If you had the opportunity to do any course, what would it be and why?

pgnet

Hi,

I’m currently doing a 2nd line helpdesk job which I’ve been in for a number of years. The company is restructuring and outsourcing so redundancy looms. As a result I’ve been advised I can go on any course of my choice, IT related but not necessarily directly related to my job which is mainly a bit of Windows server and network support.

I already have ICND1 and taking ICND2 in the next couple of weeks or so, which I have done off my own back.

I was also thinking about doing my MCSA in Windows 7, as I can use Prof Messer videos for one exam and seems like this would be fairly quick and easy to pass, just so I can put I’m MCP on my CV. MCSA 2012 would take much longer I feel and I don’t have the time.

I also have ITIL foundation.

The problem I have is the jobs advertising ‘IT technician’ type roles, seem to want a whole raft of experience and knowledge (VMWare, Linux, SQL etc) and unless contracting or doing shift work the pay doesn’t seem to justify the time it takes to be proficient in these subjects. Also the progression I guess is to do 3^rd line support, then project/implementation work, which I’m not sure if the right thing for me and whether to move away from technical roles.

I am therefore wondering what else I may be able to do. I’ve seen Service Management jobs such as Incident Management/Problem Management, which aren’t technical yet, command the same if not more money, and fantastic money contracting! I know they employed people in my company who only had ITIL foundation so feel I could go for these, as I have done a bit of this in the past. So perhaps do another ITIL qualification to improve my chances also?

Or do a course which is either very current and in demand or quite a niche subject which again means there is demand and therefore I only need to focus on one subject?

I would be interested in your views and suggestions.

gorebrush

If you think you are a "techy" - then personally I would steer clear of Incident Management/Problem Management roles. At least at my place, they are not techies at all, just call chasers/managers. What you need to ask yourself really is what kind of work you ultimately want to do then work the path backwards. It's no good sometimes just looking at what you think your next step is. When I started in IT formally in 2004, I knew that Architect is the title I wanted and I've been working towards that goal over the past 11 years.

I've taken steps into Systems Administration then deciding to specialise in networking which I made the full 100% jump into in 2012. It took a few steps to get there as I did network management between 2006-2010, but it was a side function of my massive role that I had at those times - Being a Sys Admin is great because you can manage a whole raft of technologies and from there you have exposure to a lot of things. You can then decide what it is exactly you want to move into.

As a Senior Network Engineer now (albeit a 2nd line engineer) my past experiences with servers give me a massive advantage when it comes to troubleshooting of server related issues, because I understand both sides of the techology.

Looking back - I am very happy with all the certification choices I made - but the key thing is to keep up to date with certifications. A lot of people I work with have still got a dim view of certifications (or are too lazy to go out and earn them) and ultimately it'll hurt them. I don't worry about them - I just look after my own position and focus on my own goals.

So - a few questions for you to think about there I think.

As for me... what course? I don't tend to bother with courses - I've been self motivated when it comes to certifications for over 10 years and that isn't going to change.

pgnet

Thanks for the response and looking at it from the perspective of where I want to end up is an angle I hadn't thought about.

The point I was making with IM/PM roles is as you mentioned, IT certifications expire and there is the need to continually re-take and update. IM/PR roles pay a comparable amount if not more than sys admins, yet you don't need to continually re-certify. I suppose I'm saying it seems an easier thing to do.

As I have this oppourtunity to do a free course/certification of my choice I just wondered what would perhaps be a specialized thing to do or currently in demand.

mjsinhsv

If you have a job that pays you to do what you love, you never have to work a day in your life.
What do you enjoy?
I would suggest you look at fields that you enjoy and are growing.
Security roles are expected to grow around %30 the next few years. Maybe you should look at CISSP or some other high demand skill.
Don't sell yourself short and say you can't do it. Most all higher level engineers and CISSP type people have done helpdesk work.
I would stay away from Microsoft stuff. I've been a MCSE since NT4 and the field has been flooded which means lower salaries. Supply and demand.
High schools are pumping out sharp kids who are MCSA by the time they graduate.

If you like techie stuff, you might want to specialize in something, Linux, Networking, etc.
If you want management and money, look at the PMP cert.
Google search in demand certifications and then cross reference that with available jobs that are posted on monster and dice dot com.
btw, that is decent of your company to pay for your training and let you pick what you want. A lot of companies now days will say thanks for your service and don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way to the unemployment line.

OfWolfAndMan

If you truly have an interest in the IT field, choose what you find interest and passion in, take the time to learn what you need (A cert is always good as well), and the money will follow.

anhtran35

Agree with the posters above. Do what you enjoy NOW. Things will change. I have done Help Desk and System Administration for quite some time. So my certs are MCSA and VCP5. I'm thinking more of management roles so my certs will progress to PMP. I already have ITIL. Maybe 2 years down the road I might do infosec equal SCCP and CISSP etc...things changes as you progress as well as your passion.