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Q: What is your background?
A: I have a Bachelor’s of Science and a Master’s of Science in physics. I started work as a mechanical test engineer at Boeing in 1985 and always seemed to end up maintaining computer systems part-time. By 1995, it was full-time system administrator. System administrators come from all types of degrees, though (e.g. English, sociology, and sciences). The key is to be curious and like to solve problems.
Q: How did you choose your career?
A: I did not; it chose me. I started running and maintaining a data collection system for testing and people kept bringing me their computer problems. Within a few years, I was also maintaining the office system and other systems.
Q: What is your job description?
A: Unix Systems Administrator.
Q: What is a normal day for a systems administrator?
A: There is no such thing. It really varies depending on your job and environment. My ‘normal day’ is get to the office, put out any critical fires and if there is any time left, do project work. I get about 4 – 6 hours of solid project work a week.
Q: What kind of education/degree program is necessary for a career in systems administration?
A: One that emphasizes creative troubleshooting. I am often asked to fix complex systems on short notice, and I have no clue how they work, how they were set up, or even what they are supposed to do. I use Google, information from the customers, and, support from the vendor to get the systems running again and then, given time, I document the system and manage it.
Q: What does it take to be successful in your field of systems administration?
A: Patience, great problem solving abilities, and a “want to help people” mindset. Systems administrators often only hear when things go wrong because if they go right, no one notices. In return you get to work with some very wonderful people and cool technologies.
Q: What real world experience did you get during your school/training?
I taught myself how to use a HP9825 data logger and that got me my first job. The problem solving training of my physics degree has really helped also.
Q: What is your dream job?
My current job with about 3 more people.
Q: What advice can you offer to students?
Do something you love to do. If you have a personality that likes to help people and you like poking at and figuring out technology, then consider system administration as a job. These jobs will be in higher demand as our society depends more and more on technology (plus they cannot be off-shored as the computers are here).
Q: Is systems administration a hard field to get into?
Not really, as a large percentage of the population just wants technology to work and does not want to fuss with it. That is where systems administrators come in. To get experience, join local system admin groups, check out www.lopsa.org, start with your home systems, volunteer at non-profits, start work in as a non-system administrator at local businesses (not national chains) and offer to help the owner with their computer problems as they happen. Very soon you will get a reputation and experience that will get you a systems administrator job.
