@johnhooks said:

Are Microsoft Certs worth anything? I've never taken any tests, but aren't they all just memorization/multiple choice? At least with something like an RHCSA, they give you a system and tell you to do different tasks.

The MS tests had you doing tasks like the RHCSA test even back in the 1990s. They are very good tests.

@jonezee said:

I've been thinking about getting some Linux experience and developing some expertise. I do have very light experience with it. I've been in the Windows sysadmin field for about 20 years and I'm considered to be a senior engineer I would say. I'm paid pretty well and I'm sure some will say just keep getting better at the Windows world, but I'm tempted by the potential that having Linux expertise might bring to my career. Thoughts anyone?

Linux earns, generally, far more than Windows and my estimate is that the gap will only widen unless you move into DevOps style Windows management and move to pure PowerShell or other code-based tools. Linux is a growing market, growing pay rates and the demand versus available resources just keeps getting bigger.

@scottalanmiller That's really cool. Ha, I hope I make it to your level of expertise in IT, I've always been interested in it and finally started my own business a few years ago.

@g.jacobse said:

@NetworkNerd said:

@g.jacobse said:

My limited exposure

Having all A-Team members means that work will not get done after some time.

Really? Can you give more detail about your experience there?

A-Team members is about the same as everyone having a hammer. Doesn't matter what kind or size, and the 'job' is to pound just one nail in.

A-Team is five people,.. five hammers,.. one nail. You either have four people just standing and watching as just one person does it, or all five bickering on who gets to hit it first- I started this project, last- I finished this project.

Overly simplified,.. but my interpretation ..

I don't know many A teamers who want to work in a vacuum. Part of what makes people really good, I think, is that they like to work together, peer reviewe, mentoring, growth, competition, etc.

@thecreativeone91 said:

@coliver said:

Glad I'm not the only that sees this. Most SMBs (in the US) see themselves as the top of a career for anyone and everyone instead of a stepping stone in the career direction.

Yeah really. Makes no sense They all think they are the best of the best when they aren't and expect you to retire their if you take a job with them.

My Pops and I didn't do that when we had our store. We said welcome aboard, please don't spend the rest of your life working for us... (No, I'm serious, lol). We had 4 or 5 techs hang around for a year, and another two hang around for 2 years... We, at least, were honest about not being famous, lol. (Although we did manage to run a couple of crooked PC stores out of town).

@thecreativeone91 said:

It's bigger than us if you count just the Subsidiary I work for at a big under 10k employees. But with our cooperate company, and the other subsidiaries we are way way bigger. Granted we are #2 in our industry.

You know someone isn't too big when you are comparing them to the subsidiaries of other companies 🙂

@thecreativeone91 crazy should be a requirement for almost any job - need a good variety of crazy in IT.

I deal with people, boss sorts and categorizes like... a boss, co-worker is at one with the network. Seems to work ok for us 🙂

Thanks for this.. 😊
Now for my friends to read it.. 😏

@coliver said:

@IRJ said:

Seems appropriate
874357185_e02e570cdd_z.jpg

Honestly for being on the spot like that I think he did an alright job. Although his accent really got in the way of being understandable.

I'm not sure how I would have reacted sitting in his spot.

I would have just straight up told them while on air.

Well Nick, I think you just answered it when you said "I want to hear from them in regard to ideas for improvement, if there is anything else I could be doing to help them be more effective in their position, etc." Make that the starting point of the meeting, and see what they have to say. If you're as personable as a manager as you are as a colleague, I'm sure you'll get some useful feedback. Of course, you can follow that up with your own feedback, whether it's responding to their thoughts or mentoring through praising their strengths and offering advice to bolster their weaknesses. At least that's pretty much how I have done my own, which I have gotten a decent response from. And it goes without saying that mine incorporate a fair amount of wit and sarcasm, as well. Never forget that part. Gotta have fun. 😉

@Kelly said:

If you have a boss that is interested in developing you as an individual, take this to them without making it about the coworker. Ask them something like, "Hey, I got some feedback from a coworker that I don't consult enough with my peers. What is your take on that, and do you have any suggestions for how I can be a better tech/coworker?"

Kelly, I will do just that if it becomes necessary. As it is, every time I start talking, this co-worker stops what they're doing and turns and looks at me. It's getting kind of creepy actually.

+1 for not being yet another person who just gives up on quality and melts their brains with Sonicwall

@scottalanmiller said:

Yes. Never post identifying information about anyone online without their permission. Don't worry about why, just never do it. It's not your information to make public.

Ok, noted.

Not going to mention them. It's a large financial company. They redid it a bit now since I complained but still it's bad.

Funny thing is they called back again today. I wanted to talk money and somehow they decided the position had already been filed. Looks like they were probably just trying to get a low payed unsuspecting Virginia Tech student.

@scottalanmiller said:

@IRJ said:

That is what I would expect most people to get paid in Florida for that position with 10 years experience. Unfortunately many jobs here offer even less than that. The upside is that the cost of living is low and there is no state income tax.

When you earn nothing, income tax is pretty low anyway 😉

Well yeah... $100k a year for a senior position is even rare here

aside from my two desktops that are servers my home network is far better than most SMBs.

@thanksajdotcom said:

@thanksajdotcom said:

@MattSpeller said:

@mlnews only happens to me when I'm... uh... altered in some form.

It's my norm...I have a real hard time reading.

I usually put music on when I read to help alleviate this. It gives my mind something to be distracted by so I can focus.

The trick is finding a song and putting it on one song repeat. It needs to be the same thing over and over. If I use a playlist or shuffle, the constantly changing music is distracting without helping me focus.

I'm glad it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I hope they understand and let you reschedule.