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I haven't written any production source code for years and still I have companies trying to get me to write code for them. The sad part is they just don't get it. I can help them but not the way they want. But they won't listen when I try to explain how I can help. I have to deal with that problem about once a month.
For those out there who are veteran IT workers, how do you feel about the constant intrusions of work into your personal time? I know that many of my colleagues over the years have suffered heart attacks, strokes, and broken marriages. Some have even died at a relatively young age from the stress. I realize that the pay is usually very good, but do the long hours, constant on-calls, late nights, and lack of much real time-off get to you?
I wouldn't care. I just wish I could find a job. With all the certifications I have and still unable to find even a desktop support position is just depressing.
I've been an IT worker for most of life, and I'm still trying to figure out an exit strategy. All of the above are true. Weekends, holidays, nights, long days, and it doesn't get any easier.
As I've posted before, there are plenty of IT jobs that you don't have to work long hours. It really depends on the company and the line of work.
Say you work in support and off hour coverage is required. There should be a rotation and a proper escalation process.
Some folks thing the key to getting more time off is being a manager, I can see that but in many cases being an IT manager may require you to do 2-3x more work than your subordinates.
Another cause of losing time is that you've asked for more money and the only way a firm can justify that is to give you more responsibilities. Job security also creates more work, if you thought that by adding more job securing responsibilities you're gonna be hanging around for a long time. That's exactly what you've asked for which is more of your time is required.
When I was a contractor... I was almost never called after hours.
A week after I became a benefited employee... I was handed a pager and told I'm first call 24/7 and had to let anyone know when I would be delayed in physically coming in.
I had 28' Pearson Sailboat on San Francisco Bay that I ended up selling because without fail, I would be out on the Bay and a crisis would erupt.
When I was a contractor... I was almost never called after hours.
A week after I became a benefited employee... I was handed a pager and told I'm first call 24/7 and had to let anyone know when I would be delayed in physically coming in.
I had 28' Pearson Sailboat on San Francisco Bay that I ended up selling because without fail, I would be out on the Bay and a crisis would erupt.
I know all about going out for a bike ride, ski, etc. and as soon as you are just getting going you get the phone call. Overnights are my least favorite. I am getting too old to not sleep.
The flip side is when I gotta go to the dentist at 1pm on a monday for 2 hours, nobody is really complaining. I guess it is give and take.
Main problem is that companies are always looking for ways to reduce dependency on IT workers and IT folks are doing their best to secure their jobs. Guess who has the upper hand? You'll never win because some companies are trying to best to burn people out indirectly. They can't afford to promote everyone and they can't keep bumping up salaries. At some point they will get the new kids in and the old folks out.
Just remember folks, there is no such thing as loyalty in this business. Businesses are looking to save money is one of their chief objective.
I was in IT for 10 years (sysadmin) and finally quit 3 years ago because of the work/life balance. I could do it while young and single but once I became a mom to small children it just didn't work - I basically was answering two pages in the middle of the night, just one had diapers (but both were often just as immature and cranky!) The funny thing is that after 3 years of not working I still get pinged by recruiters, although whether they would actually seriously consider me for those jobs with the drop-off in experience I don't know.
Totally agree with those who have said it's all about environment. At my last job I could have eaten off the floor of the data center and there were six of us rotating on call so it should have been awesome, but with the number of people manufactured "emergencies" there was no relief, it was one of my worst workplaces. Management was bad, everyone I worked for ended up getting fired or leaving in disgust within a year of my departure, so the final insult is that I can't actually use anybody but HR for a reference for that company.
Most of my long-term former colleagues who were senior to me have moved on, either out of the industry or to slightly less intense roles or industries...it just gets harder to live the lifestyle once you get to your 50s+. And of course some of those colleagues were railroaded out the door anyway.
I miss the work terribly, at least on a pure IT level, but there just isn't a lot of respect.
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