I graduated with a B.S. in computer science and have earned some cloud certifications like AZ-900, AZ-104, and AWS CLF C02. I'm currently starting a job at a help desk within an MSP and have some prior help desk experience. I want to escape the help desk role and move into the cloud industry as quickly as possible. What's the best way to make this transition? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
You're in a better position than you might think! With your certifications and computer science degree, you've got a solid foundation. One of the fastest ways to transition is to view your help desk job as a stepping stone rather than a dead end. Get involved with anything related to Azure—whether it's backups, identity management, or migrations. Don't hesitate to volunteer for tasks, no matter how small. Also, work on personal projects outside of your job, like setting up an Azure environment or automating tasks with PowerShell. Hiring managers care more about your hands-on experience than just having certifications. With about six months to a year of focused experience and visible projects, you can aim for a junior cloud or sysadmin role. People who advance are those who create their own opportunities instead of waiting for permission.
Totally with you on this! I didn't even have all my certifications before I moved up. Being proactive pays off.
Check out roles like Azure Sales Engineer or Azure Solution Architect. These might have a sales focus, but they were helpful for me to get into the industry. Once you land a position like that, it’s often easier to earn more certifications and shift into mid-level Azure roles. Plus, understanding how to sell cloud solutions can be really beneficial when working with customers and designing solutions.
Agreed! Taking initiative is key. Just dive in and start doing the work you want to be doing!