Explore alternative routes
Compare five realistic routes into tech.
For browsing and comparison. Each route is an ordered sequence of roles and certifications. Written from how people actually progress, not how vendors market it. For a personalised recommendation, take the guided route.
Start
Build
Specialise
Open dot, certification
Filled dot, role / starting point
Beacon. Interchange (stop appears on multiple routes)
Order. Left → right is the realistic sequence, not a mandate
Prerequisite
Commonly paired
Optional synergy
Specialisation
Operational dep.
Foundational
Adjacent pivot
Leadership path
Infra dependency
These are patterns, not scripts
Most engineers skip steps or revisit domains years later. Use the route to set direction, not to gatekeep yourself.
Certifications open doors, roles build careers
Each certification is calibrated for what it actually unlocks in hiring. The roles between them are where progression really happens.
Where routes cross matters
Interchanges show shared skills. Security+ on multiple routes means it's broadly useful, not that you have to take it.