Full Version: It Pros Unhappy At Work
| QUOTE |
| IT pros unhappy at work When it comes to being happy at work, IT professionals are a miserable bunch. Only 14 per cent of IT workers are very happy in their job, compared to 40 per cent of care assistants. While a third of IT workers feel that they are appreciated, half find their work unrewarding. According to the City & Guilds "Happiness Index" - compiled to track the satisfaction of the country’s workforce - one in ten IT workers is unhappy in his job. Instead, the research found that vocational workers - such as chefs, florists and plumbers - are the most content with their jobs. |
The IT business has changed drammatically over the last 5 years or so.
We used to be able to work basically how we wanted as long as the end product was delivered and worked.
These days it's organising resources, non-technical senior managers, documentation, project boards, etc. etc.
Oh for the days when we could build entire systems without interference from the hardware/software/firmware demarcation police, operate on fag-packet specs and not have to worry about politicians poking their noses in.
Job can be a bastard sometimes but I think I'm still reasonably happy doing it.
But then I'm just an ageing hippie.
Peace.
D.
We used to be able to work basically how we wanted as long as the end product was delivered and worked.
These days it's organising resources, non-technical senior managers, documentation, project boards, etc. etc.
Oh for the days when we could build entire systems without interference from the hardware/software/firmware demarcation police, operate on fag-packet specs and not have to worry about politicians poking their noses in.
Job can be a bastard sometimes but I think I'm still reasonably happy doing it.
But then I'm just an ageing hippie.
Peace.
D.
From my perspective as a software tester, fag packet specs are most of the problem.
As systems get more complex, you can't just let a programmer sit down, devise a system and then write it how they want to, because programmers are not the best people to decide things like this - they certainly are'nt going to be able to sit down with a customer, and work out exactly what and how the system is going to do its task, and they are almost all shit at documenting what they produce (many write stuff in such a way that its indecipherable, because they figure that it safeguards their job if no-one can understand what they produce)
A lot of the old skool programmers bitch and moan about this, because their creativity is being stifled and they are having to work from specs that tell them exactly what to do.
Developers can continue to moan about the fact that they are having to work within some kind of organisation structure and do things a certain way, but these things are there to try and produce a solution that the client wants, not what a programmer thought they wanted
Saying that, I find working in IT soulless and massively dissatisfying, compare to doing stuff like carework (which I did before I got into IT). At least with carework I felt like I was doing some good, and making a difference in peoples lives.
However, IT pays much more and has better working hours, so I shall stick with being miserable and in a soul destroying job, knowing I can waltz out of there at 5.30 each week day and not have to think about anything but how to spend my money (or how my missus will spend my money anyway)
As systems get more complex, you can't just let a programmer sit down, devise a system and then write it how they want to, because programmers are not the best people to decide things like this - they certainly are'nt going to be able to sit down with a customer, and work out exactly what and how the system is going to do its task, and they are almost all shit at documenting what they produce (many write stuff in such a way that its indecipherable, because they figure that it safeguards their job if no-one can understand what they produce)
A lot of the old skool programmers bitch and moan about this, because their creativity is being stifled and they are having to work from specs that tell them exactly what to do.
Developers can continue to moan about the fact that they are having to work within some kind of organisation structure and do things a certain way, but these things are there to try and produce a solution that the client wants, not what a programmer thought they wanted
Saying that, I find working in IT soulless and massively dissatisfying, compare to doing stuff like carework (which I did before I got into IT). At least with carework I felt like I was doing some good, and making a difference in peoples lives.
However, IT pays much more and has better working hours, so I shall stick with being miserable and in a soul destroying job, knowing I can waltz out of there at 5.30 each week day and not have to think about anything but how to spend my money (or how my missus will spend my money anyway)
ive always found IT boring... but also never found anything else so easy that pays so well...
mu
mu
Hi OMH ....
[QUOTE]As systems get more complex, you can't just let a programmer sit down, devise a system and then write it how they want to, because programmers are not the best people to decide things like this - they certainly are'nt going to be able to sit down with a customer, and work out exactly what and how the system is going to do its task, and they are almost all shit at documenting what they produce (many write stuff in such a way that its indecipherable, because they figure that it safeguards their job if no-one can understand what they produce)
A lot of the old skool programmers bitch and moan about this, because their creativity is being stifled and they are having to work from specs that tell them exactly what to do.
All perfectly true, but seat-of-the-pants programming/engineering did used to be much more satisfying. However, the real world is where we earn a crust these days. I had to look up "documentation" in the dictionary ....
Peace.
D.
[QUOTE]As systems get more complex, you can't just let a programmer sit down, devise a system and then write it how they want to, because programmers are not the best people to decide things like this - they certainly are'nt going to be able to sit down with a customer, and work out exactly what and how the system is going to do its task, and they are almost all shit at documenting what they produce (many write stuff in such a way that its indecipherable, because they figure that it safeguards their job if no-one can understand what they produce)
A lot of the old skool programmers bitch and moan about this, because their creativity is being stifled and they are having to work from specs that tell them exactly what to do.
All perfectly true, but seat-of-the-pants programming/engineering did used to be much more satisfying. However, the real world is where we earn a crust these days. I had to look up "documentation" in the dictionary ....
Peace.
D.
Hmmmm
Interesting.
As a prospective and as yet unskilled member of the IT workforce I find these comments quite insightful.
I'm looking for an entry level job and a way in, but at this stage I'm casting my net far and wide and not getting too specific about the direction I want to take.
From what you say (and I'd like to hear more) I perhaps should be very careful about what positions I should look for.
This is a revelation to me as I beleived that aiming for the cutting edge of the industry would yield profits and contentment.
Interesting.
As a prospective and as yet unskilled member of the IT workforce I find these comments quite insightful.
I'm looking for an entry level job and a way in, but at this stage I'm casting my net far and wide and not getting too specific about the direction I want to take.
From what you say (and I'd like to hear more) I perhaps should be very careful about what positions I should look for.
This is a revelation to me as I beleived that aiming for the cutting edge of the industry would yield profits and contentment.
| QUOTE |
| as I beleived that aiming for the cutting edge of the industry would yield profits and contentment. |
So did everyone else mate!
What CompuServe et al, don't tell us in their marketing literature is that the market is absolutely flooded with talented young things with a C&G in computer-jiggery-pokery, all looking for the "holy grail"!
Truth of the matter is, most of these talented young things end up in a call centre giving technical support to Joe Public! Others go and work for their local authority tending to desktop hardware failures etc, for £15000 a year! *yawns*
A minority do end up going the distance, (another 3 years in Uni).
Come out with a VERY good degree in something a little more demanding than "Microsoft Certified", and an intimate knowledge of two or more of the popular programming languages and you could start checking "The Times" job pages, as long as you can sell yourself, as well as your skills!
If your looking for a trade mate..be a plumber!
National shortage of them apparently!
RD
And in the article they are one of the happiest :-)
Plus I could do my own bathroom instead of trying in vain to even get a quote for it.
I was thinking of getting some qualifications this morning but not many jobs actually demand degrees, except strangely for entry level posts.
Plus I could do my own bathroom instead of trying in vain to even get a quote for it.
I was thinking of getting some qualifications this morning but not many jobs actually demand degrees, except strangely for entry level posts.
my dad's a plumber.
but that piece of information will cost you thirty quid.
but that piece of information will cost you thirty quid.
| QUOTE (bouda @ Mar 23 2004, 06:42 PM) |
| but that piece of information will cost you thirty quid. |
nice one.
Im studying I.T for 3 years im in the first year how boring
Why study it if it bores you?
Plus with IT outsourcing and the dot com bubble burst you would be better off learning to be a plumber if its just decent pay you want.
Plus with IT outsourcing and the dot com bubble burst you would be better off learning to be a plumber if its just decent pay you want.
Computer programing is decent pay and i cant see myself being MARIO
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