Reply to: Skill up.

[bobspud]

There's a whole raft of 'BS' surrounding Architecture.

Once upon a time an Architect Role came when you turned into a senior sysadmin, designing systems came with the job. But now there is so much more stakeholder management and bulltulip filtering. Its hardly a role I would recommend. In your position I would be looking at a move to Linux and then swiftly into AWS for a much better return and far more enjoyment.

[reddog]

You could go for TOGAF certification, and then use that to angle for design work on your "normal" AIX Admin Contracts

As an aside it is not just offshoring that is killing AIX. I know of a few massive Bluechips have plans underway to completley eliminate "tradional" Unix (AIX, HPUX, Solaris) and replace with Linux over the next few years. IBM's anouncement to sell their x86 diversion made me laugh, from what I am seeing the trend is to use many cheap nodes with redundancy on the software level, rather than a mega expensive RISC system with redundancy via HACMP/Serviceguard/Veritas Cluster.

[mall]

Skill up.

Thanks for all the replies.

I guess I am just suffering "bench time madness".

[Mich the Tester]

You have to use a long gig to cleverly manouevre into areas where you want to gain experience. I am, as you may have noticed, a tester, right now testing so-called 'high level control' software in an industrial company that makes factory and airport transport systems. However, I'm studying for an industrial automation qualification and learning PLCs; I don't have experience with low level controls, but I'm gaining textbook knowledge. Later in this project I will be executing tests together with 'low level' engineers and I can grab that moment to get some experience with the low level controls, maybe not much experience, but perhaps enough to make the difference in some selection process between 'no, inexperienced' and 'yes, worth talking to'.

[stek]

When you say AIX admin you mean just that or frame builds, VIO's, LPAR's etc?

I have moved from that to a TA role (twice) both times I was bored rigid!

[vwdan]

It is OK saying Blag it!!!!

But what if the client says proven experience as a TA. And want references from previous gigs, were you worked as a TA.

I suppose my other issue is most AIX roles have been shafted by the Indian outsource companies like WIPRO. So I am looking at new avenues Or Flipping burgers

Well, in that case, you're screwed - I'm not sure what answer you're after there. You're not a TA and haven't been a TA so you can't pretend to have been - you just need to catch a break and try and find someone that will let you in.

[Mich the Tester]

It is OK saying Blag it!!!!

But what if the client says proven experience as a TA. And want references from previous gigs, were you worked as a TA.

I suppose my other issue is most AIX roles have been shafted by the Indian outsource companies like WIPRO. So I am looking at new avenues Or Flipping burgers

Then prove you've done the things you claim which are part of the TA job and otherwise apply for something else and wait until the opportunity comes along, perhaps at an existing r previous client that knows you. But don't waste your time trying to get contracts you won't get even with a good blagging session. Or find one that doesn't ask for as much experience and blag that one instead.

[mall]

Skill up

It is OK saying Blag it!!!!

But what if the client says proven experience as a TA. And want references from previous gigs, were you worked as a TA.

I suppose my other issue is most AIX roles have been shafted by the Indian outsource companies like WIPRO. So I am looking at new avenues Or Flipping burgers

[vwdan]

For example I have a load of experience with AIX, storage and networks etc as well. But I have not performed as a TA in any of my roles so lack the PROVEN experience.

My question should be how do other people on the forum progress there career staying as contractors.

If you're as good and as knowledgeable as you say you are, then I think it's just a case of reworking your roles to reflect where you want to be a little more. Have you tried applying for TA roles? Have you had any direct feedback?

[Scrag Meister]

Would imagine Technical Architect.

Its one of those things I could do, likewise Solutions Architect. However I prefer to produce something rather than paperwork at the end of the day so I stick to what I enjoy. Even though I could charge more if I wanted and went for the paper-trails and job title....

Agreed.

Enjoy your job if you can.

I left my last perm job which ended up transitioning into BA/Project Mangement because it wasn't development, which I thoroughly enjoy.

Could have been earning more, but that isn't everything.

[eek]

Tits and Arse man

yep you have an interest in both of those...

[eek]

What's a TA?

Would imagine Technical Architect.

Its one of those things I could do, likewise Solutions Architect. However I prefer to produce something rather than paperwork at the end of the day so I stick to what I enjoy. Even though I could charge more if I wanted and went for the paper-trails and job title....

[mall]

skill up

For example I have a load of experience with AIX, storage and networks etc as well. But I have not performed as a TA in any of my roles so lack the PROVEN experience.

My question should be how do other people on the forum progress there career staying as contractors.

[SimonMac]

What's a TA?

Tits and Arse man

[Mich the Tester]

Oh yeah and I am honest and do not lie on my CV to get into a role. Most of TA's I have met should not be in the job.

But they are in the job and you aren't. You don't need to 'lie', but you need to think like a business; if you can't do some skill but you can learn enough to blag the interview in a day and enough to do the work in a week before starting, then you can do it. If you have limited experience of something but it was a bit more than the people around you, then tell them you have experience and then spend a week swotting up. If you really know nothing about some particular skill then don't advertise it, but big up some other skill that's relevant.

Blag it, learn it, deliver it, bill it.

You are not selling yourself; you are selling a service that your business will provide. Lots of businesses sell things they've never done before and then work out bloody quickly how to provide them.