In house IT for a small company. I also manage the field service/tech support/Professional Services division, and I get to manage our small warehouse as well.
I AM NOT A PROGRAMMER, I tried that, and either all the teachers sucked, or I don't have an aptitude for it.
On the upside, I really do like my job.
-- "It's a dog eat dog world, and I'm wearing Milkbone underwear" - Norm Peterson
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(Score: 2, Insightful) by tempest on Monday March 17 2014, @01:12PM
I don't know if I could handle IT if I weren't a programmer (mind you I'm the only IT person where I work). Over years I've phased out (and avoided new) many of small shit programs that tend to weasel their way into an operation, become critical, then unsupported. I'm sure the guy after me will bitch about all the stuff I made, then replace them with small modular programs made by "reputable companies" but that's up to him:)
It very much depends on the environment. In my environment, things are fairly simple, and the only programming that I need to do is some simple scripting. I am not writing things that people use on a day-to-day basis, and for the most part it is all for my own use. Almost all of what I "write" is found on the web and adapted to my needs, but not written wholesale from scratch.
Often, I can find free or nearly free small programs that will do what I need.
Do I wish I had an aptitude for programming? Hell yes. Am I going to cry over spilled milk? Hell no.
-- "It's a dog eat dog world, and I'm wearing Milkbone underwear" - Norm Peterson
It seems like that until you try it. IT is getting very specialised now, and most people spend all their time handling a very small subset of things in very great detail. Getting to know a specific subject completely is a good career, but I find it also gets a bit boring.
I'm a generalist. I am 'the IT guy' at a company of 70-something people, so I do everything from level 1 support to hardware purchasing/rollout to network config to light dev work. If the workload looks like too much for me, I can outsource some things. If it's light, I get to spend time exploring and testing new things, which in this company can mean some interesting hardware and creative thinking.
The company I work for is non-profit, a Disability Employment Company. I do contract work with other non-profits and some casual work on the side. Working with companies this size has no obvious path upwards, but I can't bring myself to change careers - the constant variety, problem solving and learning means I'm not likely to get tired of it like many jobs I could move to.
(Score: 2, Informative) by cmn32480 on Monday March 17 2014, @10:24AM
In house IT for a small company. I also manage the field service/tech support/Professional Services division, and I get to manage our small warehouse as well.
I AM NOT A PROGRAMMER, I tried that, and either all the teachers sucked, or I don't have an aptitude for it.
On the upside, I really do like my job.
"It's a dog eat dog world, and I'm wearing Milkbone underwear" - Norm Peterson
(Score: 2, Insightful) by tempest on Monday March 17 2014, @01:12PM
I don't know if I could handle IT if I weren't a programmer (mind you I'm the only IT person where I work). Over years I've phased out (and avoided new) many of small shit programs that tend to weasel their way into an operation, become critical, then unsupported. I'm sure the guy after me will bitch about all the stuff I made, then replace them with small modular programs made by "reputable companies" but that's up to him :)
(Score: 1) by cmn32480 on Monday March 17 2014, @03:56PM
It very much depends on the environment. In my environment, things are fairly simple, and the only programming that I need to do is some simple scripting. I am not writing things that people use on a day-to-day basis, and for the most part it is all for my own use. Almost all of what I "write" is found on the web and adapted to my needs, but not written wholesale from scratch.
Often, I can find free or nearly free small programs that will do what I need.
Do I wish I had an aptitude for programming? Hell yes. Am I going to cry over spilled milk? Hell no.
"It's a dog eat dog world, and I'm wearing Milkbone underwear" - Norm Peterson
(Score: 2) by Popeidol on Monday March 17 2014, @04:00PM
It seems like that until you try it. IT is getting very specialised now, and most people spend all their time handling a very small subset of things in very great detail. Getting to know a specific subject completely is a good career, but I find it also gets a bit boring.
I'm a generalist. I am 'the IT guy' at a company of 70-something people, so I do everything from level 1 support to hardware purchasing/rollout to network config to light dev work. If the workload looks like too much for me, I can outsource some things. If it's light, I get to spend time exploring and testing new things, which in this company can mean some interesting hardware and creative thinking.
The company I work for is non-profit, a Disability Employment Company. I do contract work with other non-profits and some casual work on the side. Working with companies this size has no obvious path upwards, but I can't bring myself to change careers - the constant variety, problem solving and learning means I'm not likely to get tired of it like many jobs I could move to.
(Score: 1) by cmn32480 on Tuesday March 18 2014, @11:29AM
AMEN! I'm in the same boat. Every day is different. New challenges, new problems, and new ways to stretch my brain.
And I like the people that I work with and work for, which no doubt helps.
"It's a dog eat dog world, and I'm wearing Milkbone underwear" - Norm Peterson