Hey everyone! I'm just starting my first job as a System Administrator and I want to make sure I'm as prepared as possible. I know that interviews are one thing, but actually working in IT feels completely different. I understand that it's impossible to know everything in this field, but I want to build a solid foundation and develop some key skills.
I'm looking for free, high-quality resources like YouTube channels, blogs, and structured courses that helped you in your early sysadmin days. I'd like to focus on areas such as Linux and Windows administration, networking fundamentals, Active Directory, virtualization, backups, monitoring, and automating tasks, especially for backups and dashboards.
I'm not looking for shortcuts—just solid learning paths that translate to real-world skills. Thanks for any advice you can share!
5 Answers
A piece of advice: IT is a huge field, so it's best to start by listening and observing. Learn how your company operates and what their priorities are. Understanding how to troubleshoot is key!
Check out David Bombal's channel for great content on networking and security. It’s been really beneficial for me.
While watching videos is great, nothing beats actually doing the work. It's important to dive into hands-on experience to really grasp the skills. Everyone learns differently though, so find what works for you!
One channel I find particularly helpful is the Bearded 365 Guy, especially if you're interested in Azure. He's got a lot of practical tutorials up.
Totally agree! His tutorials are super useful.
I suggest learning what tools and software your new company uses and finding videos that relate to those specifically. It’s all about understanding their stack.
Exactly, practice is crucial! But video resources can really help build a basic understanding.