I've been a sys admin for nearly two years at my current job, and I've seen and handled quite a bit. We're mostly stuck with old systems; right now, I'm working on setting up our own intranet with SharePoint and will soon start managing mobile device management (MDM) for our phones. My tasks vary from managing ESET security solutions, overseeing the Microsoft ecosystem (like Admin and Defender), handling Active Directory, updating servers, automating processes, preparing new computers, managing user accounts and permissions, to offering first-level support. I hold a university degree in computer systems and security, along with a master's in applied informatics. With the job market being tough, I think leaving is not a great option. I want to focus on learning and preparing for my next career move. I've considered a junior DevOps engineer role, pivoting to a cybersecurity position, or even stepping into management since I have a master's degree (which seems to be the only requirement here, but I really dislike my current manager). If you were in my shoes, what career paths would you explore?
5 Answers
If you want to stay in the sysadmin realm, maybe consider transitioning into DevOps. I shifted from sysadmin to working with the Microsoft stack, and it’s a lot less stressful! Plus, it pays better and eliminates a lot of the late-night hardware troubles. It took some time, but self-educating really helped me make the leap. Focus on scaling and automation, and you'll do great.
Sounds like a plan—I'll start focusing on my automation skills!
You have a few avenues to explore. You could aim for a managerial role, which requires a different skillset than tech roles. Or, consider going towards SRE (Site Reliability Engineer); it’s like sysadmin but adds a proactive twist to it. Just remember, the key is to pursue what excites you most—whether that’s management or a specialized tech role.
Management doesn't excite me right now. I'm leaning towards more technical roles.
I feel the same way! I want to stick to tech for now.
Honestly, just keep grinding away at your current job—two years isn't a lot of experience yet. Look for opportunities to take on more projects, even if they're small. It’ll build your skills and set you up for moving into a stronger position in the future.
Good point! I need to look into taking on more projects.
Exactly! I’ll start asking for more responsibilities.
You could also think about going into cybersecurity. I switched from sysadmin to cybersecurity about a decade ago, and it's been the best choice I’ve made! Just ensure you have a clear roadmap and maybe some certifications to help you transition smoothly.
I’d love to hear more about that roadmap!
What’s a good roadmap you’d recommend for moving to cybersecurity?
You might want to look into becoming a Cloud Engineer—either AWS or Azure. I've been in a similar position and had to think about my future. I mentioned Systems Engineering as a goal, but I aim to specialize in Cloud soon. Just make sure to grab some certifications to back up your hands-on experience!
Definitely go for Azure! I had a rough time with AWS during my studies.
Sounds good! I should check out some cloud certifications.
I love automation too, maybe I'll dive into some projects to build that experience.