After 30 years, I've concluded that there is one lesson all IT people should learn immediately: don't tell anyone you're in IT.

The folks outside of work ("lice" - that is, the ones who want to, "pick your brain") will call you whenever 1) their wireless router needs rebooting, 2) they can't figure out how to install memory, 3) they need MS Office -- but don't want to pay for it, 4) they want to buy a computer and - unlike any other time - want your advice (which they will ignore anyway, in favor of buying a Gateway or some other POS).

As for work, the more you exhibit you know, the more likely you'll be feared - especially by ... (sorry, giggling hard at the moment)... "Information Security" folks. Most organizations operate under the golden principle that ignorance (of computer systems) *is* their primary ring of security. After all, if you don't know what access you have, you can't cause damage. And, since they don't know to lock down, or the systems they use don't have the ability to lock down security, or even where to find a log (provided logging is even turned on), well, anyone who comes along with two neurons to rub together is instantly branded a dangerous hacker.

Oh - the ones who's hair turns gray in the first year: those are called, "fakes." They've very likely never even built a computer, or programmed a computer, let alone have the qualifications for the job they lied on their CV/resume to get.