What would you do?

it seems to me that you are being stopped from doing what you were hired for, by a boss who wants to control your every move. in that case you should probly explain your problem to him exactly as you have here. find out if the company standards are rigid and to whom they apply and why any deviation from them is necessary,you need to know this in order to fulfil your role. if that doesn't work its time to leave, about the MSCE and Certs, not everyone is after an IT tech that has all the bits of paper. show them a hands-on aptitude and tell them what you've done for the last 4 years and you will find employment elsewhere.
but this is premature, talk to your boss, he may not be aware of the scope of your problem.
good luck

I did phone my boss and discuss the events that took place while his boss was paying me a visit. First, he came the server room were I sit and logged onto the print server, a laptop, and my computer on occassion. Therefore, I could open or close tickets for that time period. When I was hired I was told that I am not to touch the servers, that was up to the domain admins offsite. I said ok fine. Next thing you know, it was like I was being accussed of storing user directories on the print server. I said that I had nothing to do with that. And was told not to touch/move things around. The domain admins where out last month and I asked them that the server is filling up fast, hence my new server I must create all shares on and move allusers from two domains to the new server.
I work six hours per day and within the past 2 weeks was given the jobs of moving 100 users scattered across 2 domains into one server, and meet with all users and have them sign a form for equipment that they are using, and take care of daily fires that occur. Am I wrong in defending myself because all of this hasn't been completed within 1 1/2 weeks? Some sales people don't come to the site for a week or two.

Thank you for your input.

Try asking the different managers of each department if they can help by asking each person to e-mail their problems using the prioty setting and to try and think real hard about making everything seem urgent. And what I mean by that is if they knowthere time contraints for there projects they could give you more than today to inform u that they need something for a project. Each manager could work as a buffer for u and that way u also have someone else noticing the workload. Hence, covering your behind and helping to get work done instead of everyone pulling u in 50 directions at once.

I work in a very similar situation and let me tell you something right now. Without being a project manager or a manager of some sort with power, you're doomed. It's obvious that you are not being repected for your knowledge by your boss or the company. Cut your losses, don't waste your time. Look for another job. You'll probably get more money. But remember on the next job you must have clearly defined job description and when extra duties are dumped on you, you should negotiate for moremoney. I don't mean working with the team or an occasional project, I am talking about a steady flow of more work than you were hired for. You might try Technies.com. Good luck.

Get a decent resume together and start looking for another position. But be aware that you are not alone in this position, You are hampered by not having a cert or two, like an A+, or an MCSE. You could try having this company pay for it - use the pretext that you need these skills to be better prepared to the job for them. (if they fall for this- get the certs and then really start job stomping)
Once you have a better offer, approuch the company and tell - give them a chance to make a decent offer. THEN walk.
It reads like no matter what happens YOU are the blame, read the handwriting and move on.
You could also post a list of what people with your responsiblities get paid. (sp)
Good luck.

As I read your post, I related to a simular experience. I fell that what you need to do is #1 Sit with your supervisors and get a complete job description of your duties, no if's and's or but's. Then I would have a meeting with ALL dept heads to review this job description, if a solution can not be worked out, or atleast reach a happy medium, then I would post my Qualifications on a job board ie: Dice.com, or whatever....Good Luck

Get, in writing, a complete description of your duties and all procedures you are expected to follow to carry them out. Make sure both you and your boss agree on compensation for functions you perform which are not included in your job description. Most companies will have this document on hand when you are hired.
It's good to be proactive and self directed, but know your limits and be flexible.

I've found from experience the best thing in your situation is to use your company policies to your advantage. (I.E.) If your company policy has any statements refering to "No language or statements of racial discrimination are allowed to be transferred either electronically or written within or on company property." This could be used to filter all incoming and outgoing mail through your mailserver. When personnel are receiving this type of material, or sending it. Lock them out and contact management. If management has a clue to the type of discrimination charges and LAW SUITS that can be brought against the Company. I think they will back you one-hundred percent. I believe you will be doing your job as required. If your immediate Boss doesn't agree with you, cover yourself well by keeping a record or journal of conversations and keep it concise. Be very proactive to your logs on your systems and follow company policy ALWAYS!!! Send an e-mail to all users as to your intentions and quote from company policy when you decide to implement company policy. Remember you don't have any friends in your position! Your best friend could be the one that leaves the door open for a major breakdown in security, resulting in your loss of employment. Think about it, your job depends on this decision! You would be suprised as to how many people have been in the same situation. Remember log all correspondence when you made a proactive decision and your immediate Boss over-rules your decision. You never know someday he may be the one to lose his job and your only hope of keeping yours is your logs of correspondence showing his reversal to your decision.
SUPERBRYCE

Hey Pro...
You have what about half of us out here want...real world experience. For Go* sakes..find A Cert Simulation program...get your A+(took me two weeks) and a simple MCP and go somewhere else. You have these guys by the ball$ do let them have you that way. You run the show and they problably dont realize what they have if you know what your doing and it sounds like you do. Im more partial to Netware because it works but hey a CNA isnt that bad to get either. Do some reasearch in your area and see what peolpe need...A+ and MCP/CNA..whatever get a cert or two add that with invaluable real word experience and you have a great job with a compay that has at least some workplace policy and a descriptive jod description!!!
-Reguards
NIck
A+ CNA

I was in a similar situation last year. Overworked, underpaid and under-appreciated.
I would have a steady flow of people coming to me wanting me to solve their problems. No problem there, that's my job but they wanted me to drop what I was doing right there and rush over to help them. If it wasn't a time critical problem I would explain that I would get to it ASAP but that it would be a little while. This was often greeted with a blank,deer-in-the-headlights look. So I got a white board andput it up in my office with a list of all the projects and their pieces I am working on. This serves as an advertisement for anyone who walks into my office that, yes I in fact have work to do and don't just 'play' on the computer all day.
The nextthing I did really help my confidence when approaching management. I made a list of all of my daily responsibilities and another list of all the 'projects' that I had been a part of while I had been with the company.
After doing that, my cofidencewas up and I was well informed for a little 'sit-down' with the bosses (IT manager and the CEO).
A book that has several good ideas for prepping you for your talk is 'Power Interviews'. I'm not sure who wrote it but all I can say is the book gave me some excellent tips on negotiating a salary (actually renegotiaiting a salary) that ultimately resulted in a 61% raise! :-) There was a lot of posturing and it wasn't easy but I am much happier and I have more respect from management. In the end, I think everyone has a better idea of what I do - including myself. What ever you decide to do, good luck!

I was in a similar situation last year. Overworked, underpaid and under-appreciated.
I would have a steady flow of people coming to me wanting me to solve their problems. No problem there, that's my job but they wanted me to drop what I was doing right there and rush over to help them. If it wasn't a time critical problem I would explain that I would get to it ASAP but that it would be a little while. This was often greeted with a blank,deer-in-the-headlights look. So I got a white board andput it up in my office with a list of all the projects and their pieces I am working on. This serves as an advertisement for anyone who walks into my office that, yes I in fact have work to do and don't just 'play' on the computer all day.
The nextthing I did really help my confidence when approaching management. I made a list of all of my daily responsibilities and another list of all the 'projects' that I had been a part of while I had been with the company.
After doing that, my cofidencewas up and I was well informed for a little 'sit-down' with the bosses (IT manager and the CEO).
A book that has several good ideas for prepping you for your talk is 'Power Interviews'. I'm not sure who wrote it but all I can say is the book gave me some excellent tips on negotiating a salary (actually renegotiaiting a salary) that ultimately resulted in a 61% raise! :-) There was a lot of posturing and it wasn't easy but I am much happier and I have more respect from management. In the end, I think everyone has a better idea of what I do - including myself. What ever you decide to do, good luck!

I'd talk to my boss and ask him to provide me with a -written- list of expectations. In addition, I would offer to write up an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for your job which would include standards and policies for him to approve.

My friend, you are not the only one in this situration, many are. Were you hired to be the only consultant or were you the only one hired? Your contract is specific as to what you were to be doing for twenty-five hours a week.
You have to make a decision as to do what is expected of you. With the hope the new boss will see and appreicate your work effort, and the extra time spent doing what is over and beyond the contract. It seems as you are being prep for a better position. Nobody likesto be given the respondibility and then be micro manage taking all the power away to get the job done.
May I make this statements? Be aggressive, get more college degrees, do the very best you can, ask for leadway, find out what is in the future for you there, ask yourself when is the contract up and do you want to work there afterward. If so ask for a foury hours position on the staff and a raise.
Something I learn when I was in the Air Force as a young sergant is that, the more you know, the more you do. the more you do, the more you are expected to do. The more you do what is being expected. The more is demanded of you to do. So if you get done what you can do the best you can do it then, that will be all you are expected to do.
If I may, it is like being involve in church; twenty percent of the people do eighty percent of the work ninty percent of the time. Rewards will come later in life.
Hope I put some insight on the subject for you. Good luck and Godbless you!!!!

Proactive,

Since you can handle those kind of workload...think you can come out and start your own Network Maintenance business...taking in all those Network maintenance contracts from companies, except your current one *which is in a mess*. (^o^)

5mm.

First, identify those things that you do and do well in this environment. Put them in a list and provide hard copy documentation of each. Then expand this list to all the other things you do, also providing hard copy documentation. This is the start of your portfolio.

Second, package the items in a way that makes it look like formal company documentation. Do your best to make sure that everything is understandable and easy to read. Assume that you are training your replacement in the event that you get run over by a truck.

Third, make copies of this for your own purposes and store them at home. It might be best to make the copies on your own time/money for ethical purposes, that way the company can't accuse you of 'stealing' photocopy time. (Oh, make sure that you also have an original stored somewhere, even if it is on diskette.)

Fourth, compare the list to your job description, if there is one. Identify those items that aren't on the original list as things you do above and beyond the call of duty.

Fifth, start job hunting, using your portfolio as proof of your abilities.

Sixth, when you start getting nibbles, go to your boss with the 'documentation' part of your portfolio and ask for a full time job withthe authority to do things right. Your documentation will prove that you know the job. Your request will show that you're serious about it.

If you get the full time job, with written levels of authority and responsibility, you win. (Hopefully.)

If you don't, you can always continue the other job hunt. Ditto if you're fired. (And if you're fired, it is much easier to get unemployment. Quitting often disqualifies you.)