What Next...???

[shailesh_5]

Hi All
I have a very difficult question to my self here at this point of time. So I want a helping hand from you all. I have been working as a Unix System Admininstrator for more then 4 years now. I have a strange question in front of me .. What next..?? What is the next step to this profile unlike in development environment we have programmer > Tech Lead > Project Manager etc.. What growth does I have a system administrator. Or is it advisable to go into programming area now. Please help me with your valuable suggestions..

Thanx & rgds

[Rita C Workman]

I would guess that would depend on how where you work, structures career paths and how they view the responsibilities of a System Admininistrator.

It also depends on what you want to do.

I suppose that leads to the age old question..."at what point does a career path lead you to a final goal - or is it always just a path to the indefinite"

Just a thought,

[someone_4]

I think you should ask your self some questions. What are your goals? What are you looking for inside? Where do you want to go in your carrer? If you ask me there is no end and no question to what is next. Because the sky is the limit.

[Patrick Wallek]

I agree with Richard and Rita in that you need to ask yourself what you want to do. 4 years is not that long to have been a system administrator. I work with people that have been sys-admins for 10+ years. Some people I know have been doing it for more than 20 years.

If you are happy with what you are doing, why change? If you are not happy, then maybe a change is necessary.

There is no definitive answer to the question "what next?".

[Dan Hetzel]

Hi,

I had my very first Unix box in 1979....
This makes me consider that 4 year isn't a very long time for a sysadm ;-)

Depending on your management and technical skills, you could become a 'technical project manager' but this role is normally devoted to people with a little bit more experience.

I guess that Unix will last for many years and that it will become more and more complex.
Even after 20 years experience, I'm still learning every day, like most of us do. I'm convinced that even the 'crown holders' of this forum keep on learning.

It has been said before: "if you're happy, don't change, else start looking for something that will make you happy". Nobody but you can tell what will make you happy...

Best regards,

Dan

[Devbinder Singh Marway]

Hi Shailesh,

As the rest have said it depends what you are interested in?
As you know computing is a very big area , being a systems administrator, you dabble in alot of areas i.e. scripting, networking, problem solving, printing, databases etc.. , so you get the feel of virtually alot of computing areas? SO in that aspect system admin , will not be boring ?

It also depends what opportunities are available within your company, because alot of companies require you to be multi - skilled,
i.e. doing UNIX ( a variety of versions i.e. hp,aix,sun,linux,sco,dynix,nt, and a database ( oracle,sybase,informix etc.. ( this is a big area in it self)

If you feel you are doing the same things day in day out you need to see your team leader/ management and ask them what opportunities are available

HTH a bit

[Dan Hetzel]

Hi,

For those who are wondering: "what kind of unix box was that guy using in 1979 ? ":

Type: Onyx
Processor: Z8002 (16 bits) 4Mhz
RAM: 128K (kilobytes, not mega...)
Disk: a whopping 20Mb
Unix version: V6 (academic) the V7 (commercial)

I received my first 'decent' editor (vi) after about 1 year and am still an 'ed' expert ;-)

Doesn't that look like a Dinosaur ?

Dan

[Alan Riggs]

Dan,
You aren't a dinosaur unless you still keep a hex editor handy "just in case". 87)

[shailesh_5]

Thanx to every one for sharing individual experiences & helping me in taking my decision.

[Dan Hetzel]

Hi Alan,

No kidding, but I kept an Hex editor handy for close till late 80's....
:7)

Dan