Hey everyone, I'm looking for some real advice without any fluff. I'm 22 years old and based in Spain. My experience is mostly in IT support for about a year, where I handled things like Active Directory user management, Microsoft 365, some basics of Exchange Online, and a little bit of PowerShell. Recently, I got laid off. Outside of that job, I've been working hard on my skills—I've passed the AZ-104 certification in March 2026 and have built a comprehensive lab project where I migrated everything from an on-prem setup to Azure using VMware. I've documented everything on my personal GitHub.
I'm trying to figure out the best next step: should I continue studying for more certifications like AZ-305, AZ-500, or delving into Kubernetes and Terraform before applying for jobs, or should I start applying now for junior sysadmin or junior cloud roles and learn on the job? Furthermore, I'm curious if my profile is realistic for landing a sysadmin or junior cloud role, or if I'll have to return to helpdesk work regardless of my lab experience. Do projects like mine really help, or do recruiters often overlook them due to my background? What would you do in my shoes?
4 Answers
Honestly, you're in a better position than you think! A year in support plus your AZ-104 and that detailed migration lab means you can definitely land interviews if you market yourself correctly. Instead of chasing that perfect Azure admin title, aim for junior sysadmin, M365 admin, or cloud support roles. Highlight your migration lab on your CV like it's real project work—be clear about what you built. Apply widely while also picking up one additional skill that shows practical thinking, like Intune or backup/restore solutions.
Just keep looking, even if it's for smaller roles with more hands-on responsibilities. It's similar to my journey about 20 years ago; real experience matters most. I worked helpdesk and simultaneously grabbed some chances to delve into sysadmin tasks, which added some serious weight to my resume. I job-hopped a bit, but those experiences helped me secure a position at a Fortune 500 company. Keep in mind that having those certifications is great, but at some point, it’s about getting real-world experience.
I say go ahead and apply now! A year in support plus your AZ-104 and that migration lab makes you stand out among junior applicants. More certifications won't fill the crucial gap of real production experience, and that's something you can only gain on the job. Just a tip: when you present your lab in your resume, frame it as a problem you solved, like 'Migrated on-prem AD to Azure with hybrid identity' instead of just saying you completed a lab. That shows you can manage your own project. Don't be hesitant to apply, even if it’s in managed service providers (MSPs) — they can get you into real-world situations quickly.
Trying to get into an MSP could be smart! They give you a chance to learn a lot quickly, although the environment can be a bit tough. Terraform is a solid choice since it's applicable beyond just Microsoft technologies, and it's not too hard to prepare for. Also, if you're looking into getting into an MSP, they often need a certain number of certified staff to maintain their status as Microsoft solution providers. Just do a little research to see what’s required!
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