Moving on from the helpdesk
December 18, 2009 10:41 AM Subscribe
I graduated with a BA in Religious Studies, and am currently working in a tech support/helpdesk position. I would like to move into actual IT work. What's the best way to go about that?
Sorry, "actual IT?"
posted by rheumy_the_dwarf at 10:48 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by rheumy_the_dwarf at 10:48 AM on December 18, 2009
Response by poster: Fair. Into more of a sysadmin/ networking position.
posted by khaibit at 10:51 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by khaibit at 10:51 AM on December 18, 2009
Most of my IT friends got into their positions and got promoted by completing professional certification exams. Ask someone who has an IT career you admire and would like to emulate what sort of certification or training you should pursue, then start exploring that.
posted by Jacqueline at 10:53 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by Jacqueline at 10:53 AM on December 18, 2009
I would start by asking your boss for new challenges. He gets more work for the same worker pay, you get hands-on training. win/win.
FWIW most of my IT friends got into their positions and got promoted by completing professional certification exams (MSCE, CCNA) then hopping ship to other companies. I worked my way up (old-school) in the same company. Took longer but I knew the systems far better. Until I left... so there's that.
Into more of a sysadmin/ networking position.
That covers a huge huge territory, like saying you want to visit "Asia". Can you narrow it down? You fascinated with routers and telecom stuff? What flavor servers? Windows is huge, but Linux is fast catching up and so is Mac.
posted by anti social order at 11:08 AM on December 18, 2009
FWIW most of my IT friends got into their positions and got promoted by completing professional certification exams (MSCE, CCNA) then hopping ship to other companies. I worked my way up (old-school) in the same company. Took longer but I knew the systems far better. Until I left... so there's that.
Into more of a sysadmin/ networking position.
That covers a huge huge territory, like saying you want to visit "Asia". Can you narrow it down? You fascinated with routers and telecom stuff? What flavor servers? Windows is huge, but Linux is fast catching up and so is Mac.
posted by anti social order at 11:08 AM on December 18, 2009
I work in networking. Nearly everyone on my team either has at least a CCNA or a bunch of relevant higher-level experience. I would suggest moving up the ladder in your current company, if possible. Most companies try to hire and promote from within, so you're already in the door. Now just get the skills (designations and experience), and prove to someone that you have the skills to handle the job...then they'll take a chance on you.
posted by cp7 at 11:11 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by cp7 at 11:11 AM on December 18, 2009
Whatever you do, don't waste money on any of the commercial "technical institutes" that advertise on TV, like DeVry, U of Phoenix, etc. Their mission is literally to maximize profit, not educate you. If you do decide take classes, try to do so at a community college, or better yet a college that's part of the state system. Their mission is to educate.
posted by intermod at 7:47 PM on December 18, 2009
posted by intermod at 7:47 PM on December 18, 2009
I went to DeVry for my first degree, and intermod is partially right.
DeVry : It's far too expensive, but I had some of the best teachers there I've ever had - yes, I've since gone to private university and a state school.
Community college : Classes for any kind of networking/programming are usually a joke. It's a huge crapshoot - you may get some guy who has certs falling out of his pockets, he's got so many - but can't teach. Or you may get someone who has some experience in the field, and knows how to translate that into quality instruction. If you want a degree, take your gen ed requirements at the community college, then transfer like everyone else.
"I would start by asking your boss for new challenges."
Yes, do this. I get resumes all the time from guys who have CCNA/MCSE/CISSP, even the lowly CompTIAs, and you know what? Put them in an actual test environment and they can't do a damn thing, and they end up blustering and defensive.
If getting a cert gives you the initiative and ideas to suggest ways to your boss where you can be useful, great.
posted by HopperFan at 10:23 PM on December 18, 2009
DeVry : It's far too expensive, but I had some of the best teachers there I've ever had - yes, I've since gone to private university and a state school.
Community college : Classes for any kind of networking/programming are usually a joke. It's a huge crapshoot - you may get some guy who has certs falling out of his pockets, he's got so many - but can't teach. Or you may get someone who has some experience in the field, and knows how to translate that into quality instruction. If you want a degree, take your gen ed requirements at the community college, then transfer like everyone else.
"I would start by asking your boss for new challenges."
Yes, do this. I get resumes all the time from guys who have CCNA/MCSE/CISSP, even the lowly CompTIAs, and you know what? Put them in an actual test environment and they can't do a damn thing, and they end up blustering and defensive.
If getting a cert gives you the initiative and ideas to suggest ways to your boss where you can be useful, great.
posted by HopperFan at 10:23 PM on December 18, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rheumy_the_dwarf at 10:47 AM on December 18, 2009