Feeling stuck and moving career forward

Capt Doufos

Capt Doufos

Capt Doufos

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
2,721
Location
Nr Colchester, Essex
Hi Guys,

I am not sure how to proceed and would like some idea and advise please. I have worked in my current company for 14 years, the pay has been good and it's relatively stress free. Things are now moving in a direction where us staff in the UK are getting responsibilities removed and decisions are now being made on a global scale which is demoting us to glorified overpaid 1st line support.

So I have found myself trapped as I am not getting the hands on real world experience I would like anymore and probably should have jumped ship sooner. I have been attempting to move into a more "Backend/Infrastructure" role and I have been interviewing for about 10 months but a couple of things that were looking really positive fell through and others I have been unable to convince the interviewers my knowledge is up to scratch.

I just have read this article and it hit home even more that I am at huge risk of getting completely stuck without having to take a pay cut when moving.

http://donjones.com/2014/07/12/dont-get-stuck-in-your-job/

My current role sees me doing everything from 1st line to designing an implementing systems and processes, for example our XP to Windows 7 migration and our new Remote control system. However I am a lot more desktop biased and this is where I am let down. The last 2 interviews have also bought to light gaps I wasn't aware I really had relating to procedures in strictly controlled IT environments, it's just something I haven't been exposed to so I am not sure how to rectify that?

What can I do to increase my knowledge across a broad range of common software and hardware without spending huge amounts of money? time is a consideration as I have 2 year old and another on way. I need to find ways to digest it in small chunks.

So far I have:

Been watching Microsoft Virtual Academy videos
Built a home lab (Although this really isn't a substitute for a live system)
TechNet Virtual Labs

Big Knowledge gaps where I only have what I would consider basic skills:
IIS
SQL
Exchange (Not hosting exchange in the UK for 6-7 years)
Cisco (No skillset here at all)

I don't really know where I would like to focus, what would you prioritise? Is it worth investing is exams if I don't know it's skills I will use? Some ideas I have had to focus on.
Active Directory Design
Amazon Web Services / Azure
VMware and Hyper-V
ITIL Foundation maybe?

I think the moral of my story is I should have kept my skillset fresh and I wouldn't now be in a situation of trying to get up to speed with so much!

Any ideas or suggestions are welcome.
 
the toruble you have here is the skills you just listed are jobs on their own knowing all of them indeph is not going to happen.
i wouldn't bother with IIS. SQL is a big one and has big money to support it . exchange is also a big one but not many jobs for just exchange, ( there is at my place of work though)
again cisco is a very big one.
AD and group policy is a good one, vmware and hyper v you need to go with one or the other really.

pick one and crack on with it on the online videos or books, take some practis exams and commit give your self a year min to learn part of that roll.

your doing the right thing with the lab. just dont give up.
 
On the process side it would be helpful for you to get an understanding of ITIL so you can speak about it in interviews but I wouldn't go so far as to take a foundation course as it is interminably boring and most companies don't follow it verbatim anyway.

That being said being turned down for a technical role for not having process knowledge seems a bit harsh to me. It's not exactly difficult to pick it up on the job and getting up to speed on the company's change process should be an induction task anyway.
 
IMHO the big three right now are

Server 2012/R2
VMWare
CCNA

you will notice that job adverts put loads of silly apps in there like Symantec Vault and the odd specific firewall but ignore these as they are not worth focusing on and are easily learnable should the time arrive.

if you have no exposure to Cisco then take your CCENT first and then do the 2nd part later to gain your CCNA and dont boot camp it as this is one of the few that needs time to sink in and I don't believe can be rushed through. The Microsoft server stuff is pretty straight forward if you have decent exposure to it and they dont go wondering off in to in depth questions about Data Centre Bridging or Media Foundation. Rather they stick to high availability and storage.

VMware though is a dark place for me and I am hoping that Hyper-V will start (and is) to take hold now its mature enough.

Dont bother with any Comptia stud though as its just ignored by agencies and most IT departments.

good luck
 
Thanks guys. What you say makes sense, it's knowing how far to take things. Of course you can dedicate everything to becoming the oracle of one subject if you allow it. Getting a good coverage of the most common systems is quite difficult, especially when you aren't using them day in and day out.

What is the best way to go about learning Cisco without buying physical switches and routers? I manage a firewall and have good understandings of networking fundamentals (Routing, IP etc) I see there are emulators like GNS3 but you need iOS images.
 
I left my old company after 10 years, I had the addition of good exchange migration experience but was in similar position with the role changing to glorified 1st line due to head office centralisation.

I didn't and still don't have ms certs, I went looking and started working for a service provider on their infrastructure team, was a difficult at first as every scenario was new but after 6monhs it stops feeling like you are in over your head!

Thigs to look for are getting to grips with firewall config, proving that you understand routing and setup and the ability to scope and manage a project.

Specific stuff I would say:

Server 2k8/2012 experience
Hyper-V and VM Ware (HA/clustering is useful)
Exchange 2010/13, DAGs are pretty big at the moment, most of my clients now have or in the middle of getting one setup

I wouldn't say Cisco training/quals are essential. Day to day you will rarely venture further than NAT/port forwarding and VLANs, and maybe just basic firewall policies/VPN. its useful when there are problems but for established networks you rarely need to touch anything more than that regularly.
 
Another couple to add to your list are SCCM and Citrix. I love SCCM as it covers such a huge range of technologies and you can earn a decent wage if you are good at it. Likewise good Citrix skills will see you go a long way.
 
SCCM is something I actually have an MCTS in albeit 2007, They haven't given us any access to the new 2012R2 setup. We also use Citrix but beyond resetting users we don't get to do much. I am however very familiar with packaging apps for deployment via SCCM and MDT. Managing desktops is my current bread and butter.
 
Capt Doufos said:
SCCM is something I actually have an MCTS in albeit 2007, They haven't given us any access to the new 2012R2 setup. We also use Citrix but beyond resetting users we don't get to do much. I am however very familiar with packaging apps for deployment via SCCM and MDT. Managing desktops is my current bread and butter.
Click to expand...

Well if I were you I would use this as your foundation for furthering your career. If you are familiar with SCCM then your Windows Server OS skills and AD skills should also be fairly good no? You mention application deployment so if you are not already then get up to speed with the rest of the suite and go from there (OSD, patch management).
 
I have seen some specific "app packager" type jobs that are paying very well. so dont be too disheartened. If you know SCCM well then there is definitly a silver lining on your cloud as this is always in demand.
 
I think you are right learning the other parts of SC2012 are worthwhile, although I know it it's another one of these things I no longer have daily access to. I see there is a 180 day trial so maybe I will start there getting that up and running.

I think I am lucky that I view interviews as an opportunity to see what people are after and the ways other companies are working. They have all given good feedback and given me things to work on for the next one. I just need that extra bit of confidence in my knowledge to backup my answers I think. I can see people could find interviews very soul destroying, even more so if you get nervous over them. I am in the lucky position I don't have to grab the first job that comes along and I can apply for ones that perk my interest more. It's much more about finding an engaging environment where I can learn new things as much as bring my current knowledge and ideas in than money for me.
 
unless you like frustration and watching paint dry, stay well away from SCOM 2012.
OMG what a beast of a product but likewise OMG how boring.

Events in - actions out - repeat ad nauseum. Orchestrator is fun though.
 
Capt, I'm in a similar boat with my career life also. I want to move on from my position I have been in for the last 9 years. Unfortunately when I decided it was time to move the recession hit and I've also been trying to look every since. Have to say the market has picked up in the last year and have had much more success with interviews since but still no new job.

I'm also lucky to be in a job at the moment that is tolerable so can afford to find the right place for me else where. When I started the company was a much smaller place but since then we have been brought out by a much larger multinational. I would like to take a step back and work somewhere small and more one to one rather than do IT via telephone or Skype. Also I work in the construction industry and new roles in that area still are not appearing locally. I do get feedback my skills are too homed towards that environment but ultimately i like to move on to a new area to improve my skills.

One problem I have found here is the market still saturated with capable people who are unemployed and can start straight away. The last one I lost out too was because the other guy could start tomorrow and I had to give a months notice.

Personal I have found I have had more luck applying directly with jobs than going through agencies. I think that maybe more down to a lack of knowledge by them on IT when they try to do the initial sell for a interview to a employer.

Its good to read everyone else encouraging comments to Capt. They have all made me think I am able to move on with my life and my skills are desirable. Big thanks to you guys.

Capt, keep going I'm sure your find something soon. Will monitor this thread to see what the outcome is.
 
Thank you for the encouragement, I am sure something that all clicks together will turn up at some point, I did actually get offered a role 2 years ago when I was in a grump with my current employer and was just putting the feelers out, it happened really fast which I wasn't expecting and for some reason decided not to take it. At the time it wasn't right, but it would have been a good opportunity and I would be further forwards now. But hey ho, you can't worry about the past.

It definitely helps to have the attitude of wanting to learn, no one can know everything and if they do they will be wanting to be paid a lot more than I am asking! Confident speaking goes a long way in an interview.

Got my home Server2012R2 AD up and running last night, Guildwars tonight I think, but ConfigMgr 2012 tomorrow (Or multitasking tonight).
 
I thought I would update this as there was interest. I have been offered a position today, after a year of searching and 3 attempts at this particular company. I shall be getting involved in AWS solution providing at an Amazon partner, so something completely new to delve into.

So there is hope, all you need is the right attitude and a company to see your potential and give you chance. It's not easy to find them, but just keep going you can get there in the end.
 
Grats... Don't stay in this one for 14 years ;)

Keep on moving every two to three years and you'll find that skill set you mentioned is suddenly a lot more current.
 
Capt Doufos said:
I thought I would update this as there was interest. I have been offered a position today, after a year of searching and 3 attempts at this particular company. I shall be getting involved in AWS solution providing at an Amazon partner, so something completely new to delve into.

So there is hope, all you need is the right attitude and a company to see your potential and give you chance. It's not easy to find them, but just keep going you can get there in the end.
Click to expand...


that is awesome, inspiring as i'm also on the look out for a new job as well! :)

AWS was something i got a little exposure to when it was really early doors, i kinda wish i kept up with there development as now i feel its a subject in its own right that would do me very well. :o
 
I was in the same boat as you years ago and saw that IT roles are either going to get outsourced or you're in a job that needs constant learning. It's not like being a carpenter or a plumber where you're skills stay current. To put it bluntly IT sucks, it's not a career worth having unless you're a programmer as it's easily replaceable.

I no longer work in IT, although it's still a bit hobby of mine.
 
IT is about that though, you have to learn new things all the time to stay relevant but I love lwarning new things so that suits me fine.

AWS is getting crazy big, and a lot of their services are based on other apps so it can be transferable. There arent enough knowledgable people to fill the gaps at the moment so they are starting to employ people who dont have much hands on but want to learn it, have a good base andwhat they are looking for as a person.

It should also be good working for an IT company rather than internal IT as you will be an asset opposed to an expense.
 
With permanent Infrastructure role (contracting not so much), by the time you're 45-50 you need to be a manager or something like a solutions architect. As IMO most `normal` people will loose interest, as its a 4 or 5 year cycle of the same thing over and over again for years and years. Desktop refreshes, Server refreshers, new versions of Windows, new versions of VMware and so on. Occasionally you might get an interesting big project like a new datacentre fit-out or green field site to get stuck into, but the majority is dull. It gets a bit depressing when you've migrated the same departments file store from Win2000, to 2003, onto 2008 and now 2012 - It's like "didn't I already do this?" then you realise 5 yrs have passed... makes you really feel your age!

Oh course this is all my personal opinion, but everyone I talk to over the age of 40 has the same feelings... Most are just taking the good money, but really aren't interested anymore and wishing they were postmen, park wardens or lumberjacks - anything to be out in the fresh air.
 
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