Hi folks,
I'm 36 and been working as a permie for a small business, managing their IT for the last 10 years. My main skills are Windows Server/desktop, AD, GPO, T-SQL/SSIS, Dynamics NAV, O365. I've managed a few migrations projects involving ERP, Exchange, cloud and VoiP. My salary is £42k.
I feel like I've taken this position as far as I can and my heart's not really in it anymore to be honest. I'm ready to move on...but to what? I've been curious about contracting ever since a friend of mine started a contract on £600 per day which is still going strong after 2 years, however he's a Java developer. I guess I wouldn't be able to land a contract with my current CV as i'm in no man's land with regards to skills & experience - part SQL developer, part MI/BI analyst, part PM.
My heart says I want to specialise and become an expert in one area like SQL. Perhaps get a junior permie role to build up some experience and open the door to go contracting later if I want to. My head says I should keep climbing the permie IT management ladder, perhaps move to a bigger company with more opportunity for progression. My imagination says I should completely re-skill in something that I might enjoy more, perhaps learn a new programming language or something with good future prospects like cyber security.
I have to admit I prefer the developer type work to management, but ultimately my goal is to improve my earnings and have a better work-life balance. Specialist contractor seems to fit the bill better than permie IT management, but I need to decide if it's worth making such a big change at this point in my life and career. My wife earns a little more than I do, so it wouldn't be a huge risk for me to change things up, but I really have no idea about the market or what potential paths I could take from here, so i'm really interested in your opinions.
Thanks if you read through all that.
TLDR
- 36 year old IT manager with 10 years experience at the same company.
- Feel like I've reached the limit of my current role and want to move on.
- Don't know what, if any, contractor opportunies would be open to me.
- Don't know if I should stick to IT management or specialise/re-skill.
I'm 36 and been working as a permie for a small business, managing their IT for the last 10 years. My main skills are Windows Server/desktop, AD, GPO, T-SQL/SSIS, Dynamics NAV, O365. I've managed a few migrations projects involving ERP, Exchange, cloud and VoiP. My salary is £42k.
I feel like I've taken this position as far as I can and my heart's not really in it anymore to be honest. I'm ready to move on...but to what? I've been curious about contracting ever since a friend of mine started a contract on £600 per day which is still going strong after 2 years, however he's a Java developer. I guess I wouldn't be able to land a contract with my current CV as i'm in no man's land with regards to skills & experience - part SQL developer, part MI/BI analyst, part PM.
My heart says I want to specialise and become an expert in one area like SQL. Perhaps get a junior permie role to build up some experience and open the door to go contracting later if I want to. My head says I should keep climbing the permie IT management ladder, perhaps move to a bigger company with more opportunity for progression. My imagination says I should completely re-skill in something that I might enjoy more, perhaps learn a new programming language or something with good future prospects like cyber security.
I have to admit I prefer the developer type work to management, but ultimately my goal is to improve my earnings and have a better work-life balance. Specialist contractor seems to fit the bill better than permie IT management, but I need to decide if it's worth making such a big change at this point in my life and career. My wife earns a little more than I do, so it wouldn't be a huge risk for me to change things up, but I really have no idea about the market or what potential paths I could take from here, so i'm really interested in your opinions.
Thanks if you read through all that.
TLDR
- 36 year old IT manager with 10 years experience at the same company.
- Feel like I've reached the limit of my current role and want to move on.
- Don't know what, if any, contractor opportunies would be open to me.
- Don't know if I should stick to IT management or specialise/re-skill.
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