A lot of people starting out in #IT view Helpdesk/Desktop Support as a slog to endure before making it to "real" jobs.

This is not a very useful perspective.

While Helpdesk is a common entrypoint to the industry, it is also the clearest connection between technology and people. This is its greatest challenge, and its greatest value to anyone starting their career.

It's easy and lazy to be frustrated by users who "don't know better." Sure, many requests can be shockingly banal or outlandish. But every time someone needs _your_ help with technology, you have the opportunity to use your skills to make someone else's life better.

Ironically, it's not your technical skill your users will ultimately remember. They will remember whether you treated them with kindness, patience, and empathy. These are your greatest assets in the role—and all others in technology and life.

It's about service. I don't mean in the corpo "customer service" sort of way. However you slice it, Helpdesk is an opportunity to be of service to someone else. You can do with that as you wish, but I encourage you to take that chance to exercise those three assets: kindness, patience, and empathy.