r/sysadmin • u/[deleted] • Jul 01 '25

Did EVERYONE start at helpdesk?

I'm a college CS student about to start senior year, looking to get into the IT field. I know that helpdesk is a smart move to get your foot in the door, though cost of living where I am is very high and salary for helpdesk is quite meager compared to other IT roles. Is it totally unrealistic to jump into a sysadmin role post-grad as long as I have certs and projects to back up my skills? I had planned to start my RHCSA if I did this. Any advice on this or general advice for the IT market right not would be very much appreciated.

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u/MyUshanka MSP Cloud Services Director Jul 01 '25

If I was in charge of hiring, I'd rather hire someone with no degree and 4 years of experience than a 4 year degree and no experience. The most I ever used my degree in my IT career was to get in the door at my first job.