Do help desk job require to know server and active directory really well too?

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I mean.. come on.. realistically, how much do you have to know to work at level 1 help desk?

I know basics of windows xp, 7, 10 and office and how to install hardware, software etc but do help desk(level 1) have to know so much as all these companies post on their job requirement skill list? It's just ridiculous. And their pay is even more ridiculous. $13-15 an hour is pay rate of mcdonald.

Anyway, do you have to know server 2012 and familiar with active directory too for level 1 help desk?

 

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Not really but it does help.

 

1st line helpdesk generally should be a stepping on point for getting into IT. Most help desks require very little actual IT knowledge and place a higher importance on customer service than technical knowledge. It will be handy to know desktop OS's and their basic functions such as printer troubleshooting, wifi not working and the I've lost my X toolbar in word type questions but no more than that.

A lot of help desks I've come across in my time use a freeform scripted approach to there are general steps and things to ask when the phone rings but does give you a little room for manoeuvre.

The most you'll be doing generally in regards to server operating is resetting a password or unlocking an account.

Don't let the long list of requirements put you off generally job adverts are written by HR people and recruiters playing buzzword bingo with very little idea on what it actually means. If you get an interview you'll likely be placed in front of someone that has an IT position and will know the requirements of the role.

Just because a role mentions technologies you do not know about to not think that excludes you from applying, as long as you have a good understanding of some of the requirements IT people thrive on the "I don't know it yet but I will learn" attitude.

 

Most computer systems in most companies have some kind of dependency on Active Directory, so it's good to know something about it. A lot of user problems boil down to authentication or authorization failures. If you have some understanding of Active Directory internals, you may be able to troubleshoot such problems faster than most of your colleagues. If you treat Active Directory as a "black box" that is someone else's responsibility, you may miss out on opportunities to understand and fix issues quickly.

 

You must be reading my mind, Ive seen so many first line jobs ask for AD knowledge.. Yet paying peanuts tbh I am currently trying to get some server knowledge had a server issue today and had no idea what I was doing litterally blagged my way through it caller basically fixed their own issue but I managed to convince them it was me that solved it. Quite funny really.

 

If they're only asking for a knowledge of active directory, then you're laughing. AD is fairly simple when you take the basics of it and what it does. I'd suggest taking some time to read up on it.

Having basic AD knowledge isn't something that'd ramp up the pay either - if you're an AD administrator, and build out forests, domains, trusts, GPO's, security etc - then yeah, there's money in that, but that's then become a specialism.

I'd want anyone i took on first line to have AD knowledge for sure. Not necessarily experience, but knowledge of what it is and how it works.

 

Would you agree that to have basic server knowledge you must first possess Networking knowledge? I began to briefly learn about servers but pretty quickly hit a brick-wall as my networking knowledge isn't really there yet, so have had to retreat and learn some networking stuff.

 

Networking in what sense? I'd agree you should need to have a basic TCP/IP understanding, but i wouldn't say that it's a pre-requisite to start learning server OS study wise.

If you mean learning server OS on a live environment, then that'd be a bit different