Learn about the skills and qualifications needed for a career as a help desk technician, IT support specialist or similar, and how these roles keep organizational technology systems running smoothly.
IT support covers a wide variety of skills and industries, from data analysis to customer service and beyond. With so many options and opportunities available, it can be tricky to know where to start. On Coursera, you'll find expert resources to support your goals, whether you're just starting out or are ready to take the next step in your career. Explore IT support topics, including:
Though this depends on the role, many entry-level IT positions request some knowledge of operating systems, computer security, networking principles, and troubleshooting. If you want to go into software or web development, a versatile and popular programming language like Python can be good to learn.
If you’re stuck, try finding a few positions you’re interested in on a job search website to see what skills are commonly requested.
Typically, an IT certification refers to a qualification you receive that shows your competency in a specific field of information technology (IT). To get a certification, you generally must pass an exam that tests your capabilities in the field. Read this article about 10 Essential IT Certifications.
When we think of entry-level IT jobs, we often think of support specialists who help troubleshoot computer issues. However, the field extends well beyond the help desk. Some in-demand entry-level IT jobs include computer support specialist, web developer, junior systems administrator, junior systems analyst, and site reliability engineer. Read this article for details about more entry-level IT jobs.
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![[Featured image] IT learner in a pink blouse sits at a desk with a laptop and book and considers which entry-level IT certification to get.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/14lLHlq87ar3b4D3iUnyjp/a4a73e79a8de20871f2e7433792306fb/best-IT-certifications_1500x680.JPG?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] Two women working in IT talking to each other in the workplace.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/7EBObvHmmFvTIlHi1HzACg/1a11138cebb6bd104933c052d9a14c29/GettyImages-1146500478.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A woman works on her laptop at home, preparing to earn the TOGAF certification.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1wV90ftiMvmZNkgnWr5owJ/dde4c7d9c039234e574130ac1a2bbd6e/GettyImages-1166429741.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A man sits at a table with his laptop and prepares to earn the SC-900 certification.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6hFrZzlK21w8cVhCVgQP8b/0eef3b3ad68856a0d0753bd756c75665/GettyImages-1265972394.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A man sits at a laptop earning his RHCSA certification.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1IlNpRFYe6Ixlm844Rar7T/f52016bc204e603bb83cf89082638440/GettyImages-514411129.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
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![[Featured Image] A woman sits in her kitchen and uses her laptop to research whether she should earn IT certifications or a degree for her career path.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/4GiWMOsQJa6rvknjvVuYYL/ba36341019302f7130ff47431e5d6c4e/GettyImages-1961218042.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A man sits at a laptop in his home and explores a potential Linux career path for his future.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6rwWZj8zk0fir4CVYfboCZ/0c3a58674655056ffbb67c86678db05d/GettyImages-1618527516.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] An IT specialist without a degree chats virtually with a customer from her office.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1XUJwM6EeMUvYCRMrIE6n3/3ee9acd4aa406ac548a0b6623a6dd8f2/GettyImages-1346576524.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
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![[Featured image] A person wearing a plaid shirt sits at a desk and reviews code using a laptop and a separate display monitor.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/lMFrCLucswtJvdR3cGiJB/b445755eb8c4cdd8e30f4b2d260271e3/GettyImages-1255905201.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
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