What’s the best certification to kickstart a sysadmin career?

If you're worried about user interaction, keep in mind most sysadmin positions still involve customer-facing tasks, though it might not always be direct support like in your current role. It might not be about resetting passwords, but you'll definitely need to engage with employees for bigger issues or projects.

Just a heads up, sysadmin roles are competitive, especially with many looking to advance from entry-level positions. You might want to aim for technician positions first and then transition into a junior sysadmin role. Remember, what companies really want is hands-on experience, so consider that before diving into certs!

It's not enough to just get certified. You should consider starting as a junior tech under a sysadmin to learn the ropes. Building a home lab to practice is a great idea too. Getting experience is key before you go for any certifications, which are just the icing on the cake after you have some hands-on knowledge.

When it comes to certifications, some people swear by A+ or Net+, while others go for CCNA. But honestly, I'd recommend gaining experience first, like working in helpdesk for a bit. A job where you can learn hands-on will serve you much better, as this industry really values experience over just paper qualifications.

Just a heads up: you might still need to deal with users as a sysadmin. People often think that this role means zero contact, but that's not usually the case, especially for more complex issues.