Jonathan Mohler spent 15 years working with his hands. Tire technician. Automotive mechanic. Manufacturing lead. By the time he was 36, the work had taken its toll.
“After years of manual labor, I started waking up feeling like I was 50 years old in a 36-year-old body,” he said. “I decided I wanted to do something different.”
That decision led him to MyComputerCareer’s ITSA program. He had no technical background. He came out eight months later with a CompTIA A+, Microsoft AZ-900, and Microsoft AI-900, a 98 average, and a full-time remote tech support job.
Two Friends and a Conversation That Changed Things
The push toward IT came from two directions.
A friend told him about working remotely in IT and how he was moving toward a bachelor’s degree faster than Jonathan would have expected. That got his attention.
Then a second piece clicked. Back in 2010, another friend had gone through the MyComputerCareer program. Jonathan had lost touch with him over the years, but a chance conversation with that friend’s sister brought the story full circle.
“He’s super successful now,” Jonathan said. “I’d even forgotten about him. We lost touch, but I ran into his sister and she told me about his success.”
That was enough. He enrolled.
He was honest about where he was starting from.
“I pretty much have only ever used computers for surfing the internet,” he said. “Nothing really intricate.”
The Program: Fast, Focused, and Worth It
Jonathan completed the ITSA program between February and August 2025, finishing with a 98 average. He knocked out his A+ certification in seven weeks.
The harder stretch came after the structured class time ended.
“My biggest challenge was when we still had months to finish our certifications,” he said. “It was just difficult to stay focused long enough to go take the exams.”
In class twice a week, the structure kept him on track. Without it, life moved in fast.
“Life gets a hold of you and takes over,” he said.
He pushed through anyway. Quitting was not on the table.
“I wasn’t going to take no for an answer,” he said. “I was going to finish the program and I was going to be successful in it. There was no other way about it.”
The Instructors Who Made It Click
Jonathan credits two instructors by name.
Candice Kiser, his first instructor, set the tone early. “She was really personable. She made everyone feel like friends.”
Jim Atria brought a different energy. “He was a lot harder of an instructor, but he was definitely one of the best, too.”
The combination worked.
His Classmates Kept Him Accountable
One student created a Discord channel for the group. A few of them stayed connected through the certification push and still check in today.
“Me and a few of the other students still are in contact,” Jonathan said. “We finished six months ago or so and we still talk almost regularly.”
That community mattered more than he expected going in.
His Exam Strategy: First Instinct, No Overthinking
Jonathan’s philosophy for test day: move fast and trust yourself.
“When I go in there, I don’t spend any more time than I need to when I answer questions,” he said. “Second-guessing myself typically leads to the wrong answers.”
He finished the first half of his A+ exam in 22 minutes. The second half in 17.
“If I think about it too long, I’ll make stuff that doesn’t make sense, make sense,” he said.
When he didn’t pass on the first attempt, he went back, studied the gaps, and returned. No drama. Just adjustment.
Six Months of Rejection Emails
Jonathan was open on LinkedIn about what came after graduation: nearly six months of applications and rejection emails before an offer came through.
“Eventually somebody’s going to take a chance on me,” he said. “And I found somebody.”
He’s about 30 miles south of Dallas with limited transportation options. The job search had real obstacles. That didn’t change his mindset.
“Just made me want it even more,” he said. “There are options. I’m not giving up.”
Career Services Made the Call
His Career Services advisor, Kelsey Sanford, reached out when a position opened up. Jonathan moved fast.
“She had reached out to me and said that she had an opportunity and I just happened to be the first one to get my resume submitted,” he said. “Quickness…that’s what got me that position.”
He started part-time at Frontline Call Center as technical support staff. He’s now working full-time hours.
“It feels good. It feels like I haven’t wasted any time. Everything was definitely worth it.”
He’s direct about what Career Services means to him.
“Just the Career Services department makes the whole tuition worth it. You get that for the rest of your life. You can’t replace that.”
What He’d Tell Anyone Thinking About Making a Move
Jonathan went from changing tires to troubleshooting tech support calls. From building trusses to working remotely from Waxahachie, Texas. He’s not done learning either. Since landing the role, he’s been logging time on TryHackMe and chasing his next certification.
“They say it’s never too late and I’m proof it’s never too late,” he said. “Don’t give up. With dedication and motivation, it’ll come.”
Ready to make a similar move? Learn more about the ITSA program and see how MyComputerCareer’s IT training can impact and improve your future.