Level 1 Help desk-Where to start?

[mtech23]

Where would be a good place to get a compTIA A+ cert in order to get started as a level 1 tech? Personal experience would be greatly appreciated.

 

[wanamingo]

Study Study Study

Take Exam (2 of them)

Get your foot in the door anywhere. Even if its Best Buy or a Mom + Pop computer repair place. Anything, at all. whore yourself to the IT community for a year or two till you have a solid understanding of what you want to do. Do any little job, anything.

An A+ should be more than enough to get your foot into any help desk position.

Study. Study. Study. Study. Study.

 

[l0ckd0wn]

I started looking up information and studying for the A+ exam back in 2001-2002 and took it in 2003 before they changed the test. Everything that I had run into on the test was basic information on the hardware of a PC. There was some coverage on simple Windows administration and setup but nothing to indepth back then. Now-a-days I'd focus more on specific paths into IT. To get your foot in the door the A+ is great to have, but it doesn't say a whole lot. Getting further certifications like Network+ and a few MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) certs on Client and Server setups will also go a long way. The rule of thumb is basically that the more certs you have, the stronger your ability to learn new things.

If I was just starting out again, and had to do it all over I'd still take the A+ because it was easy, but I'd also start the course work for the MCDST (Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician) which specifically focuses on supporting Win based OSs in the modern world. More MS info is found HERE.

Here is some more info that I answered Dogman_1234 in another thread:
Beyond A+

1.) It was in 2003, but they changed the test shortly after that, updating to more pertinent and current technologies.

2.) Not much, but it does show a fundamental understanding of desktop computing and basic Windows operating system administration and maintenance.

3.) You can go get more certs that are more specific; i.e. Linux+, Security+, Network+ on the CompTIA side. You can be a basic hardware tech at most of your retail electronics dealers; Fry's, Best Buy: Dork Squad, FireDog, Staples (DO NOT WORK FOR THEM), etc.

4.) What are you interested in?
■ If you are interested in Web technologies I would look at working towards a degree in programming.
■ If you are interested in network design, architecture, planning and administration, I'd look at Net+ and then work towards Cisco certification; CCNA, CCMP, CCIE.
■ If you are interested in basic security practices, ideas and management, I'd take Security+ and then work on learning the in's and out's of specific security techologies (SSL, MD5 (old now), etc.)
■ If you are interested in Linux or are already an experienced user, Linux+ is the paper to show that.
■ If you are interested in Windows administration then there is a huge line of certs available. I'd start with the Help Desk courses and then move towards an MCSA/E depending on how indepth you want to go.
■ If you are interested in specific technologies, like Virtualization, Citirx, etc., then you could get manufacturer specific certs for your specific choice.

The world of IT is endless, and most folks trying to get into the industry don't have a concrete path to walk down; I know I didn't. I ended up getting a degree in programming and then focusing on Windows administration and TCP/IP networking. Now I'm a 'Network Systems Engineer' which at my company translates to 'fixes any techonlogy with a screen' to our end users and 'fixes whatever needs to be fixed' to my IT management. But we run on a skeleton crew, so we all wear multiple hats.