[Prince]

On the surface, I have a near-perfect job:

I work at a major company, and competitively make a pretty good salary. I have good benefits, and I've learned a lot in my time here. Everything is perfect--other than the fact that I HATE it!

I'm 28 now, and I desperately desire to make a career move someday. Of course, if PO wasn't in my vocabulary, I'd probably feel a little brighter about the computing industry in general. I also know that once PO hits mainstream career moves won't be so available. I think the tech industry has largely become commoditized, and there is little need left for advancements that we say 5-15 years ago. More and more I see things that are done for the sake of technology, rather than the sake of solving a problem. The core work and fundamentals in the industry were in place and haven't changed much in 5 years (my opinion, of course). If I could go back to my freshman year in college I would have gone the medical route (doctor, nurse, pharmacy), but I guess we all have choices we'd do differently if given that chance.

Again, I think some of this hate derives from the reality that once PO is in full gear, the tech jobs are going to disappear quicker than they did in 2000ish. Also, it's a constant hammering of information and languages that are just different enough to confuse you a bit.

I'm sure there's some computer techies here. Does anyone else here have sentiments similar to mine?

[Atlantean_Relic]

You know all that cheap disposable sterile stuff for medicine won't be arond post peak either nor all the over priced pills. So in the end all choices are dead ends, Except for bums and prostitutes they'll always be around.

[Schweinshaxe]

I know what you're talking about. But hey! Do as I do. I'm a programmer and I spend maybe 1 hour every day to do constructive work for my company. The rest of the time I try to spend in meetings, surfing the Web or writing specs which no one will read anyway.

I think we have the best job in the World to be honest. Just mix some tech lingo with some management bullshit and make sure your bosses don't understand a thing and you should be free to do whatever you want 7 hours per day.

Ever seen the movie "Office Space"? I didn't laugh when I saw it because it was like a documentary to me. The thing with the cover sheet on the TPS-reports in that movie is something only a programmer can understand. An outsider would perhaps think it's hilarious but I'd say what the fuck are you laughing at? It is like that!

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Prince', ' ')it's a constant hammering of information and languages

[Schweinshaxe]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', '.')..leaving the brainiac jobs to the kids...

[pea-jay]

I was sucked into the IT field accidentally in 96 or 97 when firms were bending over backward to hire anyone with tech skills. I found the work easy and the bullshit and awe factor of my non-techie bosses and coworkers easy to use to my advantage. Eventually I grew bored of surfing the net with no purpose and let my self get downsized in early 02. That allowed me to actually do what I studied in school, Planning.

I've since grown to hate most of the tech sector in general and WIN-TEL specifically. My next PC will be a Mac.

[pea-jay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Schweinshaxe', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', '.')..leaving the brainiac jobs to the kids...

[lotrfan55345]

My mom is a computer programmer. We're still poor though.
I don't exactly know how my mom became a computer programmer as when she was a child her town in the middle of the jungle didn't have electricity or running water.

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pea-jay', '
')Burn out. It can happy real early in this field. I burnt out at 27.

[strider3700]

I wouldn't say that I hate it but I am rapidly getting to the point where this is just a paycheck that I know is going to stop coming sooner or later.

The plus's are I get a good wage and if I keep it up only 5 more years I can pay off my house. Yes I know I'm dreaming. I also get good benefits so I'm doing lots of dental work while it's covered.

I figure I do more then an hour of work each day but I'm certain it's not the full 8 each day. The number of posts I make on here should indicate that

I do however really enjoy having the time to figure out and research prep things.

Long run I know I'm going to need a back up, I just haven't figured out what that is yet.

Oh and yeah, 29 and can already feel the burnout coming. A couple of years packing lumber should get rid off that though

[Teclo]

Dude, been there also
I saw office space too and I just handed my notice in with no job to go to becuase I was doing nothing useful and so bored, not sure I recommend that but if you see it you'll know why
Ended up in the IT department for a small manufacturing company, one that actually makes things!

I seriously expect IT geeks will be able to work from home, there is no point in us commuting, plus we get to surf the net. I spend half the day surfing or thinking about the future. Just do enough not to get fired. In my experience nothing IT people do is appreciated anyway

I actually know some people that were suicidal over their tech jobs, I recon it's the corporate culture that few understand unless they have been there, it's soulless and traps you into thinking there's no way out. But there is.. the company I worked for suddenly shut the whole office just like that after I left, it was all over, just an illusion

I got sick of shit like 'treat every conversation as a project', or 'whatever I do, think - is this good for the company?'

It's all bullshit at the end of the day

Martin

[Matrim]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'b')ut I'd say what the fuck are you laughing at? It is like that!

[strider3700]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Teclo', '
')I got sick of shit like 'treat every conversation as a project'

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('strider3700', '
')Most conversations do tend to finish and then be ignored and forgotten for the rest of eternity though.

[PolestaR]

@Prince

I understand the burning out feeling, I got it after only 5 years working fulltime as a programmer. What got me re-interested however is working for myself from home, mostly on stuff that I want to code. The biggest burn out I got was from helping already rich companies to making even more money off most of my work. Coding for yourself with the right outside support can let you make all the dollars for yourself, so maybe look into that if you are any good.

I also worked in a job at one time where I would spend probably 6:30 hours of the 7 working hours, 5 days a week web browsing or looking like I was busy. This was because my co-workers in this multi million dollar company were also slack and did the same. Now regardless of how *sweet* that sounds to the uninformed person, it is mind numbing and really takes it out of you after a few months.

When you're a fast reader it is very hard to find 6 hours of web material worth reading every single day. Not to mention the constant stress of having the "boss key" within finger distance incase the boss comes in wanting a progress update. Actually *working* as a programmer makes the day seem about 1 hour long.

[jaws]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Schweinshaxe', 'I') think we have the best job in the World to be honest. Just mix some tech lingo with some management bullshit and make sure your bosses don't understand a thing and you should be free to do whatever you want 7 hours per day.

[Doly]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jaws', '
')That's why management keeps shipping your jobs to India.

[rsch20]

I used to be in IT, fairly low end, tech support etc. at one point though I was in a job with an 'up and coming' company and could have stuck it out and gotten a better position and pay pretty easily.

ironically, I quit my job after watching 'Office Space' and wound up not looking for another IT job.

now I deliver chinese food. other than the fact that it's totally doomed as a profession it's my dream job =p decent money and I just drive around by myself all night. I'm much happier than I was working IT. though I am struck every day by the irony of my position, if (when) gas goes up another couple bucks I'll need to find something else to do. but until that day arrives I'm doing less work than I was in IT, with more free time and zero stress.

[JoeW]

i work in IT, and our team actually does work most of the day. sure, we shoot the breeze every morning for maybe a half hour. but that's what makes us a team. i work at an electric utility company, so i consider the occasional peakoil.com visit loosely tied to work.

i agree with someone else's post that most IT workers can do the job from home, but making that suggestion to your boss could be a shortcut to the unemployment line while some guy in India living in a thatch hut takes your job for $2/hr.

[SoothSayer]

The computer industry has done well for me ... I enjoyed the work and made VERY good money for 20+ years.

However I suddenly realised that, although senior, I was also one of the oldest in the firm ... writing on the wall!

So a few years ago I retrained (sheesh - expensive!) and now run my own 1-man business in the medical field.

I now work with people rather than just computers ... a refreshing change.

(My new income level is however no longer at the "senior corporate" level. I do miss the ability to buy anything I wanted or fly the family away for weekend jaunts abroad without even thinking about the cost. Sigh ....)

Anyway, this shows that you CAN change career direction at ANY age!

BTW I would NOT recommend anyone to join the IT world nowadays ... the salaries have dropped drastically and the number of vacancies has shrunk too due to outsourcing to Bangalore etc.