Need career advice badly!!!

over9000

I'm in a dilemma. I have absolutely no IT experience at all. I help my friends and stuff when they need computer help, but I haven't done anything substantial. (ie. Installed hard-drives, CD-ROMs, RAM, etc, but that's all easy stuff).

I got my A+ cert and landed a Help Desk job with Dell supporting the government, but I really think it's going nowhere. All I do is reset passwords all day. I haven't learned anything since. I want to branch out into a Desktop Support role so I have more real experience, but I'm not sure how to get the skills they ask for.

This may sound stupid, but what do you need to get to prove you can troubleshoot Office, Outlook, etc. (I use these programs pretty well, but I can't say I know how to fix them.) Where do you find info about working with BlackBerrys, PDAs, etc?

I'm working on my Net+ cert, but I want a foundation first before I pick up something that's not going to help me. I'm also considering working on MCDST, but I'm seeing mixed reviews on this in the forums.

My overall goal is to deal with database stuff, but I want to take it one step at time, learning what I can to move up gradually. I'm willing to learn, but I don't want to waste time or run around in circles.

As you can see I need a lot of help, so anyone who can point me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

thenjduke

Over my suggestion is go with what you like to work with. You can find Blackberry information from their website by reading their material. Same goes for other technology. Never rely on one source find many sources. MCDST is a good cert. I have a few that work under me.

earweed

Welcome to TE!
It looks like you're on the right track already. Let some people at work know you want to advance up. Let them see you studying work or cert related things during your slack time at work.

za3bour

MCDST is a very good start, I don't think you need cert in order to support Office programs. You can go from here to MCITP-SA it's only three exams and then you can go all the way up to the thing you like MCITP- DB Administrator or MCITP-DB Developer

Microsoft SQL Server Certification l Database Administrator and Developer

jetdynamics

What your doing now is on the right track getting your certificates and some experience, If you would like to grow on this field try to check something out withing your company if there's opprotunity to grow while you keep getting those certificate. Along the way you wouldnt know that something good will happen at least your doing your part to grow.

So don't give up if you think there's no other place to grow within your company start looking for another job but continue learning.

Daniel333

Microsoft Office Certification exist, and should be pretty easy to get. Training on Online software tutorials, training CDs, Photoshop Tutorials, Dreamweaver Tutorials, Apple Tutorials from vtc.com is great for Office.

Some other desktop level certs you should read up on.
Microsoft Office Certification
MCDST
MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician 7
Apple Support Essentials
CCENT (not realy desktop, but better worth your time than net+)
Linux+

snokerpoker

I would suggest looking into any desktop OS certification (XP and Windows 7) and keep looking for helpdesk/desktop support jobs. What type of education do you have? If you are lacking in the education department in your resume you might want to start taking some classes or even do a vocational IT program at your local community college or technical school. Often times places like these have job placement staff that can help you find an entry level desktop support job.