7 Years "Shadow IT" + New A+ cert: How do I market myself when my title is "CSR" and where do I look?

I need a reality check on my job search. I’ve been A+ certified for about six weeks, but I’m struggling to find roles that fit or even rolls at all. Maybe I am doing something wrong

**The Context:**

My official title is **Customer Service Rep , (last 8 years)** but for the last **7 years**, I have essentially run the entire IT department for the company while also being a CS manager. I handle everything: hardware procurement, networking, troubleshooting, and internal systems management, I laid out the whole wiring for all 20 computers on our floor, Cat6 installed and servers installed .

I’m a one-person shop, but my paycheck and title say "CSR."

**The Problem:**

When I search for "A+ jobs," I mostly see entry-level help desk roles that pay less than I make now. When I search for mid-level roles, I’m worried they see "CSR" on my resume and immediately move on.

**I have two main questions for the group:**

1. **The Search:** What should I actually be searching for? I’ve been looking locally but should I search for remote roles? What should I be searching for when looking for these types of jobs?

2. **The Resume:** How do I list 7 years of "Head of IT" experience when my official HR title is Customer Service? How does a resume even look good when it’s basically one job for the last 8 years (IT has been 7) , Is gonna be mostly blank 😂

3. **The Cert:** Is the A+ enough to bridge this gap, or am I stuck in no-man's-land until I get a Net+ or Sec+?

I have also opened up my own IT shop that is insured and certified as of now but it’s so new that it’s no where near ready to support anything big .

Any advice would be great. Thank you 🙏