New Job

LynK · December 09, 2016, 04:06:40 PM

Hey guys!

I got a new job and it is going great, but I have a few questions for you, and your professional input is greatly needed in my new scenario.

So I got a new job, went from a enterprise down to a much smaller company. I've noticed some significant changes and I am wondering if I should let these things go, or keep bringing them up.

1) My boss is afraid to give access to anything. I found this out because one of the systems guys here has been here for over a year and still doesn't have DA. I'm concerned because I think it I will never have access to anything.

2) My boss doesn't believe in smart-net. He is against it, doesn't want it.

3) We run 6500's (non E) in the core and 4500 (non E) for access. I want to recommend updates to him, but I think he isn't going to want to do it because of the money, and he is comfortable where he is.

Do you think I am over analyzing? Should I just take a chill pill? I am coming from where I had access to everything, to now I have access to nothing. I love not putting out fires all the time, but I feel like I am sitting in GNS3 most of the day and not doing anything.

So in your experience what should I do? I changed jobs because I wanted a little more work-life balance, but I am unsure if this is a good fit or not.

deanwebb · December 09, 2016, 04:48:26 PM

Well, what is your job? Does it require access, smartnet, updates, or, for that matter, work?

Do you have limited stuff to do because you just started or is it really *that* empty of things to do?

wintermute000 · December 09, 2016, 07:45:43 PM

I don't know the rest of your situation for context, but I am seeing a whole lotta red flags

- small business mentality re: risk (no smartnet or equivalent WTF)
- small business mentality re: infra (EOL stuff good enough lets just run it into the ground)
- no admin rights, are you high?

How small is this business? big enough to require 6500s/4500s but still not 'enterprise'? Though I know you guys in the US have larger scales.

TBH I'd start looking for an exit strategy. The mid-market is no place for a serious network engineer unless
- you're on the retirement home stretch
- completely devoid of ambition.
- a junior looking for XP/exposure opportunity
- its a service provider of some sort i.e. technology is its focus and the network is a profit centre

LynK · December 09, 2016, 08:29:32 PM

we are talking ~100 employees. Small company but they have BIG contracts... which is funny.

He has me looking into technologies now, but I just feel like I am sitting on my hands. It has been two weeks and I am not trying to be pushy... its just frustrating. His argument is that he has spares of everything so there is essentially no need to upgrade. He is starting to come around to the idea of smartnet, but only on 1 supervisor so we can get IOS updates.

I see his point ... about saving money. They have redundant SUPs, and spare parts. But how can I convince him to go in the right direction? New Cores are going to be like 60k minimum, and smartnet is going to be an annual cost that this family owned business has never had to pay... so they are going to be like what the heck?

Two weeks and I have not been able to log into a single device. I only have existing configs to work off from.

On the bright side. I have my CCNP route exam in a month... should have loads of time for that... lol (about time I get it.. haha).

The reason I left my last job was because I was a single guy, running the entire show. I was sick of being overworked, and not properly compensated so I left to go to a smaller company hoping to have a bit more time with the family.

wintermute000 · December 09, 2016, 10:19:49 PM

i'd walk in a heartbeat. His job is to save the company money which is fine. Doesn't mean that you have to be the sucker who is tethered to a small static network watching their skills atrophy. Been there, done that, do not want.

Look after your own skillset and development. At worst stick it out ~12 months, do an a--load of certs given that you have zero stress or real work, then bail for something where you can do some actual networking.

deanwebb · December 10, 2016, 10:24:18 AM

Wintermute's got a good plan, there. This is where you earn your certs. You get to do GNS3 all day long and lab things up, and he has someone that can help him order a new switch when the ones he has finally craters.

I hate it when an engineer is reduced to being a walking insurance policy, but that's what happens all too often in IT. There's no work to do, and your desk has a glass wall in front of it that reads, "BREAK IN CASE OF FIRE". You're not being paid to be clever, innovative, or, in fact, to do *anything*... except to be there in case of fire.

that1guy15 · December 10, 2016, 02:03:15 PM

1 and 3 are massive red flags.

Unless you plan to have a lot of down time to study and pick up certs Id say its time to walk.

Ive been in both these positions and you end up just sitting idle and your experience gain is just on hold.

My suggestion is express your concerns honestly with him and what others are saying here. If he dosent adjust give you a solid path forward you like then its time to move on.

deanwebb · December 10, 2016, 03:51:08 PM

Quote from: that1guy15 on December 10, 2016, 02:03:15 PM
If he dosent adjust give you a solid path forward you like then its time to move on.

Unless you want to knock out your certs, and then it's time to move on after you get that -P.

NetworkGroover · December 11, 2016, 08:34:06 PM

Yeah the key is you're not fighting fires, so ... that pretty much offsets the fact that you don't have access to anything.

If there's no issue... *shrug* cherish that time dude - I complained about it then, but I kind of miss it now that I have zero time during working hours to study/play with stuff. Now the only time I have for that stuff is on my own time... and well between family and DJing... screw that.

Collect your paycheck and increase your knowledge with the free time you have!

If it gets to the point there are fires, and the fires continue because a) he won't upgrade, and b) won't get smartnet, and c) won't give you access.. or any combination of that.. then it's time to go.

wintermute000 · December 12, 2016, 04:01:19 AM

IMO sitting pretty and studying is a last resort / you are really needing to catching up on family time kinda thing.
Idleness begets idleness, you never end up studying as hard as you should, unless its just a short term thing or you are super self motivated.

Like that1guy said, I've also been there and HOW ABOUT NO

icecream-guy · December 12, 2016, 06:26:37 AM

all those non E chassis are all end of life. so no smartnet there.

sounds like your boss has no future business plans, if he is not the owner, then you need to discuss you issues with the owner, explain to them that what you have seen, that you were hired as a network engineer, and with all your network experience, that you have seen other companies do things differently,explain how, and what you see is not a good business plan to move the company forward in the future.
Just because you boss is that way. It doesn't mean others high up in the company have the same mind set. maybe they don't even know.
your boss is certainly doing damage to the business. One person should not have "keys to the kingdom". The company could be one accident away from crash and burn.

if that don't work, certs and bolt.

LynK · December 12, 2016, 07:06:37 AM

Ristau,

I have one question for you. With me not even being here a month, would that come across negatively? I don't want to be a jerk. We do have reviews coming up soon. I thought about bringing it up in a professional manner, but I am not sure if I should

deanwebb · December 12, 2016, 08:25:36 AM

Things come across negatively if you ask questions with the attitude that you already have the right answer. See if you can get your boss into "story time" mode to explain it all to you. If there are details that you think the owner can provide more detail on, then ask about going to him. If your boss is cool with that, no worries. If not, well... why not?

mmcgurty · December 12, 2016, 10:35:23 AM

A good compromise on the hardware aspect might be looking into something that was second-hand that is able to be placed on SmartNet (without recertification). I know there are some companies like CXtec that buy hardware and resell it and it can be placed on SmartNet. You might be able to get newer hardware about 50% of the discounted cost of new and get the appropriate SmartNet with the savings. This could be a cost savings to the company rather than having cold spares sitting around doing nothing.

Netwörkheäd · December 15, 2016, 07:54:08 AM

Quote from: mmcgurty on December 12, 2016, 10:35:23 AM
A good compromise on the hardware aspect might be looking into something that was second-hand that is able to be placed on SmartNet (without recertification). I know there are some companies like CXtec that buy hardware and resell it and it can be placed on SmartNet. You might be able to get newer hardware about 50% of the discounted cost of new and get the appropriate SmartNet with the savings. This could be a cost savings to the company rather than having cold spares sitting around doing nothing.

This is a good thing. Small business owners are always strapped for cash. Stuff like this can keep the lights on, as can similar gear from vendors that don't rhyme with "Shmissco."

Ask why no access. Talk about areas of your work that are hampered by no access and what can be done to work around.

If you need something to do, start labeling both ends of the ethernet cables, switchports, and patch panel cables. Such exercises are always labor-intensive, highly visible, and greatly informative.