IT Business Consultant here, going on 5 years of enterprise level of IT, I have no college Degree.
Here is the path I took.
Customer Service / Retail > Retail Management > Entry Level IT > Field IT > IT Trainer > IT Business Consultant (started on degree few days ago)
People skills are something most IT folks do not have, working dead end jobs builds those.
Now you will need to bust your ass, make everyone in your dead end job think you love everything about it and eventually talk to all your higher ups about promotion,
Once in management you can refine you business savvy and Customer service mentality.
Take all of that into an interview for an entry level IT job (help desk, phone center support, internship ect...)
You will take a pay cut so get used to living poor.
From there, exemplify the values your organization desires in its employees, kiss TONS of ass, and take on double the work of the other people in the job (and get it done)
The above is the hardest part, every time a co worker asked for work, ask for 2 times as much, keep at it (took me 3 years). Get in on projects, job shadow others, acknowledge that you know jack compared to the real IT pros (trust me, its true).
Someone will notice, and when you have built a couple years at entry level talk to your boss about how you could move up.
Couple years later you're living the dream, nearing 6 figure income and loving every second of rubbing it in the face of anyone who said you were a failure.
PM me if you have questions
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Also, certifications are great.
IT Business Consultant here, going on 5 years of enterprise level of IT, I have no college Degree. Here is the path I took. Customer Service / Retail > Retail Management > Entry Level IT > Field IT > IT Trainer > IT Business Consultant (started on degree few days ago) People skills are something most IT folks do not have, working dead end jobs builds those. Now you will need to bust your ass, make everyone in your dead end job think you love everything about it and eventually talk to all your higher ups about promotion, Once in management you can refine you business savvy and Customer service mentality. Take all of that into an interview for an entry level IT job (help desk, phone center support, internship ect...) You will take a pay cut so get used to living poor. From there, exemplify the values your organization desires in its employees, kiss TONS of ass, and take on double the work of the other people in the job (and get it done) The above is the hardest part, every time a co worker asked for work, ask for 2 times as much, keep at it (took me 3 years). Get in on projects, job shadow others, acknowledge that you know jack compared to the real IT pros (trust me, its true). Someone will notice, and when you have built a couple years at entry level talk to your boss about how you could move up. Couple years later you're living the dream, nearing 6 figure income and loving every second of rubbing it in the face of anyone who said you were a failure. PM me if you have questions