1 year as a Help Desk Tech...

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
11
81
I've been working at a help desk for a year now. I'd like to move into Network/Systems Administration but don't see any opportunities at the company I'm with right now, so I'm starting to look for jobs elsewhere. What's the next logical step from the Help Desk on my way to an Administration position?
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
I would imagine few places would be willing to hire you directly into that position without gradual transition. If you feel like you've hit the wall at your current place of employment I would suggest finding another place to be a help desk tech that has growth potential for network/sysadmin positions.

What sort of systems are you looking to administer? I'd suggest downloading some of the Cisco emulators and playing around with them and/or building servers at home on your own time. Most of what you will learn should come from self-study if you want to be truly proficient with it.

1 year is not a lot of experience unfortunately. What sort of education do you have? Feel free to message me if you have any questions.. I'm a network/SAN/UNIX engineer.
 

aircooled

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
15,965
1
0
I have to do both help desk and network admin (small company about 90 people). I'm not sure what the next step is these days, but posted here to remind myself to look at this thread later for some insight.
 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
11
81
I have an Associate's Degree from ITT Tech in Computer Network Systems. Don't have any certs yet, but am studying for the WinXP MCP.
 
Aug 23, 2000
15,509
1
81
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I have an Associate's Degree from ITT Tech in Computer Network Systems. Don't have any certs yet, but am studying for the WinXP MCP.

I wouldn't tell many people that. lol
 

aircooled

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
15,965
1
0
I'm a high school drop-out who picked up an MCSE & Net+ many years ago. Only make mid 60's doing everything from changing toner cartridges to running the exchange server and firewall, etc.... I'm just now being introduced to VMware which seems like a good direction. Visualization is hot right now.

 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
11
81
Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I have an Associate's Degree from ITT Tech in Computer Network Systems. Don't have any certs yet, but am studying for the WinXP MCP.

I wouldn't tell many people that. lol

There are two kinds of ITT Tech graduates... those who went there because the government paid for the majority of their tuition and did the bare minimum required to get a diploma. And those who went there for the hands on experience, made the best of the sub-par instructors, did more than was required and graduated with honors. Guess which one I am. ;)
 

zoiks

Lifer
Jan 13, 2000
11,787
3
81
Try to acquire more skills. If I were you, I'd look into *nix type OS's. There is a lot of demand for people who are good at unix sys administration.
My company is primarily a unix shop and there are a lot like ours.
 

KGB

Diamond Member
May 11, 2000
3,042
0
0
Originally posted by: aircooled
I'm a high school drop-out who picked up an MCSE & Net+ many years ago. Only make mid 60's doing everything from changing toner cartridges to running the exchange server and firewall, etc.... I'm just now being introduced to VMware which seems like a good direction. Visualization is hot right now.


Virtualization is also hot. ;)
 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
15,200
10
81
Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I have an Associate's Degree from ITT Tech in Computer Network Systems. Don't have any certs yet, but am studying for the WinXP MCP.

I wouldn't tell many people that. lol

:eek::laugh:
 

aircooled

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
15,965
1
0
Originally posted by: KGBMAN
Originally posted by: aircooled
I'm a high school drop-out who picked up an MCSE & Net+ many years ago. Only make mid 60's doing everything from changing toner cartridges to running the exchange server and firewall, etc.... I'm just now being introduced to VMware which seems like a good direction. Visualization is hot right now.


Virtualization is also hot. ;)

Fucking Firefox spell checker. :)

 

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
6
81
Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I have an Associate's Degree from ITT Tech in Computer Network Systems. Don't have any certs yet, but am studying for the WinXP MCP.

I wouldn't tell many people that. lol

Its that bad?
 

buck

Lifer
Dec 11, 2000
12,273
4
81
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I have an Associate's Degree from ITT Tech in Computer Network Systems. Don't have any certs yet, but am studying for the WinXP MCP.

I wouldn't tell many people that. lol

There are two kinds of ITT Tech graduates... those who went there because the government paid for the majority of their tuition and did the bare minimum required to get a diploma. And those who went there for the hands on experience, made the best of the sub-par instructors, did more than was required and graduated with honors. Guess which one I am. ;)

:thumbsup:
 

hiromizu

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2007
3,405
1
0
The next logical step in your transition from Help Desk to Network/Systems Administration will be "Network/Systems Administration." Let me know if you need any further help.
 

RedArmy

Platinum Member
Mar 1, 2005
2,648
0
0
Originally posted by: hiromizu
The next logical step in your transition from Help Desk to Network/Systems Administration will be "Network/Systems Administration." Let me know if you need any further help.

Can you recommend us any songs with some sweet guitar riffs while you're at it?
 
Jun 2, 2008
163
0
0
Originally posted by: hiromizu
The next logical step in your transition from Help Desk to Network/Systems Administration will be "Network/Systems Administration." Let me know if you need any further help.

Did you contact Apple support??
 

her209

No Lifer
Oct 11, 2000
56,336
11
0
Originally posted by: RedArmy
Originally posted by: hiromizu
The next logical step in your transition from Help Desk to Network/Systems Administration will be "Network/Systems Administration." Let me know if you need any further help.
Can you recommend us any songs with some sweet guitar riffs while you're at it?
Anything from Dire Straits.
 

RedArmy

Platinum Member
Mar 1, 2005
2,648
0
0
Originally posted by: her209
Originally posted by: RedArmy
Originally posted by: hiromizu
The next logical step in your transition from Help Desk to Network/Systems Administration will be "Network/Systems Administration." Let me know if you need any further help.
Can you recommend us any songs with some sweet guitar riffs while you're at it?
Anything from Dire Straits.

You ruined it.
 

hiromizu

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2007
3,405
1
0
Originally posted by: TheEarthWillShake
Originally posted by: hiromizu
The next logical step in your transition from Help Desk to Network/Systems Administration will be "Network/Systems Administration." Let me know if you need any further help.

Did you contact Apple support??

I am never trying to be mean when I say that.
 

Mr Pickles

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2006
4,103
1
0
I think you should keep your current job and focus on getting certs and training that will apply to both the job you have and the job you will have in the future. Start looking at getting your MCSE. Its a good one to have in the position you are in as well as something that will come in handy when you move up.

You know, there is a spot between helpdesk and network; desktop. If your business doesn't have one, see about finding a job that will give you a chance to get off the phones and working with computers on a more macro of a level. When I say macro I mean try and find a position that will let you support many machines through project work instead of case by case or ticket by ticket work.

You'll probably find that its pretty hard to "puddle jump" from Helpdesk Support to Network Administrator; especially with only one year of experience and no previous degree or majorly accepted certifcations. If you are stable and happy with your income right now then I'd suggest sticking it out for one more at the least. But definitely use that year to get some education in you!

Don't forget that what you are doing now isn't a job, its considered a career. Make the most of it, a month shouldn't go by without you thinking about more forms of training and continuing education.
 

TruePaige

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2006
9,874
2
0
Originally posted by: Mr Pickles
I think you should keep your current job and focus on getting certs and training that will apply to both the job you have and the job you will have in the future. Start looking at getting your MCSE. Its a good one to have in the position you are in as well as something that will come in handy when you move up.

You know, there is a spot between helpdesk and network; desktop. If your business doesn't have one, see about finding a job that will give you a chance to get off the phones and working with computers on a more macro of a level. When I say macro I mean try and find a position that will let you support many machines through project work instead of case by case or ticket by ticket work.

You'll probably find that its pretty hard to "puddle jump" from Helpdesk Support to Network Administrator; especially with only one year of experience and no previous degree or majorly accepted certifcations. If you are stable and happy with your income right now then I'd suggest sticking it out for one more at the least. But definitely use that year to get some education in you!

Aye..I work in that middle ground..but also with network elements. Migrating a state-wide network to an Active Directory is fun stuff...;)
 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
11
81
Originally posted by: Mr Pickles
I think you should keep your current job and focus on getting certs and training that will apply to both the job you have and the job you will have in the future. Start looking at getting your MCSE. Its a good one to have in the position you are in as well as something that will come in handy when you move up.

You know, there is a spot between helpdesk and network; desktop. If your business doesn't have one, see about finding a job that will give you a chance to get off the phones and working with computers on a more macro of a level. When I say macro I mean try and find a position that will let you support many machines through project work instead of case by case or ticket by ticket work.

You'll probably find that its pretty hard to "puddle jump" from Helpdesk Support to Network Administrator; especially with only one year of experience and no previous degree or majorly accepted certifcations. If you are stable and happy with your income right now then I'd suggest sticking it out for one more at the least. But definitely use that year to get some education in you!

Don't forget that what you are doing now isn't a job, its considered a career. Make the most of it, a month shouldn't go by without you thinking about more forms of training and continuing education.

That's kinda what I'm looking for. Just wondered if there's anything else that would be a stepping stone to an Admin job. I did find a listing locally for a Junior Network Admin, but as soon as I applied they pulled the posting. Think they forgot the posting was up and already filled the position. :)
 

classy

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
15,219
1
81
From help desk you should move to like 2nd level tech. To go from help desk to network or server adminstration is a big jump. Unless its a really small network.