Quitting

[broc]

Don't walk out. It never looks good when you are looking for your next job, when you might have to explain a gap in your employment history, or discuss why you left your previous job.

 

Your school clearly doesn't value what you do for them now. Ultimately it will be their loss when you go.

 

If things are ticking over nicely, use whatever 'spare' time you have delving into how your systems work and improve your own knowledge. If you are not fully up to speed with server operations & networking etc find out! Use the resources on the Internet. Teach yourself how to write scripts if you don't know how. Practical knowledge beats theory in most jobs.

 

If you have a role in mind for your next job, look at what a typical job/person spec might be for that role, and get yourself skilled up to do it.......

 

I expect (& encourage) the technicians who work with me at my school to continue to develop their skills; I want them to make progress in their careers & I know that at some future date they will move on when they are ready; we all know there are limits to how far anyone can go in most organisations. Keeping people in the dark & starving them of opportunity helps no-one.

 

Part of my role as Network Manager is to support the development of our technicians. This is not only my personal belief, but it happens to be part of my Performance Management objectives set by the school too!

[thegrassisgreener]

Don't walk out, it will get you know where, at the end of the day your current employer is your referee. SImply go into the office with your boss and tell them you are looking for another job because of a certain reason. Honesty is the best policy. He will then offer you more pay/more responsablilty or try and sort your issues out. if he doesnt at least you confronted him about it and if he does nothing that will be your excuse to leave.

 

I know, easier said than done.

 

Hand in your notice and in the letter add that you enjoyed working there and you are sorry to leave.

[petectid]

You have more opportunity while in work than you do out of work, don't walk away. It’s easier to get training or land a new job if you are already employed. It’s not good to have in your employment history that you walked away from a post.

 

You are based in Lancashire, Stuart Knight has already mentioned in a previous post about the training opportunities available at Lancaster Uni ICT Focus. Get your School to send you there and use your spare time to study. You could also, as has been suggested create some new network services, this can be done on the cheap using Linux. If you have no experience of Linux then it will be an important part in the development of your skill set. UNIX based systems are important in the big world beyond the school door so this will help you gain experience in that area.

[Joanne]

we don't have any more money left for training. I have the leaflet infront of me. I went on a course in June down at RM and it was £1095... so they don't have any more cash to send me on this other one. I might have words with the head though and see if he can find some money from somewhere.

[mrphil]

if you have to leave go get some contract work, depends on your skills ste but if your half decent you should walk into a semi decent contract job and the pay is pretty good.

[chrbb]

I agree with Broc use your spare time to delve into your current system and to experiment with new and better ways to do things.

 

I had some spare time the other week during assessment week and managed to install a couple of programs via group policies and to create a few msi's, not done it before due to time constraints and a steep learning curve (well for me anyway). Cheered me up no end.

 

But, at the risk of sounding like a worried parent, it's a very tiring and can be depressing time of year so don't make any rash decisions and burn all your bridges. Whilst you're employed it's easier to get another job you need a good reference to get a better job.

Our local college does MCP courses have a look to see what you're can offer, they're usually quite cheap, also check out your LEA they also run courses.

[Joanne]

i've asked the SMT if they can find some cash to get me on the lancaster course for the certificate in microsoft technoilogies....

 

Thing with the implementing new ideas... i'm a little restricted (RM!!) THERE I SAID IT!! So not too many things I can really mess around with. My main job for the day is clearing dust out of machines....

[Joanne]

ooh just got asked to create a package! my day gets brighter!

[webman]

In which ways specifically is RM restrictive?

[Joanne]

I tried doing a linux print server and failed oh so miserably. I used ubuntu though... suppose that would make a difference?

 

I'm not allowed to do a lot of things on account of being 3rd out of 3. I get told to do all the crappidy jobs first!

 

RM is resrictive in the way of I get shouted at if i mess with AD... gotta do everything through management console!

 

I might rig up a test network next week... prolly test what i remember from what i learnt in June!

[witch]

I had some spare time the other week during assessment week and managed to install a couple of programs via group policies and to create a few msi's, not done it before due to time constraints and a steep learning curve (well for me anyway). Cheered me up no end.

 

I'm so jealous: that is the next step for me too but I never have enough time to have a fiddle with them.Did you use all the msis?

 

As for Joanne - don't walk out of your job - it is never a good idea.

There are jobs out there - I got one as a lone primary tech 6 years ago with no experience whatsoever (I was an electronics engineer in a previous life but was self taught with computers). I don't work with the children, which is good as I either bark like a sargeant major or giggle with them in corners - I'm no teacher.

There are lots of resources on the web - tutorials about networking and the like that may help you learn a bit more while you are sitting with nothing to do. You could look at the 'how to's' on this forum and the wiki which will all help you get a better grasp of what is going on.

Hang on in there - and keep applying!

[Joanne]

i have applied for some with no feedback whatsoever. People look at my age (21) and think i can't possibly have enough experience (in my 4th year)

 

I'll keep looking for suitable ones anyways!

 

Thanks everybody again.

[mattx]

Joanne - you like music ? Have a listen to Billy Joel's 'Piano Man'

[chrbb]

Witch

I'm so jealous: that is the next step for me too but I never have enough time to have a fiddle with them.Did you use all the msis?

 

I used photostory which came with it's msi anyway, I used the media player custom thingy to create an installation msi that works straight away for all users, none of this first time you use it you have to accept lic, decide which files it associates with and tell it your inside leg measurement. I've done adobe reader the same but used purgos to install that one.

 

I created an ou for the suite computers and added the msi's to group policy.

[marco84]

Joanne, im not so sure your age has much to do with it. I think the best thing you could do would be to try and get some spare time to learn as much as you can. Virtual servers are always a good place to start, you cant go wrong with them. And if you do its an easy fix.

Ive been a network manager for just over a year now (since i was 21), i just taught myself as much as possible inbetween the crappy jobs while i was a technician.

[Guest aliv25]

Wow, some edugeeks my age (21) :-)

 

@Joanne:

I was told by my university placement tutor to sign up to the British Computer Society, it only costs £20 (if your a student) and you have a lot of resources to help you find your career path. Its worth looking at. http://www.bcs.org

[mattx]

I don't remember the ages of 18 to 22 really - I think I was constantly drunk and doing stuff I shouldn't have.....

[Guest aliv25]

I don't remember the ages of 18 to 22 really - I think I was constantly drunk and doing stuff I shouldn't have.....

 

Yes, a lot of that has happened in the past 2 years. now im on work placement and still live close to my uni, that happens during the evenings :-) Bring on final year!!!

[torledo]

has anyone ever walked out of their job?

 

What came of it?

 

Is it a bad thing to do?? Should I work through the tough times and just get on with it?

 

Are you insane ? Walking out on your job is the worst thing you can do for your future career prospects. Look for another job, do all you can to secure a better position and tidy up any loose ends at work. Hopefully you're current employer will have noticed your contribution in the job and provide a good reference. You'll have to hang around for a couple of months but once you know you're immediate future has been secured elsewhere you'll probably enjoy you're last few weeks in the job.

[torledo]

i have applied for some with no feedback whatsoever. People look at my age (21) and think i can't possibly have enough experience (in my 4th year)

 

I'll keep looking for suitable ones anyways!

 

Thanks everybody again.

 

I'll try and offer you some constructive advice;

 

You're age isn't an issue, at 21 you're the right side of 20 for any prospective employer. 4 years is more than enough work experience.

The issue might be what you've learned and accomplished in those 4 years. I really empathise with you're predicament, not being allowed to break and experiment with systems is terribly restrictive. I had a year of being an 'understudy' absorbing what I could in between changing the tapes and closing the bulk of the second line calls, while at the same time being shielded from the more complex stuff by more senior members of staff who were happy for me to do the hod carrying, and I was damn happy and felt priviledged to be part of the team.

 

Now I'm in charge of the systems and have a great deal of freedom. What would help you is a job where you're allowed a certain amount of freedom.

Failing that take responsibility for your own learning and setup some test systems, at home if you have to, and start messing around with Windows server, Linux (I know nothing about Linux and am working to correct that) some old cisco kit or whatever piques you're interest.

 

The CCNA is a great place to start in terms of study - if you can run that parallel to some MCSA courses you'll be set, a job in a medium sized support team is also a good place to start (where you can see best practice in action) and can figure out what the various servers do and how the comms systems are wired. You don't have to be brilliant just have an inquisitive mind and the luck of being in the right environment to learn. Where you are now definitely isn't, I would argue a break out of the school environment and a year in another org will prepare to take up a network management position in a smaller school or learning centre a year from now. I landed a network managers job after just one years industrial placement for an SME and rubbish degree. Anything is possible.

[Joanne]

I didn't do uni after A-levels... i went and did nvq 3 and city and guilds crap something about computers and networks

 

I think I shall be setting up a test network as soon as I can make some room under the bench for the machines.

 

Good ol' virtual pc!

[djm968]

Joanne........ grab yourself a copy of VMware Server its free and you will learn more relevant skills playing with that than virtual PC.

 

http://www.vmware.com/download/server/

[petectid]

Joanne........ grab yourself a copy of VMware Server its free and you will learn more relevant skills playing with that than virtual PC.

 

http://www.vmware.com/download/server/

 

With you on that djm968, VMware is a much better product.

[Joanne]

thanks... i'll have a lookie see. Just need to grab a couple of old machines from the store room and hook 'em up to my 3rd monitor :-P first.

[russdev]

Hi Joanne

 

My short pm's with you and this thread does lead me to conclusion that you need to get out sooner rather than later. But as previous posts don't walk out have something else lined up/sorted etc first.

 

Also not sure of personnel life but it maybe way to get out of current situation is to find another job but it maybe taking slight paycut. But depending on things if got nothing stopping you doing that like childcare bills and other bills then maybe this is time to do it.

 

I am great believer and have recommended this before of the 5 year plan and for all the new members the russdev method of 5 year plans is as follows :-

 

 

Write

 

5

4

3

2

1

 

In position 5 write where you want to be in 5 years in terms of jobs and responsibilities .

 

Then in 4 write what you need to be doing in year 4 to get to year 5 and so on down to year 1.

 

Then

 

write

 

1

2

3

4

5

 

In position 1 write what resources/training you need to achieve year 1's aim.

 

Then do same for 2 through to 5.

 

I will be more than happy to help in any way I can be that an ear to bash or advice etc as said feel free to pm me.

 

Russell