Going from Management to Technical again

[elrasho]

So in the past 5 years or so I have been working as a Service Desk Manager. As the years have past I feel like I'm losing my technical abilites and spending more energy/time on people. I suppose that's the role but I miss being in the trenches and fixing problems.

I have recently resorted to picking up Tickets and helping walk overs to the Service Desk Team and I've enjoyed it. So I'm thinking of changing my career from "managerial" to "senior technician"

As it stands my currently skill sets sit me in-between 2nd line and 3rd line support. I want to do something that ensures I am learning the correct skill set to land a 2nd Line or 3rd line but in a senior position (as in not entry level). So I'm thinking of doing the Microsoft Windows Endpoint Administrator (MD-102) and Microsoft Azure Fundamentals courses to get certification. I've got opportunity to work with senior technical people at work too so that covers on the job training/experience.

Is there anything else I can do to take the step in the direction I want to go?

 

[Nasher]

I don't think certifications are all that useful tbh. Every interview I've done they want to see actual experience and never even mentioned qualifications.

Need to find a job where they will let you learn it on the job, but that can be hard to find now. Recruiters and HR put together ridiculous lists of requirements on job ads and bin people who aren't a perfect match. So some bagging might be required.

 

[malachi]

Certs wont help at your level, reason why I stopped doing them myself. Now I only renew my current Microsoft Certs.

As you are the Service Desk Manager, doesn't your company have access any of the cloud providers so you can learn on your own?

 

[HoneyBadger]

Before starting my own IT consultancy business, I was at director level having come up through the tech channels, being an IT assistant, to 2nd/3rd line, Sys admin, senior Sys admin, manager etc.

I always wanted to see CV’s and be involved in the interview process of anyone joining one of my teams because I was good at identifying good people and my team managers always sought my feedback.

Over the last 25 years, I hired all sorts, from people with PHD’s and certificates to people with more low level qualifications but had a hunger, and most importantly a great attitude. My point here is that for learning, you can get some certs, sure but in the long run, as a recruiter I was less interested in that. Skills can be taught, attitude less so.

If you really want to learn, I want to see you home labbing, playing around, breaking things. I want to see enthusiasm. More often, I’d recommend the lesser qualified, but has 4 PC’s at home over a PHD with a Mac book (And in my experience, zero common sense)

I’d word your CV under the narrative that you’re too passionate about tech to be a manger and why you want to continue in the support field, and you’re more than willing to learn on the job (And you’re a fast learner, naturally)

Last note is that you can have all the certs that give you a broad understanding, and if not too expensive then go for it but again, in my experience having done 3rd line before sysadmin, the 3rd line know the quirks and foybles of the systems that company is running, so it’s more a precise understanding of the systems of that specific company rather than broader understanding which certs won’t provide.

Every hire, bar 1 went on to be great a great tech, a good friend and I have them all on LinkedIn/Facebook and some we have a meet up for a beer/meal. One particular guy who asked me for a chance once is now 2nd line and smashing it. When I started my own business and announced it on LinkedIn, he messaged me and thanked me for giving him a chance. I changed his life, mentored him and now seeing him doing well is such a great reward.

I digress.

Good luck!

 

[elrasho]

Certs wont help at your level, reason why I stopped doing them myself. Now I only renew my current Microsoft Certs.

As you are the Service Desk Manager, doesn't your company have access any of the cloud providers so you can learn on your own?

We used to have access to Plural Sight so I am going to get that back for sure