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i have two guys who work in my print shop and since i also manage them i have decided to cross train on PC help. What suggestions do ya’ll have for training? Should i set them up first with A+ or thrown them in MS desktop support? They will be trained more along the lines of desktop support and then eventually move them into the server realm. Thanks in advance!!

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A+ and MS is a badass combo. Maybe do both.

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Hard to say without know more of their background and strengths. For the entry CompTIA certs see how they respond to the Professor Messer material. Can be a guide how to move from there—

If non-technical skills are needed, there are other options for soft skill training (e.g. HDI).

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That’s really going to depend on your environment, and exactly what these guys are going to be doing- most helpdesk position are a direct user support position. It also depends on what you’re using- if your users are using mac’s for their work it doesn’t make much sense to go the microsoft route-

Map out what you have, including hardware, networks, phones, storage, software, printers, etc- it’s a lot. Figure out what you are supporting, then base your training off that.

Of course, the basics are always a good thing- make sure they learn the osi layers, and how they work (debugging an office file problem that seems to be permissions on a fileserver that turns out to be offline is no fun)

and check this out:

http://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/show/21412-how-to-become-help-desk-support-specialist

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Hello Kirk1896. I run print shop / IT Shop as well. I have found it really useful to use Spiceworks to document everything that we do. This way we can create a local database of solutions. Also writing down a set of processes to help streamline receiving Trouble reports and how to go about them. Good luck to you and your team! :slight_smile:

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I would skip A+. That is for people with no IT experience trying to break in somewhere. As someone who has already hired the people in question, the A+ will not make them more valuable to you. Network+ or Microsoft exams - things that focus on the skills that you want them to have would be the best bet.

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I would have to agree with SAM, get them doing some MS-based MCP exams (look at exams 70-680 to 70-686 for the right exam for Windows 7 which I am assuming you’re running) once they’re up to speed on that then look at Network+.

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I would consider starting with A+ and N+ to get them up to speed with the basics, there is much to learn from those courses even if you have been playing with PC’s your entire life. You learn something new everyday. Never expect or assume that they know enough, get the foundation ready and then send them for the MS training. You can’t start building a house without a foundation. That’s my opinion. People will say and do anything to keep a job, and by saying they know the basics they are hoping to keep their jobs. Start small this way you will be sure they are on the same level.

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Just make them a Spiceworks login for the community, best training they could ever get. :wink:

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THIS^

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I have learned more from this community in a shorter amount of time than you would believe, and I already knew a fair amount!