Get started as a help desk agent as it can be the foot in the door to many different IT positions and a successful and exciting career.
Clients are helped by help desk assistants who respond to phone calls and email requests for assistance, ask questions to discover the nature of the problem, take customers through problem-solving steps in diagnostic tools, and follow up to ensure the issue has been fixed.
Advanced knowledge of help desk software and remote access systems, the ability to troubleshoot complex hardware and software systems such as database systems, software packages, and operating systems, and excellent analytical, diagnostic, communication, and customer service skills, as well as understanding and patience, are all necessary for a role as a help desk assistant.
This is a great video overview of how to get started in IT by working in the help desk
Many Help Desk Specialists need to have particular skills in order to fulfill their tasks. We were able to narrow down the most typical qualifications for someone in this position by looking through resumes. We saw that customer service, listening and conversational skills were all stated on many resumes.
Because of the low experience and education requirements, many IT professionals begin their careers as help desk technicians. As they gain experience and exposure to new IT disciplines and technologies, they find their specialty and move on to other IT jobs such as network administrator, DBA, or IT security specialist.
Get started as a help desk agent to get into a company in the IT field.
Although a college diploma is not normally necessary for entry-level help desk roles, it may help you get a meeting and a position faster – and at a higher pay grade – than candidates without one. Degree courses in computer information systems (CIS), help desk administration, technical assistance, and network administration all provide a solid foundation for anyone interested in pursuing a career as a help desk technician. Consider a specialized certificate in PC repair or IT/help desk support. IT certifications are also a feasible option or supplement to an accredited degree program for help desk specialists.
As businesses continue to deploy the latest and greatest computer systems in order to cut long-term expenses and achieve a competitive edge, demand for help desk personnel will increase. However, as cloud computing keeps developing, the productivity of technical support solutions, less man-hours and staff will be required to complete the same activities, job growth for help desk technicians will be reduced.
Improve your chances of landing a job as a help desk technician by learning about cloud engineering and cyber security, two of the most popular IT fields. When it comes to specific industries to target, the demand for IT support and help desk personnel is increasing rapidly in health care.
Also, remember that experience in IT support roles does not mean that your only pathway is IT infrastructure. The most common careers you can branch out to are cybersecurity, data development and software development.
The traditional route is infrastructure.
There’s a reason why most IT support professionals move into IT infrastructure roles. Understanding how IT systems work from the inside out is key. It’s the core knowledge you’ll need to keep moving forward in the IT infrastructure field.
The coveted way is cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity jobs are becoming more plentiful popular by the day. Many existing posts are empty due to a shortage of competent applicants. A help desk position is an excellent way to get started in the cybersecurity field. For starters, the help desk allows you to interact with customers. Working with and training end users is also an important aspect of keeping a company secure.
The new pathway is data.
Managing and analyzing data, having a thorough understanding of hardware and software, as well as troubleshooting, was never truly expected. However, data as a profession is a fairly recent concept.
Having a competent IT professional on staff who knows how to interpret, analyze, and safeguard data is becoming increasingly crucial. As data-related occupations grow in popularity, so does the chance for people who came from the help desk.
The unorthodox route is software development.
It’s not necessarily wrong to do something different! One of the advantages of starting your IT career at the help desk is that you will be exposed to the various paths that technology might take you down. One of those paths is software development. Hardware knowledge is important and knowing more is always preferable to knowing too little.
There are various directions a technological career might follow, many of which overlap. A route is never totally fixed in stone once you choose one. Use your time at the help desk to watch, explore, and learn about the topics that interest you. Then take that knowledge and use it to create a plan to advance your career forward. Get started as a help desk agent so you can get your career jumpstarted in the direction you want. If you need a resume and cover letter to break into the help desk field, this is a great package to start with. Read more about the package here.