Help Desk Tech

laptop

The job title is Help Desk Tech. Responsible to support customers regarding a propreitary software. Job has nothing to do with serious troubleshooting, nothing with hardware, nothing with TCP/IP or networks. Responsibilities may be very little. The company is paying around $11-13 bucks an hour. No potential growth according to my analysis.

I am wondering if this is the way to start my IT career? I just got my Management of Information Systems degree and the salary is a little shocking to me as this is full time.

My ultimate goal is to become a Technical Systems Analyst or along the lines of being a Network Analyst. I have been shooting my resumes outu to roles like Help Desk Support (the ones where you have to troubleshoot hardware/software) and high level stuff like Junior Network Analyst. But nobody is replying because I have never done roles like this before. Being a recent grad, is this the only way to start out as a Help Desk Tech?

If I get my foot in the door as a Help Desk Tech, how can I reach my goal as a Network Analyst at another company? My exposure will most likely be doing support at the lowest level to assist with this proprietary software. Does it mean I have to study for certifications on the side? Or will I be stuck at Help Desk jobs forever?

Most people told me that my first full time job is very important.
Advice?

networker050184

I'd try to find something besides supporting proprietary software. As you have realized the experience you get won't be very applicable to other jobs. On the other hand if its all you can find its better than nothing. A resume with some experience looks better to an employer than a resume with zero experience.

If you are shooting your resume out that much and not getting any responses then it may be your resume. Have you had someone review it? When you send out your resume are you following up with the companies or just blindly shooting out and never following up? If you aren't following up you should start now. Have you contacted any recruiters in your area? I try to avoid them personally and hire direct, but rthey do get the inside scoop on a lot of jobs you won't be able to find out about other wise.

Good luck!

qwertyiop

If I were you I would take the job. It might not be what you want to do but it is a great way to get into the field. Stay for 1 -2 years and learn everything that can especially the troubleshooting and soft skills as these skills will be very important as you progress.

laptop

Thanks for replying.
It's a good opportunity to get my foot in the door. Except, I might be able to master everything in this job within 6 months. It's to support the company's software. It's not one of those tech support jobs where people call in to ask questions ranging from networks to software to hardware to virus problems, etc.

I'll see what I have to do.
Thanks

sambuca69

What's your situation though?

Is this the first offer after a year of you looking?
Is the the first offer you've got after looking for a week?
Can you afford to hold out and keep looking?

Etc... I guess it kinda depends on your situation.

unsupported

I've had success a few times, starting in the help desk and working my way up. The first time I got set back by layoffs, the second time I was job-blocked by a vindictive manager, and the third time is my current time. With my current company I managed to get into the help desk without a degree. I worked my ass off, made contacts and friends with all the supervisors and managers, then was recommended for a rotation in the security department, I did a good job in my rotation they hired me on full time. The rest as they say, is history.

One thing which had set me back, which is not a problem for you is a lack of a degree. One reason why I've been starting back at the help desk after each position is because I never had a degree. That won't be a problem next year when I graduate with my MIS degree.

If you have drive and desire you won't be pigeon holed into the help desk forever. Make contacts outside of the help desk, work on special projects, and work on certifications. If you want to get into networking look into the Network+ as a starting point.

The job market is tough. I'd say, get what you can and make the best of it.

laptop

sambuca69 wrote: »

What's your situation though?

Is this the first offer after a year of you looking?
Is the the first offer you've got after looking for a week?
Can you afford to hold out and keep looking?

Etc... I guess it kinda depends on your situation.

My situation is that I am unemployed for 1 month.
However, my parents are putting pressure on me to get a job ASAP.
So far, it's the only company that is interested in me. Other companies have called and had phone interviews...but haven't called me into an in person interveiw.

laptop

unsupported wrote: »

I've had success a few times, starting in the help desk and working my way up. The first time I got set back by layoffs, the second time I was job-blocked by a vindictive manager, and the third time is my current time. With my current company I managed to get into the help desk without a degree. I worked my ass off, made contacts and friends with all the supervisors and managers, then was recommended for a rotation in the security department, I did a good job in my rotation they hired me on full time. The rest as they say, is history.

One thing which had set me back, which is not a problem for you is a lack of a degree. One reason why I've been starting back at the help desk after each position is because I never had a degree. That won't be a problem next year when I graduate with my MIS degree.

If you have drive and desire you won't be pigeon holed into the help desk forever. Make contacts outside of the help desk, work on special projects, and work on certifications. If you want to get into networking look into the Network+ as a starting point.

The job market is tough. I'd say, get what you can and make the best of it.

Thank you for taking your time to reply and sharing your story. Quite interesting.
I agree that the job market is tough and I'm currently preparing for certifications too.
Thanks

networker050184

laptop wrote: »

My situation is that I am unemployed for 1 month.
However, my parents are putting pressure on me to get a job ASAP.
So far, it's the only company that is interested in me. Other companies have called and had phone interviews...but haven't called me into an in person interveiw.

Well it sounds like you don't have much choice but to take it. At least until something better comes along.

BookFella

I would take the job specially with the current state of the market. You gotta start somewhere.