I'm lost and see no way out

easyontheeye

hi,

I've been working as a developer in IT for 2 yrs now and I hate it, im 25 and im on good money but its just not for me. everyday is a struggle, every task is a struggle but my only way out is to go for something i really want to do but I cant afford the drop in salary, its just not possible and even still im not sure if i would be happy doing that, as i think i would but i just dont know.

But in the long run I suppose i would be better off, right now im really feeling bitter over my career guidance in school, I was brain washed into thinking you would never get a good job if you didnt get a degree! well in fact now jobs that ive realised i would prefer to do over what im doing now dont involve college and are well paid if not more. has anyone been in my situation and how did you change your life?

Aoife-FM104

Hey,

I know the feeling of bad advice from your school or parents!!

My friend works as a developer. Just like you he used to hate it. For years he wanted to change but always felt he'd just be changing to another boring job, with less money, and he'd still be sitting in front of a PC.

He's still a developer and he loves it now! The problem was actually the company he was working for. He moved somewhere really relaxed, with nice people, working on interesting projects and he's really happy. Now that he's a bit older as well, he realises money is very important (sometimes it's not so obvious when you're 25 and loaded!!) so he's happy he has his secure, well paid developer job.

What I'm trying to say is, you can fix your situation. Development jobs are defo not as boring or crap as most other jobs, so try to make some small changes (new job, new attitude) and see if that helps!!

shoegirl

Would have to agree here. What can seem a horrendous job is often just a horrendous company. There is a lot of very poor management in IT at the moment, and to be honest, a lot of very bad managers who got in during the last tech boom, and were promoted into positions they never should have been. A lot of these are themselves disgruntled employees who are pissed off because there is more pressure and they cannot cope.

One problem I am seeing a lot of it companies who totally U-turn on committments made to Ireland when moving work and departments over here after upper management changes. This is wreaking havoc with employees who were promised glowing careers in companies making seemingly big investments that sometimes don't even fully materialise before the work is moved back to the UK/US/EU or elsewhere. Its something that the IDA needs to get a grip on since lots of these companies are getting huge state assistance to take the Irish and EU taxpayers for a ride.

hamsterboy

Hey easyontheeye
I was in the same situation a few years ago and like the previous poster, I changed company and everything changed for the better. Now I love my job and am getting on very well (also work in I.T.).
I know it feels like s**t but I reckon it's not the job but the place

comer_97

i used to be like the OP, so I did something about it. I went contracting, short term so you spend time getting to know new places and people. The work seems more interesting that way.

What do you mean by you can't afford a drop in salary? Is that you don't want a drop in salary or that you have loans and mortgages to pay.

Whether you go for a new job, new career, do something. That will make it better!

easyontheeye

Hi
thanks for all the replies,

I do see your points as I came from a job (another IT company) which i really enjoyed to a role with more technical responsiblity and competence required here. i have just felt like im loosing the motivation for it.
I'm not really in a position to move as I've worked in my last job for 15 months and here for 10 months (both completely seperate roles), I need to give it some time here so that I dont build up a reputation of moving around jobs alot.

One things someone said was the management is poor, is not like that in here (its actually quite good) but one thing is the threat of outsourcing, this is taking place next year and nobody really knows whats going to happen, alot of my colleagues have been through many redundancies (in other IT companies) over outsourcing. its not something i fancy going through life worrying about but its hard to ignore it.

comer_97

if it's worrying then you should move on. Uncertainty like that and stress like that is not necesssary. The job market is quite good at the moment so get out there and have a look.

I don't think staying just to get the magical 2 years experience is 100% necessary.

DublinWriter

easyontheeye wrote:

has anyone been in my situation and how did you change your life?

I was working in IT from age 19 to 28 as a full time employee. I did my IT degree in TCD at night, which wasn't pretty and I was stuck in a rut.

I went out on my own as a contractor under my own limited company eight years ago when I was 28.

I've had some great times working around Europe for very good money and made some life-long friends on my travels.

About four years ago if found myself in the exact same position again. Bascially I got into writing for various publications, all sorts and for everyone.

I'm just finishing up an MSc at night at the moment, but I'm feeling pretty burnt out in my mid-30's.

I'd say the most important thing for you is to know where you want to go. You basically need some kind of map in life or you'll be going around in circles, set yourself some 2, 5 and 10 year objectives, both personally and professionally.

I'm pretty disenchanted with IT as a profession at the moment, especially with the overall quality and lack thereof in I.T. Managers/Directors, as one poster pointed out. I've yet to meet one I.T. Manager who didn't get his position because he really couldn't cut it in management or in a technical capacity within I.T. Most I.T. managers are the living embodiment of the Peter Principle.

Here's another classic example. I'm currently involved as an independent consultant working for a very big multi-national. Recently they've had an IT consultant in from one of the more well known International consultancies, I won't say who. This person knows all the buzz-words and management speak and has senior management around his finger.

During one particular meeting, I raised a few concerns regarding the system the large consultancy was proposing to implement, especially regarding bandwidth and the company's own WAN.

After the meeting, the 2K a day consultant pulled me aside and asked "What exactly does bandwidth mean?"

I kid you not. This is someone being sold into the company as an IT consultant and who has sat there for the past 6 months clocking up 2K a day for his consultancy.

Ok, rant over. I feel much better now!

DonkeyStyle \o/

DublinWriter wrote:

After the meeting, the 2K a day consultant pulled me aside and asked "What exactly does bandwidth mean?"

He was just checking to see if you knew... yes that must be it
Or maybe he was just being really deep and philosophical.

Darragh29

DublinWriter wrote:

Here's another classic example. I'm currently involved as an independent consultant working for a very big multi-national. Recently they've had an IT consultant in from one of the more well known International consultancies, I won't say who. This person knows all the buzz-words and management speak and has senior management around his finger.

During one particular meeting, I raised a few concerns regarding the system the large consultancy was proposing to implement, especially regarding bandwidth and the company's own WAN.

After the meeting, the 2K a day consultant pulled me aside and asked "What exactly does bandwidth mean?"

I kid you not. This is someone being sold into the company as an IT consultant and who has sat there for the past 6 months clocking up 2K a day for his consultancy.

Ok, rant over. I feel much better now!

Hahaha, I bet I know what multinational company that is!!! Wouldn't be out around the Leixlip area would it!?!?! Sounds familar!

shoegirl

easyontheeye wrote:

One things someone said was the management is poor, is not like that in here (its actually quite good) but one thing is the threat of outsourcing, this is taking place next year and nobody really knows whats going to happen, alot of my colleagues have been through many redundancies (in other IT companies) over outsourcing. its not something i fancy going through life worrying about but its hard to ignore it.

To be honest this is not a bad reason for wanting to move away from IT.

The dept I work for is closing down and the work we do is going to be moved elsewhere. As it happens I resigned about 4 days about the annoucement as I have a good offer elsewhere.

This is the 3rd time a company I've worked for has laid off IT staff in little over 5 years. The outsource threat is very real and is hitting IT workers hard. The only problem I do see is as I've pointed out elsewhere a lot of the jobs here were "outsourced" to Ireland in the first place and are fundamentally unstable positions often moved to ireland on a whim.

DublinWriter

shoegirl wrote:

This is the 3rd time a company I've worked for has laid off IT staff in little over 5 years. The outsource threat is very real and is hitting IT workers hard.

The trick really is to be ahead of the game in terms of your skill set - make it's portable and don't get too comfortable anywhere, that's unless you work for the Civil Service.

BryanD

Easyontheeye


Don’t let the fact that you have only been in the company 10 months stop you from changing.

I changed jobs a year ago. After 5 weeks in the company I still had a computer with no development software and my desk still had not be set up. After a few more incidents I got sick of the incompetence and handed in my notice. I was out two weeks later – Best move I ever made.

I went contracting and have been very happy with work ever since.

If a company wants you they will understand that you weren’t enjoying your last job, and basically life’s too short to be stuck in a job that gets you down.

Stark

easyontheeye wrote:

I've been working as a developer in IT for 2 yrs now and I hate it, im 25 and im on good money but its just not for me. everyday is a struggle, every task is a struggle but my only way out is to go for something i really want to do but I cant afford the drop in salary, its just not possible and even still im not sure if i would be happy doing that, as i think i would but i just dont know.

Where's this junior IT job with good money?

DublinWriter

BryanD wrote:

If a company wants you they will understand that you weren’t enjoying your last job, and basically life’s too short to be stuck in a job that gets you down.

Damn right. As long as you can put a good 'spin' on why you left etc, etc, without sounding negative.

In my experience the interview will tell you all you need to know about a company. As in, what was the attitude of the receptionists when you arrived?, was your interviewer prepared? What was the general state of the offices like?

Early on in your career you tend to be quake-2-ing with fear when you're waiting around to be called into that little room for the interview. Later on, you learn to kick-back and notice the little things around you in the environment of the company's reception.

One of my last full time jobs was with a major global pharma company where the HR Director admitted a little secret to me. He would always ask the reception staff about the attitude of the person coming in for the interview - was she/he rude and abrubt, was he/she mannerly, etc. He said people can be as nice as pie during the interview, but how they threat those they see as less senior to them can be very revealing.

Crea

Hiya,
My husband is 42 and HATES his job. He feels a bit stuck as we have kids and a house but he is doing a night course to move to a different area.
I am guessing at 25 that you don't have a house and don't have major financial responsibilities so if IT really isn't for you then change now or you'll get stuck.

DublinWriter

Crea wrote:

My husband is 42 and HATES his job. He feels a bit stuck as we have kids and a house but he is doing a night course to move to a different area.

I found when I worked in IT in the UK that you get an older profile of techie working there - typically guys in their mid 40's to late 50's programming.

What I found with a lot of the older types was that a lot were deeply unhappy after doing something for years which they hated. This manifested itself in lots of ways, including a very bad case of Manic Depression. I'm sure it can also lead to physical illnesses too.

I guess your hubby is lucky because he's identified an escape route and is actively digging a tunnel.

Many like him feel deeply trapped because of financial family pressures.

billsteersnose

I also work in IT and the outsourcing threat is something that I always keep in mind. I'm thinking about doing a course in something else at night, but Im curious as to what other careers IT people are changing to. I have interests in plenty of things but have no idea what to make a career change into!

Stark

DublinWriter wrote:

One of my last full time jobs was with a major global pharma company where the HR Director admitted a little secret to me. He would always ask the reception staff about the attitude of the person coming in for the interview - was she/he rude and abrubt, was he/she mannerly, etc. He said people can be as nice as pie during the interview, but how they threat those they see as less senior to them can be very revealing.

I didn't know that was considered a "secret"

Cantab.

Anyone ever see the film "Office Space" - it's about these 25 year old software developers working in a multinational called IniTech. It's hilarious! Highly recommended viewing for all multinational workers!

I'm 25 and I used to work in a multinational - I left very recently, and now am starting my own business (with generous IDA support - thanks guys!). I also bought a taxi in case of poor cash-flow times - I went out last night and made €200. It doens't have to be all doom and gloom - there are loads of opportunities out there for young people that just weren't there 20 years ago. A little bit of imagination and creative will, and you'll get there.

DublinWriter

Cantab. wrote:

I'm 25 and I used to work in Ericsson - I left very recently, and now am starting my own business (with generous IDA support - thanks guys!)...A little bit of imagination and creative will, and you'll get there.

Well done dude.

I set out on my own almost 10 years ago and haven't looked back since.

As my last full-time boss said to me "you never get rich working for anyone else".

Supercell

Cantab. wrote:

I'm 25 and I used to work in a multinational - I left very recently, and now am starting my own business (with generous IDA support - thanks guys!). I also bought a taxi in case of poor cash-flow times - I went out last night and made €200. It doens't have to be all doom and gloom - there are loads of opportunities out there for young people that just weren't there 20 years ago. A little bit of imagination and creative will, and you'll get there.

Fair play, am thinking/dreaming of doing the exact same, being my own boss really appeals.

People with get up and go like yourself are what made the Celtic Tiger..very few of you left these days it seems, more credit to you for having the entrepreneurial balls to go about it.

DublinWriter

Longfield wrote:

Fair play, am thinking/dreaming of doing the exact same, being my own boss really appeals.

I hope it appeals for the right reasons!

Longfield wrote:

People with get up and go like yourself are what made the Celtic Tiger..very few of you left these days it seems, more credit to you for having the entrepreneurial balls to go about it.

True, and I find it saddening that the government will flush tens of millions down the toilet in terms of their funding of the ill-fated MIT Multimedia Lab and they won't give local indigenous entrepreneurs any substantial funding.

It will only be indigenous service-based companies that will keep the Celtic Tiger afloat; the big IT manufacturers can always move their operations to a cheaper country.

eth0_

samtanham wrote:

sounds like most people are talking about changing there devel job or have done for the better in most cases.
if you want have a look at these career profiles from lots of developers on BLAH.ie also if you are looking for a new job check out BLAH.ie
1000's of jobs for techies over 200 jobs at the moment for dev's

Banned.