Career progress?

I have been thinking lately about my next career step, and I want some opinions here. So I have been a sysadmin/ sr. sysadmin for a while now, and I'm getting kind of complacent. I'm not sure what I want to do to be honest. Do you think being a sysadmin all your life is a good career choice? Where do you progress from a sysadmin?

Few positions come to my mind: Team Leader? Manager? architect? But I don't find them that interesting to be honest.

What do you think?

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Comments

darkerz

Perhaps a consulting or managed services role could be interesting?

Have you considered branching into a hybridized Systems and Networking role?

UnixGuy

I started out in a managed services/vendor role, never again. The stress isn't worth it. With regards to hybrid positions, I found that specialised roles pay better than generalists roles. I never got the chance to get serious hands on experience with Networking gear. I don't think it's really different than a typical sysadmin role.

Asif Dasl

Have you thought about writing a book? If you don't want to move upwards then I don't see any reason to force yourself in to some position you're not that interested in. Why not be an awesome admin who writes books!

N2IT

For me the interest is the industry and the company I am working for. I like working for companies that deliver product after product. Ones that have an aggressive project schedule.

Bryzey

Any interest in devops?

jabney

My advice is to follow your passion if you don't love Sysad then stop doing it. Maybe follow the hobby that you have and find a way to monetize that.

UnixGuy

Asif Dasl wrote: »

Why not be an awesome admin who writes books!

Not a bad idea. Even if I don't write a book, I can always be a better sysadmin and become an expert in my field. I've got a lot to learn anyway

UnixGuy

N2IT wrote: »

For me the interest is the industry and the company I am working for. I like working for companies that deliver product after product. Ones that have an aggressive project schedule.

I think as a techie, I'm not directly involved in the actual production unless it's an IT company

UnixGuy

Bryzey wrote: »

Any interest in devops?

Very interested in DevOps, but I think it will become part of the job. More automation and configuration management and continuous integration especially with software shops. At the moment, I don't do a lot of that, but I don't see it as a different role, it's still system administration of some sort

UnixGuy

jabney wrote: »

My advice is to follow your passion if you don't love Sysad then stop doing it. Maybe follow the hobby that you have and find a way to monetize that.

I actually like sysadmin work, just not sure if it's a good idea to keep doing it rather than progressing to another role, or put another way: I'm not sure what's the next step or if there should be a next step

PCSPreston

I would recommend a NOC position.

NightShade1

it all dependes in what do you want...
For example i was a Network engineer, and i always though that i didnt want to be an engineer my whole life... getting support calls, people bothering me with support things, or staying really late configuring or attending support calls
Is not that i dont like engineering, configuring and all that but it some kind of tiring...

I was lucky a product manager position open in the company i work for and im working doing that and i really like it! no more attending support calls past 5pm :P i feel a way less stress, and i feel comfortable here.
Now i got a coworker which is in engineering which is not interest in a position like mine, he is happy on engineering. I also got another friend which on the same boat, which is happy on engineering and want to stay there! ( i mean not in like the same poscition, maybe advancing in engineering route, if you know what i mean)
I went another route though but im happy here

gorebrush

I find it's easier to think about a long term goal and work backwards.

I want to be a Technical Architect ultimately, I believe I need to get there by TDA (Technical Design Authority) and then eventually TA from there. From here I need a CCIE and then I can move onto TDA with the rest of the experience I've accumulated over the past 9 years.

UnixGuy

PCSPreston wrote: »

I would recommend a NOC position.

What kinds of tasks within a NOC you recommend? can you elaborate please?

UnixGuy

@Nightshade1 : Management is a natural step for many. Something to think about.

@gorebrush:: I agree! I'm just not sure what or where I want to be

antielvis

@UnixGuy

Given thought about a career in UNIX based security? You've got the background so perhaps venture into that? It can still be hands on too.

UnixGuy

@antielvis: that would be really interesting, but are there jobs for UNIX security? I haven't seen a job that deals with this. Do you know what are the tasks involved in this and where to find such job?

antielvis

Well I know Red Hat now has a security certification & most definitely there is security related positions for all things LAMP stack. Large UNIX based networks would have internal defensive hacking (best practices) which is everything from when to change your password on up to full out hardening. On the offensive side of security, nearly every tool is written for Linux so knowing all things *nix is pretty much a "must have" for someone in offensive security. Download the ISO of Kali Linux to get an idea.

The path to security seems to start with learning the basics which are more about process than hacking. It's stuff like the CIA triangle..etc, etc. A cert called the SSCP is supposedly a good place to start to get an overall understanding of security.

kriscamaro68

I moved from a Sysadmin to a Systems Engineer. Maybe look for something along those lines.

ally_uk

Start your own company be your own boss

provide Open Source solutions to small business and start ups divert them away from Microsoft and show them the benefits

W Stewart

I'm pretty young and I'll probably have a good 10 years in by the time I'm even 30 so some of the things I was considering further down the line were info-sec and programming. Networking kind of seems like it's on the other end of the spectrum from programming so if you're not interested in one I would check out the other. Not sure who said NOC but I'm assuming they didn't read the post or replied to the wrong one or something. All you'll do in a NOC is sit around watching a screen all day waiting to advance into an engineering role someday. You could write a book, start a business or just chase the money if some other area has better pay. You could also look into project management or contract work where you'll get to work on an interesting project if you're not really looking to change fields too much in IT. It's always a nice addition to your resume to work for some very large well known company but that may involve relocating.