Want to move from 2nd Line to Server work

[tacka]

Hi majority of my contracts have been in 2nd Line support and Deployment/Refresh work for the past few years, am hoping to move on to 3rd line/server work but not sure how to make the 'break' so to speak.

I've currently done my MCSA 2012 server as well as SCCM 2012 exams and have touched on SCCM during some of my previous roles and some exposure to server 2008/2012. Hoping to study in Azure /Exchange server as well as Cloud computing to keep my skills up to date.

Ive setup a network with Vmware and playing around with it while learning

Im also going through Security Clearance for a build Engineer role with Powershell but hoping to use the clearance eventually to get my foot in.

Does anyone have any suggestions what other courses I would need or of what skills server roles require?

Any hints or tips

[northernladuk]

Experience.

[uk contractor]

ONLY realistic chance you have is go perm or take a contract to perm few companies will take on someone for such an important role anymore unless its a very long term position or very low paid with a charity or public body. If you do get someone who will take you on ask yourself what on earth do you have to offer that their existing 2nd line perm staff who want to be promoted to 3rd line do not have?


All the existing skillset you listed is very common none of it is cutting edge anymore either! This particular gravy train sailed about 10 years ago as well BTW!

[quackhandle]

Remember this is a contractor forum, we are paid to hit the ground running in most cases, not to learn on the job, that's for permies.

You are better staying in permy role and learn as much as you can. In a few years (if contracting still exists or is still feasible) you would be better to make the switch then.

qh

[TestMangler]

Think I did that in about 1994. Can't remember how though.

[Lance]

Think I did that in about 1994. Can't remember how though.

I remember how I did it. The company I worked for sent me to a customer site to fix their server with the words "don't tell them you've never seen one before and wing it".
Good advice and I've never looked back.

[ladymuck]

You could do a few server admin courses, so you can answer a few techie questions and know the buzzwords, and then just lie about your experience on your CV.

I know so many people who I wouldn't ever recommend because they're useless but they get all the great paying gigs because their CVs are more fictional than the bible.

Depends on whether you're a chancer or not.

[northernladuk]

You could do a few server admin courses, so you can answer a few techie questions and know the buzzwords, and then just lie about your experience on your CV.

I know so many people who I wouldn't ever recommend because they're useless but they get all the great paying gigs because their CVs are more fictional than the bible.

Depends on whether you're a chancer or not.

Not forgetting the downside of getting found out, walked off site and not having and income for the foreseeable future.

[ladymuck]

Not forgetting the downside of getting found out, walked off site and not having and income for the foreseeable future.

Agreed. Hence the "chancer" bit.

Strangely, IME, many clients seem to suffer the "sunk cost fallacy" and don't tend to let bad contractors go because they either can't be bothered to go through the hassle of replacing them, or they have a recruitment freeze on and they'd rather keep a carp person than have no-one. In more hands-on technical roles, the impact of a numpty engineer is a bit more impactful and the escort service is more likely to be used.

[MrMarkyMark]

FTFY

Think I did that in about 1994. Can't remember how though, I was very, very, very drunk at the time.

I can .

Got asked, read up on all best practices and cracked on building the system.