My IT Job conundrum

The big question is, is how do I move up.

I'm in a job, which is OK. Paying about the market rate. I've been there for nearly 8 years. Getting a little bit restless. Want to learn new things. The opportunity to learn isn't really there at current role.

I could start looking for new role, but will most likely be side grade as I lack some key experiences. Also I may hate new job and feel wish I hadn't moved. (Over the years I've had two dreams I quit and begged them to take me back)

The only answer I can see is to stay in current role and do some certifications.

What else can I do?

The networking stuff does really interest me. I've been looking through a lot of the material for both the CCNA and the CCNP over the last few weeks and it didn't seem over my head and I didn't find it boring. Actually I found it interesting.

Even tho the other guys are more 2nd/3rd line they are still doing the 1st line support as there are only 4 of us for about 200 users in 3 different countries.

It's got to the point where none of us want to do the 1st line stuff any more. No one picks up the phone unless we have too. :p

It would be lovely to be in a job, where I dot have to deal with user issues any more. It can get very tiresome when people call you up with stupid problems. Usually crap they have caused them selves and they interrupt your through process when your trying to do something else your self, that takes concentration!
 
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Yamahahahahaha said:
Specialisation is where the money is. As long as there's a business using it somewhere they'll pay good money for it. Networks are not going away and not everything can go 'cloud'. Cloud solutions still need someone who knows what they're doing behind the scenes.
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You say specialization is where the money is eh?

The current trajectory I'm on is one of 'Jack of all trades, master of none'.

Which isn't a bad thing in it's self, but means I will always be in a certain type of role. I.e 1st/2nd line. Dealing with varied issues on a more basic plane.

I have multiple directions I could go in:

1. I could go an do Microsoft stuff. Microsoft Server / Exchange and go down that route.
2. Linux course. Something like Red Hat. (Or something else, open to ideas)
3. Could go down the Cisco networking path.

The Microsoft stuff, probably pays the least of the three. And will most likely keep me in what I am doing now a sort of Jack of all trades role.

The Linux stuff, might pay the most as it's arguably the toughest. Highly desirable skill. a lot of work would need to be put in. This is a strange one as I already work in a Linux environment, and yet other than basic stuff, never get to really touch the system in any meaningful capacity.

One of my former work colleagues has gone on to another company and is now doing DevOps stuff. I feel like going down this route would be a MONUMENTAL task.

The CCNA route. A bit in the middle. It looks interesting, what I've seen so far. Not above my head in any way. And some of the CCNP stuff I was watching it reminded me a lot of Linux, just a different language. It didn't seem above my head and definitely had me interested. Also as I've said before, security is something I have always dreamt about before I even started working in IT. So maybe network security is something I might want to pursue.

Of course, Linux and even Microsoft complements the networking, but that would be skills I would gain through my daily job where I am given exposure to learn.

---

I've kind of got it in my heart now that I'm gonna go an do my CCNA. Fingers crossed, that with my current experience will allow me to move on in to a role, where I can get more exposure to things like Linux, VMware and even Microsoft tech..
 
opethdisciple said:
Seems all the big money is in banks!!

Heres another one. Big money, simple 'sounding' role:
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Under £200/day for a contract that's shorter than 12 months at a City investment bank is not really what I'd term big money. You'll likely be under a lot of pressure (bearing in mind you say you don't want to deal with user issues). Even leaving preconceptions about the sector to one-side and looking at job spec... first line of Summary, first line of Duties and Responsibilities is all about fast-paced this, assisting users that, pressurised the other, with multiple customer query channels to boot.

That said, I would imagine that once you get that on your CV you will be on an upward trajectory as having experience in the City will open lots of doors you might otherwise find hard to get through.
 
Ergates said:
The best way to pick up skills isn't with training, it's on the job. Don't wait to get on a course, muck in. Make time to sit with the people doing the bits you don't understand. Ask them questions. Offer to help do some of the simpler stuff, then some of the more complex stuff etc...
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I hear people say this, yet from the jobs I've worked in this has just not been possible.

If you are employed to do X, your employer isn't going to let you shadow someone doing Y if they don't need you to do Y.

Which employers hire you on as helpdesk because they need a helpdesk guy, then let you mooch off shadowing the networking or server guys? It just doesn't happen where I've worked!

You're employed to do X, you spend all day doing X, and then everybody goes home! You can't exactly shadow someone outside working hours!
 
opethdisciple said:
Just seen this job posted. Sounds exactly what my job role is.

Except no doubt they would let me get my hands dirty, with more things I haven't touched yet.

Except it's slightly different in that I'm in a Linux environment using LDAP rather than AD and IMAP server rather than Exchange.

I haven't really touched the backup system either.
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79 applications for that role so far and it's 3rd sept. Get your skates on :)
 
opethdisciple said:
Just seen this job posted. Sounds exactly what my job role is.

Except no doubt they would let me get my hands dirty, with more things I haven't touched yet.

Except it's slightly different in that I'm in a Linux environment using LDAP rather than AD and IMAP server rather than Exchange.

I haven't really touched the backup system either.
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If Compliance is part of that role, be prepared to get your head stuck in a load of legal documentation. We have to deal with Compliance where I work, and the documentation surrounding it is 115 pages long, and we need to make sure we comply with every rule or we risk being fined. It's interesting and challenging, but it's a real ball ache at times.

The rest of the role seems fairly straightforward. Windows environments are the most common you'll find so they will be great skills to learn if you don't have them already.
 
FoxEye said:
I hear people say this, yet from the jobs I've worked in this has just not been possible.

If you are employed to do X, your employer isn't going to let you shadow someone doing Y if they don't need you to do Y.

Which employers hire you on as helpdesk because they need a helpdesk guy, then let you mooch off shadowing the networking or server guys? It just doesn't happen where I've worked!

You're employed to do X, you spend all day doing X, and then everybody goes home! You can't exactly shadow someone outside working hours!
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Not every business is like this though. The smaller players need the wider coverage of skillsets that spreading the knowledge between the teams helps to alleviate when times are tough (holidays/illness). People who try to hoard and set up silly job protecting barriers can fall on their swords when it all hits the fan in my opinion.
 
Can I have some advice for getting into this line of work please?

I graduated with a 2.1 for a BSc Multimedia Technology and Design four years ago and am working in the National Maritime Museum. I have been constantly trying to gain experience and roles within the IT department there and at other places but have had no luck.

Can anyone recommend any certifications or ways to progress? I have looked into a CompTIA and MSDNAA course but it is very expensive.
 
SoAdCrAzY said:
Can I have some advice for getting into this line of work please?

I graduated with a 2.1 for a BSc Multimedia Technology and Design four years ago and am working in the National Maritime Museum. I have been constantly trying to gain experience and roles within the IT department there and at other places but have had no luck.

Can anyone recommend any certifications or ways to progress? I have looked into a CompTIA and MSDNAA course but it is very expensive.
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Find a friend who already works in the field, who you know goes a lot further than what you know. On the plus side, those who don't know anything don't last long or move on to blag something else.
 
SoAdCrAzY said:
Can I have some advice for getting into this line of work please?

I graduated with a 2.1 for a BSc Multimedia Technology and Design four years ago and am working in the National Maritime Museum. I have been constantly trying to gain experience and roles within the IT department there and at other places but have had no luck.

Can anyone recommend any certifications or ways to progress? I have looked into a CompTIA and MSDNAA course but it is very expensive.
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You don't have to do a course. All the material you could ever need is online for free. More often than not the courses teach absolutely nothing that will be on the exam.

The only real exceptions are courses which are a pre-req for the exam (vmware vcp springs to mind)
 
I was in a similar (ish) situation; I felt pretty limited in where I was however I'd had reasonable pay progression to that point.

I finally got fed up of where I was, went and took the VMWare VCP Course + exam (my own time / my own money).
Took me less than a month following the certification to find a new job with a £10k pay rise.
Best move I ever made. (To be fair the only reason I did the course is that you have to have taken the course to take the Exam for VMware).
 
This is obviously an old thread, but just my take.

Context - I've worked in IT for 12 years. I have no degree, but do have quite a few professional qualifications.

I started on an IT Service Desk swapping out printer toners/replacing mice/resetting passwords. I've done numerous roles since, and find myself now with a great role in a fantastic company managing over 20 direct reports and love what I do.

Some of that, I won't deny, has been right time, right place. However, I got that because I put myself out there. I stayed late and did extra things, I always volunteered to go on courses/cover weekend shifts others didn't want/spent weeks in hotels at the other end of the country to get a job done. Thats all paid back now.

This may read as firm/unfair/blunt, but it is based on my experience. A few quick observations

The first point. You need to quickly come to terms with this: No one truly cares about your development other than you. I think I'm a good manager, but I can only do so much, and I'm only willing to put myself out if the person I'm doing it for is going to do the same. You need to realise things won't just happen, and you have to be motivated.

The second point, and this may seem unfair. You say you've been there eight years, but haven't done some of the sexier stuff because you haven't been trained/whatever. In my mind, people who want something bad enough make it happen. Be that reading training material and messing around with VMs, or buying some beers for someone to teach you things after work.

You say its just basically a bunch of guys doing the IT. Lets imagine you wanted to do Network stuff...

That means you must have access to all sorts of network kit. Things like Firewalls (Cisco ASAs/Checkpoints/Junipers/etc) Routers & Switches (And not just some flat 24/48 port switches, I'd imagine you'll have some sort of core switching in there with management cards etc like a Cisco 6509 with some Supervisor cards, maybe an old FWSM module, maybe even an IDS module if you have some network security stuff in there?), .... there maybe even some Load Balancers and Dedicated hardware Proxies (F5/Bluecoat ?)

If you've got all that stuff at your fingertips, you've got some of the most recognised brands and quality products that you could have a superb CV with exposure to them by now.

Granted, the guy I describe now is a brilliant engineer, however, I'll do it to highlight a point. We needed to get someone Cisco CCNP DataCentre qualified in 5 months. One of my Server guys said he thought he could do it. 5 Months later, using only self study books he bought online - he didn't attend any courses - he completed the 6th exam (2 CCNA, 4 CCNP) within 5 months, and had a 100% first time pass rate. He knew about networking to start with - but had never been a network engineer - and supported some of our Cisco UCS server estate. Thats almost certainly unrealistic for you, but it illustrates that if you give it a load of effort anything is possible.

However, I honestly think after reading your posts that you aren't sure what you want other than 'more' and until you work that out its tough to give you much guidance.

Learning those products I've listed above will take you years to become great at, but at that point your salary is suddenly going to be incredibly reasonable.
 
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It now transpires that I need to give a 2 month notice as I've been there for 8 years.

It's going to be tough to balance, when I actually say I'm resigning, as it may take me some time to get a new position but I also have to tell the new company that I have to give a two month notice. :o
 
I can't agree more with Conanius, spot on.

I've been working in the IT industry for about 5 years with most of my experience on Exchange/O365 migrations, VMware ESXI, VDI, Firewalls, BDR, 3rd Line Break/Fix. No one held my hand to get me where I am, if you aren't getting the exposure to large issues or technology its time to move on. I've never become stagnant in a job, I've had three new jobs in the last 5 years and 5 different title from progression/opportunities.
 
opethdisciple said:
It now transpires that I need to give a 2 month notice as I've been there for 8 years.

It's going to be tough to balance, when I actually say I'm resigning, as it may take me some time to get a new position but I also have to tell the new company that I have to give a two month notice. :o
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that is hardly an issue, some people have 3 months notice... if they want to hire you then it shouldn't be a huge problem - there isn't anything 'tough to balance' if you want a new job then apply for a new job and tell them what your notice period is + any upcoming holidays you've got booked, it is quite simple and isn't something you should worry about
 
I have a 3 month notice period, as did my last place. If they want you, they'll wait. Some employers will let you work less of your notice period if you ask and go about leaving nice & politely - be understanding but explain you'd like to move quickly.

That said, don't worry about it - get an interview first. Make the CV killer, get your LinkedIn up to date (you'll find a lot of agencies trawl it daily), and make sure you know your stuff.
 
lordzargon said:
I have a 3 month notice period, as did my last place. If they want you, they'll wait. Some employers will let you work less of your notice period if you ask and go about leaving nice & politely - be understanding but explain you'd like to move quickly.

That said, don't worry about it - get an interview first. Make the CV killer, get your LinkedIn up to date (you'll find a lot of agencies trawl it daily), and make sure you know your stuff.
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I've just set up my LinkedIn actually.
 
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