@scottalanmiller said:

As a start, when it comes to "I want to advance my career" and especially when you don't have super solid direction, which is not uncommon because how do you know what you want to do until you have done it all, the top thing (and this goes for people with really solid direction too) you want to build a home lab, an epic one.

A home lab you can get access to the tech, the techniques, the trends, the products and all the stuff that your job does not. Certs are a decent way to push yourself to do boring things or things you never thought of, helping to avoid gaps. I like certs not for the paper that they provide but for the education they push you to do.

Build a lab that makes your company jealous. Make sure that in any discussion you could roll your eye and laugh with disdain at the joke of IT that your company uses. Don't actually do it, but have those thoughts deep down inside. Make your servers better, your email better, your security better, your file serving better... everything, make it more current, better implemented, running faster and doing more than you get to do at work. If they ever question what you are doing, mention that they take their business less seriously that you do your home network - set the bar higher than they do. Don't let your job define your quality bar.

I will post my incremental progress. I'm sure there will be war stories lol

@scottalanmiller said:

@wirestyle22 said:

@scottalanmiller said:

@wirestyle22 said:

I understand but If I want to get out I need to put myself on a path to realize my goals and gain the knowledge to transition from baby admin. I don't know what path that is.

We don't either BUT we can figure one (or more) out once you determine a career goal.

Try this exercise... within reason, where are you today and where would you like to be in a year, three years and five years? What kind of job, what kind of duties and what kind of technologies do you wish you were working with?

If I could do anything I would be working with File Servers, VM's and maybe even Media streaming. I find them all to be interesting. At the same point I don't really care. My primary concern is to put myself in a strong position to provide for my family ultimately. I will do what I need to do period.

One Year: I'd like to be much stronger than I am today in my knowledge. I don't think I would make a transition within a years time but if I were given the opportunity of course I would take it.

Three Years: I would have "finished" my education in my given career path and started applying to much higher end jobs. I use quotations because as we all know we are never done.

Five Years: I would have a few years of experience as a higher end sysadmin.

I think that this is a good start, but mostly you are just saying "I want to improve." I think you need to be way, way more specific. System Administration is a group of job roles, not a singular one. In even a medium sized company that's not even a single department!

Your roadmap should be details enough (not that it can't change, but just to give you a starting point) that you would know to whom to submit a resume or with whom to interview for a "dream job" if it came up.

Let me do the research and I'll get back to you. I'll check out what companies in my area are hiring for and let you know what sounds appealing to me. That's really the best I can do. I guess for now I'll get my Network+ since I can use that for my CARF accreditation and move on from there.

@scottalanmiller said:

@wirestyle22 said:

If I could do anything I would be working with File Servers, VM's and maybe even Media streaming. I find them all to be interesting. At the same point I don't really care. My primary concern is to put myself in a strong position to provide for my family ultimately. I will do what I need to do period.

File Servers I see as phasing out very quickly. Already I see them dropping very quickly. Like AD, we phased ours out in the past few years. They just don't make sense like they used to.

VMs are ubiquitous and is almost like saying "working with computers". All servers are VMs and should have been for nearly a decade now, even in the SMB. It should be assumed that anytime someone says servers, VMs are just assumed. It's not something that you really specialize in, it's just part of doing everything else. In the enterprise space you get a few rare roles that are "platform" roles that just handle the VM layer, but they are few and seem to be getting fewer as that gets absorbed by the more technical and needed systems departments.

I can't answer what I want to do because I don't really have a preference. I currently run Exchange, our File Servers, VM's which include AV, print servers, utility servers, and a domain as well as a standalone SQL database server. I run all cabling, setup all switches etc. I have no preference. Keep in mind I didn't build this I inherited it and they won't change anything.

@scottalanmiller said:

@wirestyle22 said:

I understand but If I want to get out I need to put myself on a path to realize my goals and gain the knowledge to transition from baby admin. I don't know what path that is.

We don't either BUT we can figure one (or more) out once you determine a career goal.

Try this exercise... within reason, where are you today and where would you like to be in a year, three years and five years? What kind of job, what kind of duties and what kind of technologies do you wish you were working with?

If I could do anything I would be working with File Servers, VM's and maybe even Media streaming. I find them all to be interesting. At the same point I don't really care. My primary concern is to put myself in a strong position to provide for my family ultimately. I will do what I need to do period.

One Year: I'd like to be much stronger than I am today in my knowledge. I don't think I would make a transition within a years time but if I were given the opportunity of course I would take it.

Three Years: I would have "finished" my education in my given career path and started applying to much higher end jobs. I use quotations because as we all know we are never done.

Five Years: I would have a few years of experience as a higher end sysadmin.

@scottalanmiller said:

@wirestyle22 said:

... specialize in VM's/Server Administration--like Domain Controllers, Exchange and SQL Databases. I think that these are the bare bones necessities of a small to mid size business typically (correct me if I'm wrong).

Lots of little companies running those things, and some have great reason to be, but this follows the "companies that are generally doing things poorly" comment. We could delve into the specifics of any individual company and we all know someone who needs AD, someone who needs on premises Exchange and someone who needs on premises SQL Server. But even already today, the chances are that if you are at least running Exchange on site, you are in the bottom quartile of businesses. There are special cases where on premises Exchange is absolutely the right answer, I'm not giving a blanket statement. But the majority of SMBs running Exchange are doing so because they are either just bad at IT, their IT person is doing things intentionally poorly in an attempt to technologically extort career stability from the company and/or someone is operating from an emotional position of fear and lack of understanding of IT. All bad things.

And that will just continue to get worse. As AD begins to pull back from a ubiquitous service, as being laden with SQL Server becomes less and less practical having those specific skills will more and more tie you to small, failing or at least poorly operated businesses. You can always get lucky and get a company that happens to use those and use them well, but the chances and opportunities will continue to get slimmer and slimmer.

So I should be getting Cloud certifications?

@scottalanmiller said:

@wirestyle22 said:

Let's assume that I want to have a strong foundation running the basic foundation of a company alone....

All you really need is some light basics and good knowledge on hiring good IT service providers. And while that sounds tongue in cheek, I do not mean it to be. The idea of the lone IT person is a bad one. It's not a good model. That doesn't mean that those jobs will not exist and will not continue to exist, but by and large they are reserved for badly managed companies doing things poorly - not a formula for career success. Even if you get one of the better roles in one of the better companies the lone IT pro cannot be leverage effectively.

No matter how you look at that type of generalist you are either dramatically overpaid for your skill level while you do low level tasks and as the IT advisor you should be telling the company to lay you off. Or you are in over your head and not well suited to the tasks and decisions that are sometimes required of you.

It's a bad situation no matter what.

I understand but If I want to get out I need to put myself on a path to realize my goals and gain the knowledge to transition from baby admin. I don't know what path that is.

If you were hiring for an exchange admin what would you be looking for?

@scottalanmiller said:

@Breffni-Potter said:

The way the market is going, is jack of all trades "career safe" any more with a single company?

Yes, but it is increasingly a risky career option. I see generalists becoming rarer and rarer, especially in the SMB where they traditionally are most common, and the remaining generalists roles moving closer and closer to the CFO and CEO and needing to not only be very strong in lots of IT, but also very market connected and business aware. So the generalists get to be fewer, but the ones that remain are more and more the big budget IT leaders.

Let's assume that I want to have a strong foundation running the basic foundation of a company alone and in addition to that want to specialize in VM's/Server Administration--like Domain Controllers, Exchange and SQL Databases. I think that these are the bare bones necessities of a small to mid size business typically (correct me if I'm wrong). Take the SQL Database Admin with a grain of salt because that is an entire job by itself and will most likely be a work in progress for a long time.

@Breffni-Potter said:

The way the market is going, is jack of all trades "career safe" any more with a single company?

Strong base knowledge in everything I'm sure would be a boon but I can only speak of my experiences and I do not know everything--or even enough in my opinion. I'm a very detail oriented person though. I require mastery over my career and I don't feel like I'm even close.

@Dashrender said:

@wirestyle22 said:

@scottalanmiller said:

So my biggest piece of advice here is....

You always keep looking. Part of finding the right job is not settling for one that isn't the right one. Just like when dating you put your "Mrs. Right" as risk because you are busy dating "Ms. Right Now", even after you know that you are not long term compatible and you are not right for each other, I think that too many people settle for the job that they have, stop looking, stop working to make themselves more marketable, stop keeping their name out there and give up almost every chance that they have of making the connection.

Whether dating or job hunting, the chances of finding the right person or job for you is slim, you have to work hard to make sure that you are not taking away the chances that you have. You don't sit at home every Saturday night and hide and then wonder why you never meet any one. Likewise, you can't stop job hunting and wonder why the right job didn't come along.

Is that the answer? No. Finding the right job is very hard. But it is part of the answer. Finding the right job takes work and you can't settle. Your career is too short and the moment that you stop looking for the right job is the moment you stopping having any chance of finding it.

How do I diversify myself enough to make myself the right person for a good amount of jobs. Jack of all trades running exchange, file servers, VM's, Managed Switches, etc?

Yeah - I'm in the same boat - I kinda feel that most people here are ML are in that same boat -though some might be a bit more skilled at one thing or the other that they have manged here or there.

You and SAM are clearly at a higher level than I am with most things I'm sure. Should I be studying for certs? If so which certs?

@scottalanmiller said:

So my biggest piece of advice here is....

You always keep looking. Part of finding the right job is not settling for one that isn't the right one. Just like when dating you put your "Mrs. Right" as risk because you are busy dating "Ms. Right Now", even after you know that you are not long term compatible and you are not right for each other, I think that too many people settle for the job that they have, stop looking, stop working to make themselves more marketable, stop keeping their name out there and give up almost every chance that they have of making the connection.

Whether dating or job hunting, the chances of finding the right person or job for you is slim, you have to work hard to make sure that you are not taking away the chances that you have. You don't sit at home every Saturday night and hide and then wonder why you never meet any one. Likewise, you can't stop job hunting and wonder why the right job didn't come along.

Is that the answer? No. Finding the right job is very hard. But it is part of the answer. Finding the right job takes work and you can't settle. Your career is too short and the moment that you stop looking for the right job is the moment you stopping having any chance of finding it.

How do I diversify myself enough to make myself the right person for a good amount of jobs. Jack of all trades running domains, exchange, file servers, VM's, Managed Switches, etc?

@Breffni-Potter said:

You can vote for a President or enlist in the army, but not drink or smoke?

Don't worry no one is doing either of those anyway here

@Dashrender said:

Relocating would be nearly impossible for me. My wife would hate moving away from her family. Me - I have no family here other than my wife.. so I'll go nearly anywhere.

I am in the exact same situation.

@coliver said:

@scottalanmiller said:

@wirestyle22 said:

I know I enjoy server administration and network administration. I'm not a huge fan of SQL. That's really it. I've operated under the notion that I can learn anything and have adapted to every job I've taken.

That's pretty broad What geographic region are you in? What industry verticals have you been in? Are you free to relocate?

Few things did more for my career than having no geographic location. I went anywhere for work and that allowed me to be employed faster, at higher rates, more often than most anyone else. I went anywhere for the work. Kind of sucks, also gets you out seeing things. I worked in something like seventy cities between 2004 and 2005 alone! (Cities, large villages, whatever.)

This was one of the things I noticed when looking for a job last year. I was lucky enough to find something local but if I didn't I would have been forced to move to one of the surrounding metro areas. Or try and work remotely, which I'm not sure how well I would have done.

That is where I'm at. I don't think my knowledge is anywhere near strong enough to hold up in a competitive interview. As a matter of fact I know I'm not. That isn't to say I couldn't do any job that I was hired for, but at my current level I have to look a lot of things up and I'm positive that I am missing pieces of knowledge that could make me look less knowledgeable than I actually am.

I guess what I'm asking is what should I be studying? Network+ MCSE CCNA exam study material?

@scottalanmiller said:

@wirestyle22 said:

I know I enjoy server administration and network administration. I'm not a huge fan of SQL. That's really it. I've operated under the notion that I can learn anything and have adapted to every job I've taken.

That's pretty broad What geographic region are you in? What industry verticals have you been in? Are you free to relocate?

Few things did more for my career than having no geographic location. I went anywhere for work and that allowed me to be employed faster, at higher rates, more often than most anyone else. I went anywhere for the work. Kind of sucks, also gets you out seeing things. I worked in something like seventy cities between 2004 and 2005 alone! (Cities, large villages, whatever.)

Tri-state area east coast U.S.
I have worked as desktop support in a major hospital.
Server administrator for a few doctors offices (I am still--sidework)
Everything under the sun for my current job (I am the IT department). I listed my setup here above somewhere. I've been learning as needed but I really need to hunker down and learn everything to my standards--which I haven't yet. I'm an extremely detail oriented person but I don't know where to invest my time.

@scottalanmiller said:

@wirestyle22 said:

My next step has to be making myself marketable if that is the case. Any advice? I have the experience on paper but I definitely need to tighten my knowledge.

Well, the first step, IMHO, is deciding on your career goals. You need to know what will make you happy, what you want to do, where you want to go, what you are willing to do, etc. You need those answers first. Then you need a loose roadmap for education, resume building, experience gathering, etc.

IT is a huge field, lots of ways to get to different places.

http://www.smbitjournal.com/2014/12/its-a-field-not-a-road/

I know I enjoy server administration and network administration. I'm not a huge fan of SQL. That's really it. I've operated under the notion that I can learn anything and have adapted to every job I've taken.

@JaredBusch said:

@Breffni-Potter said:

@wirestyle22

If the culture around you is not changing and despite your best efforts you cannot improve it, find a culture who will value and embrace you.

I did this.

My next step has to be making myself marketable if that is the case. Any advice? I have the experience on paper but I definitely need to tighten my knowledge for sure.

@scottalanmiller said:

Basically I had a couple of key points in the talk:

• IT is an career of embracing change and the greater the rate of change the bigger the benefit to IT (on average) compared to other job categories.
• All IT falls on a spectrum and over time more and more tasks fall on the "other side" of what I call the "commodity line." Anything that is commodity, you should not be touching (as an IT pro.)
• The more things that become commodity, the more IT can focus on value rather than boilerplate.
• Jobs change and move but do not diminish. Traditionally IT jobs have mostly focused around server farms and network gear - very "tech gear" oriented. As the commodity line moves the "center" jobs like systems administration & engineering, DBA and the like will decline while the jobs far to the right like DevOps and massive scale cloud computing will take over with more and more jobs and the jobs far to the left that are heavily hands on with users and the business itself will increase as people need business-aware guidance to navigate services, providers and local integration.

I was setting up a 10,000 sq ft building alone--I'm the sole IT tech/sysadmin/network admin etc. When my company approached me about cost and what hardware was necessary I gave them estimates and in a detail oriented way, explained why each were necessary. Now keep in mind I have no idea how much money we have and I do NOT have an IT budget. I'm just at the mercy of my executive director who is extremely frugal. The absolute minimum for this building was a Sonicwall and two managed switches with the maximum adding a domain server. Not a huge cost difference. I was told we would only be purchasing the switches which I didn't give them as an option. I explained that we have over 50 PC's connected to the network and that a small comcast business router cannot possibly handle the throughput and they ignored me. 2 months later my executive director comes to me and says "What is the issue? How can we fix this?" to which I replied "We need to purchase a Sonicwall." It took 2 months of the network being unable to retain a connection to our terminal server (and this is our second biggest site) for them to spend a few thousand dollars which fixed their issue and gave me MUCH needed content filtering. The reason I bring this up is even with me managing 550+ employees, all of the servers, all of the network, all of the devices including scanners and printers over the entire county (which some of my sites are an hour one-way) I still cannot convince them of anything. Even though I've been right 100% of the time.

How can I justify my worth to people like this in a system that from their standpoint is mostly managed by other companies? Azure/Pertino/ZeroTier/Windows 10

My question would be if we migrate to something like this what will our jobs consist of in the future? We are just going to work directly with servers at a cloud provider or read EULA's and managing permissions and licensing?

@scottalanmiller said:

@wirestyle22 said:

@Dashrender Printers being your bane using your example

LOL, I'd quote who you are responding to That was many posts ago.

sorry!

@Dashrender Printers being your bane using your example. Sorry I got lunch I've been away