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) 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