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So, do most people have to pay their dues at the help desk before moving to better things?

J

jread

Senior member
As a few of yu know, I've been struggling with changing up my degree program as described in this thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=38&threadid=1797821

Well, I talked to a few of the network admins. around here today and they convinced me that changing my bachelor's to computer systems management was the best option. I'd get a lot of hands-on training for actually doing the job as opposed to the master's which is more management-oriented.

Anyway, given my lack of experience, the degree would really only qualify me for help desk type jobs in the beginning. I would then be able to move on once I paid my dues there. Now, I'm not to fond of working the help desk and dealing with idiots all the time, but I realize that most IT professionals have to go through this part. The good thing is that even our help desk jobs pay much better than the work I'm in now (Geographic Information Systems). Also, I have an advantage in that I've been with my specific government agency for 6 years now and many of our job openings are internal-only. This helps me avoid having to compete with tons of people for the same jobs.

Still, I imagine there are good and bad things about the help desk. For those of you who have paid your dues there, was it really that bad? Do you feel like it gave you the necessary skills to move on to bigger and better things?

 
Are you talking about desktop support or server support? If you can get a job in server support I would be a lot more optimistic. Desktop support is a mixed bag. In a big organization like a state department, you may find success if you are willing to work your way up slowly.
 
What is it that you think experience in the help desk is going to qualify you for? What is it that you'd rather be doing that you think the helpdesk is a stepping stone to?

I sure as hell don't plan on working at a help desk, but then I'm in CS, not CIS. If all you want to do is make sure the network is always running and the servers stay up - then your job is the same as the helpdesk, except you work in the server room instead of at cleint's desks.

If you don't want to work at a helpdesk, dont go into CIS or MIS or the other fields that are basically helpdesk work.
 
End goals are Network Administration or Database Administration. I'm just relaying what I was told, though I don't know enough to know if this is what most people do. I think the main thing is that I don't have any formal IT experience so I have to start from the ground up, hence the desktop support stuff. In GIS (geographic information systems... what I do now) we do work with some network admin and lots of database stuff, but I don't know if it's enough honestly.

And yes, I'd much rather do server support than desktop support. I'd like to avoid "customer service" of any kind if possible.
 
Originally posted by: jread
End goals are Network Administration or Database Administration. I'm just relaying what I was told, though I don't know enough to know if this is what most people do. I think the main thing is that I don't have any formal IT experience so I have to start from the ground up, hence the desktop support stuff. In GIS (geographic information systems... what I do now) we do work with some network admin and lots of database stuff, but I don't know if it's enough honestly.
Click to expand...

Personally, I don't see the appeal in being a server admin like alike of people do, but that's not the point.

Server or network admin work is still basically helpdesk work. Instead of someone saying "My Word won't open" and you having to fix the problem, instead someone says "I can't connect to google" and you have to fix that problem, or someone says "I forgot my db password" and you have to fix that problem.

The entire IT field is basically variations on a "helpdesk" theme, IMO.
 
Originally posted by: notfred
Originally posted by: jread
End goals are Network Administration or Database Administration. I'm just relaying what I was told, though I don't know enough to know if this is what most people do. I think the main thing is that I don't have any formal IT experience so I have to start from the ground up, hence the desktop support stuff. In GIS (geographic information systems... what I do now) we do work with some network admin and lots of database stuff, but I don't know if it's enough honestly.
Click to expand...

Personally, I don't see the appeal in being a server admin like alike of people do, but that's not the point.

Server or network admin work is still basically helpdesk work. Instead of someone saying "My Word won't open" and you having to fix the problem, instead someone says "I can't connect to google" and you have to fix that problem, or someone says "I forgot my db password" and you have to fix that problem.

The entire IT field is basically variations on a "helpdesk" theme, IMO.
Click to expand...

I see. What does one do that is more creative and interesting in the computer field then? What education does one go for?

I'm just looking for a field that is interesting to me and pays decently and IT fit the criteria. GIS has lost its fun and it definitely pays crap since it is usually classified as "drafting" though we truly belong in the same group as IT.
 
I doubt you need any significant technical expertise to work in a help desk. I'm sure they just have QA knowledge bases and scripted fixes. So working their wouldn't prove any skills to an employer looking for experience. Help desk, to me, seems just like CSR.

You do need to pay your dues, but the path to actual network admin is different for everybody.
 
Originally posted by: jread
I see. What does one do that is more creative and interesting in the computer field then? What education does one go for?

I'm just looking for a field that is interesting to me and pays decently and IT fit the criteria. GIS has lost its fun and it definitely pays crap since it is usually classified as "drafting" though we truly belong in the same group as IT.
Click to expand...

I went into CS. I write software. I think it's creative. I don't think any sort of "administration", whether in IT or anywhere else is creative.

What does a network admin create?
Nothing. Possibly a network, but it'd be basically the same as every other corportate network in the world, and you can create it based entirely on a formula with no creativity required.

You have to think of something you'd actually enjoy doing, not jsut something with a cool sounding title.
 
Originally posted by: notfred
Originally posted by: jread
I see. What does one do that is more creative and interesting in the computer field then? What education does one go for?

I'm just looking for a field that is interesting to me and pays decently and IT fit the criteria. GIS has lost its fun and it definitely pays crap since it is usually classified as "drafting" though we truly belong in the same group as IT.
Click to expand...

I went into CS. I write software. I think it's creative. I don't think any sort of "administration", whether in IT or anywhere else is creative.

What does a network admin create?
Nothing. Possibly a network, but it'd be basically the same as every other corportate network in the world, and you can create it based entirely on a formula with no creativity required.

You have to think of something you'd actually enjoy doing, not jsut something with a cool sounding title.
Click to expand...

Well, I definitely think that programming would be much more fun overall, but there are no undergrad CS programs available in evening classes around here. Quitting work is definitely not an option for me either (mortgage, bills, etc.)

I wonder if I should stick with what I'm doing and go for a MS in CS later down the road (they generally are available in evening courses).
 
I'm doing IT right now. IMO it's good experience because you're constantly out there dealing with real problems. But then a lot of the times I just want to slap these end users for being so stupid. You'll know when to move on when you want to choke every person that calls.
 
Well, I definitely think that programming would be much more fun overall, but there are no undergrad CS programs available in evening classes around here. Quitting work is definitely not an option for me either (mortgage, bills, etc.)

I wonder if I should stick with what I'm doing and go for a MS in CS later down the road (they generally are available in evening courses).
Click to expand...
Programming isn't fun. Though if you're already through 4 years of it then going for a masters in CS would be a great idea. CS > computer systems management. Generally the joke is that CIS is for people who can't hack CS.

Though you'll pay your dues in any new industry. If you like it then it's worth it.
 
I love the mix of reactions you get on public forums 🙂

I guess I need to spend more time talking with IT people and programmers at work to get a feel for what I'd be getting myself into. One thing that I *would* like about IT is that you get to move around and do stuff all day. I've always had jobs where I am in front of the computer for the entire workday, doing the same ol' thing. I love solving problems and I love variety. I figure that network support would involve both of these things, but I could be wrong. This is by far the toughest decision I've ever tried to make.
 
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