Advice needed help desk job

[togoodtobetrue]

I am really wanting to pursue a career in IT. I am hoping the good folks on this forum can give me some advice. I am not really familiar with the workplace as far as IT jobs go, i only have C.L.A.I.T ECDL and a city & guilds in computing. I am currently studying computer maintenance and repair part time and after hearing allot about MCSE i have become interested in studying to get qualified in this area.
Only problem is i want to start off with something like help desk, but i'm not sure how to approach an employer about a help desk job. Are they going to expect me to have allot of knowledge with certain areas ? if so is their anything i can learn and then go to an employer and say i know how to do this and this ect. I'm wanting to know what i need to do in order to land my first job in it.

Any help/advice much appreciated.

[Moby-Dick]

for a help desk job if you can answer a phone , follow a script and take down details correctly you'll be sorted.

No-one expects a phone jockey to be the next bill gates , and its a usefull way of getting into the door.

[0iD]

Try looking for an agency that specialises in the field & ask them plenty of questions. They get feedback all the time from successful and unsuccessful candiates, so they can give you plenty of pointers. They will probably be only too glad to help, I've generally found agencies very keen to give you the inside track on a company or position, something most people dont bother to ask.

And be prepared for low pay, stupid hours and a thankless task to begin with.

[tiggerai]

And be prepared for low pay, stupid hours and a thankless task to begin with.

Quote++

It gets better though once you have the experience.

[togoodtobetrue]

Thanks for the replies.

I was a bit unclear as to what i might be asked if i went to apply for a help desk job. Last job i applied for they pretty much wanted me to stand on my head and touch my toes and it was something like loading out orders in a warehouse. I'm sure i am capable of handling this type of role but i would like to know what i need to be prepared for if i get 1 of those guys who has just come back from their interview skills course and decides they need to test out some new skills by asking a bunch of irrelevant questions. Then telling me that their newly found algorithm suggests to them that i won't be suitable for the position.

Also another thing. I'm wanting to know the names of the modules (correct wording ?) that i need to study in order to help myself get mcse certified at some stage.

[Guy]

In most cases at interview if a technical question is thrown your way, it is perfectly acceptable to say you don't know the answer. Alot of the time they will chuck in a question or 2 that they know you wont be able to answer, and they do it, just to see how you handle it.

Theres no shame in admitting you don't know something, much better to do that, than try and 'blag' it and then looking like a complete tit because of it.

[Guy]

Also MCSE side of things, have a look at doing either the MCDST, or MCSA first before aiming straight for MCSE status.

I'm not going to put what all the acronyms stand for, as Im far too lazy, but Google is a mere click away

[TheAnimus]

for the training, try and do it when ur working for a company, often they will help accommodate you, from paying for it all, you can ask ur peers about things u don't understand, and providing you with the odd day off (paid) to help study.

that said, u could be in the situation i'm in now, after working 6 days a week, 7 till 8, i've been given 1.5 days to learn a bunch of FSA rules + regs. argh

but its still a good idea to try and get your work to help with studies, often what they want you to be trained in, other companies will too.

[Guy]

Also depending on the company, they may be required by specific vendors to have a certain number of qualified staff to enable them to keep there vendor discounts/status.

I know at work we need X amount of people with CCNA, CCVP, CCIE etc, and the same goes for Checkpoint, VM, and M$. So as TheAnimus said it can be in there favor as well to pay for you to get trained. Just don't let them use this against you.

[togoodtobetrue]

Excellent advice folk's.

rastamanblues You make some good point's The tip about don't try and blag it but just be yourself is a good 1. I'm guna take the advice i received on here put on a shirt and trousers and get C.V to some agencies.

Much appreciated

Cheers

[Disturbedguy]

In most cases at interview if a technical question is thrown your way, it is perfectly acceptable to say you don't know the answer. Alot of the time they will chuck in a question or 2 that they know you wont be able to answer, and they do it, just to see how you handle it.

^Yup, went for an interview not so long a go, the guy told me at the start of the interview, if I don't know something, then say I don't know. It won't go against me, the fact is, in most help desk roles you will get some sort of training.

I have been for two interviews since leaving University, have applied for countless others.

One of the interviewers said I didn't have enough experience, flat out, thats it, the second however, said I have a great level of knowledge for someone who hasn't worked in that line of work before, I didn't get the job, someone with a little more experience got the job, otherwise I would of been next on the list.

I have my third interview on monday and can't wait as the company will hire people without experience (my mate works there, no experience for him either).

Theres no shame in admitting you don't know something, much better to do that, than try and 'blag' it and then looking like a complete tit because of it

Spot on, I know a mate who put he had one qualification or another, which he didn't, went for the interview, they asked him questions about it, he was like..ermmm, uh..they basically said right there and then he didn't have the job.

[Guy]

The problem I've come across countless times, and still am atm is usually my qualifications mean I should have had minimum of 2 years experience, I haven't and as has been mentioned by a few people the problem with that is employers will be/are wary of people that just hold qualifications and no experience, as anyone can gain the qualification and wave the bit of paper around.

As long as you can get past the HR department/who ever picks up your c.v and actually speak to someone with at least an ounce of technical knowledge, and can then demonstrate to them, that you won't be a complete waste of space, and actually do know what the bits of paper say you do, then there are quite a few jobs that are open for you.