Hit a brick wall

[TheAngryDog]

Im at the end of my tether now. I am learning nothing new from my job. My job is essentially Plastic IT. I do desk side support in an office, but aside from setting up AD accounts, creating the odd OU and creating mail boxes on Exchange, my role stems around doing Desk moves, replacing print toners and fixing issues with Outlook. I do nothing that interests or challenges me anymore.

Is there any way to get out of this and into a job where I will be challenged, get to learn new technologies etc?

[Too Late]

TheAngryDog said:

Im at the end of my tether now. I am learning nothing new from my job. My job is essentially Plastic IT. I do desk side support in an office, but aside from setting up AD accounts, creating the odd OU and creating mail boxes on Exchange, my role stems around doing Desk moves, replacing print toners and fixing issues with Outlook. I do nothing that interests or challenges me anymore.

Is there any way to get out of this and into a job where I will be challenged, get to learn new technologies etc?

Do your VCP5, get into 2nd line or 3rd line.
OR do something completely different to IT?

[TheAngryDog]

Too Late said:

TheAngryDog said:

Im at the end of my tether now. I am learning nothing new from my job. My job is essentially Plastic IT. I do desk side support in an office, but aside from setting up AD accounts, creating the odd OU and creating mail boxes on Exchange, my role stems around doing Desk moves, replacing print toners and fixing issues with Outlook. I do nothing that interests or challenges me anymore.

Is there any way to get out of this and into a job where I will be challenged, get to learn new technologies etc?

Do your VCP5, get into 2nd line or 3rd line.
OR do something completely different to IT?

I am meant to be 2nd line as it were, but that feels only in title. I have done 2nd line roles before.

VCP5 would require a £3k course, which currently I do not have the funds for .

IT is all I have ever done for the last 17 years since leaving school.

[Too Late]

It sounds like you have sat in the current role for too long.
Some Microsoft courses?
Will your current employer pay for the course?
Go contracting? some big bucks for 2nd lines in london at the moment

[TheAngryDog]

Too Late said:

It sounds like you have sat in the current role for too long.
Some Microsoft courses?
Will your current employer pay for the course?
Go contracting? some big bucks for 2nd lines in london at the moment

You're right, I've only been doing it since August of last year, but that is way too long.
I dont have any certs to my name, and I wouldnt have the experience to back them up. They will pay for the certs, but not the courses, and if I left I would have to pay them back, but again, not the experience.
The contracting 2nd line roles would need me to have certs / experience in things I have none in. I have little Server side exposure.

[Muzzer79]

You're in a typical rut where you are focussed on reasons blocking you moving, rather than possible ways of getting out.

Speak internally to your superiors, explain your situation constructively, they may be able to shift you sideways.

Speak to people in the IT recruitment field, explain your experience and position, they will be in a good place to advise you.

It's highly likely that nobody will offer you a new job there and then, but you should at least be able to get on the right path to a new one, be that through different experience or more education.

[TheAngryDog]

I've spoken to my managers already. The problem is, is that we primarily offer remote support only. I do deskside in London but its the exception rather than the rule, being contracted out to them. I have no opportunity to progress with my current company unless I want to move to Sheffield or Ireland.

I'm not sure how to speak to people in the IT Recruitment field. I aren't sure how to find these people and break the ice as it were.

[Geo28]

Get profile and CV on LinkedIn. IT is all about networking as it were with the right people.

You will also have far more experience and value than you give yourself credit for.

Learning new skills needn't be all about Certs and expensive courses, get on the internet and start reading and learning from the information on there.

If you can get yourself a home lab setup, needn't be too expensive but allows you to get practical hands on.

Lastly get a plan, figure out what you need to do and take baby steps towards reaching your goal. IT is a great career for those willing to go out there and get it for themselves.

[TheAngryDog]

I have a LinkedIn profile, though it isn't very good. My cv isn't impressive either.

Most of my experience relates to a 16bit superbase data base and some plastic IT deskside.

I have just bought a server and was going to install vmware to it, but it doesn't seem to want to install. I was going to put win 2012 and 2008 on it as virtual pc's.

I'm not sure what I want to be, I just don't want to be doing what I am now. I'm 33, I want to be doing something better before I'm 34 next April

[Ynox]

TheAngryDog said:

I have a LinkedIn profile, though it isn't very good. My cv isn't impressive either.

Most of my experience relates to a 16bit superbase data base and some plastic IT deskside.

I have just bought a server and was going to install vmware to it, but it doesn't seem to want to install. I was going to put win 2012 and 2008 on it as virtual pc's.

I'm not sure what I want to be, I just don't want to be doing what I am now. I'm 33, I want to be doing something better before I'm 34 next April

Why doesn't it want to install? Without being flippant, you're in IT and have been for the last 17 years - surely you should be able to find out the reason?

Virtualisation is probably not a bad area to move into so playing around with ESXi / Xen / similar and getting exposure to that, plus perhaps some Linux knowledge isn't a bad way to move forward. An i5 desktop with a load of RAM (I'd probably want 16gb+) should run a few VMs without too much of a problem. You may even have luck with one of those HP Micro servers if it's just 1 or 2 VMs.

[Geo28]

Ynox said:

TheAngryDog said:

I have a LinkedIn profile, though it isn't very good. My cv isn't impressive either.

Most of my experience relates to a 16bit superbase data base and some plastic IT deskside.

I have just bought a server and was going to install vmware to it, but it doesn't seem to want to install. I was going to put win 2012 and 2008 on it as virtual pc's.

I'm not sure what I want to be, I just don't want to be doing what I am now. I'm 33, I want to be doing something better before I'm 34 next April

Why doesn't it want to install? Without being flippant, you're in IT and have been for the last 17 years - surely you should be able to find out the reason?

Virtualisation is probably not a bad area to move into so playing around with ESXi / Xen / similar and getting exposure to that, plus perhaps some Linux knowledge isn't a bad way to move forward. An i5 desktop with a load of RAM (I'd probably want 16gb+) should run a few VMs without too much of a problem. You may even have luck with one of those HP Micro servers if it's just 1 or 2 VMs.

Figuring out why something doesn't install/work as it should is all part of the learning process. There is a HCL list on VMware's website, have you checked that all the server hardware is supported? Some kit that is unsupported will still work, there is a whole raft of information out there on setting up a VMware home lab.

I started out like this some years ago, I now work for VMware.

[TheAngryDog]

Ynox said:

TheAngryDog said:

I have a LinkedIn profile, though it isn't very good. My cv isn't impressive either.

Most of my experience relates to a 16bit superbase data base and some plastic IT deskside.

I have just bought a server and was going to install vmware to it, but it doesn't seem to want to install. I was going to put win 2012 and 2008 on it as virtual pc's.

I'm not sure what I want to be, I just don't want to be doing what I am now. I'm 33, I want to be doing something better before I'm 34 next April

Why doesn't it want to install? Without being flippant, you're in IT and have been for the last 17 years - surely you should be able to find out the reason?

Virtualisation is probably not a bad area to move into so playing around with ESXi / Xen / similar and getting exposure to that, plus perhaps some Linux knowledge isn't a bad way to move forward. An i5 desktop with a load of RAM (I'd probably want 16gb+) should run a few VMs without too much of a problem. You may even have luck with one of those HP Micro servers if it's just 1 or 2 VMs.

For the server I bought one of these: http://www.serversplus.com/servers/tower_servers/h... . I plan on upgrading the RAM and putting a larger drive in it. I am told by a mate who has the same server that his runs 3 VM's with 8gb of RAM.

Truth be told, when it wouldnt install, I just gave up as couldnt be bothered due to the rut I am in.

Geo28 said:

Figuring out why something doesn't install/work as it should is all part of the learning process. There is a HCL list on VMware's website, have you checked that all the server hardware is supported? Some kit that is unsupported will still work, there is a whole raft of information out there on setting up a VMware home lab.

I started out like this some years ago, I now work for VMware.

I havent checked the HCL list. I was going to but havent really felt like getting into it. I know its a lame excuse.

[The jiffle king]

I happened to look on Groupon today and there were loads of networking courses for 99 quid rather than 3k. working doing a search as it might give you some extra skills

[TheAngryDog]

The jiffle king said:

I happened to look on Groupon today and there were loads of networking courses for 99 quid rather than 3k. working doing a search as it might give you some extra skills

You're referring to this one I assume? http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/london-special/care...

ETA: I assume this is more useful than CBT Nuggets, which I have access to?

Edited by TheAngryDog on Saturday 26th April 15:10

[TheAngryDog]

Well, it seems the error I have may be unique to me, as I cannot find any reference to it anywhere on the internet.

[The jiffle king]

TheAngryDog said:

You're referring to this one I assume? http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/london-special/care...

ETA: I assume this is more useful than CBT Nuggets, which I have access to?

Edited by TheAngryDog on Saturday 26th April 15:10

Yes that was what I was thinking but there were also some others which might appeal. Networking is not my area of expertise, but it looked quite comprehensive. Don't think it includes exams though

[TheAngryDog]

The jiffle king said:

TheAngryDog said:

You're referring to this one I assume? http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/london-special/care...

ETA: I assume this is more useful than CBT Nuggets, which I have access to?

Edited by TheAngryDog on Saturday 26th April 15:10

Yes that was what I was thinking but there were also some others which might appeal. Networking is not my area of expertise, but it looked quite comprehensive. Don't think it includes exams though

I only saw this one, couldnt see any others.

[Art0ir]

TheAngryDog said:

You're referring to this one I assume? http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/london-special/care...

ETA: I assume this is more useful than CBT Nuggets, which I have access to?

Edited by TheAngryDog on Saturday 26th April 15:10

I'm a little skeptical of obtaining a CCNP cert via home learning without any hands on experience to reinforce it, but if the materials are in any way half decent, that's certainly a bargain.

[TheAngryDog]

Art0ir said:

TheAngryDog said:

You're referring to this one I assume? http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/london-special/care...

ETA: I assume this is more useful than CBT Nuggets, which I have access to?

Edited by TheAngryDog on Saturday 26th April 15:10

I'm a little skeptical of obtaining a CCNP cert via home learning without any hands on experience to reinforce it, but if the materials are in any way half decent, that's certainly a bargain.

The only issue is, is that how good the materials are is unknown....

[TheAngryDog]

This is the VMWare issue I am having

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=...