• Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
  • Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!

Next Contract Career move

Collapse
X
  •  
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Next Contract Career move

    Just looking for some general guidance. I've been working in IT since 2001 starting on an IT Helpdesk then to Desktop Support and to various roll out jobs.
    My last perm role was over 4 years and most recently gone into a Windows 10 roll out.

    It's not been the most exciting career but it's paid my bills. However I have always struggled to specialize in IT or to move into 3rd line support / system admin even today I have an interview for a 3rd line support role. However after 10 minutes I new I was a bad fit after asking him some typical support questions the job holder would require to do.

    I could very easily jump back into another desktop support or 2ndline support role. However having to deal with end users over the phone all day particularly password reset issue is tantamount to torture. I recently finished my Open University Degree in Business and IT however nothing has really changed Career wise.

    Back in the early day I did do an MCP in Windows XP which was very hard but I did enjoy it. Just when it came to doing the Windows Server MCP I looked at the thousands of pages of brain dumps and gave up. I'm mildly dyslexic and have always struggled with exams at the best of times.

    I am trying to think what to do next if I keep doing the same thing and expect a different result that is insanity right?
    My options are:
    Do nothing and just look forward to retirement in about 20ish years..
    Try to do a SWOT Analysis on my skills. Example my Server Skills are pool and perhaps create a test lab to improve them or do a training course.
    Try to specialize in Mac OSX deployment (Jamf Pro) or Microsoft Azure
    Get out of IT and move more into a Business related filed, example Business Analyst, Marketing Analyst.

    How have people on here got out of 1st and 2nd line support. (Dealing with obnoxious end users). And do you genuinely like 3rd line?


    #2
    It's not easy (not impossible either) to move into a different role as a contractor, as mostly you're hired to do what you do rather than learn something new. So, I'd be looking for a strategic permie move with a company that will get you either experience or training (ideally both) and give you scope to try out different roles to work out what it is you want to do.

    Have a think about where your interests and skills lie - business analyst may not be great for your dyslexia as there can be a lot of documentation but if analytics is something you're good at there's other analysis roles out there which may be a better fit.

    Comment


      #3
      Just chucking ideas out there. Your current experience is Desktop. How about specialising in SecOps? With all the cyberattacks and cybercrime there is emphasis on securing networks, OS and applications.

      If you could obtain this cert? https://www.comptia.org/faq/security...-security-exam

      Learn patch management tools https://www.dnsstuff.com/wsus-alternative-tools

      I believe this would be a more premium skill and move you over to security teams, which would be your first step into the SecOps world.


      First Law of Contracting: Only the strong survive

      Comment


        #4
        Don't get out of bed for less than £100k that is exploitation. Lay off the Avocados as they make you fat.



        Cloud seems to be the future, get a few certs ~$300, babble about cost savings and kerching! Tell everyone you did cloud as last cient.

        If you can't bear changing passwords your future is not in desktop support.


        Alternatively office365 & PowerXYZ Powershell is hot).



        Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.

        Comment


          #5
          LM has the right answer (unlike the other two). Reskilling by certificate won't work, you need experience, especially in the brave new world you are in these days.

          Grit you teeth and look for a perm role with one of the better system integrators (SCC are quite good, for one) and work up the ladder until you have something properly saleable. That is also your only route to working outside IR35 in future.
          Blog? What blog...?

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by ladymuck View Post
            It's not easy (not impossible either) to move into a different role as a contractor, as mostly you're hired to do what you do rather than learn something new. So, I'd be looking for a strategic permie move with a company that will get you either experience or training (ideally both) and give you scope to try out different roles to work out what it is you want to do.

            Have a think about where your interests and skills lie - business analyst may not be great for your dyslexia as there can be a lot of documentation but if analytics is something you're good at there's other analysis roles out there which may be a better fit.
            This!

            You are gonna have to go perm and graft your way in to something you want to do. I'd hazard a guess many of us started from similar(ish) beginnings but it was never going to be anything more than a start so stayed perm and worked through it. By becoming a contractor you've pigeonholed yourself and cut of any career growth.

            You are paid for what you can do, nothing more. There is no career moving in contracting. You cannot be paid for skills you do not have as it seems you have found out.

            Personally I'd say find a gig doing what you do in a large organisation and then smash the career opportunities as hard as you can. Many companies have staff in more senior positions that started off in first line so it's the perfect springboard. You've just got to do a lot of work and have a dose of luck to move. As bad as we think permie reviews are I think they are your friend now as you can discuss your aspirations with your manager or mentor. If they are worth anything they'll do what they can to move and improve you.

            If you've not moved in a year or two then switch it round and just become a massive pain in the ass. It's easier to promote people that are a problem than it is to sack them
            'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

              This!

              You are gonna have to go perm and graft your way in to something you want to do. I'd hazard a guess many of us started from similar(ish) beginnings but it was never going to be anything more than a start so stayed perm and worked through it. By becoming a contractor you've pigeonholed yourself and cut of any career growth.

              You are paid for what you can do, nothing more. There is no career moving in contracting. You cannot be paid for skills you do not have as it seems you have found out.

              Personally I'd say find a gig doing what you do in a large organisation and then smash the career opportunities as hard as you can. Many companies have staff in more senior positions that started off in first line so it's the perfect springboard. You've just got to do a lot of work and have a dose of luck to move. As bad as we think permie reviews are I think they are your friend now as you can discuss your aspirations with your manager or mentor. If they are worth anything they'll do what they can to move and improve you.

              If you've not moved in a year or two then switch it round and just become a massive pain in the ass. It's easier to promote people that are a problem than it is to sack them

              I agree in some perm roles you can work your way up but in my experience in particular large Corporate US companies where the IT access is strictly controlled it is getting increasingly harder too. In my last perm role I started off enthusiastic and I was given an opportunity to learn SalesForce. However found it impossible to manage the day to day running of the helpdesk with consistant interruptions as well as do the SalesForce side. Eventually they took that away from me without even a word. (don't want to make excuses but my dyslexia didn't help as the interruptions make it hard to concentrate).

              Often with perm roles the longer you have been their the move work responsibilities they add to your job role. My manager in my last role turned out to be a narcissist and used to say how great he was and "you won't believe how much money I am on". So was a little be draining.

              But yes overall you are right I can't be paid for skills you don't have. I did work for a little IT Consultancy before joining my last perm role. I should have stayed! lesson to be learned!

              Comment


                #8
                A recent company I worked with retrained all it's desktop support staff in Azure Platform Operations.

                When the pandemic hit all who looked elsewhere able to find job with other companies (they weren't made redundant, but furlough made them reconsider their options).
                "I can put any old tat in my sig, put quotes around it and attribute to someone of whom I've heard, to make it sound true."
                - Voltaire/Benjamin Franklin/Anne Frank...

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by _V_ View Post
                  Just chucking ideas out there. Your current experience is Desktop. How about specialising in SecOps? With all the cyberattacks and cybercrime there is emphasis on securing networks, OS and applications.

                  If you could obtain this cert? https://www.comptia.org/faq/security...-security-exam

                  Learn patch management tools https://www.dnsstuff.com/wsus-alternative-tools

                  I believe this would be a more premium skill and move you over to security teams, which would be your first step into the SecOps world.

                  And this is a good option as well...
                  "I can put any old tat in my sig, put quotes around it and attribute to someone of whom I've heard, to make it sound true."
                  - Voltaire/Benjamin Franklin/Anne Frank...

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by cojak View Post
                    A recent company I worked with retrained all it's desktop support staff in Azure Platform Operations.

                    When the pandemic hit all who looked elsewhere able to find job with other companies (they weren't made redundant, but furlough made them reconsider their options).
                    Wow whey where lucky and unlucky all in one! Yes that is an option. I have paid for Linkedin Learning for a year so can see if that is of interest.

                    Comment

                    Working...
                    X