The Future of SysAdmins' Positions

prostoalex writes "With automated upgrade tools and self-updating software, will sysadmins be in such high demand that they enjoy today? Lisa Valentine from NewsFactor provides the answer - and it's a definitive yes. Wireless systems and GPS devices are the new area where sysadmins are expected to have some expertise, although lately companies have been upping their demands for more hands-on experience. This opinion seems to corroborate US Department of Labor forecast on system administrator and computer support specialist employment."

Comments

Thriving Profession

[mfh]

Where sysadmins will always thrive is in the ability to connect people who simply don't have time for all the details involved. It's not The Oldest Profession, but it's going to be the longest running profession someday, methinks.

Re:Thriving Profession

[Syntax Heir]

sysadmins end up with the "keys to the kingdom"

Agreed

they're basically janitorial staff

That's just trolling and entirely unfair.

I gave the engineering department local admin rights on their PCs before they even asked for it, all I insited on was a 10 minute workstation lockout policy since they love to wander away from their desks.

However here is a story detailing the problem you mentioned:

Role Fragmentation

Yeah, but...

[Mz6]

Did anyone get the feeling the author still knows absolutely nothing about systems administrators after writing this?

ala... this paragraph...:
"Many large organizations silo the systems-administration skill set, explains Phillips, and systems administrators at these companies tend to remain focused on very specific systems-administration skills and job responsibilities."

On a serious note though, I do have a question. The article mentioned that after a few years most college graduates have already achieved sysadmin status, but after that, where do you go from there? The article mentions that the salary tops out at the "mid- to upper-$60,000 range.", and that doesn't sound like a whole lot to me (especially this day in age). Of course there is always becoming a section head, manager, or director... but that often times requires a more downplayed "hand-on" experience as others below you would be doing most of the work. For someone that wants to remain on the technical side of things rather than the business side, where do you go?

Re:Yeah, but...

[duffbeer703]

Nowhere.

The notion that you career as a programmer or technical specialist is going to plateau before you hit your 30's is scary, but often true.

You can make more money in sales, consulting or management. But there are tradeoffs. If you want to be a high-dollar consultant or salesman, the travel can really kill a marriage. If you become a management dork, you essentially abandon your technical career.

The "where do you go?" question is something facing all middle-class people. Over the last 40 years, the purchasing power of the average person has eroded sharply.

My grandfather raised a family of six on one blue-collar income, and managed to own a nice home in NYC, a summer house upstate, and always had two cars. Good luck doing that today.

If for no other reason - the corporate scapegoat

[59Bassman]

Somebody's got to be to blame. There seem to be folks in every organization who only exist in case something goes wrong in order to take the beating. If you didn't have a sysadmin, who do you scream at if the e-mail server goes down? Who do you accuse of being inefficient when backups hang up a system for an hour or so? Technology continues to get easier to use, but corporations still need someone with responsibility for that technology.