Landed a Systems Engineer job with no certs, only help desk experience
Absolut1l
Registered Users Posts: 2 ■□□□□□□□□□
Hello! This is actually my first post here. I've been reading about exam prep and such and feel like this is a great technical forum to become a member of.
So, I was just wondering if anyone could give me some tips and maybe some suggestions of what to study to help me prepare for my new job.
Here's my background:
Studied various majors in college and never finished a degree. Then I got my current job (still no degree but will finish with something eventually)
I have been employed at a healthcare organization at their technical help desk for almost 4 years. I started in February 2012. When I started, I was jsut a technology enthusiast and had built many computers and had a fairly solid understanding of computer hardware and intermediate Windows stuff. Basically I had no IT experience and was just "that guy in the family who everyone calls to get help fixing their broken computer" if you know what I mean. I started as a "computer operator" which was really just swing shift for our help desk. At first it was simple troubleshooting and a lot of assigning tickets to other teams and other people. Then the job description changed to Desktop support Analyst - although I was still basically doing the same job but expanded to be a lot more in depth troubleshooting and less assigning off tickets. I moved to daytime and I pretty much lead my whole team in the technical realm. I pick things up fairly easily and am able to conceptualize things to the extent that with the knowledge I have about my employer's IT operations, I am a master at my job now. I was promoted to the level II position (more projects and technical troubleshooting) and recently, I interviewed and landed a systems engineer job. I thikn I impressed my boss and our server teams' boss because I was able to understand and lead the way when it came to troubleshooting our 2-factor VPN system. I was completely honest with my experience with servers and technology in general when I applied. I did not interview that well (usually I am very good at interviewing) and even so they chose me for the position...
So now I am starting this new position next Monday. Basically, the job I was hired for is supposed to focus on "monitoring and alerts." I won't really be engineering anything but rather using the Microsoft product "System Center Operations Manager" (SCOM). My question to you folks is, do you have any tips for getting started with this? I have very little server experience. I am currently studying for the MTA 98-365 exam. It is fairly easy content for me to understand so far - I think I'll be able to study a few weeks and ace the exam. Other than that, any suggestions for some fundamental stuff I could study to prepare for a job that is centered mostly around SCOM monitoring and alerts? Does anyone here have a job that is centered around SCOM? From what I'm told by my new boss, this is an entry level sys engineer job and as long as I am eager to learn and motivated that I will be fine. I can't imagine I won't with how honest I was - I think they really admire my work Ethic and competency at my current job so they are willing to be patient as I learn what I am doing. Has anyone else been in a position like this where they were worried if they had the technical knowledge to be successful? I am sure If I study up and get some experience starting out I'll be fine. But boy is it nerve-wracking! I never imagined I'd land this position 4 years ago when I started as basically a peon.
Anyways, any input much appreciated! I hope my story of progression inspires any of you who are just trying to get into IT. If you manage to get your foot in the door, have good work ethic, and make a point to do the best job you possibly can every day, you can really land fantastic positions. I don't even have a college degree or any certs and I got here. Now I'm jsut hsivering in my boots wondering how difficult this transition will be!
So, I was just wondering if anyone could give me some tips and maybe some suggestions of what to study to help me prepare for my new job.
Here's my background:
Studied various majors in college and never finished a degree. Then I got my current job (still no degree but will finish with something eventually)
I have been employed at a healthcare organization at their technical help desk for almost 4 years. I started in February 2012. When I started, I was jsut a technology enthusiast and had built many computers and had a fairly solid understanding of computer hardware and intermediate Windows stuff. Basically I had no IT experience and was just "that guy in the family who everyone calls to get help fixing their broken computer" if you know what I mean. I started as a "computer operator" which was really just swing shift for our help desk. At first it was simple troubleshooting and a lot of assigning tickets to other teams and other people. Then the job description changed to Desktop support Analyst - although I was still basically doing the same job but expanded to be a lot more in depth troubleshooting and less assigning off tickets. I moved to daytime and I pretty much lead my whole team in the technical realm. I pick things up fairly easily and am able to conceptualize things to the extent that with the knowledge I have about my employer's IT operations, I am a master at my job now. I was promoted to the level II position (more projects and technical troubleshooting) and recently, I interviewed and landed a systems engineer job. I thikn I impressed my boss and our server teams' boss because I was able to understand and lead the way when it came to troubleshooting our 2-factor VPN system. I was completely honest with my experience with servers and technology in general when I applied. I did not interview that well (usually I am very good at interviewing) and even so they chose me for the position...
So now I am starting this new position next Monday. Basically, the job I was hired for is supposed to focus on "monitoring and alerts." I won't really be engineering anything but rather using the Microsoft product "System Center Operations Manager" (SCOM). My question to you folks is, do you have any tips for getting started with this? I have very little server experience. I am currently studying for the MTA 98-365 exam. It is fairly easy content for me to understand so far - I think I'll be able to study a few weeks and ace the exam. Other than that, any suggestions for some fundamental stuff I could study to prepare for a job that is centered mostly around SCOM monitoring and alerts? Does anyone here have a job that is centered around SCOM? From what I'm told by my new boss, this is an entry level sys engineer job and as long as I am eager to learn and motivated that I will be fine. I can't imagine I won't with how honest I was - I think they really admire my work Ethic and competency at my current job so they are willing to be patient as I learn what I am doing. Has anyone else been in a position like this where they were worried if they had the technical knowledge to be successful? I am sure If I study up and get some experience starting out I'll be fine. But boy is it nerve-wracking! I never imagined I'd land this position 4 years ago when I started as basically a peon.
Anyways, any input much appreciated! I hope my story of progression inspires any of you who are just trying to get into IT. If you manage to get your foot in the door, have good work ethic, and make a point to do the best job you possibly can every day, you can really land fantastic positions. I don't even have a college degree or any certs and I got here. Now I'm jsut hsivering in my boots wondering how difficult this transition will be!
Comments
-
Chev Chellios
Member Posts: 343 ■■■□□□□□□□
Congrats on the new gig dude. I wouldn't sweat it as they know the level you are at so would assume they are going to train you on SCOM etc in the new job? -
Danielm7
Member Posts: 2,310 ■■■■■■■■□□
Congrats on the new role. Search for virtual labs for SCOM, I don't have specific pointers as it's not my area but MS has a lot of free virtual labs so there might be one you could check out to get the ball rolling.
-
Absolut1l
Registered Users Posts: 2 ■□□□□□□□□□
Thank for your input guys. I found some of those virtual labs on the site. Very helpful!
-
Dakinggamer87
Member Posts: 4,016 ■■■■■■■■□□
Congrats way to go!! Look forward to seeing how your job progresses
*Associate's of Applied Sciences degree in Information Technology-Network Systems Administration
*Bachelor's of Science: Information Technology - Security, Master's of Science: Information Technology - Management
Matthew 6:33 - "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
Certs/Business Licenses In Progress: AWS Solutions Architect, Series 6, Series 63 -
olaHalo
Member Posts: 748 ■■■■□□□□□□
Great job dude!
I really hate the job titles in IT.
Systems Engineer can mean anything and its really hard to tell anything based off the title alone.
Seems like you will be doing mostly network/server monitoring and likely reporting.
Jump on technet and watch some videos on SCOM to get more familiar with it.
Im sure youll learn everything you need to know on the job.
Congrats again -
PremierCisco
Member Posts: 221
Congrats, Well done.Bachelor of Science in Computer Services Management - Limerick Institute of Technology
Higher Certificate in Science in Computer Services - Limerick Institute of Technology
Certificate Information Technology and Computing - The Open University
Certificate in Computing and Mathematics -The Open University -
thua
Registered Users Posts: 3 ■□□□□□□□□□
Congratulations.
You have a good attitude. You'll make it.
