Guide to IT Fields

Support

1. Helpdesk - Provide phone-based support to users, helping people open their email, reset passwords, etc. Often read from a troubleshooting script or search an internal knowledgebase/wiki for solutions to frequent issues. Entry level, little to no experience needed. Mostly found at mid-to-large sized companies. If a problem doesn't have a simple solution or can't be solved locally, they escalate to...
2. Helpdesk level 2/Desktop Support - Handles more complex problems that aren't as frequently occurring. May have greater permissions in the corporate network (create accounts for new employees, setup email distribution lists, etc.) Desktop support would be located in the same offices as the user and would help with things that require physical access (set up a projector, swap out broken computers). 0 - 2 year experience required. More complex issues, or new frequent issues are escalated to...
3. Help desk level 3 - Handles complex problems. May be responsible for basic systems admin tasks such as building/updating system images installed on all users computers, or testing application updates. Highly knowedgeable in applications used in in various parts of the company. Writes knowledgebase articles for level 1. 1-3 yrs experience. Has very complex issues escalated to Systems Administrator, or persons responsible for a certain technology (network outage to the network team, email to the messaging administrator, etc...).

Administration

1. Systems Administrator - Jack of all trades, responsible for many different systems in the business. Familiar with multiple OSs (Windows, linux, unix), server hardware, basic to advanced networking. Jr. SysAdmin 1-2 years experience, SysAdmin 1-3 years experience, Sr. Sysadmin 3-5 years, Systems Engineer 3-7+ years experience. Will gain knowledge in all areas, but specialize in none.
2. Network Administrator. Advanced knowledge of networking. Works with Routers, Switches, VOIP phones, firewalls, load balancers, etc. See Systems Administrator for levels.
3. Storage Administrator. Advanced knowledge of storage hardware (SANS, NAS) and networking infrastructure. Responsible for ensuring data is available, performing, backed up, etc. Generally, no junior positions, sysadmins/network admins may move into this from other areas.
4. Virtualization Administrator. Combines Sys Admin, Networking, and Storage skills + knowledge of virtualization platforms. Generally, no junior positions, sysadmins/network/storage admins may move into this from other areas.
5. Database Administrator: Advanced knowledge of 1 or more database systems. Responsible for maintaining database systems, troubleshooting, and working with developers to performance tune applications/databases, database design. general sysadmin knowledge along with basic networking and basic-to-mid storage required. Generally no junior positions, sys admins/developers may move in to the specialization.

Datacenter

1. Datacenter monkey (NOC) - Monitors datacenter. Tells others when there are red lights. Reboots systems when told, runs cable, plugs things in, rack and stack etc. 0-2 yrs experience. generally moves into network admin or sysadmin positions
2. Advanced datacenter designer person. Sr. Sysadmin skills + Advanced Networking + heating/cooling/electrical/diesel generators/batteries bigger than your fridge/thermodynamics knowledge.

Development

1. Developer/software engineer. Writes code, 0-x years experience. Knows languages like Java, C#, Python, Ruby, etc. Familiar with SQL/databases, JavaScript.
2. Web developer. Writes HTML, CSS, JavaScript. Makes websites look nice. 0-x years experience
3. Database developer. Knows SQL well, should know database design but probably doesn't. Should know basic database administrator skills but probably doesn't. 0-x years experience.

Business Analyst/project Management

1. Business Analyst 0-x years experience. Works with business to identify application needs. Writes a SHITTON of documentation. Works with developers to translate business/functional requirements to an application.
2. Project manager. Works with business and technical teams to ensure proper staffing, resources, timelines etc. No one really likes them, they get shit on by everyone.

Ops (operations)

1. Sysadmins for web/software companies.

DevOPs

1. Not a job, a culture! Uses code to manage infrastrucutre and make it robust. Uses infrastructure to make code robust. 5-7 years experience. Reads Visible Ops, Lean Startups, Continuous Deployment, and factory/manufacturing theory books for fun (along with the latest networking wunderbook while coding a program to post in the corporate IRC chat channel whenever new code is deployed into production. Because its all automated, and every employee deploys new code into production, from IT to the receptionist (see: Etsy. First day at Etsy? you click the deploy updates to site button)

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