How can I move from help desk into cloud or infrastructure work?
Asked by
MellowPine47
I've been working full-time as a Help Desk Technician for about a month. I'm not planning to leave right away, but I want to use this role strategically so I'm ready for a more advanced position after gaining solid experience. My longer-term interests are cloud support, networking, infrastructure, and possibly software engineering.
My background includes a BAS in Information Technology, a master's program in Software Engineering with a DevOps focus, AWS and GCP certifications, and current CCNA studies. I've also completed software engineering and marketing engineering internships, and I built and operate a small app with more than 250 users that earns roughly $100 per month.
I originally pursued software engineering roles after my internships, but after about eight months unemployed and thousands of applications, I received very few interviews. IT, support, and infrastructure roles generated much more interest, so I accepted this Help Desk position rather than remain unemployed. The work has been enjoyable and familiar so far, but I don't want to spend the next two or three years there without building the skills needed to advance.
If you were in my position, what would you focus on during the next 6–12 months? Which roles would make the most sense as a next step—systems administrator, NOC technician, network support, cloud support, or infrastructure support? Besides finishing the CCNA, what hands-on skills, responsibilities, or projects would best prepare me for cloud or network engineering roles?
Answers
First, narrow down the direction you actually want. Cloud, infrastructure, networking, and software engineering overlap, but they’re still broad paths with different day-to-day work and skill requirements. Since you’re leaning toward cloud support or network engineering, use the Help Desk role to build experience in those areas instead of trying to study everything at once. It can take years to develop the skills and land a strong role, so focus on steady progress rather than expecting one certification to make the jump happen immediately.
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Look for opportunities inside your current job to handle or shadow work involving VPNs, DNS, permissions, server access, identity systems, and scripting. Even if those tasks aren’t officially part of your Help Desk title, getting exposure to them can give you concrete experience to discuss in future interviews. Keep notes on the problems you troubleshoot, the tools you use, and any processes you improve. That practical experience will usually help more than collecting certifications without applying the knowledge.
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MellowPine47: That makes sense. I’m mainly interested in cloud support and networking, and I understand this will probably take years rather than happening overnight. I’m already studying for the CCNA and building experience, so I’m trying to figure out what else I can do now to position myself well.