Home Study - MS Helpdesk Technician

[weeal]

A year and a half ago I started paying course fees for 'Certified Microsoft Desktop Technician' home study course, then had one disaster after another and never got around to starting it, still paying �41 a month!
Its all sitting in a bag looking at me lol

Should I now consider starting this home learning course, will the certificate gain me enough to find work in IT as a helpdesk assistant or should I try to cancel now and save hundreds of pounds? Its over a grand's worth of direct debits and not sure if I can muster enough enthusiasm and wonder if its a recognised asset. I do have a keen interest in IT.

Many thanks
Al

[Mac70]

There could be a lot debate on this. For a start, the MCDST course is geared towards more of working in a corporate environment.
The A+ would be more use, if you plan to help mainly home users.
And then, who do you plan to work for. I dont believe ISP's hire trained technicians, managing to spell pc seems to be enough to get a job with them.
The general concensus is too, that these home study courses are a waste of money. You can get all the study books you need from Amazon, and sign up with Technet for more tips.
There is this forum if you get stuck http://certforums.com/forums/index.php

If you have one computer buy a cheap old one for practice on too

[weeal]

Thanks for your reply Mac70, I kinda had a feeling i was wasting my money but was under the impression that it was difficult to get into IT without some sort of course work.
I'm not a young thing lol, have been using PC's for years and have helped out IT guys in various companies Ive worked in, just doing the mundane stuff like printer problems etc but would love to do more.

It would be in the corporate sense yes, rather than at home.
Thanks

[weeal]

oh and I also have HTML web authoring skills too

[ACtheTROLL]

I teach A+ ... MCSE, CCNA, MCDST blah blah

A+ requires 3-6 months of field experience ...
As part of an "apprenticeship" it's a proof of learning ... it's overly technical
(characteristics of every processor since 8086 - the technical spec of HDD technology - not how to connect partition, format etc) - it's so cutting edge it 's only just recently included XP ... still doesn't include vista, or mac ... or any other software in everyday use.
but it's an accepted qualification.

MCSE is a nightmare ... (you have to be doing the job to be able to cope with the breadth of knowledge... and it's definitely corporate).

CCNA is something else... people cry on CCNA courses (seriously!!)

the helpdesk qual won't get you a job (the companies who "guarantee" a job at the end of their courses are just not being realistic (or truthful).

it might get you an interview .... but you have to get the job.

what you could say is that it shows willing ... and assuming you succeed - it shows your level of aptitude.
but it will never be a guarantee .... some helpdesks use flowchart diagnostics ... and straying from the book is a disciplinary offence .... so thinking for yourself there isn't an asset.

If you have nothing better to do ... and can afford it... carry on ... (it's something to read in the loo!! ;-)

if you want a job ... start knocking on doors ... tell them you are studying .... but be reasonably honest what and how ... (they are used to detecting liars) - a 20 minute aptitude test will prove what you know.

be upbeat ... helpdesks are there to help ... the dour drone is not good for business ... but don't gush
ohhhh that's lovely ... when did you say she died ?
... calls will have answer and dealer times ... too friendly ... and you blow their targets.

[weeal]

ok thanks AC, tho I have to admit some of it went whooosh over my wee head lol

I am keen and quick to learn so I suppose showing this, whilst knocking on doors would help. The course itself tho will not be worth the remaining �700 still to pay i bet so will cancel that if I can and just do my own studying, as you say I may have enough knowledge to pass an aptitude test with that.

Thanks a lot you guys

Al

[ACtheTROLL]

oh just saw ....
web design is more fluid ... if you are a creative that can be more important than coding abilities ....

if you can code ... you have the best of both

[weeal]

ah coool, thanks, will brush up on it and get going on the job hunt, I also wrongly assumed that web design had kinda come and gone sort of thing, everyone jumped on that at first then there were far too many to fill the vacancies

thanks

[markysngc]

In my local paper there are always far more job adverts for people that can code web pages than for IT engineers or help desk people, also having worked/supervised an ISP's help desk in the past it's not a overly nice job sometimes.

[weeal]

Thanks Marky, Im gonna brush up on my HTML a bit and try to cancel the course Im paying for but havent started.
When I did the HTML course I was the only female there and all the guys had been working in web design for years without even having HTML knowledge, they used Dreamweaver and Frontpage etc to build their sites.
I will update myself on latest in HTML and see how it goes.

Thanks all again

[weeal]

Just found out I cant cancel this course, so it looks like im doing it after all, ah well just have to kick my butt of AB every night and knuckle down lol

thanks for all your answers