IT job hunt - help

[Chadillacz]

Hello everyone. New to the forum but have read plenty of posts. I am currently in school trying to obtain my AAS in computer technology. I don't currently have any certs but feel I can pass A+ and an studying for more such as Net+, Microsoft, Cisco, ect on the side. I'm currently 27 with two kids into this equation.

My current hold up is I have a job now doing Ebusiness and member experience role. It pays ok for now, but my heart lies in IT, not answering calls non stop for customers and handing emails and cases on the side. The current company help desk opens rarely. I do have some past IT experience, but a lot of this is self taught, used in a small business, or tinkering at home for family and friends. I've been raised around computers and pick it up or trial and error enough to figure it out.

I recently started looking around and have not had huge success. Most recently have an offer for an entry service desk but, at about a $2.00 pay cut from my current job. Tempting for the experience, but is this a bad idea? Should I be more focused on getting certified and going from there? I don't want to make the wrong choice as my first major move to IT, but I am really struggling here.

Any questions, guidance, tips, feedback, greatly needed from people who started in this path.

 

[Ketchup]

Just a couple thoughts here.

Are you married and is your wife working? I have heard from folks (even people here in the forums) who start out with short-term work. The pay is very good, so long as you get insured and don't mind keeping eyes open for the next job once your period expired.

Once you build experience in the line you want on the resume, you should be able to get into a good permanent position.

On the other side of the coin, if you can swing a pay cut for the type of work you want, it will probably be worth it in the long run.

 

[Spineshank]

As someone that has both A+ and Net+, I suggest to stay away. Depending on what you want to get into, go there. If its working on Windows stuff get Microsoft certs. If its networking, go Cisco. CompTia are good for getting Help Desk jobs..maybe Desktop support. Regardless of certs, getting your foot in the door is the main thing. You are not going to jump into a mid level role with no experience no matter how many certs you have.

 

[ultimatebob]

I'd try to get a part time job doing IT consulting or even computer repair work on the side before you quit your day job.

You might end up finding that the grass is greener on the other side.

 

[lxskllr]

I always wanted to get into IT, but reading posts around here terrified me. Sounds like an endless stream of bullshit, but I'm sure that's variable by company. Things worked out alright I guess. The only reply to a resume was a form letter from Xerox, which I was thrilled to get. Beat the crickets from everywhere else. I'm back into surveying, which has its own issues, but I'm a king again, and can do anything I want. Work just sucks I guess, and enjoying it is too much to ask for :^/

 

[jpiniero]

"Answering calls non stop for customers and handling emails and cases on the side" is what Help Desk does really. Is your current job basically customer service / call center?

I'm not surprised that the Help Desk job would involve a pay cut. The obvious job progression would be to have your employer pay for your BS/a decent cert like CCNA (don't bother with A+) and become a Application or Network admin, but to go from Help Desk to that would be rare these days considering Help Desk people are considered fungible.

 

[Spineshank]

When I got into it, I wanted to do server support and stuff like that. A few years working Help Desk and Desktop changed that. Luckily I got involved in doing voice..first Nortel and now Cisco VOIP. And I love it. Will never go back to doing computer work.

 

[Chadillacz]

Just a couple thoughts here.

Are you married and is your wife working? I have heard from folks (even people here in the forums) who start out with short-term work. The pay is very good, so long as you get insured and don't mind keeping eyes open for the next job once your period expired.

Once you build experience in the line you want on the resume, you should be able to get into a good permanent position.

On the other side of the coin, if you can swing a pay cut for the type of work you want, it will probably be worth it in the long run.

Thanks everyone for the replies so quickly.

I am not married but my significant other does work, though not full-time and not for as much as me (no offence! lol). That is my hold up now, is that I could potentially do contract or temp work, but that is very high risk on the family. This is the only reason I consider pay cut for the experience with service desk simply so I can add it to the resume, for a respectable company while getting the proper specialization certs. Still a tough decision as I currently have 0 certs.

 

[Chadillacz]

As someone that has both A+ and Net+, I suggest to stay away. Depending on what you want to get into, go there. If its working on Windows stuff get Microsoft certs. If its networking, go Cisco. CompTia are good for getting Help Desk jobs..maybe Desktop support. Regardless of certs, getting your foot in the door is the main thing. You are not going to jump into a mid level role with no experience no matter how many certs you have.

I agree completely and have no intention of going cert into mid level. This is the entire reason I considered a pay cut into the "experience" though it is entry level service desk experience. (Hardware, software, installs, virus work, troubleshooting ect). I keep hearing people say skip A+ or Net+ as it is so entry oriented, but I also have nothing at this point. Is it really viable to just go straight Microsoft or Cisco, as I heard this can hurt you as well? True I don't want to get and be stuck in help desk, I just read so much about "serving your time" before you do move on. I am not sure how else to get that foot in the door, but also don't want to lose money for a horrible opportunity that is not so needed.

 

[Chadillacz]

"Answering calls non stop for customers and handling emails and cases on the side" is what Help Desk does really. Is your current job basically customer service / call center?

I'm not surprised that the Help Desk job would involve a pay cut. The obvious job progression would be to have your employer pay for your BS/a decent cert like CCNA (don't bother with A+) and become a Application or Network admin, but to go from Help Desk to that would be rare these days considering Help Desk people are considered fungible.

In a way yes Jp, I answer inbound web support calls, deal with billing, troubleshooting, and questions for the Members. It is more customer service call center oriented, but more web support Member experience based (complaints, billing ect). Basically things a Supervisor of the call center can't handle and submits to us.

I would love for my employer to pay, but until I break into their help desk won't happen. So another post of don't bother A+. If I do go straight CCENT or CCNA or even Microsoft won't I be over qualified for some jobs with 0 experience? I mean a previous job on my resume does somewhat qualify for a help desk type role, just more for a very small 5-10 employee business and this was years ago.

Thank you for the input everyone! Really appreciate the debates.