Want to progress IT career. Advice welcome.

Tobes

Tobes

Tobes

Soldato
Joined
27 Mar 2004
Posts
6,693
Location
Devon
Hi,

After 4 years of studying Music tech I found myself in a 1st line IT Support role as income was needed. I have been doing that for around 2 years but I haven't been enjoying the lack of challenge. I was working for a managed service provider and left as employees were quitting and I was just taking on more work. It was also agreed that they would be training me as soon as I started with a pay rise after completion which never happened.

I would really like to go into 2nd Line In House support role but I think on paper I am lacking certifications to back up my skills. Alternatively I would like to try some sort of project work. Having an area to manage. But I wouldn't have a clue how to get into this.

I took CCNA 1 over 14 years ago and Cisco ITE 1 & 2. That and ITIL is all I have. I think a good place to start would be an MCSA in Windows 10 and seeing as I am currently jobless I have the time and spare bit of cash to take this. I'm not sure if I should be paying for course study material though. I don't mind paying but anywhere I can save will be for the best.

I think my CV looks OK and willing to send to anyone's trust email if they would like to have a glance over.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can progress?

Thanks,

Tobes
 
I wouldn't bother paying for any boot camp style courses, self study has been great for me, but as always your mileage mileage may vary. As for study resources, CBT nuggets is always good and in my experience Pluralsight and Trainsignal are also worth a look. I'm not sure if they currently have material for W10 MCSA but they're worth checking out for sure. If I recall correctly you can get a few free months Pluralsight subscription by signing up to something Microsoft. A quick google should explain it, it's been a while since I looked in to it.

:edit: this looks like it https://devopscube.com/pluralsight-free-subscription/

I think you're on the right track with Windows 10 MCSA, it's only two exams as opposed to three for some of the others, so if you self study you should be able to get it knocked out relatively quickly.

As for your other certifications, the only remaining current one is ITIL, right? I'm not sure how Cisco certs worked back then, but I'm assuming that whatever you did will be expired. I'd look at doing at least CCENT if you still have the knowledge, as a current Cisco cert will undoubtedly make you stick out as having proven networking skills.

As a footnote, it might be worth taking a look in to CompTIA, especially if you're interested in Security. Security+ can be renewed by a combination of other vendor certs, including Microsoft MCSA/E and Cisco. If you're considering Security as a future career path, it might be worth doing Security+ first and then you can renew it in the next 3 years with a combination of your planned Microsoft/Cisco certs.

:edit 2: you mention currently being unemployed. I'd check for volunteer opportunities, preferably 2nd line type of stuff like you're looking to move in to. It will strengthen your CV and keep your head in the game while you study/job search, as well as potentially providing opportunities to doing some networking (with people :p) which could lead to a job.
 
Pick a skill - go to Amazon and buy a book then study and take exam. Most of the courses I've even been on teach stuff that you can work out yourself, especially if it has a GUI so they are pretty much a waste of money unless an employer is paying for it.

I'd do CCENT or this Windows 10 thing you mention depending which direction you want to go
 
Zefan said:
As for your other certifications, the only remaining current one is ITIL, right? I'm not sure how Cisco certs worked back then, but I'm assuming that whatever you did will be expired. I'd look at doing at least CCENT if you still have the knowledge, as a current Cisco cert will undoubtedly make you stick out as having proven networking skills.

As a footnote, it might be worth taking a look in to CompTIA, especially if you're interested in Security. Security+ can be renewed by a combination of other vendor certs, including Microsoft MCSA/E and Cisco. If you're considering Security as a future career path, it might be worth doing Security+ first and then you can renew it in the next 3 years with a combination of your planned Microsoft/Cisco certs.
Click to expand...

I'm not really sure what path I want to go down. IT wasn't really a career choice as such just something I happened to go in after needing a job after uni. I'm someone that likes to be set a big task and follow it through all the way. Networking is my weakest point so I will most likely have to do something int hat area. I just know CCNA is not an easy thing to pass and is probably why I only managed CCNA 1 rather than the complete 4? I think. But yeah I know it's an area I will need to improve on. Thanks very much for your post Zefan it's really helped. It's been a bit daunting but I keep going to 2nd line interviews, interviews go really well and I'm losing out to someone more experienced. Yet I can't seem to get that experience on a 1st line role.

Zefan said:
:edit 2: you mention currently being unemployed. I'd check for volunteer opportunities, preferably 2nd line type of stuff like you're looking to move in to. It will strengthen your CV and keep your head in the game while you study/job search, as well as potentially providing opportunities to doing some networking (with people :p) which could lead to a job.
Click to expand...
I'm living in the countryside which means a lot of places I need to commute to. I have a bit of cashed saved up which was going to go on a new car but obviously not happening now. What would be the best type of companies to try and get some work experience with and... how do I make it work experience rather than unpaid work?[/QUOTE]

jimjamuk said:
Pick a skill - go to Amazon and buy a book then study and take exam. Most of the courses I've even been on teach stuff that you can work out yourself, especially if it has a GUI so they are pretty much a waste of money unless an employer is paying for it.

I'd do CCENT or this Windows 10 thing you mention depending which direction you want to go
Click to expand...
Yeah I was thinking of grabbing some books. Would make reading easier than sat in front of a screen all day.

Energize said:
Windows 10, not server 2016?
Click to expand...
I haven't taken a real IT exam before and with funds limited and me not really knowing what I know I figured it be best start with this. Also time is a bit of a factor as the longer I'm studying the longer I'm out of work and using up my funds. Sadly I'm not the motivated type to be in work and then come home and study.
 
I think you're wise not to dive in to something like Server 2016 MCSA, especially if it isn't an area you're familiar with. It consists of 3 exams (the W10 only requires 2) and - according to my reading - they tend to be more difficult than the desktop exams unless you have consistent prolonged exposure to their subject matter. It's worth noting that Server 2016 in particular includes quite a bit of the relatively new cloud stuff.

Cert exam questions are notoriously puzzling for the uninitiated, and Microsoft are known to be on the tricky end of that spectrum. Despite my experience being beyond it I started from CompTIA A+, purely as a toe dipping exercise. I felt like going with A+ for "baby's first cert" would help get my head in the right place for more challenging exams in the future, and I do feel that doing this helped with later certs. The chances are you'll be much more comfortable with the W10 MCSA exam objectives, therefore your study experience will be more pleasant and chances of success on the day will be higher. This means you can focus more on the skills and self discipline needed going forward, instead of having to try to get your head around something that is likely less familiar to you. If you're a Server 2016 buff then by all means go for it. My advice above all is to give yourself a fighting chance with your first cert by going with something you know, especially if you don't have strong self discipline, and especially if your first cert is a Microsoft one :p
 
This probably doesn't help but qualifications aren't everything, I interviewed about 30/40 network engineers last year who all mostly had a CCNA or CCNP and didn't understand basic routing. We ended up going for enthusiasm/work ethic over network engineers who demanded massive wages because they had qualifications. I think you need to find smaller IT companies who reward hard work and go from there, it certainly works where I am.
 
Completely agree Andy but I know when getting tested in interviews, I could be better with my terminology. While I believe I have had a broad hands on experience I haven't completed my knowledge and theres simple things I am missing. I need to lower the reasons to not be picked over someone else and this seems like the logical first start.
 
Can I ask how you gained this experience. Only I'm finding in a 1st line role there is never the opportunity to get off the support desk. I have worked with a large London university as well as a small managed service provider.
 
I was lucky as I was thrown in the deep end into a 2nd/3rd line role years ago.

Work on your CV, apply for 2nd line roles, see how you get on.

If I'm reviewing CVs then one of the last things I'll look at is qualifications, it's all about relevant experience and the opening paragraph.
 
Im going down a similar route as you Tobes.

I have been working in IT for over 10 years doing 2nd and 3rd support. Because I am looking to leave the UK in 2 years, I needed some certs to valid my skills to make myself more employable when I start applying for jobs overseas as I had none. My plan is to get one desktop cert and one server cert.

Decided to get straight onto Windows 10, started studying 70-697 exam first. I know it was the hardest one out the 2 but I wanted to get that out the way first. As this was all self funded and self study I wasn't going to pay £3500 for a 5 day course. I purchased the MS green guide, waste of time! So I pre-warn you about that. The sybex 70-697 study guide was way more better but CBT Nuggets was so much useful.

Took my first exam, 70-697 at the end of January, unfortunately I failed. It was my first ever MS exam, I didn't know what to expect and I knew it was one of the hardest exams MS has written. CBT had redone their videos for the 70-697 soon after, it was more up to date, straight to the point and 7hrs to watch instead of 16hrs. Watched the new videos, read the sybex book again, retook the exam end of March and passed :) Repeated the same for the 70-698 exam and as of 3 weeks ago I have my MCSA in Windows 10 :)

I passed 70-698 first time round as it was more focus on Windows 10, unlike the 70-697. In August I'm going to start studying for Server 2016, hopefully take my first exam in October. Many said to do Server 2012 R2 first, which are 3 exams then do the upgrade exam to Server 2016 due to more materials out there for Server 2012 but I rather go straight to Server 2016 as I'm starting from scratch.

Hopefully by September next year I have my MCSA in Server 2016 then if I have time I might do Security + or one more MS exam to earn an MCSE before I start applying for jobs overseas end of next year.
 
Ah congrats on the MCSA.

I'm signed up with 3 months of Pluralsight and it's taking me longer than I would like to admit to set up a test lab VMs although I'm blaming that on a RAS server and a DC where DNS was playing up.

Also found the MS videos which only seem to have recently been added so I know I'm getting some latest information as I know they are updating the exams for features they put in Win 10.

I have used CBT Nuggets in the past so might sign up for the practice exams and take a look at the updated videos.

Is there a set time you have to take the next exam? So 697 - 678? Also how long do you get in the test?
 
Tobes said:
Ah congrats on the MCSA.

I'm signed up with 3 months of Pluralsight and it's taking me longer than I would like to admit to set up a test lab VMs although I'm blaming that on a RAS server and a DC where DNS was playing up.

Also found the MS videos which only seem to have recently been added so I know I'm getting some latest information as I know they are updating the exams for features they put in Win 10.

I have used CBT Nuggets in the past so might sign up for the practice exams and take a look at the updated videos.

Is there a set time you have to take the next exam? So 697 - 678? Also how long do you get in the test?
Click to expand...

Thanks, no there isn't a set time as MS exams no longer expire. For both exams I had 58 to 48 questions, you have 2 hrs to do the exam which is more than enough.
 
ChrisD. said:
Experience > qualifications. I only have ICND1 and 70-410 yet I'm a project engineer writing design documents.
Click to expand...

Well, some employers require a degree of certification within their pool of engineers/technicians to retain vendor accredited status. Additionally, certifications have got much harder as emulators are used to measure practical competency rather than multiple choice questions. I'd say it's better to get certifications early on in your career to get your foot in the door, once you're more senior you can lay off the vendor certs and look at more formal education to get you up the corporate ladder (MBA, MSc etc).
 
I agree with Andy, I've worked in the IT industry for 7 years and never relied on a badge to progress. I've gone through the ranks of service desk, a project engineer and now getting into presales - a small MSP may be demanding but the exposure you get to a broad scope of technologies is worth the hard work.

My opinion, if you've already worked in 1st line for two years and you want to progress into 2/3rd line - why continue your efforts on end user device problems? You would learn far more from building a test environment from scratch, invest the money into some cheap hardware and play with VMware vSphere and create a couple of DCs to get started. If you want more exposure around storage, buy a Synology NAS and mount ISCSI targets and setup NFS... get creative ;)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom