Hey everyone! I'm reaching out for some advice and maybe a little perspective on my situation. I just landed my first full-time job as an IT Helpdesk Support, right after finishing university. While I'm comfortable with the usual helpdesk tasks, I've been thrown into some pretty advanced responsibilities that I've never tackled before, like purchasing and setting up a brand new NAS server from the ground up.
My challenge is that my IT manager is seldom available and hardly responds to my questions. I often receive tasks that require access to critical servers I've never worked with before, and sometimes I either don't get access or I receive last-minute login details with no context, and I'm just told to "handle it."
I feel uneasy about taking the initiative on certain tasks, like unplugging cables or configuring unfamiliar systems, because I'm afraid I might accidentally cause an issue. Yet when I seek clarification or wait for help, I often face frustration from my manager, who questions why I'm taking so long or can't manage things on my own.
This situation puts a lot of stress on me. I want to learn and grow, but it feels like I'm being tossed into the deep end without any support or training, and I'm being compensated like a standard helpdesk technician. I feel lost, unmotivated, and somewhat disheartened. Is this a normal experience in the IT field? Should I tough it out to gain some experience, or is it time to start searching for a new job? Any insights would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
3 Answers
IT jobs often require you to figure things out independently, which can be tough. There are just too many small problems that pop up, and you can't be trained on everything. But being thrown in without proper training isn't fair. And honestly, getting yelled at is never okay. You should probably look for a better employer who values your skills.
If someone talked to me like that when I asked for help, it wouldn't end well for them. I had a similar experience as a consultant. I reported the behavior, and when nothing changed, I resigned. It’s not worth staying in a toxic environment.
I had a similar job where I only lasted three months before I left, but I learned a ton in a short time. Experience in this field is invaluable, even under tough circumstances.
I had a situation where they brushed it off, so I asked to be moved to a different assignment. They finally caved and respected me, but I ended up leaving anyway after six months!