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So i have been in IT for 2 ish years now only have my A+ and I’m at a help desk position where I’m happy but i want to grow. I had my first taste of more of a sys-admin working previously as a MSP … Question is do I aim for more certs or keep bothering my co-workers to learn the ropes… On the help desk i am limited to conference room setups, printer jams, new pc setups… I want a little more responsibility but im just getting the revolving door treatment.

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Certs are good to have but what direction do you want to really go? Networking? Server administration? Programming?

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Try to look for a different gig that would let you touch the upper level stuff or try to apply within your current gig if there’s any available position. I was lucky my first gig after 3 months of getting hired, they let me handle basic Windows server stuff (AD, Exchange) then after a while gave me the responsibilities of a sys admin. As for certs, I’d take @james485 's advice.

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Build a home lab, and learn on your own.

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+1 for home lab and the common sources like CBT Nuggest, pluralsight and https://www.cybrary.it .

I say certs and expereince go hand in hand, try to get more knowledge while looking into certs. Before you start certing though, figure out where you want to be in 5 years ish and what area of IT you enjoy the most and go from there and get certs accordingly.

[How about a knowledge sandwich?]

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You can also ask your boss at your current job if there are any responsibilities you could take over from them or if they can teach you how to do something so they don’t have to. I ask my boss daily what I can do for him and generally he has something for me.

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Lots of great suggestions so far!

My 2 cents is figure out what you enjoy doing. Generalize in a lot of different areas, then specialize in what you are actually interested in.

@alexw has a great suggestion about using CBT, pluralsight, et al. They are wonderful resources for everything from basic computer hardware (A+) to advanced Microsoft server config and Infrastructure.

Start with getting your feet wet on your own time by looking into a bunch of areas, then figure out what you enjoy and concentrate on that. Good luck!

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Keep doing both - learning on the job and learning as you push towards certs.

Ask you boss for more responsibility and get it documented in your job description.

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I love server administration and the hardware side… the only AD exp i get is password resets i can’t add or remove groups… I know how to it just sucks… and yeah I have been pestering them we are moving the whole office at the end of the year and i am trying to do literally anything they will let me so I can advance. My boss likes me and would help me grow if she knew the position would work for me.

Thanks in advance everyone with the help… I do plan to take more certs… get some microsoft certs under my belt and I have a small home lab I need to brush up on my VMware since we are about 75% Virtual. And about 50/50 on linux and windows.

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Linux skills is also a big + currently and in general to have.

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