I spent about nine months as an IT support intern at my current company and was recently promoted to a junior IT administrator role. I'm excited about the progress, but my current salary isn't enough long term. I'd like to build stronger skills, earn useful certifications, and eventually move into a better-paying position. What areas should I focus on next, and how should I plan my career development?
4 Answers
Identity and access management would be a strong direction. Learn Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID, then build on that with identity security, access controls, authentication, and protection against account compromise. Automation is also worth learning, especially with PowerShell, since it can eliminate repetitive tasks and give you more time for projects. AI tools may help as well, but use them carefully and never put sensitive company information into them.
Choose two or three areas that genuinely interest you, such as networking, server infrastructure, cloud administration, or security. Explore each through hands-on work and training, then pursue a certification once you have a better idea of what you enjoy. Another good approach is to identify a capability your current team lacks and deliberately learn how to fill that gap. A supportive manager may even let you use work time for training or related projects.
Start applying to other companies sooner than you might expect. In tech, changing employers is often the fastest way to get a significant salary increase because companies don’t always adjust your pay to match your growing value. Early in your career, moving every couple of years can also expose you to different environments and prevent you from getting stuck doing things only one way.
Keep gaining practical experience while working toward certifications that match the path you want. Before choosing one, make a list of the systems and certifications you already know so your next steps are targeted instead of random. Document projects you complete, such as automating a task, improving access controls, or managing infrastructure, because concrete examples will strengthen your résumé when you start applying elsewhere.
That’s been my experience too. Staying comfortable in one place for years can limit your exposure, while changing roles helps you become more versatile.