Comments on: 10 Reasons It Doesn’t Pay To Be “The Computer Guy” http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/ It takes courage to reinvent yourself. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:06:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Will http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-3926 Will Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:34:51 +0000 http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-3926 This looks like another person who wants to say "wah wah boo hoo me me me". You got involved with computers because they interest you, and if you can't get interested with talking about things you like, you need to take yourself down a few notches. I'm a consultant computer engineer and I get questions like this all the time. I'm more than pleased to help other people understand computers like I do. It's like learning another language. I wouldn't go into a first year spanish class and speak fluently to them, expecting them to understand everything. Tip: don't be an asshole, people don't have the same knowledge you do. This looks like another person who wants to say “wah wah boo hoo me me me”. You got involved with computers because they interest you, and if you can’t get interested with talking about things you like, you need to take yourself down a few notches. I’m a consultant computer engineer and I get questions like this all the time. I’m more than pleased to help other people understand computers like I do. It’s like learning another language. I wouldn’t go into a first year spanish class and speak fluently to them, expecting them to understand everything. Tip: don’t be an asshole, people don’t have the same knowledge you do.

]]> By: Elsa http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-3859 Elsa Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:07:54 +0000 http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-3859 Hi! This is a really well written article. I agree in every word that you say especially when people know that you are working with computers they judge you right away that you must be an expert on latest technology and stuff... It also annoys me that sometimes you are obliged to fix the computer... Hi!

This is a really well written article. I agree in every word that you say especially when people know that you are working with computers they judge you right away that you must be an expert on latest technology and stuff… It also annoys me that sometimes you are obliged to fix the computer…

]]> By: Jeb http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-3813 Jeb Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:43:18 +0000 http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-3813 I feel like I just read the past 3 years of my worklife in 10 minutes... Now I want to know how Sean took action to get out of this poophole I'm in.. I feel like I just read the past 3 years of my worklife in 10 minutes…

Now I want to know how Sean took action to get out of this poophole I’m in..

]]> By: suffering http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-3648 suffering Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:55:33 +0000 http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-3648 Soo true. Every word of it. A lil about me below. I have worked as an IT administrator since i was 18 in age. My life hasn't been the same when people started asking for help on silly things which are not related to work, plus they bring their own personal pcs to let me fix it. They think we have soo much free time in the server room??? like srsly, we r always needed for much important work but some take it real hard n start to complain to my IT manager that i m not a good employee coz i didnt fix their personal pcs(F SAKES). I have already dedicated my life to work n cut off social life a bit. But after 3-4 yrs when i m promoted as a senior administrator, they think that i will be available 24x7. They have no idea that i also have life n other personal issues at home but of course no one cares coz thats how the world runs, isnt it? I also broke up with my gf coz of working in the IT industry. Now i m all alone, lonely, not respected nor appreciated the work i have always successfully done for the company. We r like worst than slaves for the companies out there. Srsly sometimes i wish they cld see how our lives r. Lastly, once i was sick on weekend, they called me on that freakin day to work when i was not really in a good shape. But they didn't care n started to say things like "you r not good fit for the company n bla bla, we can replace u easy". When I heard those words i decided to type my resignation right away n send it after the month was over. If u guys think that money is worth working in IT industry, it doesn't. The life of IT guys r short n soo depressing. I rather take care of my health n social life to make me happy than 24x7 hell work that makes me miserable n not respected. And no, don't mention "not all companies will make u work 24x7". Maybe at 1st they will take it easy but sooner or later they will be using u to work to the core n compromise ur social life n personal time with families n friends. And those things r important to me coz i have skipped cousins weddings, nephews birthdays n many more which makes me wanna spend time with the loved ones. Anyways goodluck to all of u who r gonna be in the IT industry. Soo true. Every word of it. A lil about me below.
I have worked as an IT administrator since i was 18 in age. My life hasn’t been the same when people started asking for help on silly things which are not related to work, plus they bring their own personal pcs to let me fix it. They think we have soo much free time in the server room??? like srsly, we r always needed for much important work but some take it real hard n start to complain to my IT manager that i m not a good employee coz i didnt fix their personal pcs(F SAKES). I have already dedicated my life to work n cut off social life a bit. But after 3-4 yrs when i m promoted as a senior administrator, they think that i will be available 24×7. They have no idea that i also have life n other personal issues at home but of course no one cares coz thats how the world runs, isnt it? I also broke up with my gf coz of working in the IT industry. Now i m all alone, lonely, not respected nor appreciated the work i have always successfully done for the company. We r like worst than slaves for the companies out there. Srsly sometimes i wish they cld see how our lives r. Lastly, once i was sick on weekend, they called me on that freakin day to work when i was not really in a good shape. But they didn’t care n started to say things like “you r not good fit for the company n bla bla, we can replace u easy”. When I heard those words i decided to type my resignation right away n send it after the month was over.
If u guys think that money is worth working in IT industry, it doesn’t. The life of IT guys r short n soo depressing. I rather take care of my health n social life to make me happy than 24×7 hell work that makes me miserable n not respected. And no, don’t mention “not all companies will make u work 24×7″. Maybe at 1st they will take it easy but sooner or later they will be using u to work to the core n compromise ur social life n personal time with families n friends. And those things r important to me coz i have skipped cousins weddings, nephews birthdays n many more which makes me wanna spend time with the loved ones. Anyways goodluck to all of u who r gonna be in the IT industry.

]]> By: Sean http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-3183 Sean Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:40:51 +0000 http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-3183 Shaun, thank you very much for your article. I am a senior computer science major and have lived with the 'computer guy' label my entire life. It was fine around the house during high school but once I moved into the freshman dorms at college it became unbearable. Every word you wrote about disappointment and lack of appreciation were spot on. I thank you for writing down your thoughts, they really hit me. Shaun, thank you very much for your article. I am a senior computer science major and have lived with the ‘computer guy’ label my entire life. It was fine around the house during high school but once I moved into the freshman dorms at college it became unbearable. Every word you wrote about disappointment and lack of appreciation were spot on. I thank you for writing down your thoughts, they really hit me.

]]> By: Brandon http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-3124 Brandon Mon, 10 Oct 2011 05:52:10 +0000 http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-3124 Oh god.. I was about to go to school to become Red Hat Certified and get my many other Certs till I read this. I do not think that is worth $33 an hour to just end up working at Waffle house again but instead of cooking your fixing computers. Gah.. is it at least worth it for the money? Oh god.. I was about to go to school to become Red Hat Certified and get my many other Certs till I read this. I do not think that is worth $33 an hour to just end up working at Waffle house again but instead of cooking your fixing computers.

Gah.. is it at least worth it for the money?

]]> By: teetotimmy http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-2735 teetotimmy Tue, 02 Aug 2011 03:56:57 +0000 http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-2735 Great article. I wonder if computer techies could have alter egos... like superheros. Great article. I wonder if computer techies could have alter egos… like superheros.

]]> By: Phoenix Stormcrow http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-428 Phoenix Stormcrow Wed, 15 Jun 2011 04:30:34 +0000 http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-428 Believe it or not, many similar issues plague the landscaper. It is a professional service industry, which requires specialized knowledge both broad and deep, and a particular set of skills which can only be developed through long and hard experience. Yet time and again, I'm confronted with my clients' inability to understand this, and the limitations of my abilities. For example: "I'm sorry ma'am, but your tropical plants simply cannot survive the kind of freakishly cold winter we just had", or "I assure you [for the tenth time] that yes, these trees lose their leaves in the winter time. It happens every year.", or sometimes even "Look, I can't guarantee the health of your plants if you insist on dicking around with the irrigation system every day. That is why there is such a thing as a landscape contractor." Fairly common responses from clients, actual or potential, when told my rates are "Well, I think I'll just do it myself" (and they call back in a month or two) or "Well, I'll just hire some Mexicans" (and they call back in a month or two). Other comments express the right idea: always assert yourself. Failure to do so only attracts the kind of business you don't really want. Believe it or not, many similar issues plague the landscaper. It is a professional service industry, which requires specialized knowledge both broad and deep, and a particular set of skills which can only be developed through long and hard experience. Yet time and again, I’m confronted with my clients’ inability to understand this, and the limitations of my abilities. For example: “I’m sorry ma’am, but your tropical plants simply cannot survive the kind of freakishly cold winter we just had”, or “I assure you [for the tenth time] that yes, these trees lose their leaves in the winter time. It happens every year.”, or sometimes even “Look, I can’t guarantee the health of your plants if you insist on dicking around with the irrigation system every day. That is why there is such a thing as a landscape contractor.” Fairly common responses from clients, actual or potential, when told my rates are “Well, I think I’ll just do it myself” (and they call back in a month or two) or “Well, I’ll just hire some Mexicans” (and they call back in a month or two).

Other comments express the right idea: always assert yourself. Failure to do so only attracts the kind of business you don’t really want.

]]> By: Trev http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-427 Trev Thu, 12 May 2011 10:01:19 +0000 http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-427 Too true!!! I originally trained & worked in construction. Spent 24 unfulfilled years being "the computer guy". Why, as "the computer guy", do people think you'll fix their PC for free or for peanuts? After 12 years freelance, the markets drying up. So much work shipped to India to save a few quid. So, I recently switched trades back to building. I'm now "the kitchen, bathroom & tiling guy". Self employed and enjoying every minute. Best of all, everyone has stopped asking me to fix their PC. They now ask "can you fit a new bathroom and how much will it cost me?" and not expect it for free. Strange, a fair days wage to fix a PC is considered a ridiculous amount, yet a fair days wage to tile a bathroom is acceptable. Too true!!!
I originally trained & worked in construction.
Spent 24 unfulfilled years being “the computer guy”.
Why, as “the computer guy”, do people think you’ll fix their PC for free or for peanuts?
After 12 years freelance, the markets drying up. So much work shipped to India to save a few quid.
So, I recently switched trades back to building. I’m now “the kitchen, bathroom & tiling guy”. Self employed and enjoying every minute.
Best of all, everyone has stopped asking me to fix their PC. They now ask “can you fit a new bathroom and how much will it cost me?” and not expect it for free.
Strange, a fair days wage to fix a PC is considered a ridiculous amount, yet a fair days wage to tile a bathroom is acceptable.

]]> By: Kristin http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-426 Kristin Thu, 12 May 2011 09:47:58 +0000 http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/#comment-426 Comment nr 33 is brilliant - I just wanted to say - I agree with it fully and am striving to become one of them brilliant ones - I can already solve quite a few problems in Electronics and IT on about 6 different OSs. But when someone asks me about an intricate Windows problem that they have, I tell them that I loathe MS and don't want anything to do with it. Accompany it with a smile and let them know that Unix is the shit, and they don't mind changing subjects just like that. :D Because I am a woman, it makes it easier too... ;) Comment nr 33 is brilliant – I just wanted to say – I agree with it fully and am striving to become one of them brilliant ones – I can already solve quite a few problems in Electronics and IT on about 6 different OSs. But when someone asks me about an intricate Windows problem that they have, I tell them that I loathe MS and don’t want anything to do with it. Accompany it with a smile and let them know that Unix is the shit, and they don’t mind changing subjects just like that. :D
Because I am a woman, it makes it easier too… ;)

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