Advice sought: Senior Technician to Manager

[Lukara]

Hi,

 

I've been working at my current job for 6 years now and along the way I have gone from ICT Technician to Senior Tech and my role has changed and grown lots. I like this school and enjoy the job but I want to take the next step and become an ICT Manager. I am liked and respected here and the quality of my work is always of a very high standard. My manager has successfully allocated some money for my Microsoft Certification (seeing as in today's world a degree in Computer Science means nothing) but I am not sure this will be enough.

 

My questions are:

1- which are the best qualifications to get with a view to a managerial role? They havent been very specific about what training I can have but they gave me the link to the Microsoft Certification overview, which of course has Architec, Master and IT Professional in it.

2- What else must I do to push my career forward, be it in this school or the next?

 

Next week I will have the final talks with regards to my new contract and will officially go from Tech to Senior Tech, though unofficially I've been the Senior Tech for the last 2 years. Is there anything specific I should ask for or check for during the meeting?

I had prepared a short list of questions such as: is there scope for further development and things of that nature.

 

I believe that having been a tech for all of my after-uni working life and in one place, has kept me in the dark.

 

Any pointers and/or advice are greatly appreciated.

[ahunter]

Hi,

 

Your not alone, strangely enough I have the same amount of experience and have too put in lots of time and effort at two different schools to enhance my skillset and experience. Picking up Cisco certs, Microsoft Certs etc along the way. I am still yet to land a NM position and It's not because I am lacking in any way (per feedback) it is just that I have been very unlucky and in some interviews the panel has been looking for something specific with regards to future plans etc.

 

In response to your questions:

 

1) I wouldn't worry too much about qualifications, especially if you intend to stay in education, of course it's good to have them but most school's look at experience and your approach rather than how many qualifications you have.

 

2)If your a Senior Tech, you are pretty much already at the level of NM especially with regards to the technical side of the job. You just need to enhance the managerial aspect of things, all I can recommend is speak to your current boss and ask them if you could take on some additional management level roles to get some more experience for the future.

 

It is very difficult to make that step up to NM even if your ready. My old school never had a NM just 2 techies, Junior and Senior. I was the Senior so was responsible for the overall network but it is difficult and it really varies from school to school how they see an ICT Manager.

 

I think it's just the luck of the draw, if your being promoted to Senior Tech I would say your pretty much there. Senior Tech's in school's are sometimes referred to as Assistant ICT Manager's anyway...

 

Hope this helps!

[featured_spectre]

Ask to go on some management courses and try looking at open courses for management and conflict negotiation.

[Lukara]

ahunter I can't get into too much detail out in the open, but the Net Manager I know got the job pretty much when I got mine and has no qualifications, hasn't got an IT background and is a 'yes' man. His Senior Tech runs the school... so I agree, in some cases it truly is down to luck.

 

With regards to Qualifications, I don't necessarily want to limit myself to schools, although the 30 days off a year are fantastic and not having to deal with clients is a bonus. So really I am looking to get the best MS Cert I can. With that in mind, which would be most useful for a person with my experience?

 

Thank you for your input and good luck on the job front

 

nephilim that's a great idea. thank you! I will ask next week at the meeting.

[irsprint84]

Just be very confident in your interview, a course in only one tick box on the application they mostly care how you come off in the Interview and you know what you re on about and apply for loads of jobs and learn from the mistakes of the last interview!

[irsprint84]

ahunter I can't get into too much detail out in the open, but the Net Manager I know got the job pretty much when I got mine and has no qualifications, hasn't got an IT background and is a 'yes' man. His Senior Tech runs the school... so I agree, in some cases it truly is down to luck.

 

With regards to Qualifications, I don't necessarily want to limit myself to schools, although the 30 days off a year are fantastic and not having to deal with clients is a bonus. So really I am looking to get the best MS Cert I can. With that in mind, which would be most useful for a person with my experience?

 

Thank you for your input and good luck on the job front

 

nephilim that's a great idea. thank you! I will ask next week at the meeting.

 

Bad mouthing your manager is a no no unless its bullying

[Lukara]

irsprint does applying for lots of jobs -while one doesn't necessarily want to leave his current one- not give the wrong idea to the current employer? I would love to go to lots of interviews to learn, but at the same time I don't really want to lose my job because the school misunderstood my motives.

 

Bad mouthing your manager is a no no unless its bullying

 

Not my manager, and yes he is a bully from what all of his past Senior Techs had to say when running for the hills . My manager thankfully always has his team's back and as I said in my first message he went as far as allocating money for training, so I'm thankful.

[irsprint84]

irsprint does applying for lots of jobs -while one doesn't necessarily want to leave his current one- not give the wrong idea to the current employer? I would love to go to lots of interviews to learn, but at the same time I don't really want to lose my job because the school misunderstood my motives.

 

 

 

 

Not my manager, and yes he is a bully from what all of his past Senior Techs had to say when running for the hills . My manager thankfully always has his team's back and as I said in my first message he went as far as allocating money for training, so I'm thankful.

 

Why? if you want to leave you have to go to Interviews I ve always honestly gone to my bosses and said what I want to do and move on just behonest

[sulamnart]

From my viewpoint, having a BSc or BEng is the way forward if you want to become a Manager, as well as having two or more certifications (e.g. CISCO, PRINCE, ITIL etc,) while you are working for your employer so you can demonstrate your hard and soft skills when you go for your job interview. Personally, soft skill is very important and it is very difficult to master.

[GREED]

Are you going to be managing budget, people and the department, or keeping your hand in the tech, or both?

 

ILM is an excellent (if lengthy) qual to have and well recognised for management.

[irsprint84]

From my viewpoint, having a BSc or BEng is the way forward if you want to become a Manager, as well as having two or more certifications (e.g. CISCO, PRINCE, ITIL etc,) while you are working for your employer so you can demonstrate your hard and soft skills when you go for your job interview. Personally, soft skill is very important and it is very difficult to master.

 

PRINCE2 is very important, you just need to show continued learning, some uni students think once they have a degree that it!

[sulamnart]

Totally agree!

[GREED]

PRINCE2 is very important, you just need to show continued learning, some uni students think once they have a degree that it!

 

I completed my OU degree this year (finally, after 7 years!). I think sometimes it shows commitment to learning, but agree that just because you have the qual, you are entitled to a decent job and wage. NOOOOOO!

[irsprint84]

Totally agree!

 

If a uni student came for a job with me and didnt have anything after that I would say 'and what else..?'

[januttall]

Ive been looking into the microsoft courses for some time but it seems the number of centers for training and examination are being dramaticly reduced [no idea why] and the price is getting higher. ive done the cisco CCNA Course and its definalty a great course interms of learning abought networks and networking and covers servers and communications from a difrent angle definatly worth haveing covers much more than just the cisco equipment. small issue with the CCNA it only lasts 3 years, but at least it keeps people current.

 

Interms of cisco there are far more courses to do than just the CCNA altho some only last 12 months.

Edited December 15, 2011 by januttall

[featured_spectre]

Some of these may help you also

 

400 Free Online Courses from Top Universities | Open Culture

 

LearningSpace - The Open University

 

They are all free, and all available to learn. Once you complete it, you take a test based on the knowledge you have learnt and get a pass certificate. Plus they pad out the CV. Go for it

[irsprint84]

I would dod the ciscos over micrsoft ones, I learnt all my Microsoft stuff with 'learn windows server in 24 hour' books If you show you ve worked in a microsoft environment for a year that'll be enough

[ahunter]

I'm not entirely sure that even specialist certs matter, especially in an education environment. They may help but it depends on the particular employer, interviewer and how they see a particular qualification.

[Lukara]

Thank you everyone for your interest and suggestions. I really appreciate it.

 

The money set aside is for MS Cert, I don't have a say over that, so I can't choose Cisco over MS.

With regards to managing, I am open to both Network Manager (preferred) or an ICT Manager with a more people oriented role. Eitherway I am sure Management courses would come in handy.

 

ahunter many of the vacancies I see around for Net Managers require the candidates to have MS Certs or equivalents maybe in terms of overall capability of the candidate the qualifications don't mean much but from what I've seen, people are still attached to paper proof of what one has studied. Don't you think? Also, I would prefer staying in a school environment, but I won't limit myself to it.

[irsprint84]

Thank you everyone for your interest and suggestions. I really appreciate it.

 

The money set aside is for MS Cert, I don't have a say over that, so I can't choose Cisco over MS.

With regards to managing, I am open to both Network Manager (preferred) or an ICT Manager with a more people oriented role. Eitherway I am sure Management courses would come in handy.

 

ahunter many of the vacancies I see around for Net Managers require the candidates to have MS Certs or equivalents maybe in terms of overall capability of the candidate the qualifications don't mean much but from what I've seen, people are still attached to paper proof of what one has studied. Don't you think? Also, I would prefer staying in a school environment, but I won't limit myself to it.

 

As suggested before do PRINCE2 only a week course plus get the ITIL Foundation, helps alot in the future

[januttall]

QQ. i know this might sound daft but the open university courses do they equate to a set level of learning like btec or degree. the only reason i ask is cus im intrested in one that has Level: Masters on it and i was wondering what level of qualification this would provide. i know none of you may know but i felt it worth asking.

[jsnetman]

There is no line you have to cross in terms of becoming a NM from a tecnicians role, what you have to prove at interview is the experience and knowledge to manage a network and also how you will cope with pupils and teachers, managing people does not normally come into it in a school environment as you often find the line manager is a member of smt or head of ICT for the NM and techies.

 

I went from a techy role at a big college to NM at a school with no real quals in IT. Spent my time as a NM getting some MS certs and then decided to go contracting. Was tough getting my first contract because business seem to have this stigma about educational/public sector jobs and the ability to cross over to the business sector, which I think is totally ungrounded.

[ahunter]

There is no line you have to cross in terms of becoming a NM from a tecnicians role, what you have to prove at interview is the experience and knowledge to manage a network and also how you will cope with pupils and teachers, managing people does not normally come into it in a school environment as you often find the line manager is a member of smt or head of ICT for the NM and techies.

 

I went from a techy role at a big college to NM at a school with no real quals in IT. Spent my time as a NM getting some MS certs and then decided to go contracting. Was tough getting my first contract because business seem to have this stigma about educational/public sector jobs and the ability to cross over to the business sector, which I think is totally ungrounded.

 

You are absolutely bob on with this. It's just the luck of the draw on the day. A NM is a techie when all said and done and usually only has to line manager just one other person. It all depends on how SMT view the role and in my experience every school is very different on what they expect a NM to be. The real manager of the network/ICT in school's is usually SMT or the head of ICT. The NM role is to act as an advisor on a subject they know enough about to plan, develop, evaluate and maintain.

[GrumbleDook]

In some schools the NM is the true manager, it does depend on your school. The strategy and direction might be decided by the SLT, but the network manager runs and controls it all. I went in to one of our schools last week to interview the NM and his Deputy head he links to. He has been in place for just over a year and it is good to see the trust and partnership that exists there. It is not unique within Northants, but it is not the norm either.

[jsnetman]

In some schools the NM is the true manager, it does depend on your school. The strategy and direction might be decided by the SLT, but the network manager runs and controls it all.

 

I'm sure there are many NM's involved in the overall ICT strategy of the school but we should not forget the primary role is to manage the technical issues involved in running a network and most senior techs will have that ability. I never wanted to get involved wirh the strategy side of things (although I was invited to the meetings normally after my working day so was not too enthusiastic) I saw my role as impelemting whatever they wanted and of course advise on the technical aspects of the strategy.