
Featured STL Networking Student for August 2018
Nicholas Landolt
Bio
My love for technology started at a young age when I would take apart and rebuild video game consoles in an attempt to make them run faster without overheating. On top of that whenever a family member got a new TV or VCR, I would be the one in charge of hooking them up and making sure they were configured correctly.
Previously, I worked at a local grocery store where I gained a strong sense of responsibility and developed my strong work ethic. The managers would often give me their specialty tasks and have me mentor and train new employees because they knew that I was patient and would teach them everything they needed to know in order to succeed in their position. I was also recognized for my customer services skills. Returning customers knew that they could trust me with any of their needs because of my good nature, honesty, and reliability.
I also worked at a contracting company where it was my job to adapt, work, and collaborate with a new team every week so that we can quickly and efficiently install and maintain all of the electrical equipment that ran up and down a cell phone tower. Working with all that equipment further sparked my interest in technology. However, I knew I needed specialized training to further pursue my interest in the field of IT.
My time with Centriq Training has made it absolutely concrete that a career in IT is a perfect fit. For the first time in my life when I wake up in the morning, I am excited and ready to get to work. Technology is always growing and changing. That’s what I need in a career. I need to be able to challenge myself, to learn, to grow, and to better myself so that in the future I can look back on all of my accomplishments and truly say that I gave my career everything I have and be proud that I did the best that I could with my life.
Q&A
Q: Why did you decide to come to Centriq?
A: Building and maintaining cell phone towers really sparked my interest in technology. I would always seem to have more questions than my mentors knew how to answer. It quickly became obvious to me that I would need to seek further education in order to obtain all the answers I sought. I eventually learned of Centriq from a radio commercial and signed up as soon as I was able. Attending Centriq Training’s 4-month Systems and Security Administrator program has made it abundantly clear that a career in IT is right for me. For the first time in my life, I am excited to learn and face the new challenges that are being presented in this program.
Q: What class has been your favorite so far?
A: I feel like I have a knack for problem-solving and troubleshooting. I enjoy working with CISCO [NM1] <#_msocom_1> and PowerShell because they provide a unique challenge and have a very marketable skill set. I hope to practice and expand my knowledge of them both so that in the future I will be able to complete long, detailed-oriented tasks in a quick and efficient manner.
Q: What do you hope to do after Centriq?
A: After Centriq, I wish to continue honing my newly acquired skills and knowledge through real-world experiences and continued education. In doing this, I would like to work my way up to a Systems Administrator or a Network Engineer role within an organization.
Q: What other hobbies and interests do you have?
A: When I am not working or studying, I enjoy listening to any and all types of music, as well as attending any music festivals or concerts that I can. I also enjoy getting together with my friends for adventures like zip lining, hiking, or any other new and exciting activities. If all else fails we settle for a night of pizza and Dungeons and Dragons, or any movie/pop culture trivia game where one can prove their superior knowledge. I also participate in a fundraiser that my father puts together every year for Shriners Children’s Hospital. We raise money and collect food donations for this incredible organization. I feel tremendous pride and a sense of accomplishment when I can help people in need.