Career: Industry that doesn't make you want to burn everything down and walk out the door?
Posted by AlyssaAlyssum@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 28 comments
Most of my IT career has been in large(er) corporate businesses. Where usually the money isn't 'real', everyone's job title has at least 1 buzzword and only 3/100 people do anything tangible anyway.
I consider myself pretty "get stuck in and figure it out", the stereotype "swiss-army knife sysadmin".... The other week I was running around with an oscilloscope, probing an Analog signal (equipment synchronisation) from some of our lab equipment to debug a problem and "It's nobody else's job".
The longer I spend in these environments, the more bitter and frustrated I find myself at how much nonsensical and general wastes, of time, equipment and resources that seems to occur in these companies from the many layers of bureaucracy.
As a current example. We currently have more than we know what to do with, of these specific industrial Supermicro servers (Not GPU). Which today cost us around 20k each, that I have an actual pile of them on the floor (I've already used a couple as 20K ballast for some racks).
But when I ask for a 'measly' 2K budget to buy proper shelves to put them and a bunch of other assorted equipment? Denied (Floor it is then). "Sorry, that's not in the budget. But we're spending 50k on Thing because we need to spend That 50k before the end of the year. It doesn't really offer any benefits though."
I don't think I can handle the stupidity forever. I could give sooooo many examples of utterly stupid shit I've seen in my current job alone.
Anyway. Trying to get to the point.
I was wondering, if anybody had any suggestions of industries for advice about trying to find a mythical company where reality actually exists in one form or another? But simultaneously, I don't have to go dumpster diving on the weekend to replace PC's.
Even better if it's an Industry that actually pays a living wage.
I'd love to help out smaller charities, or organizations that are admirable and need support, I keep looking at volunteer things. But simultaneously, I'd like to have the option to buy a house one day.
Does the fabled land exist?
xboxhobo@reddit
You're looking for a mythological creature. It does not exist. Every organization that has more than 1 person is going to suffer from some level of bureaucracy.
Your problem is that you haven't changed your mindset yet. A long time ago I decided that I am happy with whatever the business is happy with. I don't personally take on the burden to inflict help on those that don't want it.
AlyssaAlyssum@reddit (OP)
Woah, woah, woah! One impossible task at a time okay!?
Joking aside. I don't necessarily disagree. But telling yourself to not give a shit and actually being able to not give a shit is an entirely different thing.
Also, I'm not so sure I want to join the horde of people in life contributing to "The Problem". Maybe I'm young (29) and stupidly idealistic enough to think it can be changed.
Dazzling-Collar-3200@reddit
Bruh! If you think 29 is young, you should apply as an IT specialist in corporate sector :p
AlyssaAlyssum@reddit (OP)
Don't know about current Industry trends. But the last few companies, I've been at. 29 is basically still a baby!
Current org is somewhere around the top end of Fortune 100. It's known as a massive 'Timebomb' that quite a significant portion of the company will retire in 10 years and a lot of experience and knowledge will be lost.
unix_heretic@reddit
"Being a freedom fighter, a force for good, it's a wonderful thing. You get to make your own hours, it looks good on a résumé...but the pay...sucks."
- Alfred Bester, "Babylon 5"
chevytrk454@reddit
I’m currently in power/ energy. I love the job, but there are tons of regulations and audits. But…. I came from government. Never again. Nothing like holding a clearance and having to do polygraphs and psych evals to make you hate everything. That place was hell.
QuiteFatty@reddit
IT in healthcare.
Makes you want to stay in the building.
robotbeatrally@reddit
because its driving you to a heart attack and the specialists are inside?
GeekTX@reddit
Came to say the same. I have been in healthcare in some fashion since 1997. Director of IT in rural health is where I thrive. Nothing compares to having a positive impact on patient care and the communities we serve.
I sleep well and I love the guy I see in the mirror every morning.
QuiteFatty@reddit
I mean meant I'd rather burn alive but you do you.
serverhorror@reddit
Yeah, in the building.
Just not the building where this happens. A building far, far away!
Ramonooks@reddit
Somewhere else where I'm safe and not anxious HAHA
AlyssaAlyssum@reddit (OP)
Took me a minute there 😅.
Everything I've seen/heard about healthcare does indeed suggest it's easier to stay in the building
gumbrilla@reddit
I enjoyed my time at a very large University, nice old one with some money..
But for the issue with your shelves, it's capex, that 50k is being spent as Capex, it's an asset. If your FY is ending at xmas, now is the time to start looking for anyone with spare budget. Also, talk to finance, what is the Asset threshold.. because no reason the shelves aren't an asset if they are expensive enough, and I'd imagine will depreciate at a much lower rate that hardware. Oh, and also if you ask them nicely, they will also know where there is some budget.. amazing how helpful they can be..
AlyssaAlyssum@reddit (OP)
Tbh. I'm not super hung up on the shelves, I've managed to somewhat let it go. As I mentioned, there are far too many other examples of stupid.
If the shelves really were worth dying on that hill, I could burn a handful of bridges and get them, but there are more important hills to die on and bridges to burn to die on those hills.
I'll just submit the tripping hazard paperwork and let what happens, happen.
And also, I'm aware Capex, vs Opex, allocations, etc. The 50K I mentioned in the example, Is spare and left over budget that's being burned.
But it's in the wrong box of beans that needs to be counted.
Site-Staff@reddit
Firefighter?
AlyssaAlyssum@reddit (OP)
Thought about it! Always enjoyed getting busy with physical work.... Actually prefer it. Just not any jobs paying a good wage, plus do still enjoy a terminal
E__Rock@reddit
Do you like creative design? Most of the digital designers i know are only unhappy for pay, which usually balances out once you have a solid workflow and a decent portfolio.
Kumorigoe@reddit
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Aegisnir@reddit
Luxury goods. You get a nice cushy office and people who are generally laid back. Very few people work after hours so ending the day at a normal time is almost always guaranteed.
ProfessionalBee4758@reddit
move to switzerland. as IT SE you will get 100k at least, the local economy is stable and companies are fair
Sammeeeeeee@reddit
This is interesting - I'm a dual English Swiss citizen, but I've not spent much time in Switzerland, and never considered moving there. Is the IT industry good?
ProfessionalBee4758@reddit
the hourly rate a b2b customer pays for an IT company is between usd 169 - 200 per hour ( IT sys admin things... ). a lack of qualified people is reasonable, bigger IT service companies like umb.ch also create near shore companies in other countries to get personal resources. sure, local living expanses are not low but the higher standards are worth it.
AlyssaAlyssum@reddit (OP)
Very tempting, I have been looking at moving elsewhere.
Just still learning how to package and sell my expertise (I.e. my CV looks like shit)
retnuh45@reddit
Non profit. Slower work pace but less pay
SysAdminDennyBob@reddit
Long established financial that has a \~2000+ employees. I work in a 100+ year old bank around that size. Budget is reasonable and money never gets yanked. Pay is decent, benefits are excellent. Just big enough to have the good tech, but small enough that you'll be a decision maker in your area. They are willing to spend on infrastructure that matters, e.g. when I got here 10 years ago they had a massive PURE storage array. We have a full DR datacenter states away from us. A really nice building. Very limited technical debt. All end user devices can be refreshed at 3 years, forced retired at 5 years. We have a CISO and CIO that are awesome, I know them, they know me. We have an aggressive compliance policy that allows me to beat up on application owners for things like security patching. I am 100% compliant on security patches across the board on servers. Exceptions are not allowed to float for long at all. I will have all workstations on win11 in the next 30 days. When I moved everyone off win7 there was a VP that refused to give up workstation, CISO let me go down and physically remove the device and he took all the heat for it. WFH Monday and Friday. On call events just never happen at all.
poopslinger_01@reddit
I've found the credit union space to have an inherent kindness to it. There's still management to deal with but the users seem much nicer. I'm at my 2nd one now
GalacticForest@reddit
Apply for an work for a nonprofit as sysadmin/IT manager/engineer. That's what I do and I find it rewarding supporting our mission to help society. Less nonsense than corporate private industry, generally low stress workflow and nice people. Of course you still have the frustrating people and processes and some lack of budget, but it gives you the chance to customize solutions and let your skills shine.