As long as I’ve been in IT, I’ve been at small companies. For the last 3.5 years I’ve been a one man shop for at small manufacturing company. For the rest of you in one man shops, I’d like to know how you get on.
I find it a bit lonely at times, lack of community with noone else tech oriented. There’s also the double edged sword of no one understanding what exactly it is that you do. If you’re having a bad day you can always hide behind menial tasks that require “immediate attention” and not deal with some of the stupid people things, and when things look really bad you can come through like a champ with a quick fix. But I also have the problem that I don’t feel I am appreciated or compensated on an equal level with peers in other departments.
One of my big gripes is my title – systems administrator – I doing a heck of alot more than system administration – planning, evaluating, strategizing, budgeting, development… thing I feel are more IT Manager level task. The big boss won’t let me be IT Manager because I don’t “supervisor people” yet my position is considered staff level along with 2 VP’s, the controlled and the sales director. Then of course when bonuses come out, they follow title and I get the smallest portion. I contribution is no less than theirs. I guess the problem is the big boss just doesn’t have any clue about what I do. Fortunately he understands that he needs me here, but unfortunately is always looking at me to solve problem that others create.
I’m really ready for something bigger. In past lives, as a naval officer and as an engineer, I’ve had as many as 110 people working for me. I’ve dealt with all the big numbers with dollar signs, I’ve done enough time in the trenches to understand the overall business needs and the business role of IT.
Maybe my career is just stuck.