How to Climb the IT Job Ladder: From Help Desk Support to Systems Engineer ClearanceJobs

It’s a vendor neutral certification and verifies that you know how to implement best security practices. The objectives cover several key concepts in IT security, including networks, data and host security, threats and vulnerabilities, compliance, access and identity control, and cryptography. By getting certified, you’ll show potential employers that you have the skills they need. This can go a long way towards making up for a lack of experience. For some roles, the right certifications will put you higher in the stack than applicants with limited experience and no certifications. Best of all, certifications can help open up more entry-level opportunities instead of just taking the first IT job that comes your way. This piece of ad content was created by Rasmussen University to support its educational programs.

• For most individuals with little to no experience, the best option is to take a course taught by an expert with real-world experience so you can ask questions and really understand the topic in depth.
• You can have access to very knowledgeable people who can advise you, increase your chances of landing a higher-paying position, and confidently ask for help anytime you need it.
• Ensure tickets are updated at all times until issues are resolved.
• When this happens, the service desk should react by rapidly escalating the issue, recruiting 3rd-level support if needed and issuing timely communications and status updates to users.
• ITIL 4 defines the Service Desk as an entry and single point of contact for all users, where demand for incident resolution and service requests are received by the service provider.
• Let’s take a deeper look at each process and the responsibilities of the service desk.

The ability to comment within a request enables asynchronous collaboration and keeps records available in a central place for future reference. Many jobs in the technology field require a Bachelor’s degree or higher, but not the IT help desk. This career is accessible to most people who have a knack for technology and some basic training. help desk engineer Rather than thinking of IT support technicians as the bottom rung of the career ladder, think of them as being on the frontlines of customer service, providing valuable knowledge to company executives. IT help desks must now remotely support a mix of physical equipment and environments to keep remote employees productive.

You can develop a side project.

If you don’t have much experience but are looking to join this thriving industry, don’t worry — you’re not the first. Here are seven tips for getting your foot in the door of the IT industry. Rasmussen University is https://remotemode.net/ not regulated by the Texas Workforce Commission. For additional information about Licensing and State Authorization, and State Contact Information for Student Complaints, please see those sections of our catalog.

Investing in a service management tool can help you scale beyond email support as your company grows. Better practices and tools boost teams’ productivity, so they can deliver excellent service. And we aren’t just saying that, in Jira Service Management you can measure improvements via metrics like CSAT and reduced time to resolution.

CompTIA A+ > CompTIA Network+ > CompTIA Security+

Networks are very complex, often involving several technologies and having a ton of devices connected to them. Since traditional IT education focuses on just one area at a time, companies are having to hire someone to manage each area. This is hands-down the very best thing a person looking to break into IT — or in the early years of their career — can do. Someone with a cert in routing and switching could become a network engineer and make a great living. VARs sell and install the manufacturer’s products for customers, who may or may not need help managing their network. If they do, they can outsource their IT department to an MSP and only keep one or two IT guys in-house.

Don’t worry too much though – the earning potential you will have in IT is only limited by the work you put in. On the low-end, you are looking at starting out right around $40K per year in a help desk position.

Join an online IT community and leverage it

There are a lot of online coding camps and technology starter courses available, so it’s important to choose wisely. Look for a program that’s catered specifically to IT support roles. For example, the Information Technology Support Online Certificate offered at Rasmussen University is designed to help students develop the technical and customer support skills employers are looking for.

As the cost of office space continues to rise and more positions go remote, you might soon find your role has become fully-remote as well. And, while this might not change what you do for a living, it will certainly change how you do it. Being exposed to an array of different perspectives can help you find solutions to problems that you might not realize exist. It can also change your opinion on an issue after looking at it from an angle that you hadn’t considered before. Situations like these where our perspective is challenged not only help us grow as professionals but as people, too. One of my favorite parts of working in customer service was being in a position where I could teach a customer something about the product without having to sell them on the solution. With that said, the typical roles that professionals can take after sufficient knowledge gain and professional experience are IT Project Manager, Service Desk Technician, Service Level Manager.

Are you taking all four steps to power remote IT?

You are a traffic cop, keeping things moving and fixing small things where you can. You’ve decided that you are at the stage where helpdesk work is no longer challenging, enjoyable or fulfilling, and that’s ok. Exactly how you start the process of moving on will depend on a few factors. For starters you’ll need to be able to offer another employer skills, experience and expertise in another area that isn’t a helpdesk role if you are wanting to change and move up. IT managers will need plenty of experience, credentials, and certifications. But if leadership is in your sights, you’ll also need strong business acumen.

Having someone who can vouch for you is never a bad thing when you’re looking to move up the ladder. I have been in help desk for almost 2 years, I am currently still there and managing a few systems. I have watched people who started with me move up ever fast as I stay in the same spot and the truth is its discouraging that you work so hard but are unable to get noticed. But, also keep in mind the importance of understanding the big picture of the IT industry. Learning the full stack of technologies will also give you a broader perspective on the industry. Not only will you be able to understand how modern networks work, but you’ll have the opportunity to get your feet wet in many different areas. This way, when you decide to specialize in one area, you’ll know for sure which one you like the most.