<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n","upvoteCount":0,"datePublished":"2019-09-17T22:25:33.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/newbie-here-looking-for-first-helpdesk-job-but-feel-like-i-dont-know-anything/730538/4","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"markross0326","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/markross0326"}},"suggestedAnswer":[{"@type":"Answer","text":"
hello I have a +, network +, and should have security + in three weeks but when looking for entry-level positions it seems to me like I don’t know how to do any of the things they are asking for, I have no experience other than working on my own pc. I have a subscription to itprotv but it seems to be very non job specific training. any suggestions or websites i may join that teach entry level practical skills other than jobskillshare? tyvm oh i also have a mechanical engineering degree and an associate degree in data processing from many moons ago.<\/p>\n
eddie<\/p>","upvoteCount":5,"datePublished":"2019-09-17T20:58:31.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/newbie-here-looking-for-first-helpdesk-job-but-feel-like-i-dont-know-anything/730538/1","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"edboog","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/edboog"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":"
Start with a little virtual/lab environment. You can get evaluation copies of MS Server to test out. Once you start playing around with how things work you’ll learn so much. Good luck!<\/p>","upvoteCount":3,"datePublished":"2019-09-17T21:11:46.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/newbie-here-looking-for-first-helpdesk-job-but-feel-like-i-dont-know-anything/730538/2","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"tb33t","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/tb33t"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":"
Well mate, you really don’t know anything. I mean that in the most constructive way possible.<\/p>\n
It’s not a bad thing, it’s just one of the first problems you have to solve in what will hopefully be a very long career. Use the information you see in the job posting as a place to gain knowledge. What you really need is some experience. Best palaces to get it is retail or telephone support. The customer service skills gained working retail carry over well into it support. Staples or best buy are great. I have two amazing tech’s that both got their start at best buy.<\/p>\n
Look for telephone support gigs for local ISPs, mobile carriers, any kind of website support job.<\/p>\n
I hire fresh students a lot, but I’m looking for soft skills over tech chops. I can teach a monkey to swap parts and update drivers. I look at your ability to learn, to think on your feet, at your presentation skills, and the like. Those are skills that are much harder to teach, I can hone them easily, but building them from scratch is a huge investment<\/p>","upvoteCount":0,"datePublished":"2019-09-17T21:31:33.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/newbie-here-looking-for-first-helpdesk-job-but-feel-like-i-dont-know-anything/730538/3","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"stopthenoise","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/stopthenoise"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":"
there are no training videos/websites/materials that will teach you experience.<\/p>\n
get your hands dirty.<\/p>","upvoteCount":1,"datePublished":"2019-09-18T05:10:02.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/newbie-here-looking-for-first-helpdesk-job-but-feel-like-i-dont-know-anything/730538/5","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"rinomardo2","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/rinomardo2"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
With the certifications you have, you’ll be just fine.
Just get a Virtual Machine up and running with a Windows Server, and install the Active Directory role and play around.
You’ll get long in life by being nice.<\/p>\n
If anything, feel free to contact me here at Spiceworks if there’s anything you’re wondering about or want to talk about.<\/p>\n
Happy job searching!<\/p>\n
Br
TY everyone much appreciated and great advice. I guess I’ll get fiddling around with active directory through ittvpro labs.<\/p>","upvoteCount":0,"datePublished":"2019-09-18T15:32:42.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/newbie-here-looking-for-first-helpdesk-job-but-feel-like-i-dont-know-anything/730538/7","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"edboog","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/edboog"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":"
you are so right ty!<\/p>","upvoteCount":0,"datePublished":"2019-09-18T15:33:20.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/newbie-here-looking-for-first-helpdesk-job-but-feel-like-i-dont-know-anything/730538/8","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"edboog","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/edboog"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":"
tyvm for your encouragement and I guess I’ll hop on it!<\/p>","upvoteCount":0,"datePublished":"2019-09-18T15:36:02.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/newbie-here-looking-for-first-helpdesk-job-but-feel-like-i-dont-know-anything/730538/9","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"edboog","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/edboog"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":"
You will have the oh crap moments where you don’t know and will need to ask a senior technician. That is not uncommon, id say it’s very common. If you can reset passwords in Active directory, install printers by ip, find print drivers, and just talk people through general troubleshooting you will be good to go. Look into networking for more opportunities. Good luck my friend, we’ve all been there.<\/p>","upvoteCount":0,"datePublished":"2020-02-17T14:22:10.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/newbie-here-looking-for-first-helpdesk-job-but-feel-like-i-dont-know-anything/730538/10","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"syvenx","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/syvenx"}}]}}
edboog
September 17, 2019, 8:58pm
1
hello I have a +, network +, and should have security + in three weeks but when looking for entry-level positions it seems to me like I don’t know how to do any of the things they are asking for, I have no experience other than working on my own pc. I have a subscription to itprotv but it seems to be very non job specific training. any suggestions or websites i may join that teach entry level practical skills other than jobskillshare? tyvm oh i also have a mechanical engineering degree and an associate degree in data processing from many moons ago.
eddie
5 Spice ups
tb33t
September 17, 2019, 9:11pm
2
Start with a little virtual/lab environment. You can get evaluation copies of MS Server to test out. Once you start playing around with how things work you’ll learn so much. Good luck!
3 Spice ups
stopthenoise
September 17, 2019, 9:31pm
3
Well mate, you really don’t know anything. I mean that in the most constructive way possible.
It’s not a bad thing, it’s just one of the first problems you have to solve in what will hopefully be a very long career. Use the information you see in the job posting as a place to gain knowledge. What you really need is some experience. Best palaces to get it is retail or telephone support. The customer service skills gained working retail carry over well into it support. Staples or best buy are great. I have two amazing tech’s that both got their start at best buy.
Look for telephone support gigs for local ISPs, mobile carriers, any kind of website support job.
I hire fresh students a lot, but I’m looking for soft skills over tech chops. I can teach a monkey to swap parts and update drivers. I look at your ability to learn, to think on your feet, at your presentation skills, and the like. Those are skills that are much harder to teach, I can hone them easily, but building them from scratch is a huge investment
MCDST is a good cert to get next, then head to an MCSA / MCSE
this for a Windows environment of course
people will tell you certs aren’t worth it, but if you have zero practical experience in the job market, then the certs will give you an edge against anyone else sans certs :o)
you already have a reasonable spread of the CompTIA certs, so I am somewhat surprised that someone wasn’t willing to take a punt on you as first line / help desk isn’t a technical role, you follow the script, and fill in the tickets, easy to learn, and from there you will also learn / be taught the next basic steps :-
AD - account unlocks / password resets - following security protocol for the job
PC / laptop / thin client imaging
exchange troubleshooting - on a basic level, as admins don’t need or want to be overloaded with the basics
get your head around the basic networking processes - DNS / DHCP / IP address rules etc
you will soon be on a 2nd line level, and from there your experience will grow, and you should find employment anywhere
luck to you
Sponsored by Microsoft, the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) is an entry-level certification indicates the certificate holder
Est. reading time: 1 minute
rinomardo2
September 18, 2019, 5:10am
5
there are no training videos/websites/materials that will teach you experience.
get your hands dirty.
1 Spice up
Hi,
With the certifications you have, you’ll be just fine.
Just get a Virtual Machine up and running with a Windows Server, and install the Active Directory role and play around.
You’ll get long in life by being nice.
If anything, feel free to contact me here at Spiceworks if there’s anything you’re wondering about or want to talk about.
Happy job searching!
Br
2 Spice ups
edboog
September 18, 2019, 3:32pm
7
TY everyone much appreciated and great advice. I guess I’ll get fiddling around with active directory through ittvpro labs.
edboog
September 18, 2019, 3:33pm
8
edboog
September 18, 2019, 3:36pm
9
tyvm for your encouragement and I guess I’ll hop on it!
syvenx
February 17, 2020, 2:22pm
10
You will have the oh crap moments where you don’t know and will need to ask a senior technician. That is not uncommon, id say it’s very common. If you can reset passwords in Active directory, install printers by ip, find print drivers, and just talk people through general troubleshooting you will be good to go. Look into networking for more opportunities. Good luck my friend, we’ve all been there.
