Unix System Administrator Query

georgewickstaff

Hi all,

I would be grateful for your input with the following.

I have many years experience working on an IT Helpdesk up to supervisor level. Windows, Mac and basic ubuntu troubleshooting - Usual sort of day to day troubleshooting of PCs, laptops, printers and other devices, dealing with customers and suppliers. Enjoyable.

We have been taken over by another company and I have been told I will no longer be doing this job. I have been told by the new HR departement I am now a 'Unix Systems Administrator'.

I have no skills, qualifications or real knowledge about any of the technologies in use - Red Hat, CentOs, Perl, Python and Powershell. I enjoy tinkering around with Ubuntu but in terms of scripting I cannot do any of the above.

I do not have any particular aptitute for scripting nor was it something I have ever contemplated getting involved in before.

My questions are - How much training would be involved to get me up to speed? How long would it take? Is it even doable? Its an extraordinary position I find myself in and I'd appreciate some input.

thank you

Skrynesaver

It's a hell of a step up.

As they've redefined your role do they have a training budget ? You need to learn a lot about networking, file systems, file servers etc... as well as putting together a list of the applications you run under Unix and getting training in them (or where a vendor supports them getting training in the required environment eg. Tomcat, MariaDB, JBoss, etc...)

I'm still improving my scripting in Bash, Perl and Python and I've been using Bash and Perl for a couple of decades now...

It's an opportunity of the new employer is willing to provide training, if they're just going to throw you into the deep end to see if you can swim it may be time to polish your CV.

L.Jenkins

IT Helpdesk to Unix Admin. I hope you negotiated a nice little pay increase to go with the new role. You could go and get your hands on a CentOS ISO, run it and in all honesty, do a little more than tinkering around with it.

Google is your friend in this regard.

georgewickstaff

Thank you for taking the time to reply, it is a hell of jump. Not really one I would be confident about.

My understanding would be that it could take me 3 years of study and training to be 'entry level'. This is particularly worrying.

I'd give it a go but I think it is fair to say that Unix System Admin is a very precise and specialised discipline? I think I was "matched" to this role as the person in HR has no idea about the different skills required.

Johnboy1951

Get a full description from HR for the new position.
Discuss with HR how they intend to train you for the new position.

It is possible (don't know how often this happens these days) that they are just throwing in a title that means nothing to them.

In the meantime get your CV out there, as by your description it will take a long study time before you could attain competency as a Sys Admin.

L.Jenkins

georgewickstaff wrote: »

...My understanding would be that it could take me 3 years of study and training to be 'entry level'. This is particularly worrying...

Shamefully, I BS'ed my way into a role in HP, which was working on their in house HP-UX Systems as an Admin/Developer. My experience with Unix/Linux prior to that was limited and I wasn't certified. Needless to say, I learned on the job, asked question and became familiar with it very quickly. My initial 6 month contract was extended to 15 months because of my enthusiasm for learning. The role ended because of the Company split and budget constraints, that and the applications I managed for the Company were replaced.

If I were you, talk to management and voice your concerns. Seek training and play around with Linux/Unix in your time.

crkball6

Sounds like an awful company.

I would start focusing on finding a new one.

Stuxnet

slap a Junior in front of your new title, will buy you 4 years in the new role.

dr.fuzzenstein

georgewickstaff wrote: »

Thank you for taking the time to reply, it is a hell of jump. Not really one I would be confident about.

My understanding would be that it could take me 3 years of study and training to be 'entry level'. This is particularly worrying.

I'd give it a go but I think it is fair to say that Unix System Admin is a very precise and specialised discipline? I think I was "matched" to this role as the person in HR has no idea about the different skills required.

There's your problem! HR is a great place for chancers and bluffers because it's a job that can be done with a little bluster and bullsh*t and nothing much else, of course the same can't be said for jobs that require actual skills and knowledge, like IT or anything else based in science.

L.Jenkins

crkball6 wrote: »

Sounds like an awful company.

I would start focusing on finding a new one.

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

There's your problem! HR is a great place for chancers and bluffers because it's a job that can be done with a little bluster and bullsh*t and nothing much else, of course the same can't be said for jobs that require actual skills and knowledge, like IT or anything else based in science.

While the Company seems like a clusterfuck, if they have a training budget, it could be a great opportunity to obtain new Certifications that would work out well for the OP in the long run.

Yes, it might be tedious working in the Company for sometime, but I'd grab the Certifications if they're there for the taking and run to a better paying role elsewhere.

Tom Dunne

georgewickstaff wrote: »

I'd give it a go but I think it is fair to say that Unix System Admin is a very precise and specialised discipline? I think I was "matched" to this role as the person in HR has no idea about the different skills required.

While I wouldn't necessarily say it is a precise job, it is particularly specialised, especially if you are dealing with mission-critical systems. If the company has such systems, and they put you in charge, it is deeply concerning not only from your own well being perspective, but also from a legal/security/data protection perspective.

Ideally, you would have a senior system admin in place, from whom you could learn, get hands on experience and concurrently, take classes/certification.

L.Jenkins

Tom Dunne wrote: »

...it is deeply concerning not only from your own well being perspective, but also from a legal/security/data protection perspective...

This is one primary reason why the OP needs to speak with HR and their 1st line manager.

georgewickstaff

Thanks guys, I absolutely agree with you all and am grateful for your input. I fear that thus is a very serious HR error and the role is not an appropriate match. I was hoping to get a sense from experienced people like yourselves what you thought about my situation. Very helpful and thanks again.

dr.fuzzenstein

L.Jenkins wrote: »

While the Company seems like a clusterfuck, if they have a training budget, it could be a great opportunity to obtain new Certifications that would work out well for the OP in the long run.

Yes, it might be tedious working in the Company for sometime, but I'd grab the Certifications if they're there for the taking and run to a better paying role elsewhere.

I don't disagree, this could be a step up for the OP. There is 2 ways of looking at this though. Either it's HR not having a clue about IT beyond going on Facebook and thinking "ah sure, it's the same thing, can't be that difficult" or they know exactly what they're doing and are looking to save a lot of money by getting a lower skilled employee to do a higher skilled job for the same money.

OP, don't reject this out of hand, tell HR that you need to upskill to do this job (unless you really don't want to do this), as long as they are aware of this, this could be a good opportunity for you.

georgewickstaff

Hi again, the plot thickens. I will be paid 7k more then the most senior Sys Admin in the team. I am deeply uncomfortable with this. I know because he is my friend. I have long service but in a very different role. However, the strange thing is that my new IT director told HR I was a match. It's like something out of Game of Thrones. None of us can work out what is going on. Mid 40s in age and a trainee sys admin yet earning more then fully qualified and highly skilled colleagues. Very strange indeed. This is unusual right?

hooplah

Dude, take the money.

HR don't understand the job and are matching you to something they think is similar to what you do.

It might be that they have strict pay grades. Typically if they are slotting you into grades they have to match what you're on now or pay you extra, that probably explains the salary bump.

If you are based in the same location you are in now chances are you will continue to do the same job. Why not be better paid to do it?

Take the post, the title and the cash. Take whatever you can from the training budget to get skilled up over the next few years.

If you talk them into changing things they will likely downgrade your role and you'll have to get a promotion to recover.

syklops

georgewickstaff wrote: »

Hi again, the plot thickens. I will be paid 7k more then the most senior Sys Admin in the team. I am deeply uncomfortable with this. I know because he is my friend. I have long service but in a very different role. However, the strange thing is that my new IT director told HR I was a match. It's like something out of Game of Thrones. None of us can work out what is going on. Mid 40s in age and a trainee sys admin yet earning more then fully qualified and highly skilled colleagues. Very strange indeed. This is unusual right?

Not necessarily. Maybe your colleague has marks on his record, maybe youve been identified as being more reliable than anyone else. If you use the philosophy "You can teach some one who is reliable tech skills, but you can't teach reliability to tech workers(who arent reliable)". Not necessarily a mantra I agree with but..

It could also be an oversight. Whatever the reason I would embrace it. Find this opportunity to learn some new things and enjoy the extra money.

I worked in a place and they wanted a new Unix(BSD) Admin, my friends and I all wanted it and in the end they picked a girl in Customer Care with little experience. Despite our dis-credulousness she ended up doing a fine job. That could be you!

spaceHopper

OK this is very doggy you should get some employment advice, from the little I know (been it two companies taken over and my wife had her roles changed too), the transfer of under takings act applies and they can't just change your role. Next if due to the take over your roles in redundant they can offer your and acceptable role, which you can take on for 30 days as a trial but they are also obliged to inform you that you can take redundancy. It's a very formal process and they can't do it in an off hand way. Please think about it and get proper legal advice. How would you feel if they gave you this new job, much more work no pay rise and if down the line you are struggling you get fired?

However this could be a golden opportunity for you. Lots of you tube videos, proper training, a new direction too. Spending on information security is rocketing.

As I said get advice even from citizens information, talk to them and set out any concerns. Or take a package and blow it on a trip to defcon next year.

Standard Toaster

He who dares, wins.
Go for it. Don't doubt your own abilities.

L.Jenkins

The OP started this thread last week. I'd be interested to see if there's been any update since.

crkball6

L.Jenkins wrote: »

The OP started this thread last week. I'd be interested to see if there's been any update since.

He was probably promoted to CEO and doesn't have time for us anymore.

Johnboy1951

crkball6 wrote: »

He was probably promoted to CEO and doesn't have time for us anymore.