Burnt out on being the "tech guy"

[child of wonder]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: child of wonder
I'm in this situation, too. I do consulting work for a small company and only charge $35/hour for my work. The reason I charge so low is because the owner of this company hired me on while I was going to school so I was getting great experience and income while I got my degree and I really feel it helped propel me into the success I have today.

But they've been getting cheap IT consulting from me for over 3 years now. I think it's time to starting paying the piper.

How much were you charging while you were a student? I've got nothing against helping someone out, but you need to charge what the market says you should be charging.

I was charging $25/hour while I was a student. Given my experience and knowledge at the time that was a fair rate.

Now I've been out of school for two years and have been a Linux Sys Admin during that time. I'm going to start charging $50+ soon.

These are all the things I do for them:

1. Maintaining and administering two Linux servers running Postfix with a MySQL backend, Samba, Apache2, DNS, DHCP, Cacti, software RAID, plus an IPCop router with VPN access set up.
2. Performing nightly, automated offsite backups of all the company data to a NAS at my house using rsync tunneled through SSH.
3. Performing all PC maintenance such as reloading and imaging new machines, reloading infected machines, updates, and fixing all major and minor issues with no more than 8 hours response time (if I'm at my FT job).
4. Answering any and all computer related questions ("how do I do this in Office?" etc).
5. Maintaining a IP based security camera and writing scripts to ensure the motion sensing images it captures are cleared out after a month.
6. Anything else computer or network related.

When I last asked for a raise one of the people there called some local PC shops and got quotes for maintenance contracts (weekly backups, updates, fixing something if it breaks) and that was $50/hour so they feel I should get less since I don't have an office or employees. Plus, I'm in South Dakota so wages suck here.

I think the problem comes down to this: they aren't even certain of all the things I do because I keep everything running so smoothly. Everything was a mess when I first started there and now there may only be something wrong with the servers or network once or twice a year.

Anyway, sorry to hijack.

 

[mikej007]

They're getting a bargain for $50/hr.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: child of wonder

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: child of wonder
I'm in this situation, too. I do consulting work for a small company and only charge $35/hour for my work. The reason I charge so low is because the owner of this company hired me on while I was going to school so I was getting great experience and income while I got my degree and I really feel it helped propel me into the success I have today.

But they've been getting cheap IT consulting from me for over 3 years now. I think it's time to starting paying the piper.

How much were you charging while you were a student? I've got nothing against helping someone out, but you need to charge what the market says you should be charging.

I was charging $25/hour while I was a student. Given my experience and knowledge at the time that was a fair rate.

Now I've been out of school for two years and have been a Linux Sys Admin during that time. I'm going to start charging $50+ soon.

These are all the things I do for them:

1. Maintaining and administering two Linux servers running Postfix with a MySQL backend, Samba, Apache2, DNS, DHCP, Cacti, software RAID, plus an IPCop router with VPN access set up.
2. Performing nightly, automated offsite backups of all the company data to a NAS at my house using rsync tunneled through SSH.
3. Performing all PC maintenance such as reloading and imaging new machines, reloading infected machines, updates, and fixing all major and minor issues with no more than 8 hours response time (if I'm at my FT job).
4. Answering any and all computer related questions ("how do I do this in Office?" etc).
5. Maintaining a IP based security camera and writing scripts to ensure the motion sensing images it captures are cleared out after a month.
6. Anything else computer or network related.

When I last asked for a raise one of the people there called some local PC shops and got quotes for maintenance contracts (weekly backups, updates, fixing something if it breaks) and that was $50/hour so they feel I should get less since I don't have an office or employees. Plus, I'm in South Dakota so wages suck here.

I think the problem comes down to this: they aren't even certain of all the things I do because I keep everything running so smoothly. Everything was a mess when I first started there and now there may only be something wrong with the servers or network once or twice a year.

Anyway, sorry to hijack.

You should create some problems, a couple afternoons with an computer access should remind them of your value.

 

[sjwaste]

If you feel you're burning out on the role, OP, the solution isn't to flat out quit. First charge the lowest rate that would make you tolerate the work, then see how much work you still have. Adjust to balance available work vs putting enough extra money in your pocket.

The fact that you hate it just means you dislike the work more than the extra money. Adjust the money part

 

[oogabooga]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
You should create some problems, a couple afternoons with an computer access should remind them of your value.

should being the operative word? Isn't reality more "why did we have this issue? if you were competent we wouldn't have, you're fired."

You gotta remember, Computer people are like modern day wizards and computers are modern day magic, it just works and if it doesn't, the computer person sucks.

 

[compuwiz1]

This all reminds me of a time years ago when I was doing some moonlighting. I'd go out on evening calls, doing upgrades, installing more ram, modems, etc. It was pretty much all by word of mouth. One night I get this phone call and this guy says I can't get my sound card working and I heard you are good with computers, so can you help me?

I said, ok, first of all I need to get some information from you. What's your name? "Bob Jones"

Ok, next I need a credit card number. Bob: What for?

To pay for your tech support....you didn't think it was free did you?

He just kind of grumbled and hung up. :laugh:

 

[Josh123]

This is pretty crazy, I just was talking to the other guy I work with about trying to make some extra cash outside of work doing tech support. We live in a small town so does anyone have any good ideas how to get started???

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: Josh123
This is pretty crazy, I just was talking to the other guy I work with about trying to make some extra cash outside of work doing tech support. We live in a small town so does anyone have any good ideas how to get started???

Small want ads and go door to door with some flyers? In a small town word will get around once you do some good work for a few.

 

[cherrytwist]

Originally posted by: sjwaste
If you feel you're burning out on the role, OP, the solution isn't to flat out quit. First charge the lowest rate that would make you tolerate the work, then see how much work you still have. Adjust to balance available work vs putting enough extra money in your pocket.

The fact that you hate it just means you dislike the work more than the extra money. Adjust the money part

Agreed. I'm not planning on quitting entirely. I plan to charge more (starting with the current project) and I'll do it when it's convenient for me.

If they aren't happy with that solution, they can find someone else

I wasn't looking for answers when I posted this thread, I was merely venting at my frustration and figured many of you could relate.

COW - charging $50/hour? you could be charging twice that for the services you provide.

Josh123 - Find one person or business that is willing to pay you a fair price for your services and word will spread quickly. Trust me on this.

 

[RESmonkey]

More $$$. Or wait, shouldn't that be $$$$?

 

[Specop 007]

I feel the same damn way.

I just dont care anymore. When its time to upgrade I grab AT's midrange buyers guide and be done with it. When my system acts funny I reformat. Thats the extent of it. Period.

I used to keep up with all the cool new hardware, overclock for maximum performance blah blah blah. I just dont care anymore. I want the crap to work, and if it doesnt I buy something else. I dont want the best, the fastest and I damn sure dont want to have to troubleshoot.