Be careful what you wish for in IT jobs......

I've done Desktop Support for several years, and have been working on my Cisco certs since last summer. Got a couple already. I've been trying to make the jump to Data Center work for a while, and finally got hired at a company for network operations center and data center technician. It's not a data center per se, just a regular company with about 700 square feet of computer room. Calling this a data center is like calling Miley Cyrus a good role model.

We do a little of everything. Handle service tickets, order parts, configure routers and switches, we are bringing a few of our small data centers to consolidate them into fewer bigger ones, etc.

But this is a big step for me, and it is a bit intimidating. So far in the first week, I've been exposed to having to know something about BGP and MPLS (I'm not even a CCNA yet, those are CCNP topics!), in the process of watching someone else configure switches, I've seen him use Cisco IOS commands for setting up VLANs that I have NEVER seen in any training video or youtube video, EVER!

And I know nearly nothing about MPLS.

We are going to be replacing switches and core switches that have 100-200 Ethernet cables going into them in a somewhat messy fashion. It's not that I can't handle it, but I don't want to be the new guy who accidentally took the building offline during working hours.

So what do I do?

Never let them see you sweat, I guess. Keep a stiff upper lip (from 3 stooges tv shows). Fake it 'till you make it. Learn fast.

If I can get some good time in this place, I can learn and move onto better paying jobs. This is the hard part. I hope my multi-million dollar lottery win comes soon, so I can retire!

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Comments

fmitawaps

I don't know if I should post this brief job on my resume. I've already decided that if I did, I would date it as "3/16 to present", as I technically HAD the job a week before I began there, to imply that I was still there, as I have heard it many times that it is easier to get a job when you already have one. Maybe I should make this bit of folk wisdom work for me. Some would call that a lie, but I prefer to thinking of it as "adjusting the truth to obtain a more desirable outcome in future employment possibilities". That sounds better.

I did a few new things and used a few new programs, but I am far from competent. I "used" solarwinds in the sense that I downloaded it 2 days before I was fired, and poked around the interface a bit without really knowing what I was doing. I "used" MremoteNG a little more, and was able to remote access routers and switches with it, but am I skilled in its use? I would say no.

Not sure what to do here. Yes, I know what would be the RIGHT thing to do. But in the real world, the right thing isn't always the best thing.

thomas_

I'm sorry to hear you got fired. I wish you the best of luck in finding a new job.

I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but have you thought about modifying the way in which you interact with the other people that you work with? I don't know you on a personal level, but my impression based off of reading your posts in this forum is that you may be coming off as a little on the abrasive side to your colleagues.

You've mentioned that you have worked at some places short-term that you wouldn't have minded working at for long-term, but for whatever reason you were let go. As an outsider looking in it appears to me that the way you are interacting with your coworkers could potentially be having a negative effect on your ability to be able to stay on the job long-term.

I'm not trying to attack you in anyway, I'm just trying to offer you my perspective. I very well could be completely wrong as I don't know the entire story, only what you post.

fmitawaps

Me? Abrasive? Yes, that is possible. I get along well with most people on jobs, but different people see things in different ways. And my luck, those that don't see things my way are usually the ones making the hire/fire decisions.

I'm going to send out a mass wave of email applications to all the local data centers again tomorrow, haven't done it since January. There's about 10.

DoubleNNs

B doesn't sound like such a bad dude from the story of him letting you go. Try not to talk badly about a specific person at work, especially not a superior. If you can, try not to speak negatively about the job at all either.

I personally don't have much advice about the resume. Maybe just put March-April and make sure it's known that it was a contract.

I agree with thomas_ on communication with coworkers and getting along with them. Might be something you work on, alongside your tech skills.

Good luck at your next role.

dhay13

abrasive? maybe not so much. but you will learn that not all people think or work the same as you and you have to learn to deal with that. it can definitely be challenging at times but its the only way to get through life. as said above, don't take this as an attack. i have been in similar situations and had to work very hard to get along and keep my cool. that usually comes with age, not necessarily a personality trait as much as life experiences. good luck in your search

TomkoTech

Yeah the whole "telling me word had gotten back to him that I was speaking negatively about him and J, and he wasn't going to put up with it, so that was it."

Im not going to say that people don't talk **** about co-workers regularly. However in most cases it's after you have been working there for an extended period of time and have a solid rapport with the people you are talking to. That you were "speaking negatively" about your boss to other workers was you asking to be let go. So I can't really feel sorry for them letting you go. Knowing that and keeping you on fosters a poor work environment.

It may be the Marine in me, but I never say anything to a coworker about another that I wouldn't or don't say to the coworker it's about. Especially if it's a negative. Remembering that it's only 10% what you actually say and 90% how you deliver the message you can usually get your point across and not look like a complete *******.

At any rate good luck with the job search. Hopefully you won't find yourself in a similar situation again.

ThomasITguy

fmitawaps wrote: »

Me? Abrasive? Yes, that is possible. I get along well with most people on jobs, but different people see things in different ways. And my luck, those that don't see things my way are usually the ones making the hire/fire decisions.

I'm going to send out a mass wave of email applications to all the local data centers again tomorrow, haven't done it since January. There's about 10.

Can I PLEASE be your co worker? I enjoyed reading your updates and sorry you got let go... but what I would have done before you left was put ghost pepper hot sauce on your crappy trainers sandwitch as you left.... and put crazy glue on your bosses chair

LOL

fmitawaps

I'm trying a new tactic in my new job search going on now. Operating under the folk wisdom of "It's easier to get a job when you already have one", I worded my resume and linkedin to imply that I am still at this previous job.

For anyone who calls me about an application, I'm on a contract assignment that is ending "soon". And I am looking now.

We will see if this helps, I am not sure it will make much difference.

ThomasITguy

fmitawaps wrote: »

I'm trying a new tactic in my new job search going on now. Operating under the folk wisdom of "It's easier to get a job when you already have one", I worded my resume and linkedin to imply that I am still at this previous job.

For anyone who calls me about an application, I'm on a contract assignment that is ending "soon". And I am looking now.

We will see if this helps, I am not sure it will make much difference.

It will make a difference. That is the good thing about contract jobs, as long as you have a friend or relative that can act as a reference, or someone at the job that knows your situation that can give a good reference you are good. Its better to fake it till you make it, then to say "Im looking for a job"
It looks good to potential employers that you are looking because the contract is ending, then to not have a position and now you are looking. I was in your shoes not too long ago.

Things will work out!

routergods

fmitawaps wrote: »

he didn't waste much time telling me word had gotten back to him that I was speaking negatively about him and J, and he wasn't going to put up with it, so that was it.

Well, you were posting on a public forum about them... so being vocal about it at work doesn't surprise me.

There's a quote that goes something like, "If one person is the problem, he's the problem. If everyone is the problem, it's your problem"