As a North Carolina State University student, Arjun Mamidala is pursuing a computer science degree and hoping to get into the competitive field of cybersecurity when he graduates. But he knows that even a degree is not enough to get the job he wants.

"I wanted to get into the field of cybersecurity and didn't know where to start," Mamidala said. "I did some research and found that CompTIA certifications like A+ and ITF were a good starting point. That's when I saw Wake Tech offered them over the summer and even provided free vouchers for the exams."

He attended the networking course in person at Wake Tech's Beltline Education Center and completed the Python course online.

"Right after I got the certifications, I was hired for my first internship!" he said.

Mamidala is now on his second internship – this one with one of the world's leading tech companies, Cisco. He believes these opportunities came not only from his academic background, but from the initiative he showed in pursuing additional skills and certifications.

"These companies were really impressed that I had both certifications," he said. "I would say they're definitely a good complement to the degree I'm earning."

Mamidala says the certifications teach material not typically covered in a traditional university curriculum.

"They teach you a lot in a bachelor's program, but if you want to do specialized work like cybersecurity, you have to take the initiative to learn it on your own," he explained. "These certifications are extra, but they're necessary."

While Mamidala is using his certifications to complement his university education, he saw many of his classmates at Wake Tech using them as an entry point into the IT industry – even without a degree.

"These courses are a great starting point, whether you have a degree or not," he said. "With certifications like these, you can get an entry-level IT job, which is great for people looking to change careers and break into cybersecurity."

Now on track to graduate from N.C. State's computer science program, Mamidala remains focused on his ultimate goal: a career in cybersecurity or software engineering at a top tech firm like Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google or Microsoft.

Thanks to the resume-boosting certifications he's earned, he's well on his way to making that dream a reality.

"I would definitely recommend these courses," he said. "Whether you're a student or someone changing careers, they give you a competitive edge that really makes a difference."