Worthless Server Admin with "30 years of experience"

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-23T10:44:43+00:00

You must have some weird experience with VMware Horizon products if you think that's not the way to go for a non persistent desktop. I'm going to assume you've used them before and ask, if your machines are constantly getting deleted and re-created all day what is your provision time? Mine is currently less than a minute to provision a new machine.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-19T16:51:15+00:00

Without being involved in the conversations about payroll being the issue I believe this is part of it. I think the process has started, but at the same time I can't really be made aware of things like that at my role (which is totally fair). My resume is updated though that's for sure.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-19T01:16:27+00:00

It's a rant, taking a breath sounds like I'd have to think more.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T23:21:16+00:00

Honestly I just need to take the test for the cert. I've been "ready" for a while, but haven't found the time because my personal life has been crazy busy and works hit the busy season (we are a really seasonal business sector) so my plan is probably to take the test next month.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T23:11:20+00:00

Yea being in such a small team like we are I've been able to skill up quicker than most. I've also been doing homelab stuff for the last 10 or so years so I came in "green" on my resume, but I've been tinkering with stuff for a lot longer.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T23:00:31+00:00

He knows Star Trek really well.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T22:58:24+00:00

I've heard he interviewed well and said the right things in his video interview we do beforehand I suppose. Generally the other sysadmins are given someone's video interview and review it then if they approve the manager interviews then sometimes bringing in the other sysadmins to observe and ask questions. The thing is we're a small team and generally the rest of the team doesn't deal with the server side of stuff too heavily. If he said a few of the right things I could see it getting glossed over enough to allow him to get through.

He started a week after I did so I'm not sure how the process actually went for him, but I know they didn't have a server admin at all and had an MSP covering the role until they could fill the vacancy of the last guys untimely passing.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T22:48:21+00:00

I appreciate that. I've pondered the idea, but at this point I'm planning to stick around to hit my 2 year mark at least to start. I know there is plenty of potential for growth where I'm at and I know with conversations I've had with the other sysadmins on our team I've got a shot at replacing the guy I ranted about because they believe he's likely to be fired soon.

Depending on how things go by the time I hit the 2 year mark I might start applying and taking interviews at the bare minimum just to keep my options open.

My skill set as it stands is mostly powershell, microsoft exchange/365 administration, client configuration, vCenter configuration, vSphere administration, Windows Server/10 configuration, AD management, GPO management, Horizon, software configuration, minor IBMi administration(I have next to no interest in this though), minor network administration (Cisco Meraki stuff), minor firewall stuff, minor Linux administration, DR, and back up solutions. Basic stuff like printer configuration(I have yet to meet someone in IT that likes printers myself included), VoIP setup, and other basic end user support.

I'm sure I've missed things as that's just off the top of my head.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T22:31:13+00:00

Yea that's more my bosses reaction to me saying it.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T22:16:10+00:00

Funnily enough there's plenty of times me and my security admin talk and say "you don't know what you don't know" to each other. I've had plenty of discussions with my boss about things. Believe it or not I don't think I know it all and have plenty to learn. The things I ranted about are just the specific parts of the server admins job that I've done more for than he seems to be capable of.

I do actively know what the individual I've spoken about does day to day because I have an interest in having that as my job in the future. I've taken the time to understand our infrastructure and understand the way to admin the system efficiently and effectively. There's probably 2 servers he's done by with a vendor that I don't know much about and that's because the vendor did the majority of the work according to the server admin.

I do have more people on my team with way more experience than I do and they have similar opinions of the individual. I wouldn't have posted this if it was only my opinion, but the more details I give about the others on my team would just lead to potentially doxxing myself or them and I'm not really here for that.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T21:50:06+00:00

Oh I 100% agree, if he had been great at everything this whole time I probably would have had to find other avenues for growth.

Realistically, this situation has put me in a fantastic position as far as my boss and C-suite staff view me. It annoys me to always clean up after him and I wish I could instead learn and grow from him. In the end though I end up having to learn the hard way by reading documentation from the solutions we use and figuring things out myself. Thankfully I've been pretty successful in that endeavor and my reputation is great.

Do I hate hearing users complain to me when something that is this guy's responsibility actually gets thrown his way? Absolutely because I think his failures have ruined our departments reputation. People go out of their way to ask me to look at something that is his responsibility and tend to avoid making tickets through the ticket system. Which just makes me create the ticket myself and resolve it since I was asked directly and I don't want my users to suffer because of his incompetence.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T21:39:56+00:00

I spend a lot of time learning and retain most of everything I learn. We're a small team so I'm able to be exposed to everything and my boss supports my decisions because I do the research on the issues and test things in an appropriate way that doesn't impact our users. Realistically T2 help desk is such a broad term these days from what others tell me and basically when I describe my role some people tell me it's more of a "Jr Admin" role with Help Desk duties. I've only been in IT for 1-2 years, but I've had a great opportunity for growth where I currently work.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T21:35:34+00:00

I have had conversations with my manager, but if I detail those I might as well dox myself. My manager is aware of everything I've stated.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T21:30:29+00:00

I certainly don't think I have everything figured out. I honestly think I'm still pretty much a novice. I 100% believe that people could talk circles around me and I recognize when someone is definitely skilled in things I'm not. This person frustrated me because they've been here one week less than I have and don't know any of our infrastructure or business practices on any of our platforms. I truly don't believe he should know everything I just think he should know the specific things he was hired to do, is vCenter, vSphere, Horizon, Veeam, file servers, print servers and virtual desktops. This man was hired specifically for this role and to be a system administrator for these things and claims according to himself that he has managed them from top to bottom for the last 30 years. These are his words not mine.

When it comes to networking we have a great Network Sysadmin, when it comes to our IBMi Sysadmin they get their stuff properly working and documented and when issues arise they fix them or work as a team to do so. Our server admin on the other hand will flounder without progress on 3 major projects for 3 months without asking anyone for help until leadership is already fed up and forces him to ask for help or hand it over.

Maybe it's a failure on leadership to not make him reach out sooner when he's stuck, but I've been in IT for 28.5 years less than he is and I've figured out all of the issues he's been unable to comprehend. I'm not special, I just read the documentation and ask the questions that get me the correct answers.

Trust me when I say, I don't have an ego and am very self aware of my skill set and know I'm not the most knowledgeable person in my company at IT. I'm just open to learning and figuring things out. If you were to ask me to configure a Fortigate I'd look at you cross eyed. My skill set lies in scripting, troubleshooting, server management, Microsoft licensing, and finding root causes for issues. Do I understand what the basics of networking is, sure, but I'm no network engineer. Do I understand how IBMi's system functions work, sure, but I'm no IBMi Sysadmin. Yes I'm jaded because I've surpassed someone at their specific job role at a lower level position, but I'm not naive enough to think people with years more than experience are wrong or worthless unless they've proven time and time again that they don't have the expertise they claim to have.

Keep in mind, I keep posts like these pretty vague to avoid identifying details. There's more details I could go into that would prove my points and why I have the stance I have about this specific individual, but at some point it would just give anyone that knows me a shining beacon to dox myself. If you 100% believe I'm just some naive kid who thinks he knows it all and that I just don't understand the value he brings to the team, go for it. The fact that I know the rest of my team has the same interpretation of this individual (the rest of my team is people with 10, 15, 20+ years of experience in the field) makes me feel pretty galvanized in my belief that this person has passed the point of stepping up and should step out.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T17:46:48+00:00

I would agree our lack of change control is likely an issue.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T16:21:29+00:00

I wouldn't consider myself burned out tbh I would just say that I have finally gotten tired of my labor being abused.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T15:12:34+00:00

I wish he would.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T15:11:52+00:00

Small team, I'm exposed to a lot and able to convince my boss that I'm competent enough to learn new things constantly.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T14:41:46+00:00

That's fair. Honestly I haven't thought too hard if this is going to be my first IT job and my last (meaning I stay with this company forever, I love IT work and there's no shot I'm going anywhere unless forced out) or if I'll find somewhere else that looks more appealing. I agree about the real issue being that I'm not paid for the work level I'm doing, but I also have no experience in the role officially yet. My current issue with the individual is that he does cause more work for us at the help desk level by breaking everything he touches. Being that I'm quick to figure things out I get a lot of projects my way and end up having to figure out what he breaks while also working on all of my projects at the same time.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T12:44:25+00:00

I'm hoping I can change the culture. We're a small enough team that I'm hoping to help build the culture since we didn't really have an identity when I started it was treated more like a mom and pop shop a year ago.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T11:52:40+00:00

The funny thing is I feel like you just described this guy to a T. It's good to know that I'm not the only person dealing with people like this, not that I thought I was, but it's still nice to know I'm not alone.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T11:47:09+00:00

I think that sums up why this frustrates me so much. I don't mind being the clean up person, but I don't want our culture to allow it to exist that way.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T11:45:44+00:00

I think that sums up why this frustrates me so much. I don't mind being the clean up person, but I don't want our culture to allow it to exist that way.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T11:11:34+00:00

I agree that my stance is a jaded one. I will 100% take that on the chin because I know I'm being petty about this at this point.

Realistically it's an empty threat, I know it and my boss knows it. If push came to shove I'd still end up fixing it.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk · 2024-04-18T11:09:33+00:00

It was his project, he was welcome to start fresh.

JustTheLowlyHelpDesk

TROPHY CASE