IT industry has changed....

[Moley]

So last week I lost my job as a Senior Engineer (3rd line) for a IT services company up in London. The Operations Manager (my line manager) decided after a few of my projects didn't go perfectly, that he didn't have confidence in my abilities enough to give me more projects to do and fired me.

Now whilst I admit that some didn't go perfectly, I did manage them through to customer satisfaction and the customers in question are now ongoing and paying monthly fees for support.

I've been in the IT industry for 20 years now, started back on 3Mhz IBM PCs, using DOS and GEM, have seen Novell Netware and Windows LAN Manager born, installed, used and supported every iteration of Windows from 1.0 through to Vista and been self taught along the way - hands on rather than book reading.

Nowadays I am able to install, configure and support Windows Server up to 2003 (just started learning 2k8), most desktop environments and apps, Cisco and Juniper switches/routers and firewalls.

Basically I am a jack of all trades and can turn my hand to pretty much anything in IT.

There is a copy of my CV here: http://www.tjqka.org/blog/?page_id=5 which I am in the process of updating.

Now obviously I was kinda upset at being dismissed, but I've gotten over it and as I've been prudent with my money for the last year I'm fine for a while whilst I get another job.

Now here is the thing, I don't have an MCSE. Never have had - was doing the job long before MCSEs were thought of and was always a member of the school of thought that disliked the idea of people reading a few books and gettting a bit of paper that got them into my chosen line of work at the same level of pay as my - but with sod all experience.

Now I've come to the conclusion that to move my career forward before I hit 40 I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get an MCSE and do my CCNA certification (have done the 4 semester course). So I tried a mock version of the 70-290 exam this morning and failed miserably.

It would seem that MCSE is a lot more sophisticated than it was years ago and I may really be shooting myself in the foot by not having it.

So, I have the training kit and I'm just installing virtual server at the moment so I can start running through the lesson installs etc. Wish me luck!

Does this echo anyone elses experience?

 

[Moley]

even with my quals on one interview awhile back i was told i need to go back and do the ECDL as it would be better for me, **** the Degree etc you need ecdl??????????

Bloody HR tool did not know anything about IT, and should not have been interviewing IT people for a High spec IT job.

I would have walked out - shouted a bit first and then walked out.

I mean it shows a serious lack of respect for candidates if someone that stupid is interviewing them....

 

[Moley]

Just to clarify - the post I just left isn't on the CV. I was perm not contractor but am seriously thinking of going back to contracting.

 

[Moley]

Well what an interesting collection of replies to my original post!

I'm in the middle of going through the MCSE books at the moment, rebuilt my spare server (anyone remember contoso.com?) and getting on with what needs to be done to get the qualification.

I was interested to read the comments about "lack of ambition" due to still being a Senior Engineer, and think a little clarification might be in order. Perhaps

In the role I've just left I spent a lot of time customer-facing, on their sites evaluating their IT systems and producing hefty documentation recommending best-practises change, producing board-level IT Security Policies and also working on tenders for business. All successfully - this wasn't the area that I was weak in and lot my job as a result of.

In the past I have worked as a Service Delivery Director for the uks first ASP - a position with a lot of responsibility and managing other people.

Believe me I have no lack of ambition and yes the business side of things (the larger picture) is of more interest to me now than the technicals. In fact it was the business side I was most successful at and apparently the technical side I failed at that lost me my job!

Anyway. I'm working on improving my "sellability" and may swing for a move back into contracting - I like being my own boss and earning ridiculous amounts of money.

 

[Moley]

Well a little update time I think.

Had a chat to ACAS today, it would seem I have be unfairly dismissed due to them not following statutory disciplinary procedure. I thought this might have been the case due to having done voluntary work at the CAB for a while and learning about unfair dismissal whilst on duty there.

Time to appeal my dismissal I think and if I get no joy - ET1 time....

 

[Moley]

Did you get a verbal and written warning before they sacked you?

Nope. They completely failed to follow statutory disciplinary procedure.

 

[Moley]

Another update...

I've now written a formal letter of appeal against my dismissal, requesting my old job back and stating I don't think I've been treated fairly and given the reasons why.

I also made it clear I've taken advice from ACAS and know my rights, where I stand and I'm willing to go to a Tribunal.

Be interesting to see the next letter I get from them....

 

[Moley]

Actually I will *have* to take it back if offered it. If I subsequently get fired I can hit them for constructive dismissal if its obvious thats what has happened.