Rant: IT career boredom

Warning: Rant ahead.

I've been in this industry for a decade now, and this whole IT career thing is boring me to death sometimes. I'm doing well money-wise, and I whenever I target a certain position in a certain company/industry, I end up getting there. Still I can't help but feel bored to tears sometimes.

I do maintain a very active life-style outside IT with many hobbies. I don't like to sound like an ungrateful person.

Does anyone feel this way?

Any tips/suggestions?

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Comments

jamesleecoleman

Have you thought about doing IT stuff in a different country?

aftereffector

It could be worse. But I know you know that already

Do you feel like you've lost a passion for something? I have felt that way several times, but it comes back - just not necessarily for the same thing as before. I've jumped headlong into my work and any of several very different hobbies at different times.

UnixGuy

@James: I have, I lived in different countries in the past 10 years. Initial change is good, but then back to the same things more or less.

@aftereffector: yes, I used to have certain passion about learning all those technologies, but now everything seems kind of the same

Asif Dasl

Some people just see a job as something to pay the bills... a perspective to think about? I however have a passion for IT - its just it sometimes wanes a little now and then. Especially when there is a bunch of exams need doing..

Ever thought of starting your own business? That way you get IT and business/accounting/marketing/etc all in one to keep you busy and hopefully interested enough?

N2IT

I like the approach above. Sounds like you are a bright person who can take it to the next "level". What about starting a business or maybe change career altogether. You want to talk about a challenge that will test your skills

I've done it twice already and it never does offer a boring moment. While financially in the beginning it's not a wise move through effort and skills you get there. You can only make so much money in an IT role anyway. In the US anything over 160 is rare for a pure technologist position.

What about trying to get into a leadership role where you can actually make a difference. I found worker bee positions are generally boring, whereas the strategic positions are far more entertaining.

I have two little ones though and the strategic positions require a lot more time if you want to do it right.

UnixGuy

@Asif: For it's just a job, a well paying job that I occasionally enjoy, but it gets tedious.

I think a lot about starting a business, specially a Linux training centre or even an IT reseller/service provider but the truth of the matter is that I have zero business knowledge I don't even know where to start.

I thought about starting offering training after working hours and go from there.

@N2IT: I thought about business ^^. I would actually love to get into a leadership role (something like a Team leader of some sort, but it's not happening). I thought about pre-sales/architect type roles, and info sec, or consulting. Sometimes I think I'd rather be a restaurant owner than doing an IT job to be honest.

Essendon

You need to start in the world of contracting mate! The skills you have are very valuable, you should be able to pick up contracts easily I think.

And dont think of a restaurant unless you are really passionate about food and customer service I tell ya!

UnixGuy

Essendon wrote: »

You need to start in the world of contracting mate! The skills you have are very valuable, you should be able to pick up contracts easily I think.

And dont think of a restaurant unless you are really passionate about food and customer service I tell ya!

funny I was approached today in Linkedin (despite my profile being vague /private) for a 6 months contract...I declined because i don't wanna hurt my employer now because I'm in the middle of a project, once it's done, I'm gonna explore my options.

jibbajabba

I feel like it some day ... IT is an ungrateful profession - Appreciation is the lack of complaints. Sometimes I wished I could just go into pigfarming or something

Essendon

I'm with you jibba! Sometimes I think I should've been a landscaper or a poultry farmer.

EngRob

jibbajabba wrote: »

I feel like it some day ... IT is an ungrateful profession - Appreciation is the lack of complaints. Sometimes I wished I could just go into pigfarming or something

Still trying to figure what i'm going to be when I grow up. Maybe a Rock star or a pilot

the_Grinch

Usually I get this way when I've been doing the same thing for sometime. I was close to five years of tech support and that was really dragging me down. Now I only have to do a little of it which has made things better for sure. Seems to me that a new role is in order.

JoJoCal19

Wow, get out of my mind UnixGuy!!! I only talk to my wife about these feelings because I don't want to seem ungrateful for the amazing job I have. I too feel bored and unfulfilled with my job. But the_Grinch hit the nail on the head. It's mostly when I'm doing the same thing and when I'm not learning new things. Unfortunately I've come in and destroyed this position (just had my mid-year and my manager said the same thing!) so that plays a big part and I'm only in my 5th month here. However I had a talk with my director about relocating back to Jax and she has given me support to post out (there is no 12 month rule here) and her and my manager are supportive of me moving on up within the company.

Like I said, great situation and I get paid a lot of money to essentially come in here and study for half the day. I do a version of the 80/20 rule, I do 80% of the work in 20% of the time. So I don't like ranting about it much, but it's good to know I'm not the only one, so if you ever want to, PM me and we can rant to each other. I myself enjoy IT but I do view it as a means to my ultimate end, which is in Real Estate.

Ukimokia

To be quite honest, I'm only using IT because you can't get into it without a degree and make some decent money with certs and experience. So I'm trying to save up and pay off my car and then save up some money and start my own business or go to school full time. My true passion is sports and business. So I'd much rather go into one of those.

I'm only 19 so I figure I've still got plenty of time.

it_consultant

Thing with IT is when it is going well, it is very boring. Half the IT guys I know have jobs on the side to keep their interest in IT up and current. I do ironman triathlons to keep myself from going over the deep end. There is good and bad in IT and this is definitely one of those good and bad things depending on the situation.

mwilliams3535

Wow! So glad i found this thread. I was actually thinking about starting my own blog to rant about how bored i am of IT. I've been in it for 20 years now and have worked for some great companies. I've been in primarily 2 industries: Legal and Financial Services. I just finished up a 4 year stint at one of the top FS firms in the country. Funny thing is I've been bored for the past few years. At this point, I'd rather gouge my own eyes out than get another IT job, but as some of you mentioned, the money is good (125K and bored), it pays the bills, have afforded me a comfortable lifestyle, but the big question is, is that the be-all, end-all? I've been wanting to update my Certs and have a had a month or so to get started with studying, but it seems that I have no energy/passion for it. I find myself doing everything else around the house besides sitting on the computer to study. I have about 5 years consulting also (under my own Corp) and that was passionate. I had stay billable, so it was always challenging to look for the next 3 or 6 month contract. The good thing about consulting is as long as you're professional and help the client achieve their goals, you don't have to drink their Kool-Aid. I'm thinking of becoming a permanent consultant, but with the unsteady employment market, I have to be open to both contract and FTE gigs. I have no other discernible skills besides writing (I've toyed with the idea of being a screenwriter), so I'm feeling pretty stuck right now. Also, i have a wife and 3 young kids, so as the breadwinner, my focus has to be making $, to keep taking care of the family. I'm just afraid that if i get a Full-time gig I will be bored to tears again. To keep myself sane, over the past 4 years, I've done a lot of volunteering, which makes me feel good. Thankfully, my last company were big into being corporate citizens, so there were plenty of volunteering opportunities. At this point, I think a change of scenery is in order. I've lived in NYC all my life, so now I'm thinking re-locating to Charlotte may help get me out of this rut. To the original poster, I want to say look into starting your own IT consulting business (Check out SBA and SCORE); find a volunteering cause you're passionate about (it'll help ease the boredom); save $ for the rainy days (there will be plenty of those); explore other career choices (which don't require too much ramp-up time). Most of all, keep your head up; it will get better. Thanks for letting me rant (Lord knows my wife is tired of hearing it).PS: Long Haul Heavy Machinery Truck drivers can make over $100K per year. Just saying

UnixGuy

My current job is not bad at all. I'm working on new stuff all the time (on my own pace most of the time), the environment is relaxed and I can (and did) learn a lot of stuff on my own. These are the positives. I do have (decent) downtime. No after working hours and no weekends.

I can't think of any negatives to be honest, yes the pay could be better but it could be worse as well. Some Linux admin jobs pay less and some more (we're talking -+30K), but I don't think this is a huge factor for me anyway.

I think I'll suck it up for few more months, 'till I can justify the move. I'm thinking of my next step strategically, I don't want a job where I'm on call or having to work weekends/after hours (trust me I've had my share of those...I remember an 8 months period where I worked EVERY WEEKEND, and stayed after hours...I've had my share!!).

I have serious hobbies outside work where I'm out every single day, have tons of friends and I meet heaps of new people *everyday*, so my lifestyle is good as far as I know. I'm just being ungrateful and asking for more because I know I'm capable of much more.

Deathmage

UnixGuy wrote: »

@James: I have, I lived in different countries in the past 10 years. Initial change is good, but then back to the same things more or less.

@aftereffector: yes, I used to have certain passion about learning all those technologies, but now everything seems kind of the same

there is a company in NZ called Kiwiplan, they have a Linux based ERP system that is very complex. Maybe if your willing you should seek them out. You might not be bored with that job.

So you know Kiwiplan is the largest software provider for Corrugation companies in the world, corrugation is boxes.

N2IT

Deathmage wrote: »

there is a company in NZ called Kiwiplan, they have a Linux based ERP system that is very complex. Maybe if your willing you should seek them out. You might not be bored with that job.

So you know Kiwiplan is the largest software provider for Corrugation companies in the world, corrugation is boxes.

Love me some Kiwiplan. I used to work at a corrugated box company and they used Kiwiplan to schedule their jobs. It really was a difference maker.

UnixGuy

sounds interesting but I'm not interested in moving to NZ at this point

Deathmage

N2IT wrote: »

Love me some Kiwiplan. I used to work at a corrugated box company and they used Kiwiplan to schedule their jobs. It really was a difference maker.

Indeed and the awesome thing is... its CentOS based so it NEVER EVER BREAKS! .... I think in 3 years the Kiwiplan cluster went offline once right before Hurricane Sandy as a pre-cautionary measure other than that it's never required maintenance.... However if you know Kiwiplan you probably heard of Amtech Software which is Windows-based and there reliability is well dismal....

UnixGuy wrote: »

sounds interesting but I'm not interested in moving to NZ at this point

You may not have to move... Corrugation companies are in every swath of land all over the world, you working for Kiwiplan but being based in Australia may-be lucrative for you.

W Stewart

UnixGuy wrote: »

My current job is not bad at all. I'm working on new stuff all the time (on my own pace most of the time), the environment is relaxed and I can (and did) learn a lot of stuff on my own. These are the positives. I do have (decent) downtime. No after working hours and no weekends.

I can't think of any negatives to be honest, yes the pay could be better but it could be worse as well. Some Linux admin jobs pay less and some more (we're talking -+30K), but I don't think this is a huge factor for me anyway.

I think I'll suck it up for few more months, 'till I can justify the move. I'm thinking of my next step strategically, I don't want a job where I'm on call or having to work weekends/after hours (trust me I've had my share of those...I remember an 8 months period where I worked EVERY WEEKEND, and stayed after hours...I've had my share!!).

I have serious hobbies outside work where I'm out every single day, have tons of friends and I meet heaps of new people *everyday*, so my lifestyle is good as far as I know. I'm just being ungrateful and asking for more because I know I'm capable of much more.

I kind of know what you mean. Sometimes I feel like I'm selling myself short by not being a developer but at the same time, I'm really good at linux administration. I don't know if I'd be as good of a developer.

UnixGuy

The pay scale of developers isn't that attractive, and it's still IT in terms of lifestyle.

kohr-ah

Learn programming
Create the next minecraft/candy crush/angry birds.
Sell off to someone else that has interest for a high amount.
Go enjoy life and become what you want to be?

AnthonyG

kohr-ah wrote: »

Learn programming
Create the next minecraft/candy crush/angry birds.
Sell off to someone else that has interest for a high amount.
Go enjoy life and become what you want to be?

Extremely competitive and lucky market.

Jon_Cisco

I think everyone gets tired of doing there job at times. If I could I would not work on computers at all.
My one suggestion would be put a little money aside for a career change fund. When the time comes you can feel better knowing that you have some play money while you explore other options.

If you are serious about wanting a team lead or management role make it happen.

Good Luck!

Balantine

I certainly understand the arrogance, as much the same mindset helps when tackling problems in general. But it sounds like some psychotherapy or cognitive restructuring/rationalization is in order.

Maybe giving what you do for other people and seeing the larger picture historically and socially a good long hard think would help in rediscovering some joy. Seems like some consideration for how bad life can be for other parts of humanity is in order. Maybe some kind of more deliberate, socially conscious action or deeper understanding of how things came to be this way for you and not everyone else, informationally, philosophically, etc.

You can't put a price on loving what you do.

On the other hand, there's always happy pills.

DoubleNNs

Balantine wrote: »

On the other hand, there's always happy pills.

Where can I get me some of those?

Deathmage

Unixguy,

Thought of you....

Kiwiplan has an office in Melbourne, close to you?

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UnixGuy

oh yes that's nearby