Making the Step up from a 1st line role

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Hi,

Just wanted to get some advice/tips on the best way i can progress.

I have graduated Uni with a 2.1 in Business Computing including a year working as an IT Tech at a local school and have spent 10 months working in 1st line Support for a large organization. This is mainly a call center type role and the tasks are general AD user account amending plus troubleshooting windows / outlook and other apps. Anything more technical we are told to pass up with as much info to the specialist teams.

I would like to try and get a desktop support role as i see this as good progression and a role that would allow me to develop further, just interested to get a feeling for certifications that would be beneficial.

I have been looking at the MCITP: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Technician and feel that could be a good start. I just feel that in my current role I am stalling and no longer progressing/developing anything new.

Appreciate any thoughts people have on the topic.

Cheers.

 

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Sounds like a good start to me! Obviously that is if you are supporting Win 7 in the enterprise already

 

Yes, from what you've said it would make sense to look at studying for the MCTS 70-680 Configuring Windows 7. You could then decide whether you wish to take 685 (for MCITP: EDST7) or 686 (for MCITP: EDA) or both (either will also earn you the MCSA: Windows7 certification) or neither.

It's always best, I believe, to look at these certs as small 'steps'. You have no reason to 'commit' to an MCITP or MCSA if the single-exam MCTS help you get the role you've wanted - you can then move onto certs that backup the experience you gain in the new role. All IT jobs are different and all businesses use a different 'set' of Microsoft (or whomever) technologies, you may start using one that really interests you and also has an associated cert - Exchange or Sharepoint or whatever...

HTH

 

What is the infrastructure at your work?

Ask your manager what the chances are you could progress into desktop support on a seconded basis or full time. If you are happy at the current company then you need to speak to people there. They may say that there is already too many desktop support engineers and it may be a one in one out, possible that they don't have enough and you might get a heads up when they are going to recruit or when someone is leaving.

Just trying to say I don't think there is point doing a win7 course if you company is going to be stuck on xp for the next 3 or 4 years.

 

Thanks for the replies.

The current infrastructure is Windows 7 and XP based. Ongoing projects are upgrading from XP to 7 for all laptops / Desktops. We also use Citrix for managing Windows on thin client machines, this is also XP at the moment but will be updated to Windows 7 very soon.

 

Yeah the win7 would be pretty good or maybe even have a look at the Citrix exams as well on offer to come from a different angle from most.

 

I have been looking at the CCA Citrix administrator certs. As you say could be a different way and a way of going forward hopefully reaching a job in Infrastructure.

Thanks for the replies.