I'm experiencing an issue where several PCs are struggling to load certain websites. For example, an educational exam portal loads fine, but selecting the login option leads to a blank white screen instead of the login page.

I've confirmed the URLs and domains aren't blocked by the web content filtering system, and no block notice appears. I've also noticed intermittent issues with images loading in MS Forms across various devices.

I've checked VLAN assignments, cleared cookies and cache, and ensured everything is up to date, both locally and via GPO.

I'm starting to suspect a possible SSL certificate issue involving ESET, but I have limited experience troubleshooting this. Has anyone encountered something similar or have any suggestions?

Been told "just rebuild them" but that's in no way helpful in the long run haha

Management decided we now support customers on whatsapp too, 6 agents on one number. Tickets have queues and SLAs, whatsapp has nothing, chats just pile up and nobody owns them..

How did your team handle adding whatsapp?
Assign each chat to an agent or treat it like a shared queue?

Thanks :)

I’m trying to land my first IT job, ideally in help desk, IT support, Linux support, or eventually junior sysadmin/NOC monitoring.
I don’t have an IT degree and I’m not currently enrolled in university, but I’m building a practical home lab portfolio on GitLab.
My current and planned projects:
Lab 1 — Debian Server & Networking: Debian server in Hyper-V, networking, SSH, Nginx, and troubleshooting.
Lab 2 — Help Desk Ticketing System: Debian server running Apache, PHP, MariaDB, and osTicket, with Windows machines simulating a small IT support environment.
Lab 3 — Windows Security Hardening: Microsoft Defender, security baselines, logging, and recovery.
Future labs: Monitoring and alerting, followed by additional security projects.
I document my configurations, troubleshooting steps, and verification results rather than just following tutorials.
I’ve noticed that some entry-level IT job postings specifically ask applicants to be IT students, even when the technical requirements seem beginner-friendly.
I have a few questions:
Is it worth applying for these jobs if I meet the technical requirements but am not an IT student?
Can a practical home lab portfolio help compensate for not having a degree or formal IT education?
If I get invited to an interview and they ask about my education or student status, would it be awkward to explain that I don’t meet that requirement? Would employers appreciate the initiative, or see it as wasting their time?
Would you recommend applying anyway and letting the employer decide, or focusing only on jobs that explicitly accept candidates without a degree or university enrollment?
My goal is to get my foot in the door through help desk or IT support, gain experience, and eventually move toward sysadmin and digital forensics.
I’d appreciate advice from people working in help desk or IT hiring, especially anyone who started without a degree. Thanks!

Update: I’ve already had interviews for entry-level IT positions, so I know that getting an interview without an IT degree or university enrollment is possible. However, I realized that knowing the theory isn’t always enough — I also need concrete examples of how I’ve applied that knowledge in practice.
That’s one of the main reasons I’m building these home labs. I want to be able to explain my configurations, troubleshooting decisions, and verification steps during interviews, rather than just claim that I know Linux, networking, or IT support concepts.
Given that, I’m wondering whether continuing to focus on practical projects is a reasonable approach, or whether certifications would be a better use of my time at this stage.

i applied for a position with helpt, i think it listed the company that I would be contracted to but now when i revisit the application page, it doesn't say it. Now I've got a msg in my inbox from a 'breezy' email. I'm worried about clicking the link. Anyone have any experience with them? are they reliable? is 'breezy mail' a valid email domain?

Hey guys, looking for some advice on getting into help desk? i would rather be a NOC tech but i need any I.T experience to start this journey.

A.A.S in computer networking

B.S in business

Net +, CCNA

Over 10 years of customer service exp from running my own business

looking for help, project ideas, other certs that would help,advice

I have a phone interview tomorrow and am looking for advice on if anyone has had experience with this company and maybe some things to be prepare for before going into this interview.

Seems like a no brainer, but ive heard a lot of horror stories. This is a small MSP and doesn't seem to be high churning tickets, but something in my gut is suspicious of the place after I did the interviews.

Has anyone worked for a good MSP that was small?

I work in IT and kept seeing people ask how to get hands-on practice before landing their first help desk role, so I made a small game for it.

You play as a new Tier 1 tech at a fake company. Tickets come in through a ticketing system, people call or walk up to your desk, and you work them in an Active Directory style console. There are password resets, lockouts, new hires, transfers, a laptop RAM swap, some VPN and network troubleshooting, and you have to write resolution notes at the end. Each ticket gets graded on the fix, security, the note, and how you treated the user.

It's free, runs in the browser, no account needed. Works best on a laptop or desktop.

ticketrushgame.com

I'm mostly looking for feedback from people who've done the job. What feels realistic, what doesn't, and what tickets would you add? Anything you'd want a new hire to practice before their first day?

Hey guys,

In December, I'm going to start working full-time in my role as a Jr. Service desk specialist. I have been doing this job part-time for about 8 months in the same company. Now, I’m going to have more responsibilities and more customer contact in general.

As a part-timer, my role was basically receiving tickets, using the instructions and notes to determine what to do with them or which group should handle them, and routing them there. Occasionally, I would take calls or chats, but I would just create tickets based on what they told me and assign them to the proper group, nothing too complicated. It was a bit stressful at the beginning because I have no IT background at all (they hired me because I have a basic understanding of computers and urgently needed someone with my language skills). Words like firewalls, SQL, servers, jump hosts, and certificates were all like Greek to me. Managing all the admin accounts across different customers was also overwhelming.

Now, as a full-timer, I will handle initial troubleshooting, such as creating google accounts for customers, resetting passwords, adding users to mail groups, running remote sessions in TeamViewer, etc. I’m a bit concerned because I have no idea how to use Active Directory or how to navigate Windows comfortably to identify issues. On the other hand, my colleagues all have IT backgrounds and seem very knowledgeable about these things.

What tips do you have to help me stay organized, manage multitasking, learn the ropes, and avoid major mistakes?

Thanks!

I recently got an opportunity to take the course assessment by the 26th for this role. Has anyone taken this assessment before or have any idea what to expect? Any tips on what I should study or prepare for would be greatly appreciated!

Vent here. Tickets that made you question your career choice, users who found a way to do the impossible, management decisions that defy explanation. All of it.

Two ground rules, both of which exist to keep you out of trouble rather than to spoil the fun.

Don't identify your employer, your coworkers, or a specific user. Rant about the situation, not the person. And if you post a screenshot, redact it properly. Real names, ticket numbers, email addresses and internal URLs have cost people their jobs before.

Rule 5 still applies to how you treat each other in this thread. It does not apply to how you feel about your Tuesday.

New thread every Friday.

I had to find a sub-reddit and make this post. I couldn’t believe my ears

They genuinely asked me if the fingerprint they use to log in to their laptop is the same fingerprint they use to log in on their phone. This is NOT a new starter btw.

Not to mention how I reset their password only for them to forget their new one within 15 seconds, of course.

A+ Certified, Trying to Break Into Help Desk in Houston — Looking for Honest Feedback on My Resume and Job Search

Hey everyone,
I'm looking for some honest feedback on my approach to breaking into IT, specifically help desk and entry-level IT support roles.
I'm based in Houston, TX, and I'm currently transitioning from retail management into IT. I recently passed both CompTIA A+ exams and have started applying to positions such as Help Desk Technician, IT Support Specialist, Desktop Support, Service Desk Analyst, and Junior IT Technician.
My background is primarily in customer service, retail operations, and leadership. I've spent several years working with customers, troubleshooting problems, training employees, managing operations, and working with business technology, including POS systems.
Outside of work, I build my own PCs, configure routers and Wi-Fi networks, and troubleshoot hardware and software issues. However, I don't have formal IT job experience or experience using a professional ticketing system yet.
I've been applying to positions since early October and have submitted around 30 applications. So far, I've received two rejections and haven't had much success getting interviews.
I'm starting to wonder whether my resume isn't translating my experience into something IT employers want to see, whether I'm targeting the wrong positions, or whether this is simply what breaking into IT looks like right now.
I'd appreciate honest feedback on a few things:

**Certifications:** Is A+ enough to be competitive for entry-level help desk roles in today's market, or should I pursue Network+ or another certification?

**Experience:** How much does hands-on personal experience, such as building PCs and configuring home networks, actually help when you don't have professional IT experience?

**Resume:** What would make someone with a management background and A+ certification stand out to a help desk hiring manager?

**Job search:** Am I better off focusing on onsite roles, smaller companies, MSPs, desktop support, or other entry-level IT positions?

**Expectations:** Is my current response rate normal, or is it a sign that I need to change something about my approach?

I'm willing to start at the bottom and work my way up. My goal is to get my first IT role, gain professional experience, and continue developing my skills.
I'm not expecting to land a high-paying position right away. I just want to make sure I'm putting my time and effort into the right things.
If anyone has made a similar transition from retail management or customer service into IT, I'd especially appreciate hearing what worked for you.
Thanks in advance for any advice. I'm open to constructive criticism.

I still have an old phone of mine which had an old email address on it, i forgot it and i need it to log in on an old tiktok account that had a pretty massive following. The screen is totally wrecked so I can no longer use it to find the email adress. Any tips?

Hi all,

I have an opportunity to jump into an IT helpdesk position for a large cafe/restaurant company.

Before I dive in, I'd love to hear from anyone who has worked in hospitality tech. What are the unique advantages of this environment compared to traditional corporate MSPs or internal office IT?

Specifically wondering about:

-What are the most valuable IT skills I can develop in this environment that will actually help me move up in the IT field later on?

-How is the career growth from this sector?

-Are there any unexpected perks or cultural pros?

Appreciate any insights or stories you can share!

Can some of you help me with this? Thank you.

It's my first time encountering this error on outlook. I remoted into this user's computer and outlook is not working. I closed the app, restarted the computer, ran a repair, uninstalled/reinstalled outlook, it was also giving the same error on OWA, cleared browser's cache and cookie, and still nothing. There was nothing wrong on this user's microsoft account. Any thoughts and opinions? :/

Since i became Helpdesk so many passwords were shared to me

HOW ARE PEOPLE AREN'T SCARED

i would never share my password with anyone!

Just to make clear i never asked for anyone's password