Is a Helpdesk Job Necessary for a Career in Pentesting/Red Teaming?

The author, who is pursuing degrees in Infocomm and Security and Computer Science with a minor in Cybersecurity, questions the common advice to start with a helpdesk job for a career in pentesting/red teaming. They are actively participating in CTFs on platforms like Hack The Box and TryHackMe, and hold the CEH certification with plans for CHFI, ServiceNow CSA, and retaking CompTIA Security+. While helpdesk jobs offer a broad IT foundation and soft skills, they may not be the most direct path to specialized roles like pentesting/red teaming. Alternative entry points include SOC Analyst or Junior Penetration Tester roles, which provide more relevant experience. Certifications like OSCP and practical experience through CTFs and bug bounties are highly valued in the pentesting community. The Reddit discussion indicates that while helpdesk jobs can be beneficial, they are not strictly necessary. The focus should be on gaining specialized skills and experience relevant to the desired role. For the author, continuing to build practical skills and obtaining targeted certifications may be more beneficial than starting with a helpdesk position.