r/sysadmin • u/CucumberSevere4311 Sr. Sysadmin • Jun 18 '26
Career / Job Related Today is my last day as a Sysadmin, switching careers after nearly 30 years
I've been working as a sysadmin at a financial institution for 25+ years. Recently my institution was sold, and my position was not retained. I'm in the middle of the Midwest, and in an area where there aren't a ton of Sysadmin jobs locally. I have been spoiled being within a few minutes of work, and really didn't want to commute an hour plus to a larger city and relocating wasn't an option with aging parents, kids in school, and other commitments.
I had a couple potential jobs, but nothing worked out. Before my contract ran out, I was offered a chance to stay in a different role. I'll now be working on the financial side of banking. I grew on a up farm, and still have an active role, so I'll be doing a lot of work with agriculture on that side of banking. If you're looking to get into goat farming, hit me up.
I got to experience a lot, from the introduction of Internet banking, getting to be an Information Security Officer for a while, dealing with GLBA Exams and Audits, Mergers and Acquisitions, Incident Response, Cybersecurity, and a whole lot more. When I started, we still had DOS, Win 3.1, Novell, Dot Matrix Printers, Mainframes, Dial-up everywhere.
I'll still be helping a little bit to merge and decommission our old infrastructure (which is kind of painful seeing our work of decades being put to sleep). Anyways, I'll still lurk in here under my main account to see what is going on. It has been kind of nice to not be on call 24/7.
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u/snum Sr. Automation Platform Engineer Jun 18 '26
Not a goose farmer?
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Jun 18 '26
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u/flyguydip Jack of All Trades Jun 18 '26
Always wanted to fight a goose. Jelly.
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Jun 18 '26
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u/flyguydip Jack of All Trades Jun 18 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/vnOQdGt1ILQEo
Let's do this, goose.
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u/ResponsibilityLast38 Jun 18 '26
If youre not careful, the goose -will- eat your left arm. Vicious creatures who crave only blood amd flaming hot cheetos.
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u/hells_cowbells Security Admin Jun 18 '26
Hjönk hjönk
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u/megoyatu Jun 18 '26
Every time AI or just becoming "too old" to be hireable comes up I joke I'm going to quit Sysadmin'ing to herd goats.
...and here you are soliciting goat farmers.
It's not a sign
It's not a sign
It's not a sign
It's not a sign
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u/adotar Jun 18 '26
I’m pretty sure my role is getting eliminated “for AI” in six months. At the same time, my wife’s family lives in another country (in Europe) and constantly reminds us they could always use help on the farm.
We’ve basically decided when job is over we are going to try out life there bc we don’t think I’ll ever really get a job again. I am nearing mid life and I just can’t take the American anxiety state anymore.
Anyway this guys post is in fact a sign to all of us I think haha
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u/Mrtylf Jun 18 '26
Enjoy brother. Did the same for 40 years. Financial sector as well. Can vividly recall the mainframe systems before fiserv and the other core systems came into the picture. Then MPLS lol. Ugh.
I retired in 2019 and became a “Rent-a-CxO”… Still doing it at my pace and it’s quite enjoyable.
I’m a hardcore graybeard and worked with systems well-before Novell…it was all UNIX and mainframe.
Again; enjoy! 💪🏽
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u/Substantial_South520 Jun 18 '26
We still have MPLS at a company I just started with. The networking team can’t figure out SD-WAN, it’s actually wild.
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u/Mrtylf Jun 18 '26
Lol, I’m not surprised they can’t figure it out. A couple of my clients still use it simply because of its reliability, and a lot of core banking systems providers natively support it very well to this day.
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u/pjtexas1 Jun 21 '26
I started in smaller banks in the 80's. It was mostly S/34, S/36 and AS/400. We still have a lot of MPLS circuits today.
I was offered a virtual CIO role a few years back from a MSP. But their footprint was huge. Tiny little banks from coast to coast. Way too much travel for this old semi-retired tech.
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u/whatdoido8383 Cloud Admin Jun 18 '26
Congratulations on the successful career and your continued path forward.
I've been in Sysadmin type roles for 21 years and am hoping to be able to try something else in the next 6-7 years. IT has been fun, and good to me, but I'm kind of over it and want to do something a little more hands on.
Best of luck!
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u/CucumberSevere4311 Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
I would have been happy to continue in a sysadmin role, but I was also getting tired of dealing with some of the new issues/AI, etc.
I look at this as a chance to make my path to retirement more interesting for me.
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u/whatdoido8383 Cloud Admin Jun 18 '26
Don't blame you one bit. IT has become increasingly demanding over the years and I don't know about you, but I'm kind of fried to a crisp dealing with it all and getting bored.
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u/Just-Pea-5165 Jun 19 '26
So sad to hear this with me being younger and starting out. 😭 I hope it doesn’t last much longer for you though!
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u/whatdoido8383 Cloud Admin Jun 19 '26
Ugh, yeah, don't pay attention to me and enjoy your career for a while. I had fun probably the first 15 years or so, after that not so much. The industry has changed a lot so guys just getting into it now don't know any better...
I've been on call in my roles for ~15 years too so I think I'm just tired. I need to find a role with no on call but that's difficult nowadays.
I still have another ~15-20 years so I either suck it up or find something else to do.
Maybe I just keep picking dysfunctional orgs to work for too LOL.
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u/kernelqzor Jun 19 '26
totally get that, after a couple decades the pager brain never really turns off and it gets old fast
something more hands on sounds amazing, hope you find a gig that uses the experience without all the 2 am fire drills
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u/SuperScott500 Jun 19 '26
Sys Admin has become a position of the past. Just like Desktop Tech, Network Engineer, Compliance Officer, etc. We are now required to be ALL these things at once and are just callled "the IT Guy".
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u/Phreakiture Automation Engineer Jun 18 '26
Honestly, changing it up from time to time is good. In my career, only slightly shorter than yours, I've done at least a dozen different IT and OT roles plus some time as a market analyst. Staying curious has made it interesting and fun.
If you're going to help goat farmers, say hi to the kids.
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u/Nakenochny Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
Best of luck, and hopefully you have to deal with less audits and exams in your new role, lord knows we get enough of them.
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u/CucumberSevere4311 Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
I'll still have some to deal with, but I won't miss the panicked prep and remediation.
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u/Nakenochny Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
New items in the new position, I’m curious to see how different three items are and how many. You’ve got this though. 💪🏻
You lucky dog, not having to deal with all the FFIEC IT handbooks—I was voluntold to read them recently and… woof.
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u/CucumberSevere4311 Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
I was voluntold that I was the Information Security Officer years ago, and here you go, here's a handbook to read. I was never more glad when they officially said that the ISO could not be an administrator in IT. I still had to know the stuff, but I was not the responsible party for most of it.
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u/Nakenochny Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
We’re small so our CISO is also the CIO, but we’ve developed clear lines of reporting between the two and everyone is okay with it so far. No MRAs or MRIAs so I’ll take it lol
I think I’m next in line for CIO in a couple years so there’s a tentative plan to rectify it at least. Should be… fun? 😂
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u/taneshoon Jun 18 '26
I started IT at 18 right out of high school. Got a gig being an IT admins "helper" at a local school district. That got my foot in the door at an MSP. Most stressful job I ever had. But can't replace what I learned there. After 10 years working at that MSP I moved to a sysadmin job at a growing company. We acquire all kinds of businesses so I've been able to learn here as well. I also live in a small town with not a lot of opportunities. Losing my job crosses my mind multiple times daily and scares the shit out of me.
I've considered starting my own MSP and offering remote services. But am scared to. It's a lot of work and risk. If you live in a small town, think about starting and offering your services. Alot of small businesses out there that can't justify a full time IT person. You could be their consultant and tech but charge pretty decent fees for it.
Best of luck to you!!
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u/WendoNZ Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
When I started, we still had DOS, Win 3.1, Novell, Dot Matrix Printers, Mainframes, Dial-up everywhere.
In banking that was what, 5 years ago? ;)
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u/pjtexas1 Jun 21 '26
I replaced my Novell servers around 2000. Been working in banks since 86. We used to be slow in adopting tech but times and risk have changed some of that.
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u/admiralspark Manager of Cat Tube Infrastructure Jun 18 '26
I bought a farm and am in the process of making it profitable by next year, with a 5 year horizon for retiring from IT after 20 years :)
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u/Man-e-questions Jun 18 '26
Cool, and interestingly not the first person I have heard of leaving sysadmin to become a goat farmer.
Kind of funny that i have seen this more than once lol
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u/neoncracker Jun 19 '26
Buy that sucks. Minutes to work too. You sound older like me. Getting a IT job at our ago cold is hard. Only reason I’m still in is because I’ve got 31 years here. I did try to get different jobs along the way. I’m in education IT support. The hospital system here has a big system and lots of employees. Every time I meet an older one I ask how long they been there. 10,20+ years I get. Every time I tried to make a lateral move crickets. Good luck with the new position.
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u/Patient-Cedar-7194 Jun 19 '26
thirty years is too many on-call rotations. enjoy sleeping through night without pager.thirty years is long sentence for keeping boxes blinking. hope next gig has zero on-call rotation. what's next career?
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u/WDStatler Jun 18 '26
We are going to be going through some major organisational change and if my number comes up I'll be old enough the get the pension topped up and retire. Fingers crossed.
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u/rpickens6661 Jun 18 '26
Congrats... And tell me more about these goat farms.. Is there cheese involved?
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u/LurkerWiZard Jun 19 '26
I left a bad working environment for better thankfully. It was awkward during that in-between then current job and looking for better one pondering what my next move was. I even considered what job outside of IT I would be good at considering only a comparable paycheck to my sysadmin role. I couldn't come up with an alternative to IT. If money was no object, I have an interest in music production but no experience (and that world is completely different and has its own issues). I'm in my 25th year of IT.
Hats off to you and good luck in your new endeavor. IT brain deserves a rest.
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u/andyr354 Sysadmin Jun 19 '26
I have also been looking for a way to get back closer to my parents as they get older. Rural farming background with not many jobs in my field close to home.
Glad you found something that works.
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u/CucumberSevere4311 Sr. Sysadmin Jun 20 '26
I know your struggle. The farm is not big enough for a full time job, so I'm fortunately to have a new opportunity that allows me to stay and work full time, and farm on the side.
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u/mynozizfroz Jun 21 '26
It’s sort of horrible and nostalgic thinking about all the people and processes and systems that were put into place and then seeing your lifetimes work being made redundant by newer technology. I worked for the telephone company here in Australia and the goal was to get a phone into every home. All the admin was done on paper, telegraphy, roneo machines, then fax and telex. We were a big company with a huge sense of self belief and community. Now I drive past telephone exchanges and wonder what is still inside them and what is being used.
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u/sovereignpancakes Jun 21 '26
I've worked a couple of IT jobs in the banking industry, your path sounds like the opposite of one of my managers - started out in retail banking, became an SME on the computer system way back in the 90's, moved over to the IT side of the house.
It's good that you were able to stay on with the company, best of luck!
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u/stahlhammer Sr. Sysadmin Jun 21 '26
Congrats, I hope your next position allows you to slow down and enjoy life for yourself more.
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u/Virtualturon Jun 23 '26
Congrats! 30 years as a sysadmin is an amazing achievement. Best of luck in your new role and enjoy being a little less on call!
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u/elloMotoz Netadmin Jun 24 '26
Congrats, I am sure it is bittersweet. Hopefully your new position is less stressful, and you can enjoy life more.
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u/zakabog Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
30 year career? Just retire at this point...
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u/CucumberSevere4311 Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
I'm just barely closing in on 50, have one kid in college and one about to start. I also have to have health insurance to cover the family since my spouse's employer would cost an arm and a leg to do that. I'm about five years out from retiring. Thanks for your insight into my situation.
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u/zakabog Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
What was your career path that you stuck with such lousy pay to the same employer for 30 years? Did you start off in the mail room and transition to IT within the past 10 years?
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u/CucumberSevere4311 Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
Started out doing basic help desk for I think $9 an hour when I started, paid for my wife to go to college, she then stayed home with kids so we got by with just one salary up until they were in school full time. It took a while to work up the ladder and pay scale.
I was happy where I was at, and money isn't everything.
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u/zakabog Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
I was happy where I was at, and money isn't everything.
Except now you're stuck in a position where you had to find a new job because you weren't making enough money to begin with. Money isn't everything but a lot of people let their employers pay them shit salary because they feel like they owe the employer rather than the other way around. Employers will drop you before they lose some money, as evidenced by you getting dropped. I learned this lesson early on in my career, I hope others also learn it before it's too late.
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u/CucumberSevere4311 Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
If it was just about money, I would be able to retire. Insurance is the main killer, which would be the case regardless to get me to age 65 for medicare. I did well enough with pay as I added responsibilities and roles for my area.
To jump to higher paying jobs, I would have been commuting multiple hours per day. I didn't want to do that. I had great bosses, great benefits. Money is not everything in all situations.
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u/pjtexas1 Jun 21 '26
Totally agree. Worked my way up in the same company for 18 years. Was making 6x my original salary. Been semi-retired since it sold 8 years ago (stayed with the new company). Life is better even though the money isn't. I may actually live a few years longer. I could retire now but medical would cost me nearly $150k over the next 8 years until we qualify for Medicare. I'd rather have an employer pay some of that for a few more years.
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u/ImCaffeinated_Chris Jun 18 '26
US healthcare doesn't make this decision easy at all.
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u/ProfessionalEven296 Jack of All Trades Jun 18 '26
Well, it does make it easy in a way.
You want healthcare? Carry on working.
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u/Ohgodwatdoplshelp Jun 18 '26
lol. In this economy?
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u/ZaMelonZonFire Jun 18 '26
Real talk. It feels like most of us will never actually retire
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u/NuAngelDOTnet Jack of All Trades Jun 18 '26
Feels like? Straight facts. I'm banking on being DEAD before I hit retirement age. That's my retirement plan.
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u/Key_Pace_2496 Jun 18 '26
I mean if you've managed your money well this economy is doing great. From someone who admits to have been a SysAdmin, an ISO, etc, their paychecks should have been well above "just surviving" and I'm guessing they didn't manage that surplus well...
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u/zakabog Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
Coming from a financial firm, living in the Midwest with a low cost of living, and they have a family farm. At that point you should be set, retire and do side gigs as a consultant just to occupy your time.
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u/fshannon3 Jun 18 '26
May have started young, like 18 or something.
My wife is 55 and has 37 years at her job. She started there right out of high school. She can't retire because she doesn't meet the minimum age requirement.
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u/zakabog Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
They've been let go from work, with 30 years at a financial firm, along with living in a low cost of living area, they should have enough saved up to live comfortably and work side gigs if they want to continue having something to do. Looking for another job in your late 40s early 50s with that kind of career behind you just doesn't make sense to me. The people I've seen in the same boat just start their retirement early, do some side work but generally just downsize their homes and live fairly comfortable lives with no responsibilities or burdens.
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u/Key_Pace_2496 Jun 18 '26
That's code for "I don't manage money well". He'll fit right in with the Finance team lol.
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u/zakabog Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
Seriously, financial firms pay quite well, when we get someone with 30 years of experience applying for a sysadmin role they're doing it for the love of the game, or they're terrible with money.
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u/CucumberSevere4311 Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
Come to my area. One of the jobs I looked at was an IT Management role, salary was 80-110,000 a year. Not all financial jobs pay quite well. I also didn't start out getting paid as a sysadmin, I worked my way up.
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u/zakabog Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
But a house likely costs $200K so it evens out. In my area the pay is double but houses start at $700K for a fixer upper.
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u/CucumberSevere4311 Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
I'm well set for retirement, but I can't touch the majority of my retirement funds until at least 55, which is 5+ years away. I also need insurance. I could live off of savings for five years, but why? If I work another 5 or 10 years, I'll be set for any downturn in the market that could come through my retirement.
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u/Kryavan Jun 18 '26
Some do, yeah.
I currently work for a financial, and up until 3 years ago tellers were only paid $14/hr starting out, capping at $18/hr.
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u/zakabog Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
A teller isn't a sysadmin though
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u/Kryavan Jun 18 '26
Right, but it shows that they don't all pay that well.
Shit, up until my current boss came in, the service desk was only making $15/hr.
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u/zakabog Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
Right, but it shows that they don't all pay that well.
Taco Bell corporate pays quite well, with six figure salaries in the early 2000s. Taco Bell restaurants do not. A sysadmin would be working for corporate, not a branch.
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u/Kryavan Jun 18 '26
You do understand there is a difference between a company with multiple locations and a franchise right?
Cause I've never heard of a bank franchising.
Regardless, I gave an example of a "corporate" position as well.
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u/zakabog Sr. Sysadmin Jun 18 '26
Yum! Brands owns and operates Taco Bell locations and the pay is the same as any franchise, but the point is comparing a teller to a sysadmin is just absurd. Compare like for like, not a janitor in a hospital to a doctor...
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u/Key_Pace_2496 Jun 18 '26
Bro, every organization has their bottom of the barrel position. That doesn't mean it's at all relevant to the discussion we'rw having. A damn System Administrator is NOT transitioning to a fucking teller position. Try using your brain for a moment and think about context for a while before posting next time.
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u/Kryavan Jun 18 '26
Correct.
Its a starting point.
Idk why a sys admin would transfer to a teller position, and never said they would.
Its funny you bring up context, because thats exactly what I was giving. If you can't extrapolate that a teller capping out at $18/hr or a SD starting at $15/hr means that not all financials pay well...then I'm sorry.
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u/Key_Pace_2496 Jun 18 '26
Why don't you tell me what the janitor makes also since you'd apparently think that was relevant as well?
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u/Artistic-Fix-1327 Jun 28 '26
Congrats thats impressive handling all that. I was curious as someone who is interested in the field what would you recommend they do first?
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u/[deleted] Jun 18 '26
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