= Debating moving to an MSP - thoughts and advice? =

Hey, just looking for some friendly advice here, i'll try giving some background without waffling too much and then some questions for you guys!
I am currently running the IT for a 20 person office for a web company in the UK (Midlands), I have been doing this for 9 years after initially starting as a junior, the main IT guy retired a few years in, and I took over and learnt a lot along the way. So I've mainly been the sole IT guy and had to learn on the go, youtube, blogs, udemy, etc. I probably should have learnt a lot more, done qualifications but things got in the way as I was fairly young. I am now 35

Over the past 4 years we started branching out to also do IT for a number of our current customers (all under 10 users and small businesses) and have turned my side into a bit of an MSP alongside the core business (updates, backups, av, rmm monitoring / remediation, etc). However I feel the IT side cantmuch more am getting to the stage where I feel I need to move really to progress and learn more

I have found a few jobs at local MSPs that are small scale (around 5-10 employees), smaller scale MSPs appeal to me more as you tend to get a bit more hands on from what I've heard. I'm on around 32k per year and the jobs in this range all seem to be 3rd line support at MSPs but not sure I can jump into 3rd line at a MSP?
I'm on around 33k per year and the jobs in this range all seem to be 3rd line support (some offer a big range for different experience) but I'm not sure I can jump into 3rd line at a MSP yet? Would people say this is too bigger jump from my current position (my skillset at bottom)

Is my thinking right that smaller MSPs (5-10 employees) will be a bit more hands on and better to work for rather than the bigger MSP's or is there not much difference

Should I avoid MSP's and go to another business with an internal IT
My powershell scripting isn't great, Ive wrote basic scripts but nothing complex. Does a 3rd line require a solid scripting knowledge?
I think my overall concern is jumping in, struggling at 3rd line support as my experience isnt quite there and getting sacked / laid off. I have experience in the following areas: M365, Intune, Multiple RMM's, Hyper V, Veeam, Cloud Backups, Servers, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, Firewalls, UTM, Active Directory, Bitdefender GZ, Exchange Online, SPO, basic linux (managed web servers with plesk)


**I have learnt lots of various systems and bits but not an expert in 1 specific area which is what's playing in my head a bit 
I was in a similar position to you - I was doing internal IT and jumped to an MSP

It was a SHOCK to say the least. I thought I knew stuff but going into managed services was a whole other world. On my first day I was doubting whether I’d made the right choice because everything was familiar but also alien. I stuck with it and it was the best decision I ever made for my career

You do have MSPs and MSPs though. The one I joined was originally a consultancy so the technical capability within the business was extremely high, but I’ve also worked with some companies who have no business being an MSP

I’d say take the plunge and go for it. You might have a wobble in your first few days/weeks but you’ll learn a lot

Thanks for this, good to know. Would you say they let you bed in and catch up then or if you go for a 3rd line job you are expected to be in the deep end straight off?
Have you thought of rolling your current employer and the other companies into clients and starting your own msp?
Thanks its a good idea but clients are in contracts with us and they really aren't that big and enough of them to get started. It's a bit of a side to the main business and not making enough. It would also mean I'd still have sales & invoicing to do to start with (which Iha)

Also I don't really want to be a 1 man team anymore, need to learn more from others

MSP work is a unique kind of monster. I have worked for an MSP for pretty much my entire career. I personally enjoy all the different wacky things that get thrown my way every day but it's not for everyone. I would offer this

Research the company you want to work for. Positive client reviews? Positive employee reviews on Glassdoor? There are a lot of mismanaged MSPs out there. The work itself can be stressful enough, don't let a bad employer make the work unenjoyable

Learn as you go. Don't expect to know everything about everything. Treat a new situation you are encountering as an opportunity to learn something new, versus being afraid of an issue that you've never seen before. Exploring an issue with curiosity versus fear makes a huge difference in my overall mood

Do not be afraid to ask teammates for help, or to lean on a vendor. Usually someone has seen the thing you are working on. Vendors specialize in an item - they are (supposed to be) experts for that area you need help in


Never, ever, stop learning. Learn stuff that you have to know, but is also interesting to you. Learn stuff that will also benefit your MSP as you can use that to be more valuable long term

Know your worth. If you have 200 certs and excel at what you do but you are being paid significantly below market value, go somewhere who will pay you your worth. If you are capable of doing more than help desk work, show it off when you interview (humbly, of course). It would beto put you on tier 1 if you have in depth server/networking experience

No matter what, your health should always come first. Take vacations. Takehealth days.your phone off on the weekend if you can. If you are being asked to compromise this balance (or if the work itself is throwing things out of balance) I would look for a new job

Hope that helps. Good luck!
Great advice really appreciate this 👍. I've had a look at one company and seems really good, the others are hard to tell as behind recruiters. Thanks again