Discussion on:

IT is one of the most popular careers to switch to

IT is not a job its an adventure!

More older folks and some younger I have witness of leaving IT due to too many issues with technology, people, career, incompetent boss's, peer's... etc etc.. People are just getting tired of all the bull you have to put up with it order to do this business. There is no easy work around for IT issues. Flower farming is looking better and better everyday.

People look at IT as playing all day. They don't understand everything involved outside of maybe a helpdesk call person. Engineering a network, working long days and late nights. Its not all rosy.

and they are sure they know what they're doing then I say good luck to them. I'm sure Jaredthegeek is right and people think we sit and play all day with the latest gadgets or software. What they don't see is the blood, sweat and tears when a business critical server dies at 5pm and we're there until past midnight trying to get it back online, the programmers trying to meet impossible deadlines, or the helpdesk/desktop support staff getting screamed at because someone isn't allowed to install a game on their company machine or get to their facebook account (not that we block facebook here unfortunately). I'm one considering moving away from IT, after 15 years it's not so much of an adventure as a major PITA. There are still aspects of technology I enjoy but they're decreasing rapidly and I'm hoping to get out before I lose the joy completely.

an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks

Life itself is an adventure, but even with the knowledge that few escape that particular adventure alive I'm excited to be on the path!

IT has changed for the worse in the last 19 years. Too many incompetent project managers!!! Too much emphasis on managing tickets rather than fixing real IT issues. It's all about how the reports look.

Years ago when Novell was nifty and IT was respected, it was a good career but today American management is driving everybody with skill sets OUT of it by outsourcing and offshoring everything they can. I truly believe that IT is viewed not as an integral part of a business but as an expense line item that can be reduced if we outsource to India and thereby pay staff $5 an or so, maybe less, and no health care benefits either. Just look what IBM is doing with so many of it's employees. Accounts have deserted Big Blue because of bad service from India. AstraZeneca cut it's 7 year deal. ServiceMaster said BYE BYE and is insourcing everything. Hilton went away. And IBM views this as a good thing so they can further cut AMERICAN workers and invest more in India.

IT used to be fun. It is dreadful now and I am the sorrier for it.

When I first started programming in 1956 (56 years ago) I was in a very select, highly prestegious group. People respected me like I was a rocket or nuclear scientist. Now, however, there are millions of software developers and it does not mean as much. If you have a government security clearance and have talent, then this field pays very well. If you do not have a security clearance, then you are competing with people in India, who are probably as smart or smarter than you and will work for a lot less money, so you will find it hard to get a good paying job. Besides the clearance, the other key to success is to know more about some small subset of computing than everyone else (or at least most everyone else). That way you talent will be in demand. You also want to get as many certifications as possible - they seem to be worth more than a BS degree.

I've been in the Field for 6 yrs and it's constanly changing. Its like a treadmill thats not stopping but only getting faster. Ive seen automation elimate jobs that were once problay thought to be a career position.
As I said, only 6yrs and Ive witnessed what reisen55 comments about management outsourcing. It seems to come back to who you know and not how good your skillset is.