Subcodec Posted September 20, 2004 Share Posted September 20, 2004 I'm currently going to school at a local college and am in the computer specialist program. One of the careers or jobs that I am interested in the future is a systems administrater. As part of an assignment for Computer Career Planning, I am supposed to interview someone in the job cluster I am interested in. Can anyone in this area help me answer these questions?How long have you worked in this field?What is a typical workday like?What do you like most about your job?What are the difficult aspects of this job?What suggestions do you have for someone just starting out in this field?Thanx in advance for helping me out.Subcodec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepnmojo Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 I can imagine these will be some likely answers, but don't include them in your homework unless no one else responds.How long have you worked in this field?Too longWhat is a typical workday like? HellWhat do you like most about your job?LeavingWhat are the difficult aspects of this job? The usersWhat suggestions do you have for someone just starting out in this field? Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manip Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 sleepnmojo: That might be a joke.. ? But if it's not then why do you stay? I mean if I hated what I do I would simply leave. One of the best aspects of being an admin is that it varies so much, if you don't like dealing directly with users then don't - find a job where you don't need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synapse Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 I'll have too agree on sleepnmojo. even if he is joking. I'm not a System Administrator yet... But i've heard of many stories admins go through everyday. Stupid things like the user used the CD-Rom as a cup holder... The user put a peice of paper up too the screen and hit fax and wondered why it didn't work.. even things that had nothing too do with computers.. "the copy machine broke. lets contact the computer administrator... hell it has wires in it too.."I've also heard from many system administrators that had too go back too work at like 3 am cause the printer wasn't printing only too find out it wasn't plugged in... and now theres 500 jobs in the queue cause we all know.. if it doesn't work te first time.. try clicking it a second and third and fourth try...I go to my relatives houses and fix their computers. well it always keeps getting worse. may go to fix the network. get that done and you find out the person has 500 adaware/spyware. get rid of those and find theres 60 viruses. I've even spent 6+ hours fixing my aunts computer got so fustrated that i just made up some stupid crap too get me outof it so i could go home (it was like 2:30 am) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subcodec Posted September 21, 2004 Author Share Posted September 21, 2004 I know there are downsides to the job, but aren't there downsides to every job?? I've been in the same boat as Biohazard working on friend's and relative's computers. I can imagine many of the same simpe problems happen in an office environment. For those that are system administrators, there has to be something they like about the job, or they wouldn't be doing it, right? In another forum, I asked the same question and one reply that he is a system administrator of a college. While he does have to follow some college guidelines, he pretty much can do with the system as he pleases. He also likes that he get's to play with new "toys" sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noise Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 I've been a System Administrator at a fortune 500 company for over 12 years. My advice to you is change your major. Unless you already have a "in" (like your Dad's a CEO, or your uncle Joe is the head of MIS) there is no future in supporting computers in America.Too much competition, both with other countries and too many people in the feild. The market is saturated with people (mostly incompetent) from the dot.com boom of the late 90's.You want a good job, a house, a boat and to be able to support 2.5 kids? Get into another field, like construction - something that cant be outsourced.Don't say I didn't warn you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepnmojo Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 My response was meant to be a joke, but all of you guys who do respond can answer the poor man's questions.System Administration is necessarily a bad job. It depends on your users. I like people with common sense. So you can quickly find the people you don't like by the questions they ask. It can also be a wonderful job too. For the most part the answers would be what I would put in a real survey, but I didn't want the guy to fail his assignment. I enjoy my job, but not the tech support portion of it. I can deal with techies, but not normal users.Every industry needs people with common sense, but its not something you can find out in an interview. If more users had common sense, we wouldn't have problems with many email spreading viruses and such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoffeeFiend Posted September 22, 2004 Share Posted September 22, 2004 I suppose I fit in with that job title too (along with webmaster, DBA, ... throw another dozen random titles, ...) And sleepnmojo's first post spoke my mind Really looking forward to retirement in a year or 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now