helpdesk job or stick to what I am doing

bhs00

Ok here is the dilemma. I have a bachelor's degree in MIS, A+ certification, and within the next week if everything goes alright Network+ certification. I have been working at a job in the poultry industry for 6 months that Im not very fond of. It is a production floor PC tech. I basically make sure all the systems are up and running and stay that way. I also am in charge of timeclocks and scan guns running Windows CE. I make $25,500 annually. Most days I don't do very much, which would be good execpt we have a time entry system and have to call in helpdesk tickets for everything that we do now. Also the company keep losing money every day and shutting down plants every few weeks. Theres no movement up with the company unless I move out of state. Its 20 miles to work. 50 miles aways there are companies with helpdesk jobs. I feel like im not gaining much experience, but I do get to mess with switches, PCs, etc... I just want experience so I can get something better, maybe become a network administrator somewhere. I also plan on continuing my certification exams. Next I will take a MS test to become an MCP and eventually on up to MCSE and possibly CCNA.

What is the best thing for me to do?? Take a helpdesk job or stay where I am and hope my job doesnt play out soon??

famosbrown

It all depends. If you do not have room to move up within your company, I would suggest beginning your search for a new employer for more opportunity. Depending on your MIS program, you could jump into the Programming/Software Engineering field to make more money if that was what you learned in your MIS program...I did.

But yes...I would try to look for a Desktop Support position somewhere and avoid Help Desk. Depending on where you are, Help Desk is more Call Center phone interaction rather than getting your hands dirty. Whatever you decide, continue to study hard, learn the material, practice the material, and get those certifications. Someone will give you an opportunity to use what you will gain as an MCSE or CCNA and you will be a Systems/Network Administrator in no time. Your degree and certs should get you the interview, but it will be your knowledge, interviewing skills, and personality that will get you the job. I'm just speaking from experience by the way...

blargoe

That's a tough one. I think a "call center" type of job would be a step down for you, at least on paper. Many desktop support jobs are going to have some degree of "helpdesk" duties to go along with it, though, and you have to be open to that if you're wanting to make a move.

If you're early in your IT career, you should not focus too much on being able to move up within the same company. Early on your pay increase will come with a job change. I would say, look for a job with similar skills requirements and responsibilities as the minimum criteria. Any room to grow your skill set would be a plus. If your current job ends up going down the toilet, then take what you can get. I wouldn't give up working with networking equipment and PC's to work on a helpdesk, unless "helpdesk" to that other company meant working on PC's and not "just" answering the phone.

And keep working on those certs.

Are you in a rural area? Sounds like you might be. You might be better off moving if there isn't any work nearby.

Good luck.

Daniel333

Bachelors degree + certifications = win!

You seem crazy underpaid, what State/Country/City are you in? Sadly, IT jobs are few and far between outside of the major cities.

I would certainly change jobs if you are not happy. That is enough reason alone. You have to get more than a pay check from your job.

Snag that other job and tough it out for 6 more months, and you'll be able to say you've been in IT for 1 year at that point. That will also give you 6 more months to place another certification under your belt.

You mentioned enterprise networking equipment? With the HEAVY cross over from Network+ and CCENT/CCNA I can't stress heading down that route asap enough. But don't loose track of the client side of things either. Linux+ and MCSA are great moves too. But if you are into networking Cisco is the way to go!

How would you like your resume to look in a year? Three years? The best way to supplement your experience while still at the entry level is with IT certifications, at worst they show personal motivation and genuine interest in the industry.

Kaminsky

How big is the company your thinking of going to ? Big companies have a lot more internal doors. From the job you described you are doing now, you could be there for life quite easily.

Need to spot Cul-de-sac jobs quite early on.

bhs00

I just want to be able to get some use out of my degree. It costs too much to be a waste. I live 50 miles from Huntsville, AL. There are plenty of IT jobs there but they are looking for way more experienced people than myself. I apply to all of their desktop support jobs but I never get called back. I can't afford to keep spending a ton of money on certs that are not paying off. you know?

Daniel333

I can understand not wanting to spend too much money on the certifications, man do I understand.

But you are seriously going to need 2-3 of them to start getting calls back. In addition to entry level experience. When a HR lady searches for an systems admin she searches for "MCSE" or "CCNP" these buzz words have to be on a resume to get flagged.

Most candidates that we consider at my current employer walk in "entry level" with CCNA and/or MCSA. They like Linux+ but don't consider any other of the +'s a valid certification for employment.

During my help desk days, we wanted A+ or CCNA to get in, and that was not a very well paid job.

Consider expanding your experience on your resume by volunteering at a senior center or library to help with the computers. It also makes a great conversation topic at an interview.

Hope that helps set your sites, best of luck!

Tech109

I say if you are thinking of increasing your commute by 30 miles, then just make sure there is a benefit to it - either an increase in pay to offset the commute expenses, and/or the opportunity to gain more experience that will lead to future bigger and better things.

I started in IT just a few years ago, at a time when we were recovering from the .com bust, and jobs were beginning to be outsourced en masse, so I started out working for less $$ than the job I left which required only typing and customer service skills. Eventually, (after several job changes) I was able to make almost double what the customer service job had been paying me. But it took hard work, persistence, etc. and I'm still not where I'd like to be.

Also, you may want to pay attention to the industry you'll be working in and find a company that's in a growth industry - could help boost your job security for the long-term.

Good luck!