Comments on: Why IT Sucks

By: List Builder Bullet From List Bullet Pro, The Best List Builder Ever! | 7Wins.eu

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:33:10 +0000

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By: Freddy

Freddy — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:33:59 +0000

It’s true. In IT, especially desktop support (ACK), Windows (and even Mac / Linux) system administration and network infrastructure, you’ll lose your soul.

You’ll find that you’ll be paired/partnered with other soul-less beings, who have lost their soul for one of two reasons:

1. They have been in IT too long, and the Great Satan that created “IT” has won the battle.
2. They never had inter-personal skills, and have only had intimate relationships with a progression of machines and operating system upgrades. They, therefore, inherently suck. These blobs of binary-thinking protoplasm are often referred to as “geeks”. Typically, they like Unix.
3. You’re endlessly educating, re-educating the relentlessly helpless unwashed masses, whose most grand accomplishment in life is learned helplessness.

Run, run away. Become a realtor, a doctor, a bus driver… anything! Besides, all the desk-sitting and Mountain Dew will make you fat, unattractive, lonely and in the risk category for a massive coronary (typically triggered by that one final no-ticket-submitting “I need it now” walk-in).

Oh, and what’s worse than a desktop support / admin position in an IT department? The same position in an IT department.. IN A SCHOOL!

By: OneManITDept

OneManITDept — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:07:33 +0000

Thanks for this post and all the follow-ups. I work as the IT guy for a public high school in the states. Been there for 10 years, never had enough help. 100 staff and teachers, 600 students, 200+ computers… all the burden falls on my shoulders, and my 15-hour-per-week college student assistant. And of course, everyone relies on the computers every day, for just about every task except going to the bathroom.

I start the days at the beginning of the school year with 15 or 20 voicemails, plus a long list of projects. Things settle down a little bit by Christmas. At least I get some time off now and then.

That being said, your post and most folks’ comments all ring true. Doing this work day in and day out just sucks the life out of you. Knowing that I could lose my health insurance when I leave the job keeps me fearful. I am so glad to know that I’m not the only one, and I hope to work up the courage to make a break, take some risks, and hopefully be able to look back on this time in my life and be thankful that I had the good sense to get out.

By: The Funk Roberts 6 Week Jump Training Program. | 7Wins.eu

The Funk Roberts 6 Week Jump Training Program. | 7Wins.eu — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:47:41 +0000

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By: geezenslaw

geezenslaw — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:20:35 +0000

I have had this entry saved on delicious for a long time. I have recently moved to Twine and it popped up again as part of my job search. Yes, I’m an IT guy (really a Java developer) that is looking for a gig and on-the-ropes.

As an example of how rewarding the IT industry is I am about to make a career change: ship-yard pipe-fitter. Sound ridiculous? Maybe, but I have a family to feed and the pay is 38+/hr and I don’t have to stress around with IT types and their managers!

By: Rob Enderle

Rob Enderle — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:35:40 +0000

Retirement/New Job Panic: Find Something You Love and the Mature Worker Myth…

Every once in awhile, I get a note from someone wanting to make a career change and move into the tech market. Often, they’ve seen some TV show about how successful they can become after attending one tech class or another and want my advice on which….

By: ITSlave

ITSlave — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:50:13 +0000

Alan Trent is so right. Prison is a good word. I worked in the field for 11 years and I’m basically at the point of changing careers. If I’m not dealing with an incompetent manager, I’m dealing with know-it-all coworkers who I end up training. Also, if it isn’t a contract job, I am not interested because I get bored so fast. I’d rather work in a warehouse or something so I don’t have to deal with angry jerk offs everyday. People freaking out like I work in a nuclear power plant and the reactor is about to melt down if I don’t fix their stupid issue in 1 nanosecond. Who needs that kind of stress? Also if I hear one more time that the IT staff is just “overhead”, I’m going to chop that persons head off. That’s every managers best line. This career path has been a huge mistake.

By: Retirement/New Job Panic: Find Something You Love and the Mature Worker Myth - Rob Enderle

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:36:31 +0000

[...] The reason you are in this position is that you didn’t do a good job planning your career at the outset. Here is a clue: Today truly is the first day of the rest of your life. Don’t repeat that mistake. Do a little planning first. A lot of tech jobs really suck, and I do mean chew off your arm and run for the door, suck. You sit in horrid little cubicles, you don’t see sun except on weekends, the air is dry and smells, and your manager likely will be the biggest complete idiot you have ever met in your entire life. [...]

By: Caleb

Caleb — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:10:09 +0000

You are right on target. I would say especially so with the “plan an exit strategy.” Do not let yourself be pulled into the black hole. Where I work I feel like an extra in Office Space. 4 months until my departure (1 year contract). I would also back you up on contracting. After my experience I really don’t think I could jump back into a full time job. I have never been so unhappy in my life. I feel like I walk in the door and hang myself on a meat hook everyday. I then hang there until it is time to go at 5. The people I work with have given up all hope for life and focus on American Idol and sports.

By: David Brown

David Brown — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:42:12 +0000

I have 18 years of putrid work in IT depts. And, you proverbially hit-the-nail-on-the-head. Yes, I do work as a contractor on most of my gigs. And, you're right, working contract has helped my skill-set and interest enough to keep me in the game. One caveat: I have found that I could work as a welder (or anything) and just hook-up with a FOSS community (jakarta.apache.org) or similar and do some really interesting work on my own and just work some mindless job for the money. Advantage: at least I would not have to deal with the pukes found in your average IT dept.!