tech CV Read More »
ReadTheManual is the homelab-to-enterprise translation layer for the Technical Climber. Lab to Leader, Ballet to Combat, real projects mapped to real career value. No gatekeeping, just the guides we wished existed when we were climbing.
Welcome to ReadTheManual: Day One of Something Big Read More »
