I Helped Create a Monster! IT Guru...

[Industrial Toys]

AND the people I know, still were expected to show up at work as usual bright and early despite having been called out in the night.

 

[MossRoad]

Technology-

When I was young I started out as a metal fabricator-loved the job but didnt see a long term future in it. Then I went into logging, had my own skidder and equipment-was paid well until I needed equipment repairs and new equipment. One set of chains for my skidder was 2,000 for example. Decided there wasnt money in contracting myself out but working for a logging company put me right back into the same situation I had as a welder.

So I decided to go back to school for Computers and technology....only I didnt have the money. I knew computers was the new gold rush in jobs so I joined the Army and got 23k for college.

After college I started working for companies like BOSE, NEC and small tech support companies here in Maine traveling all over working performing warranty fixes for plotters, printers, servers desktops and even installations.

I finally got a job for a major corporation as IT tech and have been here for 22 years. In the beginning it was what I though difficult because the board and CEO saw technology as a liability-they did not embrace IT in the beginning. So we were eager to please and prove we could make the company money rather than spend it. We created a monster-

We would work 18 hour days as needed...but no on call. After we were done we went home and enjoyed out time off and families. Pay was good...

Today-what a difference, we are the most important peice of just about any company. So much so we really dont have a life. Always need to be by a phoine even when not on call 24x7. Systems have become critical to the point stress levels of risen to an all new high...even time spent in military was a walk on the beach compared to what we go through today as an IT tech.

I support 75,000 Windows servers around the globe...my job is like the emergency room doctor but for servers. Server goes down, I not only must bring it back to full life but also in the quickest amount of time. Then we have to make sure it doesn't happen again.

I often think back to the simple times when I was hands on, all labor and guess what-I do miss it. Technology has NOT simplified our lives, it has made it more chaotic, convoluted, stressful and inhuman. I dont like seeing people out there face into phone all the time-familes go out to eat together but always chatting with someone on their smart phones.

I made a living out of technology but at the same time it took me away from living. I want to homestead, live the rest of my life without having to carry phone.

I spent 30 years working at a newspaper, most of that time in I.T. doing desktops, servers, databases, networking, hardware repair and installation, software, systems admin, etc.... we did it all. So on call 24/7/365 for a good 25 years. I can't tell you the number of times I had to ditch the family to take care of other people's catastrophes. It was a good living, but took a large toll on my physical and mental health.

I'll tell you what, when I saw us go down from 10 people to 3 people once corporate decided to consolidate and outsource I.T., and I was gonna be next, I side-stepped the next round of layoffs and slipped into a maintenance technicians job repairing the machinery around the building. I lost 25 pounds, my blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc... returned to normal levels. I sleep well at night and don't miss a bit of it except for the people I grew up with there. Still stay in touch with most of them, even though I left there 3.5 years ago when all production was outsourced. I'm in a maintenance job now with no deadlines. Sweet deal.

 

[MossRoad]

Most non-unionized people I know simply got abused for being on call. Had to be available without pay and couldn't go anywhere or drink. Kind of, if you are going to have a job here, you will do this type of thing!

What a novel concept. :laughing:

 

[kenmbz]

30 years in IT, many 2am calls to go in, with boss upset at me showing up the next day at 9:30am.
Before pagers we used to go to a local bar, and grab their phone-and answer every call , just in case the call was for me -had to make sure when I answered my office phone the next day that I didn't respond with the bars name
When pagers came along, I became an expert at throwing them when it would go off over 30 times in a few minutes.
Now I do Program mgmt. lots of hours,but no on call and very few nights and weekends, all scheduled.
Miss servers and such, but not enough to go back, and technology moves so fast that I probably could not do the job anymore anyway.

 

[MossRoad]

We had to dial in over a modem to check our VMS system backups on weekends. I was able to convince them it was cheaper for them to install a CENTREX line in my house VS me suing them for making me use my own phone line to do their work. So they said they were going to pay me a monthly stipend for using my own line. A CENTREX line was only $9 a month. No brainer. I got a coffee mug for saving them money. :laughing:

 

[riptides]

We should have an IT horror story thread. I'll add one of my favorite stories later. I have three good ones. They are very good. Beautiful. Sat on huge amounts of infrastructure and showed where people had little to no accountability or cultural differences led to massive issues. Massive I tell you. And that's where my teams stepped in. I say teams but we all know who the hero really is.

On a side note, I never had the physical issues described by some. Mentally, for me, yeah, it is a strain. But what is not?

 

[riptides]

We had to dial in over a modem to check our VMS system backups on weekends. I was able to convince them it was cheaper for them to install a CENTREX line in my house VS me suing them for making me use my own phone line to do their work. So they said they were going to pay me a monthly stipend for using my own line. A CENTREX line was only $9 a month. No brainer. I got a coffee mug for saving them money. :laughing:

VMS ruled! microVAX, VAX, Alpha. I just got rid of an AlphaServer 2100 the other day....that's another of my three favorite stories!

 

[MossRoad]

I will say that I was fortunate, in that I was a salaried employee. I was expected to account for 40 hours a week. I always averaged 50. But I could take off pretty much anytime during the day to go see my kids' school and sporting events. And I ate lunch with my wife at least 4 times a week for 25 years, as she worked about a block away from me. My kids have told me they never felt neglected or short changed because of my job even though I had to cut out of events quite often. We'd often take 2 cars in case I had to leave. Heck, sometimes I'd take them in with me to work and they'd play at my desk or watch me work on things. They knew all my coworkers and supervisors and the names of the systems. I have no regrets about that job, but would not want it back.

 

[cdaigle430]

Been there too, had a job where I was on call all the time. Much smaller operation though.
With that much equipment around the globe, how large is the support dept? Hopefully more than just you.

Agree that technology has just become an electronic leash. Having been in your shoes is a good part of the reason I've adamantly refused to get a cellphone. Being reachable 24/7/365 isnt' all it's cracked up to be. Won't even get into they way it tracks you...

Just 8 others but when Im on call I am alone.

 

[cdaigle430]

Don't take this wrong, but you need a different job with better tech. Like everything in life - you (the individual) has a choice.

I chase electrons all day, the only time I go to a physical location is to collect physical evidence. And if that is needed, well a whole lotta other people have not done their job.

I rarely look at my phone, I don't wear a watch.

I dont have many options-I am almost completely deaf so this job is the only type where I dont deal with customers and only deal with vendors from time to time.

I tried for 10 years to get something else both internally and externally-is a humiliating experience for me and kills the self esteem. Not much for someone my age, at my current salary and with my handicap-I've been through 1000s of interview. Once I am done here I am done the workforce all together.

I may not like what I do but the company and my fellow employees as well as my managers are the best.