Getting an IT Help Desk Job For Dummies®

If you?re looking for a job in IT, the help desk is the heart and soul of most IT operations, and an excellent starting point for a promising career. With the help of Getting an IT Help Desk Job For Dummies, you?ll gain the knowledge and know?how to cut through the confusion of navigating the Information Technology job market. IT can be intimidating to hopeful?yet?inexperienced job candidates, but this guide will help you find and land the job of your dreams. Through easy?to?follow explanations, authoritative information, and a bit of humor, Getting an IT Help Desk Job For Dummies serves as your thorough and approachable guide to maximizing your competitive edge in this booming market.

The IT job market has continued to expand as technology matures and deepens its roots in business operations. This is good news for you! However, it makes it that much harder to get a job in IT, as recent grads and other professionals are practically stampeding to get their feet in the door of this rapidly expanding industry. Luckily, Getting an IT Help Desk Job For Dummies gives you an advantage by providing expert instruction on how to score an interview and secure a job offer, the skills needed to obtain and maintain an IT position, and authoritative information on how to establish a career path in the IT field.

• Explore careers in the IT Help Desk field and establish the path you want to follow
• Plan for post?education certifications and training to make yourself more marketable
• Get expert guidance for creating a winning resume and cover letter
• Prepare for your IT Help Desk interview

Loaded with simple, straight?forward advice, Getting an IT Help Desk Job For Dummies is your all?in?one guide to starting your IT career on the right foot!

Introduction 1

Part I: So You Want to Be an IT Help Desk Engineer 5

Chapter 1: Embracing IT Help Desk Jobs 7

Chapter 2: A Day in the Life of a Help Desk Engineer 19

Chapter 3: Why Starting at the Help Desk Is an Awesome Choice 35

Part II: What You Need to Know 47

Chapter 4: The Education and the Mindset 49

Chapter 5: Education and Certifications 59

Chapter 6: Feeding Your Inner Nerd 71

Part III: Finding the Right Position for You 89

Chapter 7: The Consulting Nerd 91

Chapter 8: Working for a Company 103

Chapter 9: The Remote Nerd 115

Part IV: Landing the Job 129

Chapter 10: Branding Yourself 131

Chapter 11: Creating a Winning Resume and Cover Letter 143

Chapter 12: Surviving the Interview 155

Chapter 13: Post]Interview Etiquette 169

Part V: The Part of Tens 177

Chapter 14: Ten Things Not to Do 179

Chapter 15: Ten Books You Should Own 185

Chapter 16: Ten Tools You Should Own 193

Chapter 17: Ten Resources You Should Use 203

Chapter 18: Ten Things You Should Learn 213

Chapter 19: Ten Things You Should Never Say During an Interview 233

Index 237

Tyler Regas is a 20–year veteran of the technology trenches and has worked as both employee and manager in all of the job positions discussed in this book. He is also a professional blogger and freelance technical writer.