Thoughts on shifting job role in the right direction

Hey guys, I created a toss away account for this post, need some thoughts from everyone.

I've been working for the same company for a little over seven years. I started out doing basic paperwork, nothing IT related. Over the course of that time I've been promoted several times and now have the IT systems administrator title. I'm currently about half-way through my WGU bachelors degree program, and have several certs under my belt now. I honestly feel like I was asleep in years prior, my knowledge level has increased 1000 fold over the last two years since becoming the system admin and starting my degree program.

Originally, before starting WGU, I wanted to get a simple A+ cert and move on to somewhere where I could get at least a solid $15 an hour. I havn't done that because they've promoted me and given me a couple raises bringing me above that amount, so I have been progressing.

Here's the thing making me insane though....they tell me my advice is good, they trust me, they let me implement what I want, but I can't get them to take some of old responsibilities away. Between misc. computer issues people need my help with and all the misc reports and non-IT responsibilities I have gained over the last 5-7 years, I have a solid 40 hours of work every week. No matter how I explain that I can't implement firewalls through group policy, monitor servers for issues, refine processes, document things, etc., without the time to do it, they just don't get it. Then when things break, or things get missed in the maelstrom, they want to know why we didn't catch it (which means me for the most part).

Don't get me wrong, for the most part, it's a positive environment, it's just this part of it, I can't break through to them on it. I would probably be looking for work, but my plan is to finish WGU and move out of the valley next year, somewhere with nice weather and jobs and decent pay. So I havn't really wanted to switch away from my steady job/title if I'm going to leave in another year.

Thoughts? Different approaches? Look for something else local? Ride out it until I finish school? When the guy before me left, everything was a huge unorganized mess, I'm starting to understand why.....

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lsud00d

From your description, it sounds like your work's focus is not IT and you are there to ensure business continuity, and I imagine you are one of a very few who work in IT? It sounds like that's how things have run before you and how they will continue to run after you. You can't change this from the bottom-up, it must be top-down because it sounds like a numbers/personnel problem. If you can't shed responsibilities when you get promoted then they aren't hiring enough people for their IT needs.

pinkydapimp

turbo_fiend wrote: »

Hey guys, I created a toss away account for this post, need some thoughts from everyone.

I've been working for the same company for a little over seven years. I started out doing basic paperwork, nothing IT related. Over the course of that time I've been promoted several times and now have the IT systems administrator title. I'm currently about half-way through my WGU bachelors degree program, and have several certs under my belt now. I honestly feel like I was asleep in years prior, my knowledge level has increased 1000 fold over the last two years since becoming the system admin and starting my degree program.

Originally, before starting WGU, I wanted to get a simple A+ cert and move on to somewhere where I could get at least a solid $15 an hour. I havn't done that because they've promoted me and given me a couple raises bringing me above that amount, so I have been progressing.

Here's the thing making me insane though....they tell me my advice is good, they trust me, they let me implement what I want, but I can't get them to take some of old responsibilities away. Between misc. computer issues people need my help with and all the misc reports and non-IT responsibilities I have gained over the last 5-7 years, I have a solid 40 hours of work every week. No matter how I explain that I can't implement firewalls through group policy, monitor servers for issues, refine processes, document things, etc., without the time to do it, they just don't get it. Then when things break, or things get missed in the maelstrom, they want to know why we didn't catch it (which means me for the most part).

Don't get me wrong, for the most part, it's a positive environment, it's just this part of it, I can't break through to them on it. I would probably be looking for work, but my plan is to finish WGU and move out of the valley next year, somewhere with nice weather and jobs and decent pay. So I havn't really wanted to switch away from my steady job/title if I'm going to leave in another year.

Thoughts? Different approaches? Look for something else local? Ride out it until I finish school? When the guy before me left, everything was a huge unorganized mess, I'm starting to understand why.....

Have you tried to sit down and discuss this with them? Maybe you need to put together had facts, numbers, do a quantitative analysis and explain why certain things are needed and the benefits to the organization. If they dont go for it, you covered your own hide and did all you could. In the meantime, continue to document everything, get your ducks in order and once you are ready, move on to greener pastures.

turbo_fiend

Thanks for the help guys, I need to do something before I walk out in frustration. I'm going to start working on this. It really is a great company, and I don't want to leave them in a bind. At the very least, if I can make one more effort with some hard facts, I can try to get them on board with the idea. I just feel like if they would pay someone $12 an hour to do some of the work I do, I could set up some of the stuff they need that they would have to pay an outside consultant $100 an hour before I move on to somewhere willing to pay in the $50-60K range. Granted, I could work every weekend and night and implement whatever I feel is necessary, I'm not doing that, I'll move on first.

bacardi_dwb

Without the support of upper management you are going to continually be fighting an uphill battle. They either need to be on board or at least understand your limitations given their constraints that they put you under. Good Luck!

pinkydapimp

turbo_fiend wrote: »

Thanks for the help guys, I need to do something before I walk out in frustration. I'm going to start working on this. It really is a great company, and I don't want to leave them in a bind. At the very least, if I can make one more effort with some hard facts, I can try to get them on board with the idea. I just feel like if they would pay someone $12 an hour to do some of the work I do, I could set up some of the stuff they need that they would have to pay an outside consultant $100 an hour before I move on to somewhere willing to pay in the $50-60K range. Granted, I could work every weekend and night and implement whatever I feel is necessary, I'm not doing that, I'll move on first.

Sadly sometimes upper management only learns the hardway. But i think you are approaching it well. Cover your A&$ and do everything you can. Thats all you can do right?

dave330i

Bacially you need a papertrail stating your concerns.

W Stewart

Yea I agree, they definitely need to hire another tech to take some of the workload. It's never a good idea to have your entire company on one persons shoulders. If you did leave then they would be screwed. Maybe you could just hint at the possibility of being run over by a bus and what kind of situation it would leave them in so you don't have to mention quitting.

WiseWun

How many people are on your team?

turbo_fiend

WiseWun wrote: »

How many people are on your team?

Me and a part time student for the stuff that falls directly under my control. I have his daily four hour time slot filled, about an hour a day (bare minimum) is him reviewing processed incoming accounts from the day before and manually fixing small errors. I've fought hard for a long time to standardize these processes so we don't spend so much time manually fixing stuff after processing it but it falls on deaf ears.
My former boss who is more or less parallel to me now in the company topology has IT duties that are completely removed from mine. I've managed to keep our duties and skills separated and to not get cross trained on what she does, which I'm sure has saved me a lot of grief. It's mostly reports and the primary functions of the database program most of our staff works out of. That keeps her busy to an extent that almost makes me feel bad for complaining about my workload, she just doesn't say no, and never has time to pause and consider refining things or taking the time to smooth the processes out.
The newest addition is another lady added to the team, she is intelligent but has zero technical and project experience, has been promoted from within, so her biggest advantage is already knowing how the company works. She's been given the generic title of Project Manager and her duties are projects from the VP, spending lots of time helping in another department, and helping us in IT on what we want to train her on.
Initially, training was going well, but then I was told she would be working in this other department on certain days and that I would have to do any work I've given to her when she is busy with the other department, I was also told not to "give her the boring stuff, be fair", and I know they will be ramping up training on her learning some duties from my former supervisor (who in all fairness, does need help). So already, the items I've trained her on have started showing some glaring errors and causing lots of problems for me, which of course, makes me not want to train her at this point.
I'm trying to be as general as possible, so, let me know if something I'm saying doesn't make sense. Just frustrated, I think everyone here is getting me on the right track though.