Possible career options

[AIXSPadmin]

All,

Just posting a question to guage others attitudes, opinions and the like. I have been an AIX system administrator at my present company for about 3 years, and prior to that I worked in a small company and did everything from programming in UniVerse BASIC (egads!) and maintaining RPG code, to Database work, to networking, tech support for salesmen and others in the company, worked with NT, OS/2, did PC repair and of course AIX system administration for 4.5 years.

Needless to say that in my previous life, I had an opportunity to do many things, and I enjoyed AIX and UNIX a lot, which of course influenced my present position. I still enjoy working with UNIX and run BSD at home in addition to a Windows machine.

What does anyone think the future (though nobody knows and technology constantly changes) will hold, and what would be options for focusing energies. I maintain a 70+ node SP system presently, and in addition, work with iPlanet and WebSphere. I want to stay in the technical side and have no interest in management; I have a bachelor's in business administration and a Master's in education.

What areas would be the smoothest transition for a 7 year AIX admin, with web experience (which interests me)? Also, my salary is in the range of others nationwide for my position (company market-based compensation annually), and would not like to take a pay cut (though based on my position for the market I have room to move up in pay). Again, I like UNIX, and am just contemplating the future and what it will hold and what would be the best options for movement in technologies (be it security (good buzz now, though not sure there are many jobs), internet related (java programming, app servers), sys admin, programming (though I don't think I would like 100% dayin dayout programming), etc.

Any suggestions, thoughts, complaints, ideas, recommendations would be welcomed.

 

[AndrewBillits]

I would stay exactly where you are until the job market gets better(hopefully)

GoodLuck,
Andrew

 

[pipk]

have you thought about getting into security - good admin skills plus an appreciation of all things techy is a good start - and lets face it, the way things are going it will be a job for life.

 

[AndrewBillits]

That's so very true. If i didn't love networking as much I would get into security(God knows the pay is better).


Andrew Billits

 

[pipk]

in my ignorance I always thought that security would be like a big extension to networking skills - seeing as that is where the weakness ultimately always lies (well, that and softheaded users who insist on clicking on dodgy email attachments.

 

[EOFR]

Infact, if I were you I will just stay where I am. With Unix skills which you can easily leverage on to transition to LINUX and maybe a little sprinkle of Oracle and I would say the sky is the limit. Trust you never can lose with UNIX.

 

[VerboseIT]

Stay put for the time being, but transition to Solaris and pickup Oracle skills. Even in this job market their is a high demand. You can sprinkle in a little Sybase and SQL but Oracle is where the money and demand are.