secrets you should know about working IT

[RadioPatrol]

From Tech Republic:

The pay in IT is good compared to many other professions, but since they pay you well, they often think they own you

Although the pay for IT professionals is not as great as it was before the dot-com flameout and the IT backlash in 2001–2002, IT workers still make very good money compared to many other professions (at least the ones that require only an associate's or bachelor's degree). And there is every reason to believe that IT pros will continue to be in demand in the coming decades, as technology continues to play a growing role in business and society. However, because IT professionals can be so expensive, some companies treat IT pros like they own them. If you have to answer a tech call at 9:00 PM because someone is working late, you hear, "That's just part of the job." If you need to work six hours on a Saturday to deploy a software update to avoid downtime during business hours, you get, "There's no comp time for that since you're on salary. That's why we pay you the big bucks!"​

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tr/downloads/home/dl_10_things_secrets.pdf


I am sure most of the IT Personal her are familer with these .......

 

[JEB]

"Other duties as assigned.'

 

[cwo_ghwebb]

I think that's probably true for most IT professionals working for a company that actually has an IT Department.

I'm a one-man show. Work for a very small (20 - 25 employees) family run company. They are great to work with. Most problems are small potatoes. The major work was getting them initially set up correctly (previous contractor was an idiot). Started with them as a consultant and now work part time 30 hours a week. If there is a deployment I can't handle (Blackberry server for example), we contract it out. I would never work again for an IT Department. I'll go back to consulting and on-site repairs again when this gig is over.

 

[vanbells]

lol at 10 through 3. Good stuff!!! That made my day.

 

[dn0121]

I love working in IT, although now Im a Business Analyst it is still in IT and pays better then the LAN Admin. Sometimes the calls come in after hours, but sometimes I take unmentioned time off. Wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

[RadioPatrol]

I think that's probably true for most IT professionals working for a company that actually has an IT Department.

I'm a one-man show.

Can I have Your JOB ........


but seriously, by former employer continued to add more and more responsibilities on, which was kewl at 1st ... nice I get to support and play with more equipment .... nice I am the top dog, should have wondered why the previous top dog left - and the Boss / Owner said he wasted to grow his wife's Hair Salon ... and the guy was gone 2 weeks before management ever said anything .... anyhow then we got Crack Berries ... and I was informed "You will keep this on your person at all times, and on your night stand when sleeping in case there is an emergency and we need to get a hold of you "

hmm no pay raise ...... just a you will do suddenly you demand I be available 24/7/365 ........ no discussion just do .....



no matter how many ####ing times I told them I have ####ty / spotty Cell Coverage I routinely got #####ed @ for not getting calls / emails on my Crackberry .... It was so bad, the emails would start rolling in 10 miles from the house ... and would typically be a dump of 75 or more ( the alert system was all ####ed up, but it was not billable to fix, so it never got done )


Sigh .... I could go on, but that would require beer and a couple hrs .....

needless to say, why I got Fired for missing ONE day without calling or emailing I was releived the stress had cause several panic attacks in the closing weeks

the cool thing was working in the same building as Ollie North @ Markey Ct in Dulles Va. I met the mean several times standing out having a morning smoke ....

 

[cwo_ghwebb]

I got a cell phone, but they know they can always come get me if needed. I work 1/2 mile from home.

I could walk, but I'm a geezer and lazy.

I don't have a job! I have a paid hobby.

 

[czygvtwkr]

Try working in flight test.

 

[RadioPatrol]

I got a cell phone, but they know they can always come get me if needed. I work 1/2 mile from home.

I could walk, but I'm a geezer and lazy.

I don't have a job! I have a paid hobby.

well yes webb, computers have been my hobby since the 1st Mac in 1988, and My 1st PC in 1995 ....... PC's are my erector set ..... but some employers make it really hard to enjoy my work

 

[cwo_ghwebb]

well yes webb, computers have been my hobby since the 1st Mac in 1988, and My 1st PC in 1995 ....... PC's are my erector set ..... but some employers make it really hard to enjoy my work

Be nice to me and I'll recommend you to take my place when we move in a couple years!

I'm a bit older than you. Let's just say I installed a fiber-optic lan in 1985 or 86.

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

From Tech Republic:




http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tr/downloads/home/dl_10_things_secrets.pdf


I am sure most of the IT Personal her are familer with these .......

That's the dammed truth right there.

These people want me to come in on Saturdays all the time.

 

[GWguy]

Try working in flight test.

Been there, done that.... talk about weird hours....

well yes webb, computers have been my hobby since the 1st Mac in 1988, and My 1st PC in 1995 ....... PC's are my erector set ..... but some employers make it really hard to enjoy my work

Similar history here...

I'm a bit older than you. Let's just say I installed a fiber-optic lan in 1985 or 86.

Same here. Back in the days of DEC DEPMRs and bridges, and VitaLink routers!

 

[chess]

That's the dammed truth right there.

These people want me to come in on Saturdays all the time.

and you do...

onlytime i work sat is if im on travel and something needs to be done...

simple as that 7 -330 unless required by the client to stay after, but I bill all hours regardless..

you bust your ass and you get a good compensation... trust me i know

 

[RadioPatrol]

Be nice to me and I'll recommend you to take my place when we move in a couple years!

I'm a bit older than you. Let's just say I installed a fiber-optic lan in 1985 or 86.

Nice ........ I was in Co Spgs in 1985 in the Infantry .... Playing on Commodore 64's @ the Fort Carson Library ....

 

[cwo_ghwebb]

I was a Navy Cryppie at Osan AB. AF musta had to spend some money and brought all this stuff in with nobody around to install it. Funny as hell. I ran their computer shop for over a year till they brought in a CMSgt that I had to train to run the department. Ran their unit lounge also, Skivvy Nine. God that was a great tour.

 

[terbear1225]

as someone who's looking at going into an IT position (sort of) in the next few years, how easy/difficult is it to put limits in your contract with regards to hours worked?

 

[RadioPatrol]

as someone who's looking at going into an IT position (sort of) in the next few years, how easy/difficult is it to put limits in your contract with regards to hours worked?

well that sounds really definite

Most Help Desk jobs are 8 to 5, network engineers / admins 24x7

Ok, terbear do not take this wrong but;


What is your Networking / PC Experience / Tech background .....


Did you hear one of those Shyster Advertisements on the Radio:

"Get your MCSE @ our Training Center and make $ 65 k Per Yr" ..... have you been sucked in by the golden promises .....

can you change a hard drive, do you know what memory is ..... how good are you at articulating solutions to users .... can you deal with people blaming you for all their ills ..........

What did you do to my Computer / the Network / My Email ....

Nope I did not do anything .......​

99% of all IT jobs are stressful, unsatisfying - no recognition when things are running well, only dumped on when something screws up


Anything involving "Servers" ... File Servers, Email Servers, SQL Servers ..... and the Owner / Boss is ok with the network being down, most are not, then you will be involved in some sort of 24x7 operation .... because if a server is part of your responsibility and no one can work while it is off line, then you will be expected to be @ the office fixing the problem, either on the phone with Dell or Calling Microsoft Tech Support ......

unless there is someone above you willing to cover the time .... that has the skills .....

the basic assumption is if your a Network Engineer / Admin then it is a 24x7x365 job ..... what matters is if you can get paid for working outside of normal business hours .... and what other compensation for such work is ....

comp time, time and a half .... etc

and most smaller IT companies / business don't pay well, it at all, for such overtime ...

I took a call @ 1600 on a fri for a down email server .... I worked until 2200 that night trouble shooting the issue ...., was up online @ 8 on Sat. called M$ @ 10 worked with their people about 2 hrs, still no solution all testing with M$ proved the Exchange Server was accepting email, it just was not getting any ....

.... found out from the owners son that WED of the previous week they had moved the company web site from one host to another, and when asked about the DNS Records the ignorant ass said sure move everything .... all with out telling the Contracted IT Guy .... so when the mail stoped flowing friday afternoon the email server must be down .....


anyhow .... they got billed 14 hrs over time and I had a short weekend, and got nothing extra .........

 

[terbear1225]

thanks for making all kinds of assumptions.

by IT sort of I meant that I am currently in a grad school program (at a highly reputable and rigorous school) working on a degree in Educational Technology. it's not exactly a help desk type job but it is in th realm of IT

and by the way, most of your gripes about not getting compensated for over time, underappreciated and overworked, getting blamed for everyone's problem, etc. I already deal with those on a daily basis as a classroom teacher.

 

[RadioPatrol]

thanks for making all kinds of assumptions.

by IT sort of I meant that I am currently in a grad school program (at a highly reputable and rigorous school) working on a degree in Educational Technology. it's not exactly a help desk type job but it is in th realm of IT

and by the way, most of your gripes about not getting compensated for overtime, under appreciated and overworked, getting blamed for everyone's problem, etc. I already deal with those on a daily basis as a classroom teacher.

so your well versed then .....


Hmm assumptions ... I have heard about MCSE's who could not change out a hard drive or system memory .... plenty of book smart MCSE's who knew nothing about the technology they were working on .... they knew the M$ line front and back, but had no practice experience ..... I was asked pointedly on several Interviews if I knew my way around inside a PC.

I merely pointed out things I was familiar with .... you had not provided any details about your background and

as someone who's looking at going into an IT position (sort of)

sounded non comital ...

so I pulled from what I have read and my experiences .... if that was making assumptions, so be it, guilty as charged ...


Educational technology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Educational technology is an area of study and practice within the fields of education and psychology. The term educational technology is often associated with, and encompasses, instructional theory and learning theory. While instructional technology covers the processes and systems of learning and instruction, educational technology includes other systems used in the process of developing human capability.

For classroom teachers and those who work with students, educational technology is more simply and comfortably thought of as an array of tools that might prove helpful in advancing the learning of students.

An Educational Technologist is a person who transforms basic educational and psychological research into an evidence-based applied science (or a technology) of learning or instruction.

well this does not sound much like Information Technology work ..... it sounds like any Technology used in the Teaching of others .........

 

[dave1959]

From Tech Republic:




http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tr/downloads/home/dl_10_things_secrets.pdf


I am sure most of the IT Personal her are familer with these .......

That is no different than anyone else in any retail business. If customers need served, you stay till all is done. It the store needs to be re-set for a special sale, you stay until its done.. Only Government workers can drop what there doing and walk out at 5pm on the dot.