I'm considering taking a job with a family friend's small Managed Service Provider (MSP) company. They have a couple of staff and around 20 clients, but are looking to expand. They're a Microsoft licensing reseller and my friend has offered to support me with a discounted exam voucher for the MS-102 (Microsoft 365 Administrator) certification. He mentioned that key skills for the role involve networking, cloud platforms like Microsoft 365 and Azure, server management, and general IT troubleshooting. I've got a Bachelor's in IT and a Master's in Cybersecurity but I'm feeling a bit rusty since it's been a while since I worked in the field. What skills should I focus on to be ready for this? Any tips on how to quickly ramp up?
5 Answers
Running a small MSP with that few employees sounds tough, especially with 20 clients. I get the sense your family friend is under some pressure, so only take this if you're really looking for a way in. Just make sure they’re not overloading you with work before you're ready.
Be careful! You might see some pretty questionable security practices at those healthcare and accounting firms. Just a heads up that it can be a bit of a wake-up call!
Dive in and start with the basics! The MS-900 and AZ-900 certifications could set a solid foundation. Working at an MSP can be challenging, but it’s a great way to grow your skills if you stick with it and focus on learning.
Honestly, you might be more than ready for this! Azure is pretty user-friendly, and you've got the education background to tackle anything that might come up. Maybe consider asking for a short onboarding period just to get your feet wet. But it sounds like you'd pick things up quickly just by watching and working alongside others. Just make sure you negotiate a fair deal!
Working for a family friend might complicate things, especially if there are issues later on. Just keep that in mind as you get started. It could get messy if expectations aren’t aligned.
Right? It can be eye-opening for sure, haha!