I'm currently the "Director of IT" at a small K-12 school and have been in this role for about 8 months. However, I'm feeling burned out and unsure if I'm gaining the right experience for a systems administrator position. While I hold this fancy title, I suspect I'm mostly doing tasks at a Tier 2 level. My responsibilities include managing a fleet of Chromebooks, Windows PCs, and Apple devices, maintaining a Linux print server, handling basic networking tasks, troubleshooting VOIP phones, and managing our website—though it's quite basic. I've also been involved in IT policy creation and managing our ticketing system, which was put in place before I started.
My past experience includes working around 3.5 years in Tier 2 tech support and doing a bit of help desk work. I have a BS in Information Technology Management and Cybersecurity, along with a CompTIA Security+ certification.
What worries me is my limited experience with Active Directory, virtualization (like VMware), and PowerShell scripting, plus my basic networking knowledge isn't up to CCNA standards. I've even seen sys admin job postings that require skills I don't fully possess, mainly because my current role doesn't involve a domain setup or AD experience. I've been trying to set up a homelab to learn about Active Directory and improve my networking skills, but work and life have made it tough. I'd love some honest feedback: Am I really ready for a sys admin role? Should I aim for a different position? What should I focus on learning to be competitive? I'm currently earning $55k, which feels low given my workload, but I want to avoid a pay cut if I can help it.
3 Answers
It sounds like you're doing a lot of systems work, but remember, a sys admin role doesn't always require direct experience in every area. I’ve hired many sys admins who didn't have all the skills but had the drive to learn. Your motivation and willingness to grow can be just as valuable.
It seems like your title might be misleading. You’re servicing multiple roles and probably dealing with vendors and budgets to some extent. It doesn’t sound like a classic director role to me, but that’s okay! If I were you, I’d target IT management roles instead of stressing over the sys admin title. Focus on jobs that align with your current skill set while allowing for growth.
You've definitely got a lot of topics you're feeling unsure about, but that’s totally normal! The key is to actually tackle these areas so you can gain more confidence. If you're stuck in repetitive tasks, it can limit your growth. I recommend setting up an Active Directory forest in a virtual environment at home—something like VMware or Hyper-V. Experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them. You might find that once you jump in, it’s not as daunting as it seems.
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