coUnix

System Administration Growth

More and more I find myself helping my co-workers. I help them with coding, troubleshooting, configuration, and even networking on all sorts of devices from the Server to the Desktop. Every bit of knowledge I share with them just makes them that much more valuable to the company.

This mentoring as I like to think of it is great for them, they learn new things and every time they don’t have to ask for help makes them feel that much better.

There is a problem with this though, companies RARELY offer promotions in our industry. We want to learn more so we offer to do more things. Over time the things that we do piles up and we are still doing our original job AND the stuff we wanted to learn to do to get away from our other tasks. Even with the increased level of knowledge and responsibility you wont get a promotion. The company has you doing more for the same amount of money. It is easier and cheaper for the company to hire a new outside person to fill the role then hire from within. This is why we move from company to company so many times as Sys Admin’s. I would find it rare for an actual skilled system administrator to stay at a company for more then 5 years without promotions… or increased pay.

Most sys admins should always worry about their next job. Use your current employer as a step to the next. Learn as much as you can, make some friends and find a place where you get to use your new skills.