#ITcareer #careerchange #learningdisability #challengesinIT
🤔 How many of you feel like you shouldn’t be in IT?
If you’re reading this and nodding your head, wondering if you’re alone in feeling like you’re not cut out for a career in IT, you’re not alone. Many people in the industry have doubts about their abilities and wonder if they should be pursuing a different path. Whether it’s due to a learning disability, lack of confidence, or just feeling like you’re not a good fit, it’s a common struggle.
Let’s dig deeper into this topic and explore some possible solutions for those who are questioning their place in IT.
## Feeling like you’re not cut out for IT?
### Common challenges in IT careers
– Impostor syndrome: Feeling like a fraud and doubting your abilities
– Pressure to constantly learn and adapt to new technologies
– Dealing with a learning disability or other challenges that make it difficult to keep up with the demands of the job
### Examples of struggles in the IT industry
One individual shared their experience of working in helpdesk for nearly two years, facing the challenges of a learning disability and feeling like they’re not performing at their best. They expressed a desire to switch fields but also acknowledged the fear of starting fresh and potentially facing failure.
## Understanding your options
### Exploring career changes
– Consider the possibility of switching to a different department within your current organization
– Research alternative career paths that align with your skills and interests
– Seek support and advice from mentors or career counselors
### Overcoming self-doubt
– Recognize and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small they may seem
– Seek feedback from colleagues and supervisors to gain a more balanced perspective of your performance
– Consider seeking professional help or resources for managing learning disabilities or challenges in the workplace
### Embracing growth and development
– Take advantage of learning and development opportunities within your organization
– Explore networking and professional development events to expand your knowledge and connect with others in the industry
– Stay open to the possibility of seeking new opportunities outside of your current role if it aligns with your long-term career goals
## Finding support and guidance
### Seeking advice from others
Many individuals have faced similar challenges and uncertainties in their IT careers. By reaching out to peers, mentors, and support networks, you can gain valuable insights and guidance to navigate your journey in the industry.
### Identifying resources and support systems
From employee assistance programs to professional development resources, there are often options available within organizations to support employees facing challenges in their careers. Don’t hesitate to explore these avenues and seek the help you need.
## Moving forward with confidence and clarity
### Taking proactive steps
Instead of feeling trapped in a career path that doesn’t feel right for you, consider taking proactive steps to explore your options and make informed decisions about your future.
### Embracing a growth mindset
Remember that it’s okay to feel uncertain and to question your place in the IT industry. What matters is how you respond to those feelings and take action to pursue a path that aligns with your strengths and aspirations.
### Moving towards a fulfilling career
By seeking support, exploring your options, and maintaining an open mindset, you can move towards a career that gives you a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Whether that involves staying in IT and finding a different niche within the field or pursuing a new career path altogether, there are opportunities for growth and success.
In conclusion, feeling like you shouldn’t be in IT is a common struggle for many professionals in the industry. However, it’s important to recognize that there are options and support systems available to help you navigate your career journey. By taking proactive steps, seeking guidance, and maintaining an open mindset, you can move towards a path that aligns with your strengths and aspirations. Don’t be afraid to explore new possibilities and embrace the potential for growth and fulfillment in your professional life.
I can’t stand IT and if there was anything else I was good at where I could make the same money I would switch in a heartbeat. I regret ever getting into this career and if I could do everything over I would have pursued a different career entirely. I’m currently looking for a way out but I’m at a stage in my career where it would be hard to make the same money doing something else.
Me. I’m not super technical. I don’t like to be honestly. I’m okay with tech stuff tho, like I can figure it out, but I don’t really feel drawn to it. I’m not currently in IT, but rather poised due to background for that area, I did comp sci in school and did well, I just don’t feel really drawn toward tech in general. I like problem solving in general. I think it’d be cool to fix stuff for people but bigger systems. I’d be more interested in being another kind of technician maybe like plumber or hvac tech etc. although computer networking especially looks cool. Probably the only thing I’d be interested in doing in tech would be NOC tech or something like that
I’m an SRE. There are days I wish I would work as a shaolin monk
Nice to hear from those who feel this way. Makes me feel more human about learning in this field.
I started in IT 3 years ago. The second I got my job I was mind blown. I recently graduated from college and my gf was the one who sent me the position via LinkedIn.
Year 1 was painless and lots of learning and grinding.
Year 2 was painful, senior colleagues left and I had to step it up
Year 3 back to chilling, new employees killing it and allows me to “relax”
IT is def not a job you get your position and chill. There will always be something new to learn. New protocol, new tech, new implementation and new issues. If you’re not someone who is somewhat interested in these things then I see why some struggle.
I used to study and review on my free time but it was not healthy tbh. I now dedicate work time to do this as studying certain things is work related tasks
Every time I get a ticket for a monitor being out or a computer “won’t turn on” and I go out and press a button to turn it on, it helps with the validation.
Felt that way since the 1st time I even considered IT as a career choice. I’m just in it for the money and nothing else LMFAO
i’m interested in IT but i can’t get the grasp of it. it doesn’t look hard, but i dont know how to get that experience i need in order to grow. no job wants to hire someone inexperienced (even though i have the degrees and credentials). my colleges didn’t teach me much, just handed us work and told us to google it
I didn’t make a choice the job market did lol. After a decade the market pretty much said GTFO, now I’m barely surviving blue color jobs. Pay is one thing but the back breaking labor sucks as you get older.
The job market has been hot garbage and oversaturated lately, even for cybersecurity.
I wish I had gone to medical school, where I could really help people, save lives, and make a life changing difference.
My issue is I cant stand whiney karens who cause the same fucking problems over and over and then blame me. “Why is my computer so slow?!” Stop…installing…all that shit on a laptop with 4GB Karen…..
I’ve been in IT for 8 years and I don’t like it at all. But I make too much money to start over doing something else.
Pretty much that exact same spot as you, worked retail most of my life, didn’t get into IT until 28 and I needed a friend to get me in, thought I’d learn new things in helpdesk, climb the ladder and be able to afford a shitty apartment at least, Nope. Every job posting that pays slightly better than $20/hr needs a bachelors degree, 5 years experience, is contract work or is in a higher cost of living state.
When I was at my 2 years, it was the worst time. All the new technologies marketing (GET your Azure, AWS, Linux+ JAVA, umm umm VMWARE cert NOW!!!) will throw you for a loop. Not to mention the gaslighting employees who only care about saving face. All this Will throw you off on what’s possible and real.
Focus on getting good at ONE thing each year. Whether that’s 365, Linux, Azure you name it. At your 4 year mark, you would have seen/learned enough to not feel imposter syndrome. But you still will have your moments. It’s impossible to know everything in our field. Don’t beat yourself up.
Also if you have a disability, focus on labs. Hands on allows you to create your own interpretation of how the technology works. Your less likely to forget how something works if you have hands on.
Me 100%. I work as a systems engineer for a Fortune 100 company and I genuinely feel I am the dumbest person in the room in almost every meeting. My teammates know seemingly everything about our technology stack and I can’t ever seem to grasp it. No one makes me intentionally feel that way or anything, just have the worst case of imposter syndrome and let it get to me.
I work in the M365 and Exchange space mainly with PowerShell here and there, none of what I learned in college outside of basic concepts really applies to what I do now.
Man, I’ve been in IT for a decade. Started tier 1 support and now on the server side.
I feel like I’m unqualified every single day.
I keep getting performance awards. I keep getting not fired. I guess I’m ok. It must come with the territory. Shit gets real when you have the potential to take down the entire infrastructure and affect thousands of users. Every click and stroke of the keyboard counts.
I think it’s easy to feel unqualified. Most people are faking it to some degree. And then you’ve got those few prodigies who learned machine code when they were like 5 making everyone else feel stupid.
Oh man that imposter syndrome stage is heavy. Always remember that you don’t have to be the most talented to be successful, You just have to be able to learn from your mistakes.
Experience the issue, Learn the solution and apply it the next time it comes up. Take good notes.
The biggest thing that separates who is and isn’t going to make it is pattern recognition. If it takes you longer to figure things out, but can remember it you’ll do fine.
I love computers but every place I’ve worked has been a toxic shitshow. Wait a second…
I just do it for money so I can live my life without breaking my back in hard labor jobs.
*Raises hand.*
I often wonder how many IT professionals are just people who were pushed into IT because they fit the stereotype of “fat guys with glasses who like to tinker with stuff, don’t mind working at night, and aren’t great in social situations”. Crap, I’m describing Santa Claus.
IT is what I was meant to do with my life and I really feel that. I boil this down to one single aspect: I like troubleshooting. When a thing doesn’t work and then I make it work that is better than sex or getting high.
I often suck. The things I want to work often don’t end up working. I am wrong, or waste time, or do stupid things. That isn’t to say I’m a terrible IT person, that’s to say that I’m human and we literally all do those things.
At the end of the day I like fixing problems, and the job is to fix problems, so I know that it’s what I’m supposed to be doing.