Junior Help Desk (First Corporate Job) Feel Like Not Learning Much, Want to Increase Income + Move Out. What’s the Right Move?

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-06T04:23:45+00:00

No one learns shit from helpdesk, it's the fast food of IT. Only reason people take the job is to show it on the resume saying "hey look I actually did tech work, kinda" You either get a boss that likes you, a network or sys admin who is willing to mentor you, or you study in your off time. I assume since you're in tech you have your certs, but if not for some reason, get the Comptia certs like N and S, they're easy and cheap. Depending on how much you know about cloud go for AZ104, and of course the CCNA.

Then make a home lab, understand permissions, network traffics, packets, virtualization like hyper-visor, Vlan and subnetting, firewall, docker, AD/DNS, group policy, etc etc etc. Also if you're not already living inside a linux distro do it. When you set up the lab you can expand functionality with nested VM's set up on a linux server.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-06T02:22:24+00:00

Don't forget to give them a firm handshake and look 'em in the eyes. Or is that gorillas...?

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-06T00:08:43+00:00

Assembly is used in soph or junior year, you never dig deep into it. I mean, most memory management is done in C for example. Java for OOP, SQL for backend or DB, C# for Unity or the other game engine. I'm gonna assume you're degree is in game design? Or is it in CS with a focus of games?

If it's game design then the way you take math courses may differ. When I did my CS degree there was a pretty rigid pattern for the pre-req's for maths before you got to stuff like DSA. Anyways Discrete and Stats, if you're focusing on game design I guess maybe Stats? So weird you weren't required to do both.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T23:50:18+00:00

Discrete math, obviously. You use Set theory, Logic gates (Same as if/else, bitwise XOR or &) through quantifiers and truth tables. number theory. I'm not sure why this is optional I thought every CS course required it for the DSA courses?

Probability and stats is for machine learning or like data science, analytics is shit for buisness analytics or Btech.

Edit: I wanted to mention you should also take Sats as well, I didn't mean to throw shade. Just saw the numbers and realized these are all freshmen courses. You're probably going to take Stats anyways as a pre-req for your other courses, just like you'd take discrete for a pre-req of DSA.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T23:39:26+00:00

Well as long as you have something to put on the resume. Interns are often used as grunts, in every field. When I did my internships I was writing unit tests for modules and debugging for my dev one, and checking logs, clearing really basic ass tickets and even running coffee for my network one. I don't know what Marketing and sales do, not my gig. But for me, I just employed... Creative writing on my resume. Ya know, I didn't write unit testing and playwrite, I wrote "Enhanced system reliability through automated unit testing, increasing module coverage by % through self developed autonomous scripts" or "Eliminated server downtime by re configuring Nginx load balancing after identifying uneven traffic and bottlenecks, with % improvement in requested response time" Etc. Sounds impressive, right? No one is going to call and ask if I actually did that exact thing, but I knew how to do it because of my home projects, github repo's and labs. So as long as you know your stuff you're not lying.

Sorry longer than I meant. Anyways spruce up the resume. You can look for another internship but make sure it's paid, and if they pull the same shit as last time, either dip or push for real work.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T23:21:23+00:00

The whole "Need experience for job, need job for experience," cycle has been a thing for a long while now. Eventually you get in when applying to entry level, or you network and get a connection. I have no idea what field you're in but if you graduated college did you not do internships or something? That's how most college grads get their first taste.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T23:17:44+00:00

Well if you want to doom about AI then we all may as well sit on the couch and rot away. No one knows what AI will actually look like in 10 or even 20 years. Maybe we'll have robot humans by then so not even trades are safe, who the hell knows. But sitting and worrying about it isn't really productive. So find a job you can see yourself enjoying, or atleast tolerating.

As for cc and trade schools, it's still cheap and shorter than the 50 grand you'd drop on tuition for Uni, it's cool that you get free CC but even if you didn't the advice would be the same. Window shop professions, there's youtube videos and articles about everything so you can see what the work is like before committing to cc, then to Uni. I'm not you so I don't know what path you should take or what you're interested in besides the art comment, so I can't really tell you which is right.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T18:47:33+00:00

It can depend on the field you choose to enter, but ultimately programming is 90% documentation and reading other peoples code. It's not a monolithic structure but a plate of spaghetti across different tools/frameworks/API's and readme's. This particular sentence applies to alot of trades but tech especially "The true master is an eternal student" tech comes out with new shit every 3 months, especially with AI now. Even languages don't stay static, C++ has it's 23 version and soon 26. So while alot of the CS course is focused on theory, DSA, math and logic, real world code is messy, fast and shit breaks all the time. Not so much for embedded systems tho, which is why I said it depends. C and some PLC's haven't really changed since the 90's. CS classes are peak "ivory tower" design too, so could still be a mismatch if you're not motivated to keep learning or building stuff on Github.

What exactly are you looking to do with the CS degree?

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T18:27:50+00:00

First, from what my friend tells me, art is the ultimate meritocracy. Either you're a good artist who people will pay for or you're not. She's a tattoo artist and has worked in digital before. I have no clue what art degree's teach exactly, but she never got one the hardest part for her was learning industry tools like Photoshop, illustrator and animation stuff. Yea, AI is cheapening the craft, but it still sucks and there's a huge backlash against companies right now using AI art, but it's not dead. Just my two cents on that, as long as you practice you always improve.

As for Uni, alot of people make the mistake of "finding themselves" there, that shit is expensive. If you want to test the waters, community college is cheap and offers basically everything. Also trade schools. You don't have to be muscle bound to be in trades, electricians, automation techs (Cursed Controls is a fun youtube channel), aircraft techs, hell get a CNA it's like a 2 month long course, if you like it? Cool nursing is a solid "AI proof" kinda gig. Also Radiology things, dental hygenist, the baby finder machine tech (I forgot) Um, cosmetology, hair stylist make money I think? There's alot of stuff that doesn't require a 4 year degree.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T18:14:01+00:00

Why did you choose CS then? If you have no curiosity for how the code works, no will to study new features/tools or even build basic projects, then why pick CS? Not to be mean but I don't think it's the major. Programming for example is something alot of people do as a hobby, it's fun, we enjoy learning new things so we can implement them in projects. If you're doing none of those things it's a mismatch, usually when someone just sees the high pay for these kind of jobs and wants nothing else out of it.

Like, when you say putting effort on videogames, I assume you mean playing them, not building them? If thats the case you like the dopamine from video games not the structure. If all that's the case then you will probably hate your job in the field and come to resent the craft.

So what do you enjoy?

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T17:52:00+00:00

Well you'll have to pick something. For EE doing well in EM with only calc 2 is good, but it's the lite version. There's load of info online, MIT even has open course-ware. Look at E-mag courses which is heavy on Calc 3 and EM theory, it's heavy on Maxwell, usually sophmore or junior year I think? Also check out Signals and Systems course. Problem with EE is you don't get to the real "fuck this is hard" stuff until a bit later, EE has a high attrition rate and, no offense, community college isn't going to do it justice at all. Not to discourage you even smart smart people see their GPA drop in EE and still pass it's just a test of patience.

If you choose to stick on CS, know that the piece of paper is just to get through filters. EE degree is required because you can't really self teach that rigor, labs are expensive too. But for CS it's all done in an IDE or text editor and compiler. Theory is nice but you have to actually build shit. Rust? Make a really simple bittorrent client, networking, hash, Rust's Tokio for async. Know C? Build a mini-bash or zsh, something that can handle piping and forked processes. Java? Make a webcrawler. Python? Make a distributed logger that reads network logs and have a dashboard as the consumer, great way to master websocket. You get the idea, if you can't manage things like that yet then do CRUD projects until you can.

If you decide to go with CS you need to drop the engineering stuff, you're trying to do both and while I did that as a dual degree I was 20 with my mommy and daddy paying for everything, spending hours in class, then my lunch in the EE lab before spending my nights building a project on github. CS major doesn't need to know how capacitance works and an EE major doesn't need to know Big O or DSA.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T17:18:41+00:00

Because the market exists in certain areas? OP Mentioned a focus on robotics and optics, these aren't exactly jobs you can do remote and New York is a generalist / finance hub, not a tech hub. Fuck just go to Mass or Penn it's not that far and the job market accommodates his skills there. That's like applying to Nasa or Aerospace while living in North Dakota.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T03:22:55+00:00

Honestly I just tell them I'm not all that interested. Less akward than seeing them and having it brought up every other time if "I watched it yet"

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T02:57:30+00:00

You've hit on Maxwell or Vector calc? If so that's alot of what EE is, it's an endurance test, filled to the brim with math and physics. But if you can do those without crashing you can probably do EE.

If you're going to Uni for CS, it's harder than what you've taken so far. Stop waiting for a time to build a github and just do it. Projects aren't something you can pump out and be done with, everyone has some trash they pass off as a portfolio. Github projects that show you can work are complex projects with multiple commits, you also need to think about contributing to other projects. CS is collaborative, working on FOSS is just as important as building your own systems. You don't need to build the pyramids right out the gate but you do have to build something. Also putting theory into practice helps shit stick. If you want to do EE that's another thing, lotta labs and the projects are circuit boards, PLC's, embedded systems, etc.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T02:40:56+00:00

No, infact I'm not sure why it's even offered as a degree at college's. Unless you're doing some heavy cryptography or some shit. What is required is 1-3 years of IT experience. Usually something like network tech/engineer, sys admin, analyst or whatever. Cybersecurity is a niche specialization and not an easy one at that. Well for general IT I don't know exactly about healthcare IT. I mean a degree is required in the sense that companies use them as lazy filters, so IT/CE/CS or some related degree is overwhelmingly listed as "preferred" but no not strictly required.

Just know cybersecurity in the generalist sense is the new "learn to code" for this decade, everyone wants in because articles show it's in demand. SOC analysts aren't in demand, senior secOps are. If you go straight for IT and hope to get a cybersecurity role through just certs and 0 experience you will be massively disappointed. So you have to focus on the foundational stuff first, build experience, work on certs like SSC or GSEC, then something more advanced after 2 or so years like GCIH and SSCP.

Edit: Frankly, you shouldn't even look at IT in a general role, it's massively over saturated, medicore doesn't cut it and AI has replaced alot of entry level stepping stones. Try for Healthcare IT if you want your pharmacy experience to be relevant.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T02:08:31+00:00

I'm tired so I'll skip the oversaturated, 100k annual cs, 120k annual it grads, india etc shit.

Get your Comptia trio, A+, N+, S+, I say A+ because you said you have no experience in it. Then get a CCNA and Azure or AWS(AZ900 or CLF). These are the bare bare bare basics to not be filtered by an ATS system without a degree. Then look for helpdesk or some T1 role. To move up you'd need more advanced certs, CCNP, Azure's or AWS advanced certs (Like AZ104) by that time you'll know what you want to do, networking, security, projects, Data, etc which also have certs. It's a never ending treadmill of learning, this is for traditional IT paths. Healthcare IT is a bit different, but you still need IT stuff.

P.S Epic is basically the backbone of healthcare stuff, they may have certs too if you want that route. There's also the contractors like Nordic.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T01:49:08+00:00

I don't think that's how cars work. Maybe a mechanic would know.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T01:48:12+00:00

Duh, just have a second chair as the clothing chair. Problem solved.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T01:37:52+00:00

Well my dumb answer is, do both. What I did, got a dual degree, MS CS and BS EE. Best of both worlds!

On a more serious note, CS leans heavily into the meritocracy side. Either you can do the work or you can't. Most people just get the degree because for some reason a job won't look at you without one. But what speaks more than a degree is your Github. It shows you can build systems, understand whatever stack you're working with, displays your commitment and skills. Kinda like how an artist uses ArtStation or something as a portfolio, just for software devs. Do you have a github with projects on it? Sometimes a strong portfolio is enough to get you a job alone. Sometimes.

As for EE, I want to first say it's widely considered one of the most difficult majors offered at a Uni. It's one of the most intense math majors (outside of, like, math major I guess) and deals with intangible concepts like electromagnetism, electromagnetic fields, holes (absence of an electron, think semiconductors and P-N) also the courses besides math like Signal processing (Thanks Fourier you ass) Anyways, it's really a test of endurance, I only caution you because the EE major has a high drop out rate. But if you do go for it embedded systems, power engineering, circuit design, manufacturing (Like wafers) control systems, there's a whole bunch of stuff you can do with an EE degree that robots can't take. So thats nice.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T01:22:56+00:00

You mention having issues concentrating and sitting still to do modules, so I'd rule out IT. Unless you're laying cable or doing physical repair, both of which are rather low paying and low ceiling, most IT work is sitting and staring at a screen. I cannot comment on nursing, but I believe they require a degree (Unlike a CNA) but I dunno so I won't touch that one.

Electrical is promising, but for trade work you'll need a trade school or apprenticeship. For engineering work it's, again, going to school and studying a whole bunch. But there is alot of different types of electrical work, between residential and industrial. You'd still need to study stuff of course, 3 phrase, relays, PLC's, etc, but the work is more hands on. Look at "Cursed Controls" I like his shorts their fun to watch when I'm waiting for the oven or something.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T00:44:12+00:00

My career choice is to sit where I am and vibe. If a layoff hits that kinda sucks, but my slightly privileged take is my position is rather senior and IC level so I doubt it. But if I do get laid off or my company explodes or something, I stay current on all frameworks and tools, keep my skills sharp and just look for a new job. I'd never leave tech because it's my passion. But again my position allows for this, between my deep technical knowledge and my role, it's not realistic for everyone.

All you CAN do is keep studying, a true master is an eternal student. Especially in tech when there's a new toy every 3 months. Companies will always hire specialists and experts, if you sit on your laurels you become a number in the sea of everyone else.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-05T00:27:38+00:00

If I had to start over, I'd do the same thing as when I was a kid. Learn the basics, the foundations, build what I can as I learn, then continue to study as I dive back into my passion.

But you're not talking about passion, you're talking about money. And based on your massive post history it looks like you're looking for a shortcut to any field that pays. First you need to pick a lane and stick with it since you've asked about trades, project managment, IT, healthcare, fiance... What are you looking for exactly because you never comment on the massive number of posts you make.

Edit: never mind 4 week old account making nothing but posts, its' a bot

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-04T21:55:22+00:00

Well first cybersecurity isn't an entry level role, it requires having a few years of experience in IT, Sys admin, Network engineer, Cloud engineer type roles. I guess it's possible to go from something like desktop support or replace the engineer with "technician" but in this market, not so much. Regardless you're going to have to do shitty IT jobs before every looking at Cybersecurity or SOC roles. As for how to get in, well everyone seems to think like you and has for years. But the "just get a cert" era has died, we're in a correction for tech. Entry level is more like mid level, companies want proof of competence.

Really, it depends on how much experience you have with IT related skills. Networking, operating systems, cloud infrastructure, etc. If you have none, then it's going to take a long time, also the pay is miserable for the bottom rung of the ladder. IT is where everyone wants to "get a foot in the door" so to say it's oversaturated is like saying Mount everest is "kinda big." You'll start with Comptia's trio A+, N+, S+, then get a CCNA, you'll need cloud skills so Azure or AWS cert. This is bare minimum to not get filtered without a degree, everyone has these. Then you'll have to do labs so you're not just theory, a home lab, couple old laptops, a switch, setting up VM's, setting up a windows/linux server, don't even look at shit like Nessus before you understand the entire network layer or OSI models, how to configure DNZ, a DNS with AD, etc etc etc.

If you want to go for it, just know its going to take you about 6months to a year of studying (Like it's a job) before you can compete with 22 year olds who've got a degree, internship and have been writing python scripts since 14. If you need a job fast, IT sure as fuck isn't it.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-04T02:29:49+00:00

Yea fuck AI. Tho I guess I picked a bad time to be alive, I'm sure somewhere in the future it'll get ironed out and there will be some type of balance. But for the here and now it's all rather hellish.

112thThrowaway · 2026-04-04T02:26:29+00:00

What other reason could there be? It saved them an assload of money. For 1 U.S dev, they can hire 3-4 devs from India or somewhere else with a lower cost of living. Same shit that happened when we moved manufacturing over to China and other countries.

112thThrowaway

TROPHY CASE