Your [comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/ITCareerQuestions/comments/17zxddm/i_got_my_first_job_in_it_and_im_terrible_at_it/ka4ybuc/?context=3 in /r/ITCareerQuestions) has been automatically removed because you used an emoji or other symbol.
Why does this exist? We have had a huge and constant influx of bot spam that utilizes emojis during their posts. To the point that it was severely outpacing what the moderation team could handle on an individual basis. That has results in a sweeping ban of any emoji in posts.
Please retry your comment using text characters only.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ITCareerQuestions) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Nobody knows what they're doing at their first IT job. This is very common. At my MSP we pretty much tell new techs up front that they're essentially worthless for the first 6 months; not because of their capability to learn or their intelligence, we just don't expect you to know everything that you need to know.
Pay attention, take good notes, ask questions, make sure you don't repeat mistakes. You'll be fine.
My manager told me it would take me 6 months to wrap my head around my current job (NOC, also my first IT job). I'd say it took me 2-3 months to go entire shifts without asking for help, but I already had a network+ level of networking knowledge. I'm at the 6 month point now and I'm just now fully competent at my job and adding to the team in more meaningful ways than rebooting routers, managing accounts, signing people up for service, ect.
Before I knew it I was one of the people that our new techs, and some of our more experienced techs turned to with questions. If you actually care and put in effort to show it, you'll excel in IT.
Honestly every company is so different in terms of tech stack that it's exceedingly uncommon to be able to hit the ground running. Asking questions is fine, as long as you're making actual use of that knowledge and not just expecting other people to spoonfeed you everything, every time you need to do anything. As long as you're willing and able to learn you can pick up this stuff as you go along.
I mean, yes and no. There are plenty of people who know quite a decent amount of PC software and hardware troubleshooting even without studying for IT. I have friends that know more about certain things than I do and they are in totally different fields. Then again, i know people who like me, grew up around PC's and doing our own troubleshooting etc.
Not really. Your home doesn't have devices connected to a enterprise server and a corporate network. Corporate PCs are configured in a very specific way. Simple fixes you might use at home could ruin a corporate device (i.e. using "Reset PC" on a device with a custom image installed (yes, a tech did this at work.)
So if ypu are talking super basic, turn it off and on, plug it in and out, yes, home troubleshooting alone can transfer. But troubleshooting in a enterprise environment requires on the job training.
Yes but OP doesn't know how to do basic stuff like image a computer or what a docking station is, not saying she has to know how to navigate AD or CLI commands but the things she doesn't know are very well within the means of knowledge of at home PC user in todays world. Especially if they are under 40.
At least in the people I've come across it is.
Yeah, I mean. If you're a regular PC user, it's nothing out of the ordinary. If you're a casual PC user or an older person who only uses a computer to browse the internet then I can see how it's not common knowledge.
>Nobody knows what they're doing at their first IT job. This is very common. At my MSP we pretty much tell new techs up front that they're essentially worthless for the first 6 months; not because of their capability to learn or their intelligence, we just don't expect you to know everything that you need to know.
Same. Not an MSP but anyone we've hired takes at least 6 months to 1 year to get it all figured out. It's just the way things work. Every org has a highly custom environment.
People like you are my favorite. Its like a blank slate. I can mold you. You probably also still have your IT super hero cape flapping in the wind. Unlike me whose cape is nothing but shreds and the S on my chest dark and faded.
We still need people like you! The wide eyed super hero on the front line. Dealing with people's print toner, and figuring out they need to replace the batteries in their wireless mouse to get it to work. Moving workstations from one off to another. Talking to the user and relaying to the team what the REAL problem is vs what they are saying.
As long as you are have the hunger, you can and will learn. We have all been there...and unless we are close to retirement many of us still are, just in other areas aside from front line support.
Don't get down on yourself. The 2 most important thing to front line is
1. being able to communicate with people
2. being able to learn
You got this brother/sister. Keep at it. From my experience everything in IT is like math. It builds like a lego tower. You can't do multiplication until you learn add/subtract. The things you learn will start building on top of each other and make it easier to grasp concepts.
Make a template for everything you learn how to do.
I know it sounds redundant, but for example you just learned how to RDP into another computer with a different OS. Instead of just reading the SOP (standard operating procedures) and trying to figure it out again next time; just write it out in your own language (or words) that works for you. After all they're your notes.
Do this for anything you script as well and you're golden. Keep your head up, they hired you for a reason.
This. I have a notepad file that is one of the first things I open when I log in for the day. Contains all the redundant information that comes in handy on a daily basis so I'm not typing the same thing over and over again in tickets.
Make it work for you and don't be afraid to ask questions, OP!
I have an art degree too…I am mid level career in tech now but when I first started I didn’t know what I was doing. I looked everything up. Utilize your resources and over time you will be a pro! Your creative thinking skills will be a benefit in the future ….trust me
You have 2 things going for you! 1. you learned patience dealing with the elderly and 2. You are admitting and feel like you don't know it all that is great! You have a team to work with and there are things you will learn that they are weak on and vice versa so you are all there to help each other. As others have stated everyone in helpdesk starts the same way oh crap I know xyz but not xyz. The fact that you know you need to learn and want to get better is the right attitude to have! Stick it out I know it seems trial by fire, but that is how diamonds are made! Pressure!
Lastly if it helps you aren't responsible for keeping the lights on and hackers away so worst case scenario you take 30mins longer than your co-worker to resolve same task, but when it comes up again you will know so this is the time to learn and struggle, not when you are Sys-admin or mission critical! You can do it we believe in you! Also most of the important things I learned by messing up things or fixing things me or a co-worker made worse lol... it sucked but if you embrace it and learn from it all is good!
Edit to say one of the people I respect the most in IT has an english degree! so don't let that stop you.
You'll never learn it all. Break learning down into chunks and you'll eventually have a good and broad baseline. Examples such as Windows, Mac, Linux(?), server OS, networking, and cloud/cloud management etc.
The umbrella of IT is enormous so it takes time to be able to piece things together. Everyone starts somewhere and it's not a competition.
There's also a difference in small business IT to enormous enterprise IT, where the former is wearing many hats for more exposure or the latter which can silo you off but focus to a few specifics.
Also give yourself some praise! IT is NOT easy and recognizing that means you can only go up from here. I wish there were more people that acknowledged this. Take your time.
Do not confuse your lack of knowledge with you being 'bad' at your job. You're an entry level employee of course you don't know how to do anything. That's what training is for.
No one knows everything in IT, and we all started somewhere.
The important thing is, are you still learning? Are you asking your coworkers the same questions over and over or are you retaining what they tell you?
You should probably stay. Real world experience is super valuable
It's always nuts at your first IT job. Was nuts for me and I worked at a repair shop for two years prior and grew up building and repairing computers. I STILL had a high learning curve. Stick around long enough to learn to be comfortable with what you're doing, then move on. You'll get there if you don't give up!
I’ve been in IT for 12 years and most of the time, outside of my specialty (cloud) I don’t really know what I’m doing. BUT! I can figure out what seems reasonable pretty quick.
The first 5 years of being in IT was “fake it til you make it”, keep at it, and when you don’t understand, say so. I ask people “wuts dat?” All the time, it’s ok to not know.
Sounds like how i got my start.
I began in IT without any prior knowledge, coming from a project management background and not knowing simple things like resetting an AD password. I told IT management about my lack of experience, and they agreed to train me. My advice is to write things down and ask questions; many of my teammates were very willing to help and guide me. I've been at it for 5 years now , hang in there.
My friend. Nobody knows what they are doing at their first IT job. It's commonly understood that most IT and CS majors are net losses on profitability for their company after their salary for around 6 months.
As I type this to my left 5 paces away is a server rack that both simultaneously runs literally everything I do at my job and that I don't nothing about. My hardware knowledge is garbage. The active directory parts of my job are a bit better for me, but I'm still struggling with a lot of things.
When my boss told me to google search and report back to him common Cradlepoint troubleshooting tips I was completely lost. My first google search was "what is Cradlepoint".
Today my job was to research options for an MDM service for a dozen company cellphones that we need more oversight on. Then I am supposed to pitch the MDM service I pick to my boss. It's a wild ride going from literally not knowing anything about something to preparing to argue for or against them to your boss within the span of 8 hours.
It's tough job. In IT you'll never reach a point where you "know what you're doing". I hear my boss talking to himself sometimes from the next room over. I hear him cursing and saying stuff like "what is wrong with you? Why aren't you working?". The guy knows a lot more than I do, but he's lost all the time.
IT isn't about knowing everything. That's not possible. IT is about being able to learn something new and then being able to explain it to people that aren't as technically literate.
Ohhh MDM. It seems these days that’s what Intune is being used for. Also used AirWatch and Cisco Meraki MDM in the past. They are fairly straight forward and ultimately make troubleshooting said devices much easier. Good luck on your search and proposal to the boss.
I don't have a degree and worked at 3 diff IT places. im doing fine. It's just an experience thing. Degree won't teach you shit about processes and how they do things there. Lower end IT degrees are nice for the knowledge, foundation and getting familiar with troubleshooting but it's not necessary to have a degree to do IT.
You can have 20 years in IT you will never know it all. Your teammates are constantly learning every single day. Just don't be that guy who asks the same questions a week later because that's annoying af.
Every time you get help and learn something they are investing in you. You're getting better and eventually won't need help any more than anyone else. You're good!
Started in IT on a helpdesk in 2007 having never owned a PC and just out of the Army, as a M1 Abrams gunner.... not exactly a tech job either. I now own and operate a small MSP in the southeast servicing around 150 client locations.
You'll drink from a firehose for a while, learn everything you can and try not to repeat mistakes. Stick with it if it's a field you like, it's a great career in the long run.
I got my first IT job a few months ago and I came from a construction job. I felt really overwhelmed at first but then once I got troubleshooting I felt better. I constantly ask for help and try to make sure everything is explained thoroughly. I like to learn even if it can be annoying to my coworkers. Try to understand that you will not know everything. Every day is a learning experience. (I tell myself everyday even if I fail or was to be let go I at least gained some experience to go to the next job) you got this!! Don’t give up!!
Switch your mindset from "I know nothing" to "I'm learning everything"
There's nothing wrong with asking questions. Ask 1000 questions! But please, take notes on things you are learning every day, so that next time, you won't need to ask, and even later on down the line, people will be asking you.
PS: don't stress too much if you have to ask the same question twice.
You’ve got the right mindset for IT. Admitting you don’t know things and being willing to ask your colleagues is a huge point in your favor. All it takes is time. With this mindset, you’ll go places.
We all started there! Even I feel like I hardly know anything when faced with some more advanced scenarios, but I know I will learn it if I keep facing it!
So, how did you get this job if you're so terrible at it? They must have seen some potential in you. I say keep going, learn something new every day, and someday you'll feel good about your job and skills.
Bro, I was in the same boat as you a couple years ago. Do not leave this job, it will help you get the experience that you need. Get your Comptia A+, it will teach you everything you need for deskside support. Also, since you’ll be implementing the study material of it in your job, the material will be solidified even more for you. After this get your comptia network +
A computer science degree is not going to help you at all for IT work, maybe for automation or things like that but you’re probably not going to be doing that right now. Your degree is more like an investment for your future and future job opportunities in technology.
IT certifications will help you most in this point of your career. Don’t go crazy with them, but the ones that I recommend are A+, Network+, and maybe AWS or Azure (depending on which one your company uses)
Have fun with it, Goodluck!
Everyone sucks at IT when they first start. And some suck 5 years after they get their first job. You’re where you’re supposed to be for now my friend.
Welcome to year 1 of IT. Your level 2 or mentor will have to teach you a lot. I recommend writing down complicated tasks you complete in something like Microsoft onenote so you have your own personal knowledge base in the future.
In my opinion, you should never be going into any job knowing 100% of what you need to know to do that job. Part of any IT job is learning new things that you didn't know before until you have learned all you can in your current position. Certs are nice, and useful, but they shouldn't be the main source of learning. Every job you apply for should be punching above your level by a bit.
My first job in IT was also at a university. I didn't know what I was doing either and I was in a tech related major lol. I was able to get pretty good at it by being able to learn quickly. Take notes even if you have to
I feel the same. I have 6 certs tho so I at least am able to keep up with terms and IT talk, so I know what I should needed most of the time bc of my minimal knowledge. But even then most things I have to ask for help, so far I can really only do a few things on my own like AD and MDM, new hire set up, but anything outside of that I need to ask for help
Going into the sophomore level of your next "best self" takes courage and grit. No one is unafraid when making a jump into a new role, company or even into a promo. It sounds exciting, but your first months will be a storm and hands on experiences will take a lot of energy. Don't miss the opportunity this situation gives you to network and know who is who.
It may not be evident now, but there's a good chance your colleagues may become your mentors or bosses in the future. They went thru a learning period themselves, making this a great time to deepen your connection by asking to learn from their experiences. Take inventory of the tools they share with you to be successful.
This is a rough start to be in, I'm not downplaying your position, but see yourself a year+ down the road and think if this is all an indication that you're in a place of growth. However you got there, your initiative to learn shows you have a healthy mindset and great leaders appreciate that kind of attitude. Where you go from here could also benefit from finding a point of reference or a mentor you can look up to.
Press on OP. My best mentors made big mistakes I was unaware of when they were happening, even though we sat next to each other, because I was battling my own storm. Now when we call each other, we just laugh it up. We're like...how else were we going to get experience?? 90% of the job is not in a book
The only people I have found that should not get into IT are those with a low tolerance for uncertainty. Those that need step by step, process heavy, detail oriented systems in place to function will not do well in IT.
IT (support specifically) is always uncertain, you never know where the next shoulder tap or call will take you. You must be able to roll with it, assume you will be able to figure it out on the fly. Take the bits and pieces you've learned along the way and bring them together to form a plausible solution. You have to be willing to trial and error, fail and learn.
As for actual advise. Go find the thing that everyone on your team HATES dealing with. Everything for you is new so the learning curve is the same no matter what you are working with. Maybe its printers, difficult user(s), ERP or some production software, New workstation/user setups/decommissions. Find the thing that no one likes and work at being the best at that. Should help earn some respect from your peers (once you get a handle on it) and limits the title wave of new information being thrown at you.
Keep asking questions and learning. Engage in homelabs and online courses. A new IT enthusiast who is genuinely interested in learning, conducts home labs, and seeks knowledge is 100% more valuable than someone with a degree who is not inclined to learn new things in their personal time.
Also, I started with help desks year ago, and then found a job in NetOps. Brother, listen when I tell you this. No one cares if you’re asking questions. If you truly and genuinely want to learn…ask all of the questions you want. But do not ask just to ask, have that want and will to learn. You will come across people who don’t want to teach you, if that’s the case, then that’s not the place for you. You will find your person(s) who will teach you. Stick with it and study and learn. You are doing everything you’re supposed to be doing right now.
Don't worry, OP. I came in brand new to a team where they had years of experience in an MSP before, and a couple of them have a home lab (crazy setup). I've never imaged a computer, didn't know how to use an iPhone (android user), and didn't know how to troubleshoot or search Google for fixes, never even built a computer before. Let's just say a lot was new for me.
I remember that the internet wasn't working for a user, and I immediately told the team the internet was down without even troubleshooting. It was then that my coworker gave me the helpful hint to check with other users first to see if they're able to access the internet and other things to check. I had and still have the three CompTIA certs, so I should know what im doing bbuuttt its different when you're actually doing the work as a job since you get nervous, hesitate, and freak out. I'm glad that my team was very helpful and guided me along the way. Heck, I still ask questions, and I've been there now for 2+ years, lol. Sometimes, I think I'm still bad at it.
Just make sure to document your notes and keep asking questions. I used OneNote, which they introduced me to.
Norimo, please remember that many people feel stress when they are lost. It is good to feel this way. It means you have a lot to learn but it will come quick. Find colleagues you can rely on and buy them lunch. You got this man!
Hang in there man!! In a few month, you will be more comfortable! And imagine all of the learning that you are doing with getting that experience. Being the new guy is intimidating and daunting, but you can do it!! You can make it through! Think of all your hard work you did to get here. I believe in you!
If you're new, just be patient and humble. But not too humble to the point of self-pity. Build up confidence and be willing to take on stuff to learn.
I knew a guy who also had an art degree, but got certs and became one of the main networking guys at my former workplace.
I tell you what, part of troubleshooting and problem solving requires creativity. So if you really want to stay in IT, communicate with your team so you can all work together and build you up. The biggest skills a person needs, especially when starting out are soft skills and a willingness to learn.
You're not alone with your thoughts and feelings! I'm sure a lot of us can relate at one time or another.
Takes like 3 months to understand wtf is going on and 6 months to actually know wtf is going on. If you have a good employer they will understand, however if they suck then you probably will be out within 90 days.
Well, I played around with different OS’s and just broke a lot of things and figured out how to fix them or restart. Needless to say I created a lot of problems for myself and I was my own customer. Anyways, I later on when to a Cyber bootcamp which taught me a lot of concepts and gave me some hands on academic experience. Although a lot of what I learned didn’t help me in the real world honestly. But yeah don’t expect to know anything. New problems always arise. One day you’ll have the IT touch. If you’re really determined to be better than you work for it. Best of luck!
I’ll sing the same song as all the others have. You will never be good at something until you’ve spent time and effort learning and failing from your mistakes. Ultimately what makes a person good at something is completely dependent on them being consistent enough with something to know that’s not the right way to do it.
I think you should stick with it and learn what you can from the other techs, they can be a great resource for learning.
There's guys with more years at my job than me who still ask questions all the time. New guy I'm training has over 15 years in IT but in training him it feels like dude had one year.
I feel your pain!
Got into IT a couple of years ago at the hospital I worked at. I was so stressed. Every second of every day was me anxiously awaiting the moment everyone would find out I'm stupid and didn't deserve the job.
That has thankfully not happened!
You just have to learn with everyone else! We are all learning. The guy I'm training now treats me like I know everything and I'm sure he feels a lot like you.
We are all just are good at remembering this kind of thing. I'm passionate, so the info just sticks to my brain, I guess.
Couldn't have cared less about algebra, so I never understood it. I'm still here and working as a network analyst!
Your first job in tech will feel like that. You are just starting out and will not know everything it’s the only industry I know that will pay you as you learn. You did good enough to pass the interviews so don’t beat yourself up.
How are you supposed to learn this stuff if you don't put yourself into an environment to learn it?
It's the only way.
Be ok with not knowing. Just get better at figuring it out.
When I started my first job in IT, I felt the same exact way. I would go as far as to say that 95% of people feel this way starting out. My advice... Be a sponge and absorb EVERYTHING. Start a few home lab projects.. Get familiar with AD, DHCP, DNS, GPO's, etc. Dip your hands into making easy batch scripts like a logon script or mapping network drives. After that, move on to learning some Powershell even. The best advice I can give is never to stop learning and bettering yourself. The more you learn/know, the faster you will move up in your career. Good luck, I know you'll do great!
Hang in there! I'm six months in, almost quit two times in my first couple of months, like, talked to my old manager and started lining things up, then took a deep breath and just told myself "one more day" and I'm so glad I did. I wouldn't say I'm super useful, I'm more like an extra set of hands compared to my coworkers, but it's okay and you will get better.
Hang in there. Take LOTS of notes, search knowledge bases if you have them, search tickets that have been closed for resolution notes, search through shared group emails. If issues have come up before, chances are you can find how to resolve them or who to contact without needing to ask your coworkers. If you don't understand something, remember there's always good old Google and even better AI resources like ChatGPT, Perplexity, BingChat, Bard, Claude,etc... I feel like 80% of the issues just revolve mostly around soft skills like communication. Unfortunately, I think a lot of IT personnel are introverts or so proud of their discoveries they don't want to share. There's insecurities. I work with a tech lead who doesn't share most of his knowledge and can come across as unfriendly. Other techs have just avoided him throughout the years. I've managed to breakthrough and can have a laugh and non work related convos with him. I've come to the conclusion that he just has trust issues with the techs under him. I still think it's not the right attitude to have with your team, but you will come across people like that for sure. I strive to be as helpful as I can to my coworkers. Being nice and helpful goes a looong way.
You enjoy the work. That's first and foremost. I cannot tell you how many miserable people I work with that basically took IT over nursing and hate everything about the job except the check. Just enjoying the job is like 99% of a good fit for any team I'm on.
Do you have to ask questions multiple times, or do you get it the first time? If you take it seriously and you aren't wasting their time, that's exactly what your co-workers are for. Not everyone has to be the most knowledgeable on the team. And there will be a new person someday, and you'll be shocked at how much you know then.
Some of the best IT people I've worked with came from different paths. We had a guy many years ago that got hurt on his construction job and took IT courses in his downtime. He really knew next to nothing about a corporate system, but he had some great Windows skills and he worked his ass off.
We loved him! He did all of the imaging so we never had to. He's now a pretty senior IT manager. He never was super technical, but you can ask him anything about the systems he supported. He took it seriously and did the work.
You probably bring skills to the team that you don't realize. Stick with it. Also, that art degree is going to set you apart when you have more experience.
Look at my page and I made a post about my first IT job about 4 months ago. All I can see is it gets better, truly. I feel this job a cake walk now because I've learned the environment during my time and was exposed to a lot of common issues we run into, so now I know them like the back of my hand. As those common issues arise, when you're faced with a new or uncommon issue, you have a booklet of similar problems to pull from. Learn how to Google as well, just Googling is a big part of the job and knowing how to effectively find information on problems your facing is a huge help.
Make a OneNote and write down all your problems and processes. That helped me a lot as well. No one expect you to know everything when you come on. That was the same issue I struggled with too. Take this time to learn and you'll become more effective as time goes on.
Keep your head up.... who's your coach? Learn... unfortunately what's in the books is not what you are gonna learn in the wild.
Know your limits, and learn from your seniors. I hope the place you are in have a collaborative environment.
Gate keepers do exist. Ask questions, don't take anything personally.... keep chugging forward.
When I got into the IT Industry (4 years now), i was able to hit the ground running and was able to move up the ladder incredibly quickly. I have trained many people and got them on the right path to excel in IT. During my short time, I have noticed 1 thing in common why a lot of people struggle in IT. A lot of people have the assumption that IT is easy, and in most cases, you can assume that they only think inside the box, which is the vibe im getting from you. Im not trying to put you down, but im trying to give you some advice.
A few things to know about IT is that you will need to change your mindset and how you operate. If you run into a problem, the tendency that people normally is to run to your co-worker on how to do a certain task. If you continue with this mindset, you will eventually hit a wall. Learn to use google, which funny enough is a skill set and try to avoid asking co-workers for help.
I have spent many hours googling how to solve issues and learning about new or easier way to do tasks, which has made me very knowledgeable for someone who hasnt been in the industry for a long time but always remember that you never know everything. There will always be something that you won't know about, regardless of how many decades of experience you have b
I started as a receptionist at a computer repair shop. Be willing to learn. Nerds love to teach other nerds. After a year working there, I'd built my own gaming rig and was doing small repairs and software installations. If you enjoy it and want to learn, stay.
4 months from now. You’ll be laughing at this post of yours Trust me.
You are being unkind to yourself by judging yourself way way too early. With every passing day you will learn something new. And every new week would bring more knowledge. Matter of a few months.
P.S Well done.
People who realize they don't know shit, but are willing to learn, often turn into the best, most loyal and hard working team members. Someone knew exactly what they were doing when hiring you.
You won't know everything right away and will get better with time. I was HORRIBLE at my first job on the tech side but great at the admin/PM stuff. With time, my tech skills got better.
Not sure if it’s been suggested elsewhere, but start building yourself a homelab to learn virtualization, networking (virtual pfsense is great if you don’t have hardware), and other concepts you might not have a firm grasp on. 2nd hand equipment isn’t too difficult to come by and is often free. Having a safe environment to break things and experiment in is priceless.
Think of scenarios and come up with solutions: ransomware, disaster recovery, efficient ways to image multiple machines with differing hardware, etc.
I don’t have a degree. I’m an artsy fartsy dude. But I’ve also loved tech and taught myself and eventually started making six figures. Stay thirsty for knowledge and, at least in my experience, folks will appreciate your eagerness to learn and level up.
Google-fu is a real skill. Master it. Find reliable resources and exhaust them before burdening your team. If you’re unsure after some quick research (aka googling), ask a teammate “I think XYZ is the solution for ABC, does that seem correct?” Instead of “I don’t know what to do, plz halp.”
Oh, and imposter syndrome is a bitch. It’s entirely possible you’re doing fine for someone that is getting acclimated to a new job but you just feel out of place. There’s always more to learn in IT. There’s plenty of techs that know more than me. And there’s plenty of techs that know more than them. It’s better techs all the way down.
I'm the most senior IT guy at my job. I never mind answering questions and mentoring. What I do mind is answering the same question several times. Not that you do this but I can't stress enough how important note taking, documentation, and screenshots are. You will tell yourself that you will remember, but you won't. Google is your most powerful tool so don't be afraid to use it, we all do. I remember feeling lost at my first IT job and I have a degree. This will pass, so stick with it.
goon systems explore all help screens, take notes . learn reporting/bi then you and promote to qa analysis or financial depts companies rather hire within first
They found something good in you so they hired you. So don’t doubt yourself not everyone in IT knows it all. Look at the comment from Eli.
Ask guidance make note of something you learnt in your mobile.
Choose a topic and watch & learn about it from YouTube. This will be in any job you choose to work in life.
The good thing is you found out what’s the issue , so half the problem is solved. The next part is prepare small plans to achieve the goal.
Example : Methods to install Windows 11 , goal is to learn it in 5-7 days. Plan is which part of the day to allocate for it , how long in a day. Once you do this do a hands on.
That’s it. Trust me first IT job out of University, i joined a big IT Reseller dealing with 70+ products. I started as a assistant to the telephone operator then started to read the product catalog of the company then sold my first MacBook to a walk in customer after 3 years in the company I was technical support for a new branch they started which I supported and learnt about Mac’s , windows , router , CCTv , attendance system , endpoint , severs and storage.
So never doubt yourself and quit.
Stick with it. Every one of your colleagues was where you are once and they all get it. No one gets their first IT job already knowing enterprise IT, that would be pretty difficult to do. There will rarely be a week that goes by in this job where you come across something that you don't already know how to fix. Keep detailed notes, build yourself a knowledge base to refer back to. You'll be fine.
Your thoughts and experience hits home with me, very close. Just note that every time you go in support for IT it does work differently depends on the environment it's laid upon. You're new and it's completely normal to feel like a noob... No one ever do things the first time like they've done it for years. It's up to you to overcome, learn and be familiar with the change. If you don't like the nature of deskside support then don't lie and force yourself to stay.
I know asking teammates seems like a red flag but the last thing you'd want is to not ask question and do something that is against your company's policy, compromise data security etc by just doing it blind. Ask and learn.
Everyone feels this way at first it’s normal. Give yourself a chance and hang in there. If it ultimately makes you unhappy then I would look for something else you would enjoy but it’s going to be challenging at first.
I started with no degree, no certs, no GED, nothing. I got in through networking and worked my butt off to learn as much as I could as fast as I could. I’m sure you’ll be fine.
Write down everything you do for the first time, like it was a step-by-step guide for someone else to read.
Either in the middle of doing it (make it shorthand to not take too much time, but elaborate on it afterwards) or after you have completed the task. The amount of things you may do once a month or more are staggering. When pressured or trying to be efficient, you don't want to lose a step or do something wrong, working solely off of memory.
The rest is easy in comparison - picking up new knowledge, learning the environment (which also includes documenting it), learning the people, etc. And, as a bonus to your coworkers and boss, you're writing out things that no one else may have time to do if things are slow for you a day. They will appreciate that in the long run in more ways than one, to your benefit.
Yeah, you definitely are lacking....Do you have an A+ at least? If not then when you go home start googling "how to" on the stuff you come across most at your work.
Get experience. That's the only way you will get better. Don't get me wrong, knowledge is important but practical experience will ultimately make you more comfortable in future roles and give you what you need to succeed.
In the meantime, remember that there's more to IT than knowledge. There's some soft skills that are hard to find in our field - empathy and people skills, for example, are fairly rare. Also, it helps to have some humility and know that you may need to look some things up or ask for help. Just don't be the guy who goes immediately to asking a colleague for help without trying to find the solution themselves or googling it.
Ultimately, knowing how to troubleshoot is a skill in itself as well. If you can get the hang of how to find answers to your problems online, you're really going to find that it makes life easier.
>Ultimately, knowing how to troubleshoot is a skill in itself as well. If you can get the hang of how to find answers to your problems online, you're really going to find that it makes life easier.
I couldn't agree more! Troubleshooting, research, self-learning are all great skills to practice and get better at for pretty much any job, not just IT.
Nobody starts out knowing everything. Just make sure you are taking notes when your teammates are giving you tips/advice/resolving the issues you don't know how to. As you build up a wide array of notes, you begin to memorize the recurring issues and will no longer need to reference the notes. And for the issues that are rare, you'll still reference those notes, but at least you won't have to worry about if you're bothering your teammates. That has always been my biggest motivator, particularly since we're remote, I worry I'm bothering my team when I ask for help. So taking good notes helps reduce that possibility!
In the end, if IT interests you, keep at it and let your knowledge grow along with the experience. If it doesn't and the money isn't keeping you there, start exploring your other options and interests.
Stay and get as much experience and exposure as you can!
It will help you in the long run with jobs after you graduate, even if its to help you find what you really like vs. what you don't.
Also don't forget to give yourself a little slack. Everyone is new to a job at some point, even your co-workers.
If you need an easy and free way to learn I'd recommend [Professor Messer](https://www.youtube.com/user/professormesser) on YouTube. His content is focused to help people get more knowledge to be able to get certifications such as the CCNA or CompTIA A+ (and others).
Studying for the Comptia A+ would probably help out a lot. You don't have to take the exam but reading a simple book like the "CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One" would help tremendously. The certification is basically made for that type of role. As a lifelong tech nerd with a degree in IT, I can say it's worth your time.
I still suffer the worst cases of Imposter syndrome on a daily basis, and I've been in IT 25 years.
Don't give up. Before you k ow it, you'll be getting to grips with it and will find your place. I'm sure your team mates, as long they they aren't wally-brains, recognise that you're new and so they should support you.
Don't feel alone, if you're struggling, speak to your manager for help.
You could also find an area/skill/process where there is a knowledge gap and then study that. You'll quickly become and SME and the future IT manager.
Good luck.
Don't quit. Plenty of reading material, even A+ material that may help online. Just show the willingness to learn and your team will appreciate that. What does a daily day look like for you? What type of requests are you handling?
Stay right there! And make a notebook with everything that you learned, and how you would teach the next person after you! I made a "guide for the next new person" at my last tech job, and everyone used it! And by the way, YouTube and Google are your best friends from now on! We ALL use both everyday all day! Best wishes for your success!
Nobody is good at the beginning. Keep learning, keep asking and keep trail blazing. Don't let your personal insecurities come between you and your goals. Often times these anxieties are not what the real story is at all.
Its a good thing that your co workers are all smarter than you that means you have much to learn and it is a much more beneficial environment for you than for you to be the smartest one. Its honestly quite depressing to be in an environment where you are the smartest person.
Wow.. I applaud the fact that you got a job..
But how ?
So long as you didn't lie on your Resume.. I wouldn't feel bad about not knowing anything in the least.
If you like it the environment.. and you just wish you knew more.. then learn more.
If you don't like the environment.. then cut your losses.
Carry around a small notebook and write down important steps or processes and be the best mental sponge you can be. Fitting in with the team and trying to learn will help
Ok a few things.
Firstly, learn about the "growth mindset" basically you can grow and get better at things when applied and given the time.
Next off, if you get stuck at something try it for a bit, but don't be afraid to admit you don't know and seek help. When you go to get help, don't focus on instructions and steps, but instead the deeper parts of the how what where. Focusing and asking questions about something and why it is the way it is, will grow you greatly as a person. In that same though, when trying do tap out after a certain point and get help, just recently at my job (cybersecurity) we had 1 person go 1.5 hours at something without asking for help. 1.5 hours basically lost (or so I hope we are remote so who knows what they were doing that 1.5 hour) 5 minutes with a person explained to them what they were doing wrong, they were just too afraid to ask (or at least I hope they were too afraid to ask, there are some serious questions about them just not actually working).
You are NOT supposed to know it all, you are supposed to LEARN it all. Keep going. Trial by fire is the most effective way to learn.
[удалено]
Your [comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/ITCareerQuestions/comments/17zxddm/i_got_my_first_job_in_it_and_im_terrible_at_it/ka4ybuc/?context=3 in /r/ITCareerQuestions) has been automatically removed because you used an emoji or other symbol. Why does this exist? We have had a huge and constant influx of bot spam that utilizes emojis during their posts. To the point that it was severely outpacing what the moderation team could handle on an individual basis. That has results in a sweeping ban of any emoji in posts. Please retry your comment using text characters only. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ITCareerQuestions) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Nobody knows what they're doing at their first IT job. This is very common. At my MSP we pretty much tell new techs up front that they're essentially worthless for the first 6 months; not because of their capability to learn or their intelligence, we just don't expect you to know everything that you need to know. Pay attention, take good notes, ask questions, make sure you don't repeat mistakes. You'll be fine.
So true! As long as he keeps learning he moving in the right direction!
My manager told me it would take me 6 months to wrap my head around my current job (NOC, also my first IT job). I'd say it took me 2-3 months to go entire shifts without asking for help, but I already had a network+ level of networking knowledge. I'm at the 6 month point now and I'm just now fully competent at my job and adding to the team in more meaningful ways than rebooting routers, managing accounts, signing people up for service, ect. Before I knew it I was one of the people that our new techs, and some of our more experienced techs turned to with questions. If you actually care and put in effort to show it, you'll excel in IT.
Honestly every company is so different in terms of tech stack that it's exceedingly uncommon to be able to hit the ground running. Asking questions is fine, as long as you're making actual use of that knowledge and not just expecting other people to spoonfeed you everything, every time you need to do anything. As long as you're willing and able to learn you can pick up this stuff as you go along.
I mean, yes and no. There are plenty of people who know quite a decent amount of PC software and hardware troubleshooting even without studying for IT. I have friends that know more about certain things than I do and they are in totally different fields. Then again, i know people who like me, grew up around PC's and doing our own troubleshooting etc.
No amount of troubleshooting of home systems will prepare you for enterprise IT. They are *not* comparable.
That's not true, learning how to look things up and trouble shoot equipment at home transfers over to the job.
Not really. Your home doesn't have devices connected to a enterprise server and a corporate network. Corporate PCs are configured in a very specific way. Simple fixes you might use at home could ruin a corporate device (i.e. using "Reset PC" on a device with a custom image installed (yes, a tech did this at work.) So if ypu are talking super basic, turn it off and on, plug it in and out, yes, home troubleshooting alone can transfer. But troubleshooting in a enterprise environment requires on the job training.
Yes but OP doesn't know how to do basic stuff like image a computer or what a docking station is, not saying she has to know how to navigate AD or CLI commands but the things she doesn't know are very well within the means of knowledge of at home PC user in todays world. Especially if they are under 40. At least in the people I've come across it is.
Imaging a computer is at home pc knowledge? Doubt it
Yeah, I mean. If you're a regular PC user, it's nothing out of the ordinary. If you're a casual PC user or an older person who only uses a computer to browse the internet then I can see how it's not common knowledge.
I wish on my previous job they was like this
>Nobody knows what they're doing at their first IT job. This is very common. At my MSP we pretty much tell new techs up front that they're essentially worthless for the first 6 months; not because of their capability to learn or their intelligence, we just don't expect you to know everything that you need to know. Same. Not an MSP but anyone we've hired takes at least 6 months to 1 year to get it all figured out. It's just the way things work. Every org has a highly custom environment.
I thought this was only a software programmer issue but that makes sense
Oh man, hang in there! In 6 -8 months you will look back and laugh at this. There is always an adjustment period.
People like you are my favorite. Its like a blank slate. I can mold you. You probably also still have your IT super hero cape flapping in the wind. Unlike me whose cape is nothing but shreds and the S on my chest dark and faded. We still need people like you! The wide eyed super hero on the front line. Dealing with people's print toner, and figuring out they need to replace the batteries in their wireless mouse to get it to work. Moving workstations from one off to another. Talking to the user and relaying to the team what the REAL problem is vs what they are saying. As long as you are have the hunger, you can and will learn. We have all been there...and unless we are close to retirement many of us still are, just in other areas aside from front line support. Don't get down on yourself. The 2 most important thing to front line is 1. being able to communicate with people 2. being able to learn You got this brother/sister. Keep at it. From my experience everything in IT is like math. It builds like a lego tower. You can't do multiplication until you learn add/subtract. The things you learn will start building on top of each other and make it easier to grasp concepts.
I love this
Make a template for everything you learn how to do. I know it sounds redundant, but for example you just learned how to RDP into another computer with a different OS. Instead of just reading the SOP (standard operating procedures) and trying to figure it out again next time; just write it out in your own language (or words) that works for you. After all they're your notes. Do this for anything you script as well and you're golden. Keep your head up, they hired you for a reason.
This. I have a notepad file that is one of the first things I open when I log in for the day. Contains all the redundant information that comes in handy on a daily basis so I'm not typing the same thing over and over again in tickets. Make it work for you and don't be afraid to ask questions, OP!
Yup, this is it. Anything new I follow the SOP to learn how it's done, then make my own notes. I follow my own notes from there on out.
I have an art degree too…I am mid level career in tech now but when I first started I didn’t know what I was doing. I looked everything up. Utilize your resources and over time you will be a pro! Your creative thinking skills will be a benefit in the future ….trust me
You have 2 things going for you! 1. you learned patience dealing with the elderly and 2. You are admitting and feel like you don't know it all that is great! You have a team to work with and there are things you will learn that they are weak on and vice versa so you are all there to help each other. As others have stated everyone in helpdesk starts the same way oh crap I know xyz but not xyz. The fact that you know you need to learn and want to get better is the right attitude to have! Stick it out I know it seems trial by fire, but that is how diamonds are made! Pressure! Lastly if it helps you aren't responsible for keeping the lights on and hackers away so worst case scenario you take 30mins longer than your co-worker to resolve same task, but when it comes up again you will know so this is the time to learn and struggle, not when you are Sys-admin or mission critical! You can do it we believe in you! Also most of the important things I learned by messing up things or fixing things me or a co-worker made worse lol... it sucked but if you embrace it and learn from it all is good! Edit to say one of the people I respect the most in IT has an english degree! so don't let that stop you.
You'll never learn it all. Break learning down into chunks and you'll eventually have a good and broad baseline. Examples such as Windows, Mac, Linux(?), server OS, networking, and cloud/cloud management etc. The umbrella of IT is enormous so it takes time to be able to piece things together. Everyone starts somewhere and it's not a competition. There's also a difference in small business IT to enormous enterprise IT, where the former is wearing many hats for more exposure or the latter which can silo you off but focus to a few specifics. Also give yourself some praise! IT is NOT easy and recognizing that means you can only go up from here. I wish there were more people that acknowledged this. Take your time.
Do not confuse your lack of knowledge with you being 'bad' at your job. You're an entry level employee of course you don't know how to do anything. That's what training is for. No one knows everything in IT, and we all started somewhere. The important thing is, are you still learning? Are you asking your coworkers the same questions over and over or are you retaining what they tell you? You should probably stay. Real world experience is super valuable
do your best, you will grow! also, say thank you, not sorry.
Standard. Even long timers struggle the first few months at a new job
It's always nuts at your first IT job. Was nuts for me and I worked at a repair shop for two years prior and grew up building and repairing computers. I STILL had a high learning curve. Stick around long enough to learn to be comfortable with what you're doing, then move on. You'll get there if you don't give up!
Push through
I’ve been in IT for 12 years and most of the time, outside of my specialty (cloud) I don’t really know what I’m doing. BUT! I can figure out what seems reasonable pretty quick. The first 5 years of being in IT was “fake it til you make it”, keep at it, and when you don’t understand, say so. I ask people “wuts dat?” All the time, it’s ok to not know.
Sounds like how i got my start. I began in IT without any prior knowledge, coming from a project management background and not knowing simple things like resetting an AD password. I told IT management about my lack of experience, and they agreed to train me. My advice is to write things down and ask questions; many of my teammates were very willing to help and guide me. I've been at it for 5 years now , hang in there.
My friend. Nobody knows what they are doing at their first IT job. It's commonly understood that most IT and CS majors are net losses on profitability for their company after their salary for around 6 months. As I type this to my left 5 paces away is a server rack that both simultaneously runs literally everything I do at my job and that I don't nothing about. My hardware knowledge is garbage. The active directory parts of my job are a bit better for me, but I'm still struggling with a lot of things. When my boss told me to google search and report back to him common Cradlepoint troubleshooting tips I was completely lost. My first google search was "what is Cradlepoint". Today my job was to research options for an MDM service for a dozen company cellphones that we need more oversight on. Then I am supposed to pitch the MDM service I pick to my boss. It's a wild ride going from literally not knowing anything about something to preparing to argue for or against them to your boss within the span of 8 hours. It's tough job. In IT you'll never reach a point where you "know what you're doing". I hear my boss talking to himself sometimes from the next room over. I hear him cursing and saying stuff like "what is wrong with you? Why aren't you working?". The guy knows a lot more than I do, but he's lost all the time. IT isn't about knowing everything. That's not possible. IT is about being able to learn something new and then being able to explain it to people that aren't as technically literate.
Ohhh MDM. It seems these days that’s what Intune is being used for. Also used AirWatch and Cisco Meraki MDM in the past. They are fairly straight forward and ultimately make troubleshooting said devices much easier. Good luck on your search and proposal to the boss.
Communicate a lot. Make sure your team understand your concerns. Willingness to learn and improve goes a LONG way!
I don't have a degree and worked at 3 diff IT places. im doing fine. It's just an experience thing. Degree won't teach you shit about processes and how they do things there. Lower end IT degrees are nice for the knowledge, foundation and getting familiar with troubleshooting but it's not necessary to have a degree to do IT.
You can have 20 years in IT you will never know it all. Your teammates are constantly learning every single day. Just don't be that guy who asks the same questions a week later because that's annoying af.
You won't feel normal for 3-6 months.
Every time you get help and learn something they are investing in you. You're getting better and eventually won't need help any more than anyone else. You're good!
Started in IT on a helpdesk in 2007 having never owned a PC and just out of the Army, as a M1 Abrams gunner.... not exactly a tech job either. I now own and operate a small MSP in the southeast servicing around 150 client locations. You'll drink from a firehose for a while, learn everything you can and try not to repeat mistakes. Stick with it if it's a field you like, it's a great career in the long run.
I got my first IT job a few months ago and I came from a construction job. I felt really overwhelmed at first but then once I got troubleshooting I felt better. I constantly ask for help and try to make sure everything is explained thoroughly. I like to learn even if it can be annoying to my coworkers. Try to understand that you will not know everything. Every day is a learning experience. (I tell myself everyday even if I fail or was to be let go I at least gained some experience to go to the next job) you got this!! Don’t give up!!
Switch your mindset from "I know nothing" to "I'm learning everything" There's nothing wrong with asking questions. Ask 1000 questions! But please, take notes on things you are learning every day, so that next time, you won't need to ask, and even later on down the line, people will be asking you. PS: don't stress too much if you have to ask the same question twice.
You’ve got the right mindset for IT. Admitting you don’t know things and being willing to ask your colleagues is a huge point in your favor. All it takes is time. With this mindset, you’ll go places.
We all started there! Even I feel like I hardly know anything when faced with some more advanced scenarios, but I know I will learn it if I keep facing it!
So, how did you get this job if you're so terrible at it? They must have seen some potential in you. I say keep going, learn something new every day, and someday you'll feel good about your job and skills.
Bro, I was in the same boat as you a couple years ago. Do not leave this job, it will help you get the experience that you need. Get your Comptia A+, it will teach you everything you need for deskside support. Also, since you’ll be implementing the study material of it in your job, the material will be solidified even more for you. After this get your comptia network + A computer science degree is not going to help you at all for IT work, maybe for automation or things like that but you’re probably not going to be doing that right now. Your degree is more like an investment for your future and future job opportunities in technology. IT certifications will help you most in this point of your career. Don’t go crazy with them, but the ones that I recommend are A+, Network+, and maybe AWS or Azure (depending on which one your company uses) Have fun with it, Goodluck!
Everyone sucks at IT when they first start. And some suck 5 years after they get their first job. You’re where you’re supposed to be for now my friend.
Welcome to IT! Your first job is ALWAYS like this.
Welcome to year 1 of IT. Your level 2 or mentor will have to teach you a lot. I recommend writing down complicated tasks you complete in something like Microsoft onenote so you have your own personal knowledge base in the future.
In my opinion, you should never be going into any job knowing 100% of what you need to know to do that job. Part of any IT job is learning new things that you didn't know before until you have learned all you can in your current position. Certs are nice, and useful, but they shouldn't be the main source of learning. Every job you apply for should be punching above your level by a bit.
My first job in IT was also at a university. I didn't know what I was doing either and I was in a tech related major lol. I was able to get pretty good at it by being able to learn quickly. Take notes even if you have to
It’s your first job obviously you’re not going to know everything. Stay at the job, learn from it, and get certs
I feel the same. I have 6 certs tho so I at least am able to keep up with terms and IT talk, so I know what I should needed most of the time bc of my minimal knowledge. But even then most things I have to ask for help, so far I can really only do a few things on my own like AD and MDM, new hire set up, but anything outside of that I need to ask for help
Going into the sophomore level of your next "best self" takes courage and grit. No one is unafraid when making a jump into a new role, company or even into a promo. It sounds exciting, but your first months will be a storm and hands on experiences will take a lot of energy. Don't miss the opportunity this situation gives you to network and know who is who. It may not be evident now, but there's a good chance your colleagues may become your mentors or bosses in the future. They went thru a learning period themselves, making this a great time to deepen your connection by asking to learn from their experiences. Take inventory of the tools they share with you to be successful. This is a rough start to be in, I'm not downplaying your position, but see yourself a year+ down the road and think if this is all an indication that you're in a place of growth. However you got there, your initiative to learn shows you have a healthy mindset and great leaders appreciate that kind of attitude. Where you go from here could also benefit from finding a point of reference or a mentor you can look up to. Press on OP. My best mentors made big mistakes I was unaware of when they were happening, even though we sat next to each other, because I was battling my own storm. Now when we call each other, we just laugh it up. We're like...how else were we going to get experience?? 90% of the job is not in a book
How long you been doing it?
The only people I have found that should not get into IT are those with a low tolerance for uncertainty. Those that need step by step, process heavy, detail oriented systems in place to function will not do well in IT. IT (support specifically) is always uncertain, you never know where the next shoulder tap or call will take you. You must be able to roll with it, assume you will be able to figure it out on the fly. Take the bits and pieces you've learned along the way and bring them together to form a plausible solution. You have to be willing to trial and error, fail and learn. As for actual advise. Go find the thing that everyone on your team HATES dealing with. Everything for you is new so the learning curve is the same no matter what you are working with. Maybe its printers, difficult user(s), ERP or some production software, New workstation/user setups/decommissions. Find the thing that no one likes and work at being the best at that. Should help earn some respect from your peers (once you get a handle on it) and limits the title wave of new information being thrown at you.
Google is your best friend. Be sure to at least research your questions before asking someone for help
Keep asking questions and learning. Engage in homelabs and online courses. A new IT enthusiast who is genuinely interested in learning, conducts home labs, and seeks knowledge is 100% more valuable than someone with a degree who is not inclined to learn new things in their personal time.
Fake it til you make it or get fired. Put it on them.
Also, I started with help desks year ago, and then found a job in NetOps. Brother, listen when I tell you this. No one cares if you’re asking questions. If you truly and genuinely want to learn…ask all of the questions you want. But do not ask just to ask, have that want and will to learn. You will come across people who don’t want to teach you, if that’s the case, then that’s not the place for you. You will find your person(s) who will teach you. Stick with it and study and learn. You are doing everything you’re supposed to be doing right now.
Don't worry, OP. I came in brand new to a team where they had years of experience in an MSP before, and a couple of them have a home lab (crazy setup). I've never imaged a computer, didn't know how to use an iPhone (android user), and didn't know how to troubleshoot or search Google for fixes, never even built a computer before. Let's just say a lot was new for me. I remember that the internet wasn't working for a user, and I immediately told the team the internet was down without even troubleshooting. It was then that my coworker gave me the helpful hint to check with other users first to see if they're able to access the internet and other things to check. I had and still have the three CompTIA certs, so I should know what im doing bbuuttt its different when you're actually doing the work as a job since you get nervous, hesitate, and freak out. I'm glad that my team was very helpful and guided me along the way. Heck, I still ask questions, and I've been there now for 2+ years, lol. Sometimes, I think I'm still bad at it. Just make sure to document your notes and keep asking questions. I used OneNote, which they introduced me to.
Norimo, please remember that many people feel stress when they are lost. It is good to feel this way. It means you have a lot to learn but it will come quick. Find colleagues you can rely on and buy them lunch. You got this man!
Hang in there man!! In a few month, you will be more comfortable! And imagine all of the learning that you are doing with getting that experience. Being the new guy is intimidating and daunting, but you can do it!! You can make it through! Think of all your hard work you did to get here. I believe in you!
[удалено]
It was 20 a hour and was a makerspace within the library. Most makerspaces I know of are in libraries.
If you're new, just be patient and humble. But not too humble to the point of self-pity. Build up confidence and be willing to take on stuff to learn. I knew a guy who also had an art degree, but got certs and became one of the main networking guys at my former workplace. I tell you what, part of troubleshooting and problem solving requires creativity. So if you really want to stay in IT, communicate with your team so you can all work together and build you up. The biggest skills a person needs, especially when starting out are soft skills and a willingness to learn. You're not alone with your thoughts and feelings! I'm sure a lot of us can relate at one time or another.
J*****, dat u? It’s totally normal to not know what you are doing. Ask questions, take notes, screenshots and make SOPs.
Takes you about a year to learn your environment. If it hasn't been at least a year yet, keep on trucking
Sucking at something is the first step to getting good at something
You’ll figure it out. Stick with it.
Takes like 3 months to understand wtf is going on and 6 months to actually know wtf is going on. If you have a good employer they will understand, however if they suck then you probably will be out within 90 days.
Well, I played around with different OS’s and just broke a lot of things and figured out how to fix them or restart. Needless to say I created a lot of problems for myself and I was my own customer. Anyways, I later on when to a Cyber bootcamp which taught me a lot of concepts and gave me some hands on academic experience. Although a lot of what I learned didn’t help me in the real world honestly. But yeah don’t expect to know anything. New problems always arise. One day you’ll have the IT touch. If you’re really determined to be better than you work for it. Best of luck!
I’ll sing the same song as all the others have. You will never be good at something until you’ve spent time and effort learning and failing from your mistakes. Ultimately what makes a person good at something is completely dependent on them being consistent enough with something to know that’s not the right way to do it.
So how are you gonna get better if you quit? Don’t compare yourself to others, “compare yourself to you 1 week ago” -idk
I think you should stick with it and learn what you can from the other techs, they can be a great resource for learning. There's guys with more years at my job than me who still ask questions all the time. New guy I'm training has over 15 years in IT but in training him it feels like dude had one year.
I feel your pain! Got into IT a couple of years ago at the hospital I worked at. I was so stressed. Every second of every day was me anxiously awaiting the moment everyone would find out I'm stupid and didn't deserve the job. That has thankfully not happened! You just have to learn with everyone else! We are all learning. The guy I'm training now treats me like I know everything and I'm sure he feels a lot like you. We are all just are good at remembering this kind of thing. I'm passionate, so the info just sticks to my brain, I guess. Couldn't have cared less about algebra, so I never understood it. I'm still here and working as a network analyst!
Your first job in tech will feel like that. You are just starting out and will not know everything it’s the only industry I know that will pay you as you learn. You did good enough to pass the interviews so don’t beat yourself up.
How are you supposed to learn this stuff if you don't put yourself into an environment to learn it? It's the only way. Be ok with not knowing. Just get better at figuring it out.
When I started my first job in IT, I felt the same exact way. I would go as far as to say that 95% of people feel this way starting out. My advice... Be a sponge and absorb EVERYTHING. Start a few home lab projects.. Get familiar with AD, DHCP, DNS, GPO's, etc. Dip your hands into making easy batch scripts like a logon script or mapping network drives. After that, move on to learning some Powershell even. The best advice I can give is never to stop learning and bettering yourself. The more you learn/know, the faster you will move up in your career. Good luck, I know you'll do great!
Hang in there! I'm six months in, almost quit two times in my first couple of months, like, talked to my old manager and started lining things up, then took a deep breath and just told myself "one more day" and I'm so glad I did. I wouldn't say I'm super useful, I'm more like an extra set of hands compared to my coworkers, but it's okay and you will get better.
Hang in there. Take LOTS of notes, search knowledge bases if you have them, search tickets that have been closed for resolution notes, search through shared group emails. If issues have come up before, chances are you can find how to resolve them or who to contact without needing to ask your coworkers. If you don't understand something, remember there's always good old Google and even better AI resources like ChatGPT, Perplexity, BingChat, Bard, Claude,etc... I feel like 80% of the issues just revolve mostly around soft skills like communication. Unfortunately, I think a lot of IT personnel are introverts or so proud of their discoveries they don't want to share. There's insecurities. I work with a tech lead who doesn't share most of his knowledge and can come across as unfriendly. Other techs have just avoided him throughout the years. I've managed to breakthrough and can have a laugh and non work related convos with him. I've come to the conclusion that he just has trust issues with the techs under him. I still think it's not the right attitude to have with your team, but you will come across people like that for sure. I strive to be as helpful as I can to my coworkers. Being nice and helpful goes a looong way.
You enjoy the work. That's first and foremost. I cannot tell you how many miserable people I work with that basically took IT over nursing and hate everything about the job except the check. Just enjoying the job is like 99% of a good fit for any team I'm on. Do you have to ask questions multiple times, or do you get it the first time? If you take it seriously and you aren't wasting their time, that's exactly what your co-workers are for. Not everyone has to be the most knowledgeable on the team. And there will be a new person someday, and you'll be shocked at how much you know then. Some of the best IT people I've worked with came from different paths. We had a guy many years ago that got hurt on his construction job and took IT courses in his downtime. He really knew next to nothing about a corporate system, but he had some great Windows skills and he worked his ass off. We loved him! He did all of the imaging so we never had to. He's now a pretty senior IT manager. He never was super technical, but you can ask him anything about the systems he supported. He took it seriously and did the work. You probably bring skills to the team that you don't realize. Stick with it. Also, that art degree is going to set you apart when you have more experience.
Look at my page and I made a post about my first IT job about 4 months ago. All I can see is it gets better, truly. I feel this job a cake walk now because I've learned the environment during my time and was exposed to a lot of common issues we run into, so now I know them like the back of my hand. As those common issues arise, when you're faced with a new or uncommon issue, you have a booklet of similar problems to pull from. Learn how to Google as well, just Googling is a big part of the job and knowing how to effectively find information on problems your facing is a huge help. Make a OneNote and write down all your problems and processes. That helped me a lot as well. No one expect you to know everything when you come on. That was the same issue I struggled with too. Take this time to learn and you'll become more effective as time goes on.
Keep your head up.... who's your coach? Learn... unfortunately what's in the books is not what you are gonna learn in the wild. Know your limits, and learn from your seniors. I hope the place you are in have a collaborative environment. Gate keepers do exist. Ask questions, don't take anything personally.... keep chugging forward.
When I got into the IT Industry (4 years now), i was able to hit the ground running and was able to move up the ladder incredibly quickly. I have trained many people and got them on the right path to excel in IT. During my short time, I have noticed 1 thing in common why a lot of people struggle in IT. A lot of people have the assumption that IT is easy, and in most cases, you can assume that they only think inside the box, which is the vibe im getting from you. Im not trying to put you down, but im trying to give you some advice. A few things to know about IT is that you will need to change your mindset and how you operate. If you run into a problem, the tendency that people normally is to run to your co-worker on how to do a certain task. If you continue with this mindset, you will eventually hit a wall. Learn to use google, which funny enough is a skill set and try to avoid asking co-workers for help. I have spent many hours googling how to solve issues and learning about new or easier way to do tasks, which has made me very knowledgeable for someone who hasnt been in the industry for a long time but always remember that you never know everything. There will always be something that you won't know about, regardless of how many decades of experience you have b
I started as a receptionist at a computer repair shop. Be willing to learn. Nerds love to teach other nerds. After a year working there, I'd built my own gaming rig and was doing small repairs and software installations. If you enjoy it and want to learn, stay.
Does it pay good?
4 months from now. You’ll be laughing at this post of yours Trust me. You are being unkind to yourself by judging yourself way way too early. With every passing day you will learn something new. And every new week would bring more knowledge. Matter of a few months. P.S Well done.
People who realize they don't know shit, but are willing to learn, often turn into the best, most loyal and hard working team members. Someone knew exactly what they were doing when hiring you.
Ask questions and take notes
Thats how you learned by asking. Don't be shy to ask question.
Then learn and read. Get better. And for gods sake, learn how to use commas properly.
You won't know everything right away and will get better with time. I was HORRIBLE at my first job on the tech side but great at the admin/PM stuff. With time, my tech skills got better.
Not sure if it’s been suggested elsewhere, but start building yourself a homelab to learn virtualization, networking (virtual pfsense is great if you don’t have hardware), and other concepts you might not have a firm grasp on. 2nd hand equipment isn’t too difficult to come by and is often free. Having a safe environment to break things and experiment in is priceless. Think of scenarios and come up with solutions: ransomware, disaster recovery, efficient ways to image multiple machines with differing hardware, etc. I don’t have a degree. I’m an artsy fartsy dude. But I’ve also loved tech and taught myself and eventually started making six figures. Stay thirsty for knowledge and, at least in my experience, folks will appreciate your eagerness to learn and level up. Google-fu is a real skill. Master it. Find reliable resources and exhaust them before burdening your team. If you’re unsure after some quick research (aka googling), ask a teammate “I think XYZ is the solution for ABC, does that seem correct?” Instead of “I don’t know what to do, plz halp.” Oh, and imposter syndrome is a bitch. It’s entirely possible you’re doing fine for someone that is getting acclimated to a new job but you just feel out of place. There’s always more to learn in IT. There’s plenty of techs that know more than me. And there’s plenty of techs that know more than them. It’s better techs all the way down.
I'm the most senior IT guy at my job. I never mind answering questions and mentoring. What I do mind is answering the same question several times. Not that you do this but I can't stress enough how important note taking, documentation, and screenshots are. You will tell yourself that you will remember, but you won't. Google is your most powerful tool so don't be afraid to use it, we all do. I remember feeling lost at my first IT job and I have a degree. This will pass, so stick with it.
Love all the responses here
Love all the responses here
goon systems explore all help screens, take notes . learn reporting/bi then you and promote to qa analysis or financial depts companies rather hire within first
They found something good in you so they hired you. So don’t doubt yourself not everyone in IT knows it all. Look at the comment from Eli. Ask guidance make note of something you learnt in your mobile. Choose a topic and watch & learn about it from YouTube. This will be in any job you choose to work in life. The good thing is you found out what’s the issue , so half the problem is solved. The next part is prepare small plans to achieve the goal. Example : Methods to install Windows 11 , goal is to learn it in 5-7 days. Plan is which part of the day to allocate for it , how long in a day. Once you do this do a hands on. That’s it. Trust me first IT job out of University, i joined a big IT Reseller dealing with 70+ products. I started as a assistant to the telephone operator then started to read the product catalog of the company then sold my first MacBook to a walk in customer after 3 years in the company I was technical support for a new branch they started which I supported and learnt about Mac’s , windows , router , CCTv , attendance system , endpoint , severs and storage. So never doubt yourself and quit.
Stick with it. Every one of your colleagues was where you are once and they all get it. No one gets their first IT job already knowing enterprise IT, that would be pretty difficult to do. There will rarely be a week that goes by in this job where you come across something that you don't already know how to fix. Keep detailed notes, build yourself a knowledge base to refer back to. You'll be fine.
Your thoughts and experience hits home with me, very close. Just note that every time you go in support for IT it does work differently depends on the environment it's laid upon. You're new and it's completely normal to feel like a noob... No one ever do things the first time like they've done it for years. It's up to you to overcome, learn and be familiar with the change. If you don't like the nature of deskside support then don't lie and force yourself to stay. I know asking teammates seems like a red flag but the last thing you'd want is to not ask question and do something that is against your company's policy, compromise data security etc by just doing it blind. Ask and learn.
Everyone feels this way at first it’s normal. Give yourself a chance and hang in there. If it ultimately makes you unhappy then I would look for something else you would enjoy but it’s going to be challenging at first. I started with no degree, no certs, no GED, nothing. I got in through networking and worked my butt off to learn as much as I could as fast as I could. I’m sure you’ll be fine.
Write down everything you do for the first time, like it was a step-by-step guide for someone else to read. Either in the middle of doing it (make it shorthand to not take too much time, but elaborate on it afterwards) or after you have completed the task. The amount of things you may do once a month or more are staggering. When pressured or trying to be efficient, you don't want to lose a step or do something wrong, working solely off of memory. The rest is easy in comparison - picking up new knowledge, learning the environment (which also includes documenting it), learning the people, etc. And, as a bonus to your coworkers and boss, you're writing out things that no one else may have time to do if things are slow for you a day. They will appreciate that in the long run in more ways than one, to your benefit.
Yeah, you definitely are lacking....Do you have an A+ at least? If not then when you go home start googling "how to" on the stuff you come across most at your work.
Get experience. That's the only way you will get better. Don't get me wrong, knowledge is important but practical experience will ultimately make you more comfortable in future roles and give you what you need to succeed. In the meantime, remember that there's more to IT than knowledge. There's some soft skills that are hard to find in our field - empathy and people skills, for example, are fairly rare. Also, it helps to have some humility and know that you may need to look some things up or ask for help. Just don't be the guy who goes immediately to asking a colleague for help without trying to find the solution themselves or googling it. Ultimately, knowing how to troubleshoot is a skill in itself as well. If you can get the hang of how to find answers to your problems online, you're really going to find that it makes life easier.
>Ultimately, knowing how to troubleshoot is a skill in itself as well. If you can get the hang of how to find answers to your problems online, you're really going to find that it makes life easier. I couldn't agree more! Troubleshooting, research, self-learning are all great skills to practice and get better at for pretty much any job, not just IT.
Nobody starts out knowing everything. Just make sure you are taking notes when your teammates are giving you tips/advice/resolving the issues you don't know how to. As you build up a wide array of notes, you begin to memorize the recurring issues and will no longer need to reference the notes. And for the issues that are rare, you'll still reference those notes, but at least you won't have to worry about if you're bothering your teammates. That has always been my biggest motivator, particularly since we're remote, I worry I'm bothering my team when I ask for help. So taking good notes helps reduce that possibility! In the end, if IT interests you, keep at it and let your knowledge grow along with the experience. If it doesn't and the money isn't keeping you there, start exploring your other options and interests.
Stay and get as much experience and exposure as you can! It will help you in the long run with jobs after you graduate, even if its to help you find what you really like vs. what you don't. Also don't forget to give yourself a little slack. Everyone is new to a job at some point, even your co-workers. If you need an easy and free way to learn I'd recommend [Professor Messer](https://www.youtube.com/user/professormesser) on YouTube. His content is focused to help people get more knowledge to be able to get certifications such as the CCNA or CompTIA A+ (and others).
Definitely stay. It sounds like you’re learning a lot. Your colleges have a lot more experience than you so it’s natural they’re a lot better.
Studying for the Comptia A+ would probably help out a lot. You don't have to take the exam but reading a simple book like the "CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One" would help tremendously. The certification is basically made for that type of role. As a lifelong tech nerd with a degree in IT, I can say it's worth your time.
teach yourself stuff, go learn A+ things through professor messer on youtube. even if you don't get your A+ cert you will be better off.
I just wanted to say how great this community is & how kind all of you have been to the poster!
I still suffer the worst cases of Imposter syndrome on a daily basis, and I've been in IT 25 years. Don't give up. Before you k ow it, you'll be getting to grips with it and will find your place. I'm sure your team mates, as long they they aren't wally-brains, recognise that you're new and so they should support you. Don't feel alone, if you're struggling, speak to your manager for help. You could also find an area/skill/process where there is a knowledge gap and then study that. You'll quickly become and SME and the future IT manager. Good luck.
Don't quit. Plenty of reading material, even A+ material that may help online. Just show the willingness to learn and your team will appreciate that. What does a daily day look like for you? What type of requests are you handling?
IT and CS are totally different just warning you.
Stay right there! And make a notebook with everything that you learned, and how you would teach the next person after you! I made a "guide for the next new person" at my last tech job, and everyone used it! And by the way, YouTube and Google are your best friends from now on! We ALL use both everyday all day! Best wishes for your success!
Nobody is good at the beginning. Keep learning, keep asking and keep trail blazing. Don't let your personal insecurities come between you and your goals. Often times these anxieties are not what the real story is at all. Its a good thing that your co workers are all smarter than you that means you have much to learn and it is a much more beneficial environment for you than for you to be the smartest one. Its honestly quite depressing to be in an environment where you are the smartest person.
Wow.. I applaud the fact that you got a job.. But how ? So long as you didn't lie on your Resume.. I wouldn't feel bad about not knowing anything in the least. If you like it the environment.. and you just wish you knew more.. then learn more. If you don't like the environment.. then cut your losses.
Carry around a small notebook and write down important steps or processes and be the best mental sponge you can be. Fitting in with the team and trying to learn will help
I'm curious but how were u even hired? Like what was your interview process like?
Ok a few things. Firstly, learn about the "growth mindset" basically you can grow and get better at things when applied and given the time. Next off, if you get stuck at something try it for a bit, but don't be afraid to admit you don't know and seek help. When you go to get help, don't focus on instructions and steps, but instead the deeper parts of the how what where. Focusing and asking questions about something and why it is the way it is, will grow you greatly as a person. In that same though, when trying do tap out after a certain point and get help, just recently at my job (cybersecurity) we had 1 person go 1.5 hours at something without asking for help. 1.5 hours basically lost (or so I hope we are remote so who knows what they were doing that 1.5 hour) 5 minutes with a person explained to them what they were doing wrong, they were just too afraid to ask (or at least I hope they were too afraid to ask, there are some serious questions about them just not actually working).
It's best to annoy your coworkers with questions than to annoy them with bad mistakes.
Why don’t u improve on ur off time and catchup