Elevate Your IT Career—Even in High School: Free SONiC Labs, GNS3 VMs & LinkedIn Tips

Introduction & My Own Journey

Hey there! I’m Łukasz, an open networking enthusiast who started my IT career by climbing rooftops to install the first internet lines (copper, wireless and finally even some fiber… 😉) in my neighborhood. Back then, I had no idea how far networking would take me—fast-forward to working with Edgecore Networks and now STORDIS & route2open. The best part? This is only the beginning, and I’d love for you to discover your own path in IT, whether you’re still in high school, switching careers, or already in the field.

Note: This blog post isn’t an exhaustive guide to building the perfect LinkedIn profile, crafting the ultimate CV, or listing every must-read tech or personal development book. There’s also a whole universe to discover about AI, which can automate tasks, speed up troubleshooting, and help you learn faster. We should all strive to stay on top of it and use it ethically — but I hope the insights here give you a solid starting point. Your curiosity and perseverance will take you the rest of the way!

Key Lesson: Being honest, humble, and passionate truly matters. Employers, mentors, and peers respect genuine sincerity and the willingness to learn—especially in a fast-evolving industry like tech.

LinkedIn: Your Digital Footprint in Tech

Although this blog won’t cover every advanced tip for LinkedIn, it’s still a powerful platform for building your personal brand:

1. Create Your Profile Early
   • Even at 16, you can showcase school projects, coding club work, or GNS3 labs.
   • Display authentic curiosity—people appreciate seeing your growth.
2. Professional Photo & Headline
   • No fancy studio needed—natural lighting and a clear background are enough.
   • Try a headline such as:

“High School Tech Enthusiast | Exploring SONiC & GNS3 in Open Networking etc.”

3. Engaging “About” Section
   • Mention how you got started—maybe fiddling with Raspberry Pis or setting up your family’s Wi-Fi.
   • If you’re still learning (who isn’t?), say so. Humility resonates more than hype.
4. Highlight Skills & Endorsements
   • Use relevant keywords like Networking, Linux, GNS3, SONiC, etc.
   • Ask classmates or mentors who’ve seen your projects to endorse you.
5. Join Tech Groups
   • For example, SONiC Technical Community Network.
   • Engage by asking questions, sharing insights, and offering help whenever possible.

CV Basics: Showing Off Your (Newfound) Skills

A traditional CV remains valuable for recruiters, mentors, or college admissions. This isn’t a full CV guide, but here’s how to get started:

1. Keep It Simple & Clear
   • Use free templates from Canva or Resume.io.
   • Bullet points help highlight relevant projects and skills.
2. Highlight Skills & Achievements
   • Mention your GNS3 or SONiC practice, and any real network issues you solved (e.g., school Wi-Fi).
   • Tangible examples show genuine problem-solving abilities.
3. Short Personal Statement
   • For instance:

“High school student passionate about open networking and Linux, exploring SONiC GNS3 labs to learn BGP and EVPN.”

4. Be Honest & Humble
   • If you’re new to networking, own it. People respect sincerity more than inflated claims.
5. Progress Over Perfection
   • Plenty of deeper CV tips exist, but the main thing is to begin.
   • Update as you learn and achieve more.

Why Self-Learning & Reading Matter

While your LinkedIn and CV let you present yourself, ongoing learning ensures you have real substance to show.

1. Continuous Learning Mindset
   • Tech evolves quickly, so keep absorbing articles, videos, or lab tutorials.
   • Even the fundamentals (like VLANs) can set you apart from peers.
2. Recommended Reads
   • Atomic Habits (James Clear): Great for consistent habit-building.
   • Getting Things Done (David Allen): Excellent for managing tasks and mental clutter.
   • Remember, these aren’t the only books—just a nudge to get you started.
3. Stay Curious & Humble
   • Not everything will click right away. That’s okay.
   • Willingness to adapt can outweigh raw talent.

Free Labs & VMs for Real-World Practice

Ready for hands-on experience? These free resources are a fantastic way to dip your toes into real networking tasks:

1. Enterprise SONiC Linux GNS3 VM
   • Link: Download the SONiC GNS3 VM
   • Overview: Practice VXLAN, EVPN, and BGP with zero extra hardware.
2. IP Infusion OcNOS® VM
   • Link: Test OcNOS VM
   • Key Features: Explore L2, L3, MPLS, and broaden your NOS skills.
3. route2open Free Hands-On Labs
   • Link: Hands-On Labs for SONiC
   • Why: Pre-configured labs on SONiC installation, BGP, VRRP, and more.
   • Great material to showcase on LinkedIn or in your CV.
4. Free SONiC Course for Students
   • Link: SONiC Course for Students
   • Perks:
     • Everything from Linux fundamentals to VXLAN/EVPN
     • Certificates for each module (awesome for your portfolio)
     • 100% free if you’re a student or in a research institution

Embrace AI—A Must-Learn for Today’s IT World

We all should strive to stay on top of AI and use it ethically for tasks like automating workflows, troubleshooting network issues, or even learning more efficiently. AI isn’t a magical cure-all, but it can save you countless hours and inspire deeper insights.

Sample AI Prompt

1. Use It Wisely
   • Offer context (network size, constraints, goals).
   • Validate AI suggestions in your lab environment.
   • Always remember: AI is a powerful helper, not a replacement for critical thinking.

Link: AI NETWORKING PROMPTS

Contribute to Open Source (#Dev2Open)

Feeling adventurous and want real-world, collaborative experience? Open-source projects under #Dev2Open at STORDIS can accelerate your learning:

1. ORCA
   • An open-source orchestration solution for SONiC, leveraging gNMI and Neo4j.
   • Features AI-enabled chatbot (ORCASK) that translates user queries into SONiC commands.
2. MONSOON
   • A monitoring and visualization solution for SONiC using Prometheus & Grafana.
   • Contribute by reporting bugs, refining documentation, or sharing new feature ideas.
3. Start Small
   • You don’t need to be a coding pro right away. Even doc improvements or helping with testing is valuable.
   • Observing how top contributors work can teach you best practices.

Extra Resources: Cheat Sheets & Communities

More ways to stay ahead:

1. Cheat Sheets
   • Link: SONiC, ONIE, and Linux Cheat Sheets
   • Perfect for quick lookups and interview prep.
2. Online Forums & Groups
   • LinkedIn groups, Discord servers, Reddit forums—dive in, ask questions, engage humbly.
   • Genuine interactions build long-term relationships and mentors.

Final Takeaway & Conclusion

1. Start Now
   • Don’t wait for a perfect plan—pick something that interests you and begin.
2. Stay Honest & Humble
   • Acknowledge where you are. Enthusiasm for learning is more impressive than bluffing expertise.
3. Experiment & Share
   • Post your progress on LinkedIn, talk to friends, and keep testing new ideas.
4. Keep Investigating AI
   • AI is here to stay, and using it ethically can supercharge your IT journey.
5. This Isn’t the Final Word
   • This blog isn’t the definitive resource on LinkedIn, CV building, or must-read books—there’s much more out there. So keep exploring!

Ready to explore?
Click Here to Download Your Free VM and Cheat Sheets Today. Experiment, break things, learn—and watch how far your honest, humble, passionate drive can take you!

Written by
Łukasz Łukowski
Open Networking Enthusiast, ONF Ambassador, and ex-Rooftop Internet Installer.

Connect with me on LinkedIn. Let’s keep innovating in open networking—together!