If you want to work in IT, you don’t only need to be great with computers. You should probably also be incredibly patient and have a wonderful sense of humor, or the job might just start to drive you crazy! That’s why groups like IT Humor and Memes (Uncensored) are fantastic for employees who just need to blow off a little steam and bond with others who are all too familiar with the struggles of working in IT.
This community, which was created in July 2021, has amassed an impressive 427K members since its creation. It describes itself simply as a “place for fun IT humor and memes - without the oppression,” and it’s an incredibly active community. There have already been 121 new posts today, and the group is still on the rise, as 628 members have joined just this week.
According to Statista, as of October 2023, there were over three million people in the United States working in the IT field. And Forbes predicts that between 2022 and 2023, about 377,500 new computer and IT jobs will open up each year. So if you’re looking to get into this field, it might be a great time. But it’s important that you do your research and figure out what you’re getting yourself into before applying for tech jobs.
When it comes to the pros and cons of working in IT, MyComputerCareer notes that one big incentive for pursuing this career path is the salary. Depending on your role, Coursera reports that those working in IT can make anywhere from $60K to upwards of $140K per year. Considering that the average salary in the United States at the moment is currently at about $59K, many people decide that a little stress is worth it to earn much more.
On the other hand, however, one of the biggest cons of working in IT is how stressful the job can be. MyComputerCareer explains that working help-desk positions in particular can be extremely difficult, as clients are often super stressed before they even call for help. On top of that, IT workers typically have huge workloads and unreasonable deadlines. Because of this, you might have to work long hours to ensure everything is finished on time.
One major plus of working in IT is that you will likely always have job security. Unless AI manages to make us all obsolete in the near future, skilled computer programmers and IT professionals will be in high demand. In fact, there’s actually a shortage of them. So if you can handle the stress that comes along with the territory, you shouldn’t ever have a problem finding employment.
Another aspect of working in IT that can be a pro or a con, depending on how you look at it, is time management. Because emergencies will often come up that might require you to work outside of your typical 9-5 schedule, you might not have a super strict routine. At the same time, your employer may allow you some flexibility with when you accomplish your tasks, as long as it all adds up to 40 hours at the end of the week. This can be frustrating when you want to call it a night exactly at 5 p.m., but it can be beneficial when you want to take a long lunch or start a bit later one morning.
Another aspect that can be considered a plus or minus is the fact that you’ll constantly be learning on the job. Because technology is always changing and improving, there’s no way you can ever know it all. This might make your job much more interesting than one that never changes year to year. But it can also be a challenge, as you’ll never get to simply relax and feel comfortable knowing exactly what to expect.
