Techs: Do you like your job? Have any slack?

[zCypher]

For the techs out there (of which I'm sure there are many, considering this board)... do you like your job? Do you find you are over/under paid? Do you like the work atmosphere/environment, coworkers, responsibilities (excessive/not enough?) ? Just curiuos, cause I am working my second tech job now. My first one sucked huge, hairy, pimply wrinkly sagging donkey balls. We had to wear ghey shirts specific to the comp shop, the people there were jackasses and the overall work environment sucked and to top it off it was only $7/hr canadian, so that's like $4usd/hour to do a TECH/SERVICE job! :Q

Now this second one I just got (this is my first full week at this place)... much better. The people are nice, friendly, encouraging and motivating and I feel pretty good working there. I feel much more comfortable and confident and I think I do a lot better as well. Furthermore, since I got moved to a more local shop (20 min on the bus), I can even rollerblade there if I want. It's only the manager and me at this place, and he's a cool guy. I listen to digitallyimported.com while I work, or any of my CDs containing metallica, celldweller, breaking benjamin, sinch or whatever I want. I can eat or drink while I work whenever I want. Leaving a bit early is not a problem nor is it looked down upon.

Instead of pushed to do things I'm unconfident in, I am encouraged and helped to learn what I need to know/don't know already. I'm much more productive, and I enjoy myself a lot more. It's almost not like a job at all, compared to the other jobs I've had. It pays a little better ($8cdn/hour) but I still consider that total assmonkey pay for a technical job. However, since the job itself is pretty chill I don't mind, since it IS a job, and there IS room for advancement which they encourage, also unlike the last place.

So yeah I like listening to digitallyimported or whatever I want while I listen, eating and drinking my lunch/snacks when I want, taking my time to build systems, just chilling out talking about whatever when there's nobody (which is often).

So for you techs, how is it for you? Do you find your job to be akin to slave labour? How do you feel in your position as a tech and how are the above aspects for you?

Also - a sort of unrelated question. Is it acceptable to go into a bank on rollerblades, or is it a better idea to change into shoes before entering? I'm planning on bladin to work today if it's warm enough, and stopping at the bank to cash my last pay check (previous job) on the way. Should I just roll in or what? It's the Bank of Montreal, btw, if that matters.

 

[zCypher]

hmmmm

 

[Yzzim]

Also - a sort of unrelated question. Is it acceptable to go into a bank on rollerblades, or is it a better idea to change into shoes before entering? I'm planning on bladin to work today if it's warm enough, and stopping at the bank to cash my last pay check (previous job) on the way. Should I just roll in or what? It's the Bank of Montreal, btw, if that matters.

Go through the drive through. Seriously. That's what I do when I'm on my blades. The bank ladies think it's funny but the cars behind me try to run me over by bumping me out of the way :|

But, if you're going to actually go into the bank, take off your blades and just go in socks...they'll understand and the janitors will be grateful since wheels leave nasty marks on well waxed floors.

 

[Down4U]

My tech job is so laid back that I sometimes wonder why they need me here. Lately the work has picked up a bit (Gee wonder why that would be after laying off half the staff) but it is still essentially a laid back place to be. I can't complain about the pay, it's to par with cost of living out here.

 

[zCypher]

My tech job is so laid back that I sometimes wonder why they need me here. Lately the work has picked up a bit (Gee wonder why that would be after laying off half the staff) but it is still essentially a laid back place to be. I can't complain about the pay, it's to par with cost of living out here.

REALLY? wtf? With my pay it would be impossible to live on my own without help or roommates. It's the equivalent of freaking $5/hour in your pay!!

I'll basically have $1k/MONTH in my pocket. How the !@#$ does one live off that, when any decent apartment is $600-800/month? Rent + food = entire salary! lol. what about everything else!

Aynway... YZZIM - there is no "drive thru" over here, so I can't do that. I guess I'll be taking off my blades

 

[Nightfall]

My job is very nice.

Very laid back, and I pretty much manage myself. My department manager is also an accountant so he is busy with tons of things as well. Anyway, it works out great for me. I don't have anyone over my shoulder whipping me to get things done. I make decisions to work late if I need to (I am salaried), or leave early if I can. My job keeps me pretty busy, but it makes the day go by a lot faster.

As for pay, I am paid right about average. I could go elsewhere and make more, but there are just too many perks to ignore when I work here.

 

[Cougar]

Dude, I love my job...and I'm not being sarcastic. There are nights where I have way too much fun at work, and that's pretty much due to the fact that I get along great with my co-workers. The company that I work for pretty much sucks, but that doesn't really matter when you're co-workers are cool.

The thing that sucks though is I'm on a project that's ending shortly so I'm going to have to pack up and find another job. I'm hoping I end up working with some of the same people on my next job, 'cause the thing I hate most about switching jobs is getting used to an unfamiliar environment.

 

[zCypher]

Originally posted by: Cougar
Dude, I love my job...and I'm not being sarcastic. There are nights where I have way too much fun at work, and that's pretty much due to the fact that I get along great with my co-workers. The company that I work for pretty much sucks, but that doesn't really matter when you're co-workers are cool.

The thing that sucks though is I'm on a project that's ending shortly so I'm going to have to pack up and find another job. I'm hoping I end up working with some of the same people on my next job, 'cause the thing I hate most about switching jobs is getting used to an unfamiliar environment.

tell me about it!! man... I hate working at a place where it's hard to get a long or socialize with the people around you. Which has been every job so far till this one, where I get along great with the manager, who's the only other person that's there usually. Works out great for me! Time flies most of the time!

 

[Storm]

Well I started pretty recently, so far so good. Its not boring at all, I am constantly walking around doing jobs. Im basically Robin to the guy who handles all computer problems and electronic equipment problems. I do a ton of different things desktop support; help desk; server side stuff; system admin. Maybe I'll even learn some mainframe stuff. I like it because I learn, a lot of the computers are really old which I dont have that much experience with but Im learning.

Pay is in the normal range given the way IT has gone down the drain. Its not like it was in 98-99 where they were giving out 50k if you knew anything about computers. A cool perk is that I can get any magazine I want for free and if I work there long enough I can get free paperbacks and hard-cover books.

So far so good but when it rains it pours...