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Quite interesting reading...
I was laid off from my small firm 2 and a half years ago when they outsourced the entire IT Department to India (no, I'm not kidding - everything is done by remote now or sent to a local shop to be repaired if remote doesn't work). For the last 2 1/2 years, I've been job searching. Until your original article "10 Reasons to Quit IT", I really didn't realize how much I did NOT want to go back to IT work. I had been sabotaging my own job hunt to avoid it without even realizing I was doing it. Don't get me wrong, I loved my original job up until a new manager took over. I'm just entirely burned out on it to the point that I don't even want to work on family and friends' computers anymore and even custom-building my new rig this year turned into delay after delay while I didn't want to get to it.
I still haven't quite figured out what I do want to do. I am definitely not cut out for farming or factory labor (I've tried both and been miserable), but I haven't found that one job that jumps out at me and says "I'm it!!". If anyone is in this position, I heartily recommend a temporary staffing agency. Not only does it provide a bit of income, but it also provides you with the opportunity, through the variety of positions most of these companies hire for, to find exactly what you're looking for through trial and error without having to worried about being fired or quitting repetitively until you find that job you've been searching for.
In the meantime, I am enjoying the time I get to spend now with my family without having to worry about those 2a.m. emergency calls or those "I can't log into the VPN!!" calls from the boss several time zones away who doesn't care what time zone you live in or that you have a family. I'm spending some time volunteering my time to a couple of open-source projects and I've offered my services on a volunteer basis to local libraries (I live in small town America where the towns can't necessarily afford the rates commonly charged by IT Techs). No, I don't make money in either situation, but the work is extremely fulfilling and benefits entire communities - not just the bottom line of some corporation. If I could afford to, I'd do just this for the rest of my life - it's that rewarding (at least in small towns where it's appreciated, not expected and where few people are demanding of your services when they're offered). It also provides me with yet another way to network with potential employers.
I'll eventually find that job that I'm looking for. Ultimately, I'd like to end up working in the alternative energy sector as that's a passion of mine, but I'm a bit limited since I refuse to leave my current area. I won't uproot my children who have friends in school nor will I expect my wife to give up all of her friends to move to an area where we know no one and have to start over. I'll work a job I hate before I'll torture my family like that. In the meantime, I'll enjoy playing with my kids in the backyard, walking through my small town smelling the clean air and waving to the people I pass and helping local community organizations with my skill set (while also keeping those skills sharp). It's amazing how much those walks help to clear my head and make decisions that'll determine where I go next.
I do thank you for this article as it has brought to light several options that I had not thought of. I guess it's time to take a walk
-Jason
I still haven't quite figured out what I do want to do. I am definitely not cut out for farming or factory labor (I've tried both and been miserable), but I haven't found that one job that jumps out at me and says "I'm it!!". If anyone is in this position, I heartily recommend a temporary staffing agency. Not only does it provide a bit of income, but it also provides you with the opportunity, through the variety of positions most of these companies hire for, to find exactly what you're looking for through trial and error without having to worried about being fired or quitting repetitively until you find that job you've been searching for.
In the meantime, I am enjoying the time I get to spend now with my family without having to worry about those 2a.m. emergency calls or those "I can't log into the VPN!!" calls from the boss several time zones away who doesn't care what time zone you live in or that you have a family. I'm spending some time volunteering my time to a couple of open-source projects and I've offered my services on a volunteer basis to local libraries (I live in small town America where the towns can't necessarily afford the rates commonly charged by IT Techs). No, I don't make money in either situation, but the work is extremely fulfilling and benefits entire communities - not just the bottom line of some corporation. If I could afford to, I'd do just this for the rest of my life - it's that rewarding (at least in small towns where it's appreciated, not expected and where few people are demanding of your services when they're offered). It also provides me with yet another way to network with potential employers.
I'll eventually find that job that I'm looking for. Ultimately, I'd like to end up working in the alternative energy sector as that's a passion of mine, but I'm a bit limited since I refuse to leave my current area. I won't uproot my children who have friends in school nor will I expect my wife to give up all of her friends to move to an area where we know no one and have to start over. I'll work a job I hate before I'll torture my family like that. In the meantime, I'll enjoy playing with my kids in the backyard, walking through my small town smelling the clean air and waving to the people I pass and helping local community organizations with my skill set (while also keeping those skills sharp). It's amazing how much those walks help to clear my head and make decisions that'll determine where I go next.
I do thank you for this article as it has brought to light several options that I had not thought of. I guess it's time to take a walk
-Jason
Posted by SkyWlf77@...
16th Mar 2011
