Getting my geek out of the closet!

Jaybird85

Hi all -

Long story short, I guess you could say I have literally woken up recently and decided to go into IT, specifically with intentions of eventually doing consulting along the lines of Network System Analysis.

I got myself a Trainsignal account, have intentions of doing the MCSA Windows 7/8 training and test in the future. But for now I am focusing on elements of training to help me work at the Helpdesk level for the next 6months +. I have VMware, have my VM's up which I just used within my Active Directory course, and have set it up and am about to start learning how to use AD.

I have read about Help Desk Tier I job descriptions and how there is a great deal of documenting that is done and the majority of aid I will be giving, at that level is alot of password resets, user account management and how to fix things like pop ups, etc.

I found a job advertisement through a recruiter recently, for which I somehow have managed to land an interview with this Thursday. I am admittingly incredibly nervous as this will be my FIRST technical job. I have worked in the criminal justice and social sector for quite awhile so i am using counseling/advising people.

So while this is what I am wanting to do and build my knowledge on, my confidence in non-existent right now.

The job itself requires working knowledge of AD and VPN. I am going to have to take a 40 question test, and if i score at least 40% I will get interviewed.

Any suggestions on what to expect to be asked in a multiple choice test and a follow up interview for this role? Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

Xonis1

That is interesting that a T1 helpdesk would be doing much AD stuff. VPN i can see with RDC. My question for you is, are you just starting out with a computer career? if so, i suggest doing the new A+ certification. This will cover the basis for a lot of the issues you will run into for a help desk.

I would start with A+ - background for printers, computer hardware and software, which now includes mobile and tablets.
then do network+ - foundation with networking
After these do MCSA for whichever route you want to take..Also take a look at how microsoft changed the MCSA certifications, the 7/8 path is more for desktop support tech's. It sounds like you want to take a server path for an admin career path.

SteveFT

I'm trying to break into IT as well, so I probably can't give you as much insight in others. That being said, I recently completed my A+ and I am currently working on the Network+. I believe that if you read the A+ and Network+ books front to back and actually learn as much as possible from the book, it provides you with a very broad background for most other directions that you would go in. Most people include Security+ as well, which I am only omitting because I have not yet made it that far yet.

I think that knowing about virtualization and Windows 7/8 is great, but if you lack the background in understanding the hardware, networking basics, and other topics covered by A+ and Network+, you are doing yourself a disservice. I'm sure these topics may be covered by Windows 7/8 certifications to a degree, but they probably assume that you already have a fairly good understanding of these topics.

I'm hoping to land an interview with A+ and Network+, with Security+ to follow, and then go for MS/Cisco certifications after I get some hands on experience. From my experience, A+ and Network+ can be completed in a month if you are able to keep up with reading a chapter per day, and simultaneously reviewing all the previous content. This works out to maybe 1.5-2 hours per day. Most preparation books seem to be ~20 chapters, so assuming 2-3 days where you take break, that would still leave you with a week to review.

Some people might be able to knock it out faster than that, but I'm also working on a Linux course, learning a bit of Python, and a few other topics. I think if I were to try to complete the A+ or Network+ any faster, I would become bored.

Best of luck!

SteveLord

Net+ and Security+ share a lot of material. I studied and passed them both within the same month.

Kreken

I wouldn't waste time on Net+ and would just go for CCNA.