Hey everyone! I'm looking to launch my IT career from square one and eventually become an Azure Engineer. My plan is to secure a 1st Line Service Desk Analyst position as my first step, then move on to a Junior Cloud Engineer role later.
Here's my situation: many entry-level Service Desk jobs in London require 1-2 years of experience, which I don't have. To tackle this challenge, I'm currently studying for the AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) certification and working on hands-on projects like setting up home labs with Active Directory in Azure and simulating ticketing systems.
I have a few questions:
1. Do you think the AZ-900 certification along with my lab work will be sufficient to land a 1st Line role in London?
2. Should I consider getting the CompTIA A+ certification first, or would focusing on Microsoft technologies (like Azure and Microsoft 365) provide a better advantage when applying for jobs?
3. Can anyone recommend specific Managed Service Providers or recruitment agencies in London that are known for hiring motivated juniors with no experience but solid lab project work?
Any advice or insights from those who have made a similar leap would be greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
For a first line role, I'd recommend focusing on Microsoft 365 more than AZ-900. It's a good start, but the reality is, most first line jobs will require knowledge of tools like Active Directory and Microsoft 365 administration since that’s what you’ll actually work with.
If I focus on Microsoft 365, should I consider the MS-900 certification as well? Are specific certifications needed for Active Directory and Entra?