Becoming a Help Desk Engineer

Help desk management is a very noble endeavor, but before you can set out on such a journey you will need to gain the knowledge and education that everyone will have to go through. There are a few steps to take, the first one being a degree in information technology. This will take quite a bit of time, and while you are obtaining this degree you should learn as much as you can outside the classroom. The reason being that there are things they just will not teach you in class that you might need to use in the real world. Such is the nature of help desk management.

Some of the things that you can do outside the classroom are obtaining certifications and taking other classes. A+ certification is a good one to peruse, as well as Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician or MCDST. They might not be a requirement for graduation, but they will certainly help you obtain a help desk top or any other IT job that you might be perusing at the time. Remember that you might be able to get a help desk job with a company while you are in college so long as you have these certifications and are tech savvy.

Before you actually apply at a company, you need to take a look at what they offer. If you know this, then you can go into the interview well prepared. After all, what good would you be in a help desk management job if you had no idea what the company did or what they sold.



If the company offers some sort of software product, then you can download a trial version of their software and become familiar with it. Knowing the software prior to the interview will show the company that you are actually interested in the position they are offering, and this will give you a greater chance of being hired. Right out of college, you need all the advantages that you can get.

You may not land the job you want at first, but keep trying. The biggest thing here is to remain confident throughout the interview process. No one will hire anyone that doesn't seem entirely sure of themselves, even if they have the knowledge, certifications, and degrees. Know that you will also be tested on your knowledge, and with that in mind, don't exaggerate. Only write down what you know for sure, and if you don't know something completely, don't write it down. You might just be unlucky enough to be asked about a feature of a program that you haven't gotten to yet.

Finding help desk opportunities in your area should be relatively easy. That's not to say that it's going to be the easiest thing in the world, but look hard enough and you should be able to find it. This is a great job, and it is in high demand. That means you want to make sure no one else gets it before you. Learn fast, and get yourself employed as soon as possible.