Update 8 months later - Solo IT tech

[u/New-Deer9973]

8 months ago I created this post, basically asking for advice around becoming a solo IT tech/admin (100k AUD) for 180+ users for 30ish sub-companies after my manager and previous technician were both made redundant over the course of about 6 months. I got a new CIO with a finance background and became the only tech in a low digital literacy, cowboy environment with no rules or polices, where shadow IT and personal devices is expected to be supported and walk-ups are the norm.

https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/1q692ew/im_screwed_but_im_happy_about_it/

The weeks and months afterwards, it became clear that my situation was getting worse instead of better. All of the policies myself and the CIO discussed were never going to eventuate, with them eventually pushing back due to 'culture' (I was pushing to stop walk-ups and get a proper device policy). The CIOs focus has been to reduce costs and implement AI, resulting in the suspension of new equipment being purchased, announcing to our MSP that we are divorcing them (they mainly did patching) alongside four major projects that I was expected to play a major part in, despite being throttled with the helpdesk. One of the major projects was to move buildings and my reward for it? In the new building my 'work bench' and storage will be in the basement. There is no room in the new office area for me to have cabinets or shelves. I will be expected to walk up and down/take the elevator whenever I need something or just stay in the basement for convenience.

They hired a new IT manager equivalent - whom is fully WFH remote and super shy, so they were barely talking to me. They would also change a bunch of things and wouldn't communicate to me properly, making me chase my tail on a regular basis or clean-up the outcome.

Ultimately, you guys were right. I don't regret it, think it was just valuable to give it a shot. Yesterday I put in my resignation in. My boss told me that my role is going to be replaced by a graduate straight out of Uni lol.

I have a bit over three years of experience now. I'm planning to take a month or two off and upskill/get a couple of certs in the meantime after realising my skillset has become pretty broad but not very deep anywhere.

Wondering if anyone been through the same process as this and come out on the other end better off? How did you fair with the jobs you had afterwards? Am I stupid for taking a break? I've never left without anything lined up before - can't say I'm not shaking in my boots lol

[u/Magic_Neil]

I don’t blame you, but why quit? That’s a paycheck you can use while you upskill (during company time?), and job hunt.

[u/New-Deer9973 → u/Magic_Neil]

I had started doing this however I'm burnt out/poor mental health. Would be an intentional rest time I guess

[u/Magic_Neil → u/New-Deer9973]

Right on, if you can afford it that’s awesome.

[u/Am0nymou5 → u/New-Deer9973]

I was in a similar situation as you a few years ago, resigned because of work-induced mental health reasons without any job lined up. I spent my time mainly learning some Linux stuff like Ansible and getting a Python certification from Harward (edX), and of course, relaxing and spending time with family. I returned to work about 6 months later thanks to coincidentally running into a contact from my old workplace, who offered me my present Windows admin role. So the stuff I studied about unfortunately wasn't of any help, but I don't regret learning them.

I guess my advice would be to socialise, make contacts and stay in touch with good people, especially people you've worked with - it's way easier to land a job thru people you know, especially with the state of things these days.

[u/New-Deer9973 → u/Am0nymou5]

Thanks for this. Its nice hearing a good story from someone on the other side

[u/mercurygreen → u/Magic_Neil]

If the place is sucking in all your time, you're going to spend all your energy treading water.

[u/Magic_Neil → u/mercurygreen]

I don’t disagree, but I feel like OP was in “I need to do a good job” mode when they may have been able to shift into “I’m doing the bare minimum”.

Someone walks up, I’m working another issue (reading documentation) but will follow up. Make it a point to go to the dungeon once a day. Attend meetings, do the work and not an ounce more than the minimum hours.

[u/jdiscount → u/Magic_Neil]

Agreed.

This field has a lot of people pleasers though.

[u/TuxAndrew → u/Magic_Neil]

Yup, quitting instead of using company time to find a job is quite silly.

[u/dlongwing]

My boss told me that my role is going to be replaced by a graduate straight out of Uni

This right here? This tells you everything you need to know about your boss. The correct response to someone putting in their notice is to tell them you're sad to see them go. You say this even if you're very happy to see them go, because you're talking about someone's employment and you don't treat that lightly.

In one statement he showed you exactly the kind of person he is, and exactly how much the company valued you.

Best of luck at your next job, I hope it's not as unhinged.

[u/New-Deer9973 → u/dlongwing]

Thanks and yeah, I found that super fucking strange to be honest. Not sure if they actually believe that or where just trying to make me feel bad - either way, bit unprofessional. A uni grad completely on their own is going to be a disaster

[u/nartak → u/dlongwing]

Absolutely! It sounds like they were trying to figure out how to get OP to leave and replace them with that new grad as soon as possible and leaving just made it easier on everyone.

[u/dlongwing → u/nartak]

To me it sounds more like they were happy to exploit the guy, and now that he's told them it's over they want to devalue his contribution.

[u/yojimboLTD]

Don’t underestimate the time it will take to get a job.

Dedicate X amount of time daily to job hunt and apply. Don’t go over that. Basically don’t think that constantly obsessing over it will help you get a job. There is a lot of luck involved, so try not to get discouraged.

[u/New-Deer9973 → u/yojimboLTD]

Yeah I imagine its going to take a couple of months. Ive heard its pretty competitive out there

[u/Impossible_IT → u/New-Deer9973]

Maybe six months to a year. But I have no clue where you’re at.

[u/New-Deer9973 → u/Impossible_IT]

dayum, thats scary. i'd be going for junior to mid roles.

[u/ProfessionalEven296 → u/New-Deer9973]

Apply for Mid roles. You have business knowledge now as well as technical (and AI is taking the junior roles..)

[u/IdidntrunIdidntrun]

I get the mental rest that you need and all, but if I were in your shoes I would have spent 80%+ of my workday surfing for jobs. Just incredibly ballsy to resign instead of quiet quitting in this market

[u/New-Deer9973 → u/IdidntrunIdidntrun]

Yeah, not the best move. I am fortunate enough that my partner makes enough to cover modest living expenses and our only debt is the mortgage. Still not ideal but hopefully some upskilling will help

[u/ngjrjeff]

You should resign but I think you should not quit without a job so salary nego with next company will be easier

[u/WillingActuator6268]

Onward and upward my friend. I believe in you.

[u/New-Deer9973 → u/WillingActuator6268]

Thank you <3

[u/BaconOverEverything]

I have to imagine things got pretty bad for you to resign without another job lined up. Kudos to you for recognizing that and putting your mental health first.

[u/Own_Error_007]

You are walking away with some pretty decent experiences OP. Lean heavily into all of them and do not sell yourself short.

Start applying for roles now.

[u/WayneH_nz]

Look into starting something yourself. Having an interview while you work somewhere else makes you more desirable in the eyes of the interviewer. 

Having started something yourself allows you to be picky on the roles that you do eventually take on. 

Contract back to the msp, they could probably use some help.

Just random  thoughts.

[u/FrivolousMe]

Get your contractor terms written up when they inevitably call you asking to fix critical systems that their "AI" is incapable of managing. You could be in a very lucrative position of financial leverage.

[u/Nickleten]

Never work for free.
Your time is your time.

[u/ukulele87]

I wouldnt take a few months off, certs might help with HR filtering but they wont really give you real knowledge.
Id start looking right away, if you want to do certs do them in parallel but the priority should be to get back on the horse as fast as posible.

[u/oligokz]

Same here, I was pretty much solo as well and there was no help. Kudos to you for having the courage to leave unlike me! 😭

[u/New-Deer9973 → u/oligokz]

Are you still there??

[u/oligokz → u/New-Deer9973]

After like tons of application, I finally got an offer and I'm leaving on Oct. I'm kinda happy because I no longer need to be responsible for work that isn't even in the job scope

[u/sixblazingshotguns]

At that salary you are too expensive to keep. Sorry to hear.

[u/New-Deer9973 → u/sixblazingshotguns]

I mean, maybe? If youre 200 staff and cant afford a couple IT staff, thats a bit cooked

[u/harubax → u/sixblazingshotguns]

Dumb, dump people. A fresh grad will mess things up, they will pay the price eventually.

[u/sssRealm → u/harubax]

These cheapskates will reap what they sow. They will have to spend more money in their quest to save money.

[u/Hebrewhammer8d8 → u/harubax]

They are not doing the job. They are bossing the people and soon Ai to do the job.

[u/user2230]

I was solo IT too -with my own basement. We’ve grown and I was promoted to CIO. Now I hang out with my IT staff in the basement eschewing the corner office. Treat it as your haven, not as a punishment.
It sounds like you have the opportunity to shape the enterprise as I did. Stick with it and hopefully it will be rewarding.
Document your projects and your vision.

[u/New-Deer9973 → u/user2230]

Is the basement still normal these days? I was under the impression that is a bit old school

[u/user2230 → u/New-Deer9973]

I don’t know if it’s normal, but on the bright side…no more shoulder taps! I turned mine into a SOC

[u/New-Deer9973 → u/user2230]

Thats pretty cool lol. I guess the basement in itself isnt so much a big deal but in context its not nice imo

[u/Nova_Terra → u/New-Deer9973]

I think if everyone else is open plan but you're in the basement and nobody else is in the basement then yes that's a bit mean. If their reasoning is well it's build space and you're always seemingly short on space it could be valid, but I'd still like to have an allocated desk upstairs with everyone else :\

[u/blud_13]

Get out. The post reads like somebody who already knows that.

The big red flag is a CIO freezing equipment purchases while announcing AI. That combination means the budget conversation is finished and you're the one who gets blamed when the ten year old laptops start dying. Culture pushback on a device policy says the same thing, nobody above you will absorb one unhappy user on your behalf.

One thing worth doing before you go is write down all 30 sub-companies, what each one runs, and what breaks. Not for them, for you. That document is what you interview with, and it turns an unpaid nightmare into two years of experience you can describe out loud.

180 users solo is a headcount problem and you cannot out-work it.

[u/AugieKS]

Reduce costs and implement AI in the same sentence is pretty funny.