<TL:DR at bottom>
I used to post here under a different name, was super stressed about working in a MSP with time tracking to the second etc. I found out how to hack and work around most of those systems but the stress in general made me wanna go home and die every day. So I quit, and took some time to learn ebay flipping, go camping, etc. Turns out flipping is harder than I thought and also it was hard to stay on task since at my last job I was so used to having management scheduled my time from 8-5 to suddenly have freedom… well it was like turning 21 again, but with less hang overs.
On a fluke I applied to a IT job at a large company with a 3 person “IT” staff, which includes 2 ERP/Database people, 1 IT Guy, my job is to take some of the busy work off the IT Guy so he can get some project work done. I’m mostly doing trouble shooting, reimaging PC’s for new employees etc. It’s not bad but I have a lot of downtime since most of this is automated for 80% of the install and I’m working on bringing that up to 100% as quickly as possible. So what to do with that free time? I’d like to take work on learning more, what are the good resources to look at?

TL:DR

Have IT job with lots of downtime, whats a good site/series to learn more, interactive proffered.

15 Spice ups

Microsoft Virtual Academy - Free and awesome, up to date info as well

Pluralsight - Good range of topics covered, some free, some paid. If you have the dough or your company will pay for you - get the paid. It’s worth it.

YouTube - not many people know about this site but it has a ton of free training videos for just about any subject.

8 Spice ups

Youtube is great for fixing anything but I was hoping for something more structured with testing etc. I don’t think the company will spend dollar 1 on training. But let me see what out of pocket cost is. I did take a pay cut to work here but its way lower stress.

1 Spice up

There’s also the Learn section here in Spiceworks (up top). Pluralsight has testing as well, so does MVA.

1 Spice up

If it were me, I’d go to the source. Ask other people on your team if there are any of the projects that you can help out with.

2 Spice ups

2nd…I’d even ask if they needed me to do documentation on the steps. Maybe they have notes that need to look professional or something?

Documentation is ALWAYS needed somewhere. Always.

3 Spice ups

Ask for more work.

2 Spice ups

REDDIT, Also as mentioned above. Just because your work is done, doesn’t mean your done working!

1 Spice up

We’ll duh reddit :slight_smile: Also some training, cleaning up, I also balanced my check book, mostly over lunch.

Work on certs to get that $100k :D. Funny, I worked for an MSP and felt the same way, coupled by a terrible boss so I left. Now, I find myself at a new place doing nothing all day which is starting to drive me nuts.

2 Spice ups

cybrary.it , codeacademy.com , MVA as mentioned above, get into scripting, Powershell if you’re doing Windows, python if your doing linux - create a test lab if there isn’t already one there.

And definitely, do some documentation if it needs it, because, 95% of the time, that is the thing that lacks the MOST for any organization.

If you want to get into more cloud stuff, take a look at CloudCred , also, Microsoft has their Professional Program out

1 Spice up

Right here in our “Learn” section. Lots of good reading

1 Spice up

I actually like documenting and talked to the boss about setting up a ticket tracking system, or documentation system. We have none. Its all in his head since he’s been here 3 years.

I used to use Lynda for a lot of courses, but mainly in graphic design: https://www.lynda.com/

They have some good IT-focused courses as well, like this IT Security Specialist one: Become an IT Security Specialist Learning Path | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com

1 Spice up

I use pluralsight. Wish I could have some free time, I work full time and go to school full time.

1 Spice up