How To Migrate From The Help Desk To System Administrator Jobs?

Help desks have been an essential component of IT organizations, especially large organizations that support thousands of users and the devices and services they need to do their jobs. Therefore, it was also a common starting point for IT operators.

Here are some simple indicators of the continued importance of help desk service: A recent search for the "IT Helpdesk" on the Indeed.com job site found over 58,000 job offers. In fact, some of these roles require previous experience. However, the help desk (also called the service desk) is the same as an entry level position. You really don't need 10 years in the field to handle issues like forgotten passwords and desktop troubleshooting. Therefore, the help desk is a good place for the green horn to cut its teeth.

However, once you have a solid IT base at the help desk, it's time to think about the next steps for your IT career. A logical path from the help desk leads to the system administrator role (or an equivalent role as network administrator). Ideally, you will solve more complex problems or be responsible for applications and infrastructure.

However, just because the path makes sense doesn't mean it's lined with flickering lights. You need to plan the best route. We seek the advice of various experts on key strategies to move from a help desk position to the first job of systems administrator (or similar).

1. First, Look At Your Current Employer.

"The best thing we can do to go from a service desk to a systems administrator is to find a company that wants to help with that transition," said Sam Larson, Director of Service Engineering at OneNeck IT Solutions.

This is an ideal strategy to solve the old job seeker dilemma. In other words, it's a way to get the experience you need, when you need it.

"The best way to develop the skills to become a system administrator is to manage the system," says Larson. "Companies that have implemented the right programs to help transition from technology to manager can offer structured opportunities to gain that experience." Keep in mind that it can be informal if you can find the right person to drive professional development.

Larson recommends that current help desk professionals check with the employer to see if there is a program, and candidates for help desk positions do the same during the interview process. Here are some potential ways to pose that question:

• ·         "Is there a program to develop the skills of helpdesk technicians to help them move to higher technical positions?"
• ·         "What percentage of entry-level systems and network administrators are hired internally by service departments and internship programs?"

This can make a big difference for early career IT professionals thinking about their next steps, as the opportunity to demonstrate your worth on the job is ideal rather than the traditional recruiting and recruiting process.

2. Practice The Basic Concepts Of Sysadmin.

Of course, the answer to the previous question may be "No" or "None" for some organizations. However, Larson also said: "If you don't have the opportunity to work in such a company, all is not lost."

You simply need to direct your own learning and professional development; will desire, to some extent, independently. Larson points out a tip we recently shared with us about preparing for an interview with a system administrator, and all the advice she provided applies directly to the transition from the help desk to system administration, especially in this part. doing.

"Understand the technical fundamentals. Be able to explain in plain language how all parts of the server (hardware) and operating system (software) work together. OSI, LAMP, RAID models, You can do the same with DNS, and with concepts Virtualization basics, get ready to discuss interesting setup (configuration) and fix (incident response) examples of all of these technologies. If so, read about those technologies, set them up in the lab, interrupt and repair. "

Should I spend my personal time exploring other technologies and getting my hands dirty? It may be worth it if it helps you get the job you want. Plus, the vast resources available online make that education more accessible than ever. Also, consider the opportunity to volunteer with your current employer for a project that introduces new tools or themes.

3. Consider The Relevant Certifications.

Larson also recommends relevant certifications to catalyze the change from the service desk to the systems administrator. In particular, it points out two things that help inexperienced IT professionals learn the basic skills they need to progress.

"A good way to learn these basics is to get an MCSA or RHCSA certification," says Larson. "Training these certifications and applying the concepts in [to] home labs is a good way to prepare to become a true system administrator."

IT certifications are generally important resumes. Here, these can be especially useful if the transition from the help desk support services to systems administrator jobs requires a transition to a new employer.

"Once you pass the test and earn the certificate, you get a valuable resume, especially if the job of the first system administrator is in a new company," says Larson. "There are many training options out there.

 4. Dig Deep With Key Technologies.

A help desk can be a great place for training to handle multiple problems simultaneously. This is an essential skill for system administrators. However, system administrators may be required to bring deeper experience to specific systems and tools than help desk technicians. These may include internal systems, "cross" technology, or growth-oriented technology.

If you can be one of the promising people in a particular technology system or organization, you can build a case for promotion to a systems administrator (or similar) position.

"I want to hone my experience in a particular system and become an expert on the subject of organization," advises Jim Johnson, senior vice president at hiring firm Robert Half Technology.

To be really important to your organization, choose a system that focuses on the number of people you depend on, but doesn't necessarily fully understand how it works. Some of the tools you already use in your help desk role are relevant to the job of the system administrator, especially if you focus on developing experience beyond what your current job requires. Or it may have a "crossover" appeal. Johnson points to Active Directory as an example.

5. Learn Related Programming Languages.

Speaking of automation, learning the related programming languages ​​is enough to satisfy the desires of system administrators.

"Learning to program" advises Rob Hernández, CTO of Nebulaworks. "Every good system administrator is a good programmer. They learn how to automate common tasks and how to infer solutions to past problems by solving problems later in the day."

The valuable 2019 programming language articles for system administrators are a great resource for identifying the programming language to start mastering.

Hernández's advice is based on his own experience and professional career. The learning schedule was an important part of the early days.

"Specifically, it was Unix / Linux that really helped me beyond the help desk role. I started with CentOS," says Hernández. "I remember how much I enjoyed automating bare metal implementations using things like Kickstart and ssh."

In conclusion, helpdesks may feel like paying a membership fee, but if you take advantage of the opportunities available to enrich your skill set, it is also an ideal starting point for a long and successful IT career. .. These lessons learned and shared by IT veterans will help aspiring system administrators jump off the help desk and lay the foundation for continuing education and advancement in IT.