Discussion on:

lost my passion for this field

I entered the IT field in the mid 90s when there were plenty of high paying jobs and job security to go around. I finished my BS degree in computers and found myself in jobs where I do everything from programming to networking to databases.

After nearly 10 years in the field, I'm burnt out. A successfuly IT pro has to constantly learn new stuff that has a limited shelf life. If you learn to be a bricklayer, that information is good for life. Your knowledge doesn't become obsolete after a few years. But in this field, ya gotta be CONSTANTLY learning boring (IMO) technical details in order to remain competitive.

Quite frankly, I think I lost my passion for the field. Outside of work, I never read computer books/magazines/websites just for fun anymore. I'm more interested in reading about stuff like business and psychology.

I bought some Cisco certification books a couple years ago and still can't seem to bring myself to go through the certification process. I keep putting it off and putting it off. I started a few times but couldn't stay motivated. It seems like a drawn out, boring, time consuming chore to learn a bunch of information that will eventually be obsolete.

I like working with computers but they're a means to an end. I now see them as a tool to help businesses, nothing more. I don't about the different types of graphics cards or the "next version of Red Hat" or object oriented programming (yuck). I'm more concerned about using computers as a tool to help the company save/make profits.

Definitely thinking about a career change while I'm still young enough to do it. Can anyone else relate?

After 20 years in the field, I have gotten very jaded and lost the fervor that I once had for this field.

I would have to say that my attitude is largely due to the treatment of IT people in the past 3 or 4 years. Ageism, outsourcing to cheap labor, and just the devaluing of IT jobs are the reason to me. I just don't want to put the effort into it anymore because I don't see it as a viable option for employment in the future "at my age."

I'm in my early 50's and even though I have a great job at the moment, I don't know how I would fare if I lost my job and had to look for another one. Though I don't look 50 something, if I ever do, I'd like to be in a career that valued its older workers instead of showing them the door.

I think a career in IT can burn you out because so much is expected of you. Constant training, long hours, and huge responsibility. Years ago, you were rewarded for your contribution. Today, you just are not appreciated and there is too much job insecurity.

I'm with you, Drago. Do it while you're young enough to make it work well for you. There are lots of other career options that have a more viable future and you don't have to spend the time and money constantly keeping up your education.

Your computer knowledge will always be an asset no matter what career you choose.

This is one of the few fields where 20 years of experience does not work to your advantage. It's a shame so many IT workers are shown the door at that age.

I'll be damned if I spend half my free time (and thousands of dollars) studying for boring certification tests so I'll be employable for a few more years. Then hit the glass ceiling at 40 or 50 where I'll likely be forced to retrain for a new career anyway, without the advantage of having experience in the new field.

I almost went for a masters degree in MIS earlier in the year which would have taken 3-4 years to complete. But reading your post and others on TR and other sites, and talking to IT managesr in large corporations, I'm glad I didn't do it. The IT manager position is not what it's cut out to be. Not only for the reasons that you stated but IT managers are usually blamed and held responsible for stuff out of their control. I plan to resume my education but it won't be an IT degree.

You're right, computer knowledge is an asset in most career. That's one reason why I don't regret getting a computer degree. But I don't think pure IT is a long term career option (30-40 years) for most people.

I always thought I would be employed forever if I kept up my skills and was willing to shoulder the responsibility of an IT job. The rewards aren't there after 20 years of faithful service, so to speak. I just don't think IT is that viable of a career anymore because of cheap labor elsewhere and the attitude of employers towards American workers.

I look at it this way. If I had studied medicine and put the same 20 years into that, I could possibly be a well-regarded specialist in demand in my field today. After 20 years in IT, I'm a fossil headed for the boneyard, want to or not.

I hate to be so negative about IT. It was a great field once; the jury is out on whether it can make a comeback. It will never be like it once was though.

Today its important to know more than pure IT. I think you made a wise choice to reconsider if a masters degree in IT is worth it compared to learning another discipline.

I think this is a general feeling in the IT industry at the moment. I've been in IT for only 6 years and I also feel the same way.

I feel frustrated that I see some people doing jobs so ineptly which either have a knock on effect to your job or I feel I could do thier job 10 times better. Then investigating how could I move into that sort of roll to find that they require 2 years experience.

The question is, even though one has experience, what discipline to move into that also pays as well? Or does one have to be prepared to accept a drop in pay inorder to get job satisfaction?

The requirements for years of experience are really turning me off of any career. At this point, I would just rather start my own business then go out and try to climb my way back up the corporate ladder. Relearning a new career and then going out to get more years of experience, which I find quite insane, as you need somewhere to start in order to gain the experience, is not something I can see myself doing again. Experience should be a four letter word.

I agree with you and most others posted here. I did what you mentioned. I started a business in IT. My daughter and I are partners in an LLC that we formed in 1998. I actually started in 1995. We did lots of things wrong but we did some things right, too. Our best efforts have been service contracts in vertical markets. We have some contracts with hospitals and several public libraries. Everything is in 'small-town Nebraska' so the competition is spotty.

Many people said we couldn't do this because there are already some computer businesses around and there's no room for more. Plus there isn't enough business for someone to be successful in a small town. I'm talking small, too. About 90% of our customers are from towns smaller then 6,000 people. The naysayers were wrong on both counts! Everyone, small town or large, need someone to call on for help and because most people think you can't make money in small towns, very few try. The ones that do open a business are the home grown 'experts' who, when faced with an unknown, will just wipe off the hard drive and start over or even sell a new drive. What's really amazing is that most people don't know any better so it's an accepted practice. Then we come along and generally are able to do things most others can't and we have new customers.

In the 10 years that I, and then my daughter Tracy and I, have been in business we've never advertised. We now have two stores in different towns and employ 8.

I have done a lot of wondering lately about the future because I'm 51. I've looked into the possibility of selling out if we don't grow any more stores so I can pull residual income. With one store, if you want to sell, you're done. It's called going out of business. It's just another computer store that closes in a small town. That happens quite often. With two stores we have attracted attention so now there is something to buy. Plus one of them is a Radio Shack and that helps greatly. Selling is now a viable option. After all, this is my retirement savings since you have to put so much into a business to start and grow.

I know a whole lot of you folks make a lot more money then I do but if I lived in a larger city, I'd do it again. What we deliver, everyone can appreciate.

And not so hard probably at all, if you have the right personality to run a business. Personality, mmm, dedication to your customers needs, and giving them top level service at good prices.

I worked as a pizza delivery driver for several years and they drummed it into us, the 100% customer satisfaction they make sure customers get. Which would be the same for most businesses that succeed!!

What I have been finding lately is they do not want the many years experience and the price tag that goes with it. They want degreed fresh out and lower $$ they can make it work..... I think the results may speak for themselves. In [my] field about 37 years.

Actually, what they want is all the expereince, but you work for 10 rupees an hour.

And yes, I saw an ad looking for 5+ years Longhorn exp. the other day.

were they serious? did they have any clue? I wouldn't want to work for someone that stupid.

Dead serious. At least HR was.

This company routinely advertises for people with experience in multiple databases, multiple office packages, multiple OS/hardware combos, most of which belong in the museum of IT history. I've never met anyone who actually workied in IT there tho.

Corporate America doesn't offer the best IT opportunities anymore. Smaller business does. Maybe their benefits aren't as great, but there is a better quality of life because there isn't all of those layers of management.

If I had to start out in IT today, I would look at IT security. Data forensics. Maybe the jobs wouldn't pay as well initially, but they have a good future. Someone has to fight the cyberwar.

Look at IT jobs that can't be outsourced or done remotely.

After reading most of the replies, I can certainly I feel like
such a baby new to the field. Being two years away from
40, and trying to decide if whether or not I really should
dive in nose first to go for the needed degrees, and of
course, my A+ Certification, I'm beginning to wonder, even
with all that I deal with now, is seeking an IT job even worth
going for? Or would it be better if I just go independent
and be my own boss. Sure I get calls every now and then,
and I am often paid for my time and service, leaving
satisfied customers to want to call on me again should a
problem arise. But is swimming in the sea of the IT market
really a wise career move to make?

I have been reading articles, forums, and other stuff on the
many changes in the IT industry. And I find myself
weighing my options. When I posed the questions to
people who know me well if whether or not I should find a
job in the IT field after I get my certification to even
considered to be employable, the answer to the question
always came out the same if not similar; "Why? You found
your niche, why look for a job when you are capable of
being indepedent." Or something to that affect.

My thing is, I don't want to be in my 50's still trying to get
degrees and other various certications, especially with
being a single mom. I don't want all of my time wrapped
up in school and discover that I've neglected my daughter.
Don't get me wrong, I thirst for a BA and my A+
Certification, at the same time, I don't want to sacrifice my
daughter's growing years. And at the same time, I don't
want to lose out on something that has become a part of
me, too. And then, I don't want to find myself second
guessing any of the decisions I made to get into computers.

Don't get me wrong, there are times I want to pull my hair
out of my hair when some of the calls I get seem self
explanatory, and can be solved in under 5 minutes. It's
what I do. In this business, if there is one thing I learned is
you have to have patience and a thick skin. You have to be
able to know how to deal with unhappy clients; you have to
be able to know how to deal with clients who just don't get
the basic operation of a computer; you have to be able to
know how to deal with clients who cry everyone time
something pops up that remotely resembles a problem.

At any rate...I've only really been dabbling in the IT industry
for about a year when it became apparent to my friends
and family that I had some knowledge of how to fix a
computer and then how to put them together. I'm the only
female in my family who can do it and do it successfully. I
have no regrets in wanting to get into computers, I just
hope that I did make the right move. But now I'm
wondering if I should just be an independent business and
not worry about the woes of an IT position. Any thoughts.

I can relate to all the thoughts of burn out etc... I'm in my mid-40's, about 12 years ago, working as a sys admin/programmer when OO and Java were making a big time play on our company's horizon of yet another "technological" break thru I decided to steer my career more into business'systems analysis. Strangely though I've moved into a world where I am an independent consultant in the Business Continuity field. To move out of the "pure" IT world (in the mid-80's), I abruptly stopped my B Sc degree, and enrolled into a B Comm (89) in info sys, and onto an MBA (96). Fortunately the company at the time was happy to my conversion as some of the systems I programmed I worked closely with the business analysts. The transition took time but was worth it - today I wouldn't even know how "push a pixel" - best of luck, my advice is to consider IT a means to an end and not the end itself, change your career accordingly so you don't totally wash away all your previous experience.

You have some passion for IT, and hunger for the future, something the whiners in this thread seem to be lacking so go for it!.
Running a small biz is extrememly rewarding (as well as tough) and has a lot of advantages.

The problems people have highlighted here are not really IT specific, and occur in every industry.
Learn to deal with it people. I believe what we are seeing is a symptom of a much wider problem: the intrusion of work into personal life to the degree that there is basically little personal or family time available.

Everyone here, if they have worked in IT for any length of time will have developed strategies and skills for coping with unforseen and/or overwhelming problems. Go back to basics - define the problem, isolate the problem, fix the problem.
If it can't be fixed, contain it, monitor it and keep moving.

I have interests outside of work that are so far removed from IT (in most cases) that I can have a proper, regular break from work.
Get a plan to renew your hunger for living, and your passion for IT (or mechanics, or nursing, or whatever) will improve.

I agree with you, E. I like IT. I would like to still like IT 10 years from now. They key is not to make IT the only thing that you do and the end in itself. Set priorities. Work is work. Home is home. Go home after work and enjoy life with family and friends. IT is good. But too much of a good thing is never good.

I feel exactly the same way. Burnt/Stressed/politicked/innovated-out!

I have recently rekindled my love for photography. It has always been something I enjoyed, now I use it as a way to escape from work. I think about what shots I've taken, my postings in Flickr.com, and the next planned outing by my photography meetup.com group.

I'm staying sane ... for now.

Sorry to make this short but I'm up to my elbows in things (a common IT issue, BTW. Getting ready to roll out the latest round of MS patches on my server tomorrow night... Yay).

If I had it to do over again, I'd shine shoes for a living, or something.

Personally, I have too much responsibility (yet no authority - hmmpf). I have too many things to do to be able to knock them out even in a ten (or so) hour day. Instead of working "smarter" and "saving time", we "save time" yet fill that time up with even more things we're "saving time" on (news flash: I'm in IT - thought is part of every process I do...). I'm trying to do the work of 3 people but only manage to get things done in a half-assed manner (and I DESPISE doing things that way. It's short-sighted!).

Making due - just getting something running and then running away before it breaks again - is all too common. After all, I've got about forty thousand other things I need to try to get done. I need to wrap up and move on.

It's stressful as all get out. And the pay isn't anywhere near what it should be; we're becoming a dime a dozen (thank the certificate mills for that, as well as people who get hired as "sys" or "lan" admins that don't understand what they're doing. Because they don't have a clue, they demand less for wages (and get it). That dilutes the "skilled" wage pool for those of us who DO have a clue...).

That, and the outsourcing of so many IT jobs overseas makes our value about that of the copier repair guy.

Honestly: find something else. If I could do it all over again, I guarantee you I would NOT be doing IT stuff.

Best of luck.

I must agree.

My colleague experienced burnt-out left his job and went on to a truelly drastic career change.

Even with promises of finding a junoir level replacement for him there has been no such thing.

I am now inundated with work that cannot get completed to my satisfaction. Instead of having time to find the source of problems and fix things, I am only able to "band-aid" the issue because the resources are note available, or I have to put out the next fire.

I have a long list of things that I need to work on because I can see that they are going to be problems down the road. Unfortunately I am too busy dealing with the current emergencies and then being called to "help out" elsewhere.

It is not understood that time spent on research and or maintanence of systems is important. It seems that if I am not developing, building new systems, or taking care of either emergencies or blatant problems that I am regarded as having nothing to do so should help out in other aspects of the business. I am doing the work of at least 2 people, without much compensation for it.

Even a part-time low level tech would be a great help for me but I doubt they can see past the numbers of what they are saving. The problem is that as more and more work gets piled on, it is only going to result in mistakes. I mean, nobody is perfect. People make mistakes, and the more pressure, stress and exhaustion they feel will increase the likely-hood of mistakes or of something slipping through the cracks.

I know another person is leaving real soon, and can for see the workload of at least 3 other people will drastically increase because of it. This person is not in my department but some of the work to compensate will spill into my lap as well as 2 others. This person does an incredible amount of work, 2 people would be needed to replace her, however they will not get anyone new.
I am already averaging nearly 10 hours a day and I can see it build up even more, but will not recieve any compensation for it.

I can easily see how one gets Burn-out. I am just lucky that my interactivity with clients is minimal. In past positions working with clients/customers could really be taxing.

You start to get to the point where you regret going to work each day, and that is not a good place to be

I have just finished my IT degree in Electronic Commerce, and have been doing selfemployed/casual IT work since I started the degree. I would love any job at the moment, just something to get in the door of some company then work my way up in the company. I have done IT support, web development training etc as well.

The perfect job that I want though is Business analyst job as I can analyse and work out the IT requirements for a business then come back and give the requirements to the more technical people to implement. Though saying that, I would be happy with just a IT support role (2nd level) to start with.

This is a great resource for getting the information you need to know about starting and running your own business. NAFE used to be for Female Executives, but the market for that had dropped. More women are going into business for themselves. They have a great magazine, and you can attend a few meetings to see if the group fits, before joining. The Pasadena group I went to had a couple of guys, too.

Best of luck!

I know most of the people here probably won't feel they can relate to me because I have never been employed in any computer related jobs, I only decided to subscribe to this site because I wanted to learn more about computers as I am self taught in this area. However since the topic happens to be about business ownership, starting your own business, I can relate to that.
My grandmother and I had started a business years ago. Ironically enough, the way it started, I had decided to have a yard sale when I was going through my house one day and getting rid of so many things I had aquired over the years. My grandmother and I went to yard sales together and started finding things we knew we could sell for more, furniture we could refinish and make a profit off of. We decided to take it to the flea market, and from there it continued to grow and we paid down on a small store. If two women can do it with no prior experience, I think just about anyone can, if your interested.

It sounds like you've found a niche in the IT world, but you need to work in different situations, for different companies, to find out more about what you want or not.

You say that you have dabbled in IT for about a year and you're good at it, but that isn't enough to go out and start an IT business. Sure, it would be nice to just get away from all the BS that comes with an IT job or any job for that matter, but it is hard to do.

If I were you, I would pursue IT and something else - accounting, medical, law, etc. I'm not sure what your work background was prior to IT, but maybe you could focus on IT in that field.

Before I even signed up for classes, I would try to get an IT job to get involved in the field without going to the expense of certifications. Many times companies will hire someone with great soft skills over a more technical person. Who knows, maybe they will train you if they like you or the company will offer tuition refund.

Of course, initially, the money will not be there. IT can be a good field in the right situations. Specialize in a field of expertise.

Good luck and remember, never tell anyone you are almost 40.

Unless you're willing to work at a below scale wage at a Fortune 100 company, your longevity in the engineering/IT business is inherently limited to funded projects and associated charge numbers. You will need to work 3-5 clients at any given time in order to maintain any level of job security. That being said, this industry has been in a financial tailspin for over five years. Technical professionals became chattel to management during the 1960's just along the time that Gantt charts emerged... It was just a short fling during the 90's when networking and the Internet came.... time to get over it, accept it, or move on.

Having been in retail service trhrough the 90's, I thought it was time for a change, went back to college in 2000 to get my BS degree in Computer Applications and Networks and was promised that 98% of students were placed. By the end of the year none of the students had a shot at entry level and we were shut out of IT. I was still determined, did an internship, worked for a Fortune 500 company that burned techs up like gas on a bonfire, and finally quit, moved to a town that was less technology oriented hoping to start a small retail computer service business. Five years have been wasted on IT, I have about 15 years of good productivity left before retiring (yes, I got my Magna *** Laude late in life), and ultimately determined my future is not in IT. I will reframe my goals and future in another business...

I am nearly finished IT degree, and am 28, and gee maybe I shouldn't have chosen IT to do. I did start off with Bus/IT double degree, then changed to IT (Electronic Commerce), maybe big mistake!

I firstly started off 10 years ago too, left high school, did tafe course in IT didn't do any good in it as my mind wasn't in study mode then, then 1998 did Cert IV bus tech and then from that Diploma and unfortunately finished diploma course Dec 1999. Therefore extremely hard to find work, and mainly have done just a bit of part time and voluntary work from then till 2002 and started degree.

Now am I right in thinking that the IT field will definitely pick up again, ie I think it is about 10 year cycles, which was 1995 to 2000 was good, now hopefully same thing will happen and 2005-2010 will hopefully be very similar with VOIP and all the new technologies that are around now and home integration?

Therefore for me, I am praying that the next 5 years are really good and I hopefully get a job within the next year, even though haven't done terrifically in the degree course, though always been working ie IT trainer for first six months of degree, voluntary work, 2003 casual work for money, 2004 a bit of self employment (IT and non-IT related) and from now will be looking for full time work.

Please say there is hope for me for the coming year to get a good IT job (non programming role) as very much more suited to business process analysis and requirements analysis for a companies IT systems.

drago, I work in IT from 1973.I don't know how much incoming you have,that's the most interesting
but definetly this deserve a great effort.Studing theory, see how practical implementation is,having some direction of interest,compare diff OS,diff language,extending your actions, maybe you can build your own company,Always worth.Deep and deep

I just completed my Associates degree in computer networking and I'm currently working on my Bachelor's in MIS. I'm in my mid-40's, and I've always been fascinated with computers and networking. But it seems that I've picked a young man's field to work in. I was in management in my past life, but I can't even get entry level positions offered to me in the IT field.

I'm looking to bring my computer experience to the table with me and use it as a bargaining chip in what ever field I find myself in. I also don't regret the time it took (25 years!) to get my degree, I'm just glad I'm finally doing it.

I read through Comp1systems post and found a lot of parallel to where I'm at. I am already 40 (but with no kids) and I have found a lot of resistance/difficulty in landing an "IT" job as others my age. The IT/MIS industry is very bottom heavy at the time being.

Although I already have my CompTIA A+ cert, and soon Net+ cert., I am launching my own PC maintenance biz (I, too, have been well paid for informal services). I have kept saying to myself, "If no one will hire me, then I will hire myself." I also struggle a bit to get motivated to study for certs because I am not sure if that is a valid use of my time.

I am also suspicious of potential employers committing ageism against me. I've tried to break into IT for more than two years and I've been using, tinkering with and informally studying computers for years. I've even learned how to create and promote my own e-commerce website, but put it on the shelf after having operated that part time biz for about three years. The only reason the biz (I) ran out of momentum is the amount of capital required for marketing - that and competition.

Like some others have mentioned, diversification is necessary to make oneself more employable in IT. It's no doubt discouraging to be 40 (or 50) something and starting over with a new skill set to learn. I even considered becoming an electrician's apprentice, but still, doing that one must start at the bottom. Believe me, if you already have a BA degree, some certs and lots of experience doing other more cerebral things, then construction is the pits (seems one has to become a vulger, boorish, lughead just to fit in that type of industry - you also have to say the "f" word a lot ;o)).

I have recently landed a quasi-IT position, read "product manager" with a well known PC peripheral manufacturer in CA and I definately believe I only got the job because of my rounded work experience and what I consider good "presence." The job doesn't pay very much, but I am definately persuing the part time PC fix-it biz on the side. Who knows, maybe in a few years I might earn a living doing something entirely different - I know... maybe become a veternarian!

Just like in the movie,I can say the same thing you guys are saying.Doing the same thing every day even if it`s replacing different parts,or servicing different machines gets boring and freezes the very nerve that used to be so much fun to stimulate.You have to force yourself to keep motivated and constantly get involved in new projects.Some of you guys are right about being a young persons field, but experience will always be on your side,and the knowledge gained from that will always be valuable...even today.

20 years of experience, unless experience means that you've "been around" and did not actually learned something, is definitely a plus in IT. You don't require certification to be employable after 20 years of experience. In my opinion, after 20 years of experience you have proper _understanding_ of how things are done, you have learned that indeed it is not about best technology and best networks and latest gadgets, it is about providing proper advice and guidance to those without proper _understanding_ of technologies required for a firm wo remain profitable and competitive these days. I came accross a tons of so called consultants, 25 years old kidds preaching to company COO, CIO's about how things need to be done. They provide for biased advices that are being many times accepted and company suffesr as the result of bad decisions and bad choices. Every company in my opinion requires an IT person with _real_ 20 years of experience to prevent this and advice "leaders" on how to do things properly. If after 20 years of experience, you think you are not being listened to, you should of change your career 10 years ago. Howgh.

My experience has been that if you are a consultant from the outside, then your opinion and ideas are important. In IT, its the flavor of the month. So lets implement ERP, CRM, etc...
sometimes it locks you in so tight, you can never get out. You just have to go witht the flow.

If you're not the golden child, getting all the new and choice projects, then you need to switch companies. When you're in that position, you're constantly getting new knowledge and keeping current. Let the company pay your training.

Hi Riffraff, don't you find it hard to get all the coice positions via consulting? I have been an SAP consultant for the past 4 years, with 5 years of SAP support work previous to that. The consulting firm just sends you were your skills are needed as opposed to any consideration of choice assignments.
I'd like to expand my knowledge but I am all self-taught in SAP. The big consulting companies won't train anyone and certifications appear to be something that is laughed at when requested. I'm an educated 30-something who wants to be exceptional at what I do, but I can not find a way to get to that place. I don't have the $20K - 30K lying around to get certified in my modules of specialty, the money in the consulting sector appears to be about 60% of that which it was pre-Y2K (which means no more big nest egg from a stint in consulting), the hours are restrictive to living the rest of life, and the travel is another unpaid 12 hours per week...
I am dissillusioned like many others and feel quite "pigeon-holed" as to any possible change of careers.
Yet, we all continue to plod along because there appears to be nothing in the way of a sigtnificant alternative...
Do others feel this way in the consulting business? I'm curious...

RAW

How about proper sentence structure, better grammar and a spell check, thank very much.

Lardo,

What you are saying makes sense and is logical. With experience comes wisdom that should be an asset for any company with a need for IT..

Unfortunatelly, I have found that often this is not the case. Often Management or HR does not see things that way, they think that they can get a new graduate trained in the newer technologies for much cheaper and then they save money.

Obviously with 20 years experience you would expect a higher salary and/or better benefits than someone fresh out of college. Many companies see that they can pay the new grad half of what they pay you(or less), and still get an employee that has IT training. I think too often the decisions on hiring are not being made by people with enough understanding of the department for which they are hiring.

And if a company is having financial issues it can be attractive to them to let go of higher paid employees and replace them with underpaid, fresh talent.

At this point I am only doing short term certs to keep my job and stay viable while I explore "post IT" employment. Now the question is "What?" How to leverage my IT experience in a non-IT field...

Reading the post in this discussion only reaffirms my feelings for working in the IT industry. It's just not the same as it was before and extremely difficult to keep up. Well, I had my reasons for getting into this field and I am glad that it paid off.

Currently, I am working on my MBA and I recommend that whoever has a technical background should look into doing an MBA too. Hopefully this decision of mine will payoff for the better.

I have known three MBA's in the past few years who I would not hire if I owned my own business. Please be a good, down to the earth MBA. Those I have known have been unable to be credible in their job because of their swelled heads.

IT is really a tool to support business - no matter you're in IT industry or other fields. It's important to see the big picture and understand business when your career is growing. MBA helps on that.

Normally, people goes to senior technician or senior manager. Probably it's time to think about which you want to go.

Currently I'm working on my MBA for the reason above. It definitely widen your vision. Plus you have a network established.......

Since when was it ever good to just assume that when you acquired a skill, it would last a life time?

IT is very much evolving and changing as should the IT professional. I have an MBA (2 years old), and have worked in IT for the past 11 years. The MBA was by far the best investment I made in myself. I too was suffering from burn out, and then realized that all learning is an investment in yourself. Be it an MBA, a certification, or a change of job... like anyone else in the workforce, we as IT professionals also need to have or find something to keep us inspired. If you are burnt out, then there must be deeper issues, such as quesitonable job satisfaction, or even depression. The best way to deal with burn out is to identify the factors causing burn out, and to find ways to regain your enthusiasm, and inspiration. These are ultimately what brought you to this profession... it's like a marriage, and ultimatley your professional career needs ot be nurtured as well.

I got my MBA at the end of 2004. I'm a Windows SysAdmin and I'm not sure what I can do with my MBA.

My undergraduate degree is in Accounting but it was only used as wallpaper. I do know I don't want to be involved in accounting, finance, or marketing. I would like to enter management in Operations or IT but I am not sure how to go about it.

I have been a Windows SysAdmin for the past six years professionally, and probably a total of ten years counting my time working for computing services while in college and being the "unofficial" techie at jobs before going into IT.

I have spoken to recruiters without success.

Any advice, or even brainstorming ideas are appreciated.

Thank you.

Give me a break!!! IT professionals need MBA? They are 2 different things. If you want to administer business, then get into business administration and quit complaining that IT did not give you a free ticket to the greater life. But as soon as you do, you will no longer be an IT Pro because, as this discussion echoes, an IT Pro must concentrate on relearning the tools of the trade all the time.
Perhaps the underlying problem with IT pros being viewed as dime-a-dozen mechanics is because so many of them think they can administrator the world as well. Is there a LifeRepublic web site where everyone complains that people see them as nothing more than recycled IT pros? There should be. There will be plenty of IT jobs as soon as we get rid of those who are only here for money and glory and couldn't spell IT if we gave them a vowel.

I thought it was just me. I see everyone has the same issue. I worked so hard, gave so much effort only to promote myself out of a job. IT is not where it's at anymore, don't listen to the media or B. Gates, it's over people. Accept it. Time for the next big thing. Nanotech? Biotech? Wireless? Apple Picking?

I took a year out after 11yrs full time IT - it turned into 2! I had to be willing to go grape picking and then work my way up to selling wine, before I got a break back into IT, but that was fine. I enjoyed the change, going to wine shows, travelling around.

I'm back in the IT biz, and still not so engaged as I used to be - like all of you. But now I have the confidence that I can step out of it and survive - it'll just take being open to doing whatever... for whatever salary! but money isn't everything.

Don't stick with being miserable - cut down your financial obligations, and GO PICK FRUIT. You never know where it may lead.

I am between REAL jobs at the moment doing the contract thing. I look though a micrscope for film defects, not IT or excitement there. Have'nt found anything to get my fire going. NY has a lot of wineries I think I will pursue that. I could do IT or even biotech / analysis....hmmmm, thanks for the idea.

How big is this thread ? Interesting that sooo many people are in the same frame of mind. Fruit picking - great idea. It's not everyone's thing, or even an end in itself. The key is to do something you CAN enjoy. Money is transitory (ok we all need some), look at hobbies as an income source, ie you'd do it for nothing, why not get paid for it. An ex-IT friend of mine in Australia is a horse racing fan, and after a chance conversation is now a part time journo, being paid to write articles on his hobby !
As IT pro's we are all analytical people to some degree, sometimes we need to drop it and use the other half of our brains. See what happens.
Not an answer necessarily, but showing there are options. For the record, I'm in the same boat and haven't found my 'out' yet. Good luck.

Im not burnt out of the field, as I haven't really started in it. Im 21 and have studied and working in IT for about 5 years now. I am currently doing my BSc degree in Computer Network Technology with Systems Development. I am currently on a years work palcement in Germany with FSC. However since I have been here, and for the most part, enjoyed the work, I have seen how the great people here, with many years experience are stuck in jobs that seem like they pretty much head nowhere...or no further anyway. My main insterest is in Network, however I have kept a close eye on the job market, and professional boards and it's hard to breach into the computer communications area without the kind of experience you would receive in military comms division, or working from the bottom up in a telecommunications company.

I was, pretty certain, to go to do my Masters in some related field, however, Im not so sure any more. I think that it would make more sense to get another bachelors degree in something like Business, Management or Finance......

Apart from making it as a musician, or martial arts instructor, I don't know of anything else that I really want to do with my career other than IT, but now, I'm getting a bit bored/worried about life in this field for the future.

Anybody got any suggestions with what I should do, what would a manager/employee look for in someone who has alot of hope, but hasn't got this 5 years experience with radio communications (even though I do study Wireless Communications). Would you rather have a development manager with a masters in IT, or a bachelors degree in IT and a bachelors degree in business or managment, or finance?

suggestions and job offers welcome - email me from my profile

Once there were many tv, camera, watch, IBM selectric repairmen in the world. We are not unique, though most IT folks don't recognize that we are just technical workers. Not really any different than the guys who fix heart-lung machine, teletype, tickertape, W.H.Y. Technology always changes, it's the nature of the beast. Once we have our diagnostic skills the ability to apply them to other technologies IS the job, it's not an extraneous chore. As long as you remain open minded, flexible and able to adapt you'll always be working. But a lot of IT guys invested their entire being in the field and expect to get their entire lives out of it. Get out from behind the terminal, go running, swimming, learn a new hobby. There is more to life than your job. No one else expects their job to be everything in their lives, why do IT people define themselves so narrowly?