Ever feel like your stuck on the helpdesk?

dmbfanatpsu

I have been working as a support specialist for 2 1/2 years since graduating college. I've been job searching, but just can't seem to get anywhere......very frustrating. The company I'm with is real small and their isn't any room for advancement and I feel like I've "outgrown" this position. I've been job searching for 6 months with no luck.
JUST VENTING!!!!!!

TeKniques

That sucks. But, maybe while job hunting you can ask your supervisor or manager if there is any way you can job shadow or observe someone with a higher position within the company you work for, such as a System Admin or Network Engineer perhaps.

Just an idea to maybe help alleviate the pain. Good luck in your job search

schwarztrader

I totally understand how you feel dmbfanatpsu as I too have been in that boat before. Although you should look on the bright side: You have a job to start with unlike myself. The only reason why your not getting any of those jobs is because people like myself (and there are a lot of us unemployed IT people) are trying to get those jobs as well.

Just keep looking, and eventually something will come up. I know that sounds like a cliche of some sort, but trust me it always works out in the end.

jmc724

Problem is w/out certs, most employers wont even look at your resume. The big resume highlighters are: CCNA and MCSE.

Some dont even know what they mean but they put it on their career site. I've been on the helpdesk and really didnt liked it but then it a job and it was paying the bills.

Right now, I do product support for an ERP s/w corp and its like an accountant doing helpdesk. Again, its paying the bills while I rackup my certs and continue to look for the right fit.

I worked as a Systems Admin w/out any certs and was stuck making 45K, now I do this new job and still make the same money. No on-calls etc. 8-5 M-F.

dmbfanatpsu

Thanks for all the feedback. I've been slowly working on my certs while working at the helpdesk. I'm hoping to have my MCSA by the end of the year and maybe that will help. I thought having a BA in MIS would also help, but it seems that it isn't really helping that much

shadown7

I know what your talking about. But, I'm not going to look for a new job anytime soon. I'm a helpdesk tech and I make 42K a year. That is awesome for the work I do.

Noods

Help Desk positions are usually a dead end. However, they are a great place to get experience in a given product, study for your certs, network, and get some perspective as to what technical paths there are that you can take. Take the opportunity to look around.

shadown7

Noods wrote:

Help Desk positions are usually a dead end. However, they are a great place to get experience in a given product, study for your certs, network, and get some perspective as to what technical paths there are that you can take. Take the opportunity to look around.

It really depends on the company that you are working for if it is a dead end job. You do get great experience working desktop support and it is a perfect job if you want to work on your certs. My job is by no means "dead end". With annual raises and promotions you could easily make 55K. To some that may not be alot of money but when your use to 20-25k it's golden. Plus, if you can't live off 50K a year then you have a budgeting problem.

Just my 2 cents.

Transatlantic

I agree with shadown7 - it really depends on the co. you're with, where I work I'm on the desk most of the time, but we have a program going to rotate all the techs through the various positions, so we get experience doing that, and it helps to keep us fresh.

That might be something worth putting forward as an idea to your boss