Career Progression - What to do (Sys Admin, Network Engineer?)

SimonPeg

I am looking for advice about career progression and what to go into (Syst Admin, Network Engineer?).
I have a BSc in Computer Science.

I previously spent one year working on a Helpdesk as a Second Line Engineer for a medium sized company supporting over 5000 users.

My general tasks including
- Troubleshooting application issues
- Troubleshooting network issues
- Exchange server management
- Imaging and rebuilding computer workstations
- Active Directory Administration (Creating and removing user accounts, managing access permissions etc)
- Fix hardware issues
- VBscripting for Task Automation
- Deal with specialised network setups and technology configurations (troubleshooting segmented and secure networks, non standard devices etc)

Right now I work for a quasi governmental organisation, with a bit of a strange set up (for security reasons). I manage a specific site with over 200 users.

The set up means half of the systems are centrally managed (as a government organisation). Most of my job is managing the other half, as well as considerable input into other issues.

My job title is “Support Engineer” but I may be more of a Systems Administrator as I tend to cover a bit of everything.
As it is a small organisation I am the only IT staff member on site and I pretty much get free reign on how I manage my time and the systems we have here (within reason).

My general tasks include –
- Troubleshooting application issues
- Managing Domain controller and servers
- Active Directory (user management, access controls, group policy)
- Managing network equipment (routers, switches, patch panels, cable termination etc)
- Managing telephony and video conferencing facilities
- Updating and patching servers
- Software deployment to users
- System Backups
- Implementing adequate security in compliance with audit requirements

There are pro’s and con’s to this job. The main pro being they are very supportive of learning and development, so I have a group wide subscription to a learning provider so there is as much material as I need for taking certs (Microsoft, Cisco, Linux, VMware, CompTIA etc), they are happy for me to take some of exams to get these and cover the cost.

There is also a lot of down time so I go do studying for the certs, and I have set up a virtual lab environment on a spare server to practise on. (We also have a lot of decommissioned networking equipment I can mess about with).

Whilst these aspects are great, there is no opportunity to progress any further because of the company structure, and I could just end up being stuck here for a decade doing the same thing (I’ve seen people do it at other cites).

I just wondered what people think would be a good area to go into, as I am really not sure. I’m doing the CCNA and Microsoft Enterprise Admin training, and I’m also doing CEH training (I’m really into security right now), but not sure what to do. Would be grateful for people’s suggestions! I am looking for advice about career progression and what to go into (Syst Admin, Network Engineer?).

W Stewart

The obvious answer would be to do what you enjoy but based on your experience, you'd probably get a sys admin role much easier than a network engineering role. If you're not really sure, then I would go sys admin anyway because you're going to get a chance to work with everything including networking equipment depending on the size of the company and your job description. At a minimum, you'd probably be managing firewalls.

instant000

You're working the sys admin angle mostly right now, and you claim to be really into security. I advise working the sys admin and security angle as much as you can. Keep going with the CCNA, as a lot of Security people don't know networking very well. Knowing networking will give you a good foundation across the rest of your career.

Also, if you're good with scripting, you want to make sure to maintain that skill, as automating always comes in handy.

Hope this helps!

ccnpninja

Go for sys admin, you have the adequate background for it, and it'll save you a lot of time.

cknapp78

Agreed with everyone here so far. You are working as a systems admin for the most part now. Take advantage of the training and environment now while you can. I used a similar position in the past to pick up knowledge on some applications I had never used before. Stuck it out for about 2.5 years before I felt that I was stagnating and moved on to a better opportunity. Ended up being a great career move for me because I ended up as a Messaging consultant/architect. Would never have gotten the experience though without staying at that 1-Man IT shop.

Just my advice, but stick it out until you feel you can no longer learn anything. Or you just get tired of going in everyday

Corey

cknapp78

And regarding the cert questions you had...definitely go for the MCSE/MCSA 2012 route since you are working with Active Directory now. Backtracking a bit myself and going for MCSE now. If you are working a decent amount on the network hardware side, look into CCNA.

Corey

blargoe

The great thing about working a jack-of-all position like yours early in your career is that you can get a taste for many different things, and get a feel for which technologies and what type of work you really enjoy, the work that you dislike, and the other stuff that you merely tolerate.

Follow your passion and work toward getting a position doing what you love the most, if you already have an idea of what that is. Getting a full blown sysadmin position may be your "in" since you already have some nice experience in that area, but find one that includes some of the work that you really want to be doing.

almostthere

blargoe wrote: »

The great thing about working a jack-of-all position like yours early in your career is that you can get a taste for many different things, and get a feel for which technologies and what type of work you really enjoy, the work that you dislike, and the other stuff that you merely tolerate.

Follow your passion and work toward getting a position doing what you love the most, if you already have an idea of what that is. Getting a full blown sysadmin position may be your "in" since you already have some nice experience in that area, but find one that includes some of the work that you really want to be doing.

Great advise here!

SimonPeg

Thanks for the great advice guys!

My main idea for posting here is because I wasn't really sure what's "out there", as I haven't really worked in a larger IT function so to speak. I often look at System Admin jobs online at there seems to be so much variety in the roles that I worry if I am capable of taking them up in the future (as I'm not being exposed to the larger world of IT).

My first job was tough and a bit repetitive at times but I learned a hell of lot from it and it was very technically challenging. What I have now is a lot more better for my development but the learning curve isn't steep as it's a small organisation and things run smooth, so my hope is once I leave I can be ready to go on to bigger things. (I guess I have a bit of a desire to be more technically challenged - being the jack of all trades there only so many times you can here "I've forgotten my password - that's why I'd like to be more specialized!).

I think for the most part System Administration appeals to me the most from what I've done so far, with a bit of a taste for security. I've been here 6 months now, and just before I arrived we failed various aspects of our audit in terms of security, so I've been tasked with improving this (we are an isolated governmental organisation after).

If I said I was interested in Syst Administration, what things would people suggest I try? In terms of software to try, tasks to do, certs etc.

I mainly wanted to do the CCNA because I still have a strong desire to know how things work and I think it is good knowledge to have. I may not go any deeper with networking after that though! Would people definitely recommend doing the MS 2012 Certs?

Just to mention, I've been given a budget to do a little project to upgrade our systems, so I've purchased three new servers, I will be also configuring a firewall + VPN, and setting up remote working for our staff (The previous guy worked here for 10 years and apparently never upgraded anything!).