When people ask you what you do...
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I was at a function yesterday with my family and a few of the parents were asking what we all did. I simply said that I am an IT Guy and I got the impression that it wasn't impressive. Not that I am looking for some qualification of what I do the other parents were lawyers and doctors and other types but it was a weird change in conversation after that.
By certifications I am MCSE in 2003 & 2008 and Messaging in 2013, I just didn't think that saying I was a Systems Engineer is a title I needed to through out there. So How do you explain your job title/role?
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@wls-itguy Did you say exactly "IT guy"? I can imagine professional people looking down at the "guy" tagged on there.
I just say I work in IT and leave it at that, not worth my effort trying to explain further.
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People with "higher education" will always look down upon those that they feel aren't in the same league.
What do you mean the conversation changed?
Sadly, old folks who are doctors and lawyers are more likely to equate people who work on computers to be nerds - non cool - disconnected folks - i.e. the types they knew who worked on computers when they were younger.
Obviously that's not the case today, and I'd say the thinking is changing, but it's still a slow process. That said - it's still very likely that those two professions will always consider IT people to be beneath them if for no other reason than they have all that schooling, and they assume you don't.
Are you a Systems Engineer? If you aren't - why would you claim you are?
And really - what that be any more meaningful to those lawyers and doctors than IT? -
I rarely tell people I work in IT. I'd rather not impress them.
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Can you just look at my computer/tablet/router real quick....?
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Anything plugged into the wall and uses battery is my responsibility.
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@irj said in When people ask you what you do...:
al quick....?
Sure, I charge $50 an hour.
That's the only way to make it stop.
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I can't describe how it changed. It just changed. Almost as if because I said "IT Guy" it was as if I had said I am entry level tech support. Maybe I'll go the route of Jack and just say I am in IT or IRJ and not say anything about my actual job.
I'll tell them all I am professional fisherman
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@harry-lui said in When people ask you what you do...:
@irj said in When people ask you what you do...:
al quick....?
Sure, I charge $50 an hour.
That's the only way to make it stop.
I was doing freelance work for a while and I was charging $55/hour. I had a friend ask if he could get the buddy price. I said that was the buddy price, the EVERYBODY price.
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@wls-itguy said in When people ask you what you do...:
@harry-lui said in When people ask you what you do...:
@irj said in When people ask you what you do...:
al quick....?
Sure, I charge $50 an hour.
That's the only way to make it stop.
I was doing freelance work for a while and I was charging $55/hour. I had a friend ask if he could get the buddy price. I said that was the buddy price, the EVERYBODY price.
If you ask for discount, you get charge double is what I would say.
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@harry-lui said in When people ask you what you do...:
@irj said in When people ask you what you do...:
al quick....?
Sure, I charge $50 an hour.
That's the only way to make it stop.
I tell them $125/hour, 2 hour minimum, plus a trip charge.
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@rojoloco said in When people ask you what you do...:
@harry-lui said in When people ask you what you do...:
@irj said in When people ask you what you do...:
al quick....?
Sure, I charge $50 an hour.
That's the only way to make it stop.
I tell them $125/hour, 2 hour minimum, plus a trip charge.
This. Anything less than Best Buy is stupid.
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Computer guy. I charge $75/hour my door to my door.
It helps if you have your cheaters on the end of your nose when giving them the hairy eyeball. -
I typically do the same thing and tell them that I am in IT and leave it at that. I know that it is a shallow answer, but without digging into what I do, I typically stick with that answer.
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@jackcpickup said in When people ask you what you do...:
@wls-itguy Did you say exactly "IT guy"? I can imagine professional people looking down at the "guy" tagged on there.
I just say I work in IT and leave it at that, not worth my effort trying to explain further.
In other contexts...
A mechanic saying "Carshop Guy"
Accountant saying "Financial Books Guy"It's a downplay approach. It gives the impression you didn't choose the career, just fell into that specific job.
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@wls-itguy said in When people ask you what you do...:
@harry-lui said in When people ask you what you do...:
@irj said in When people ask you what you do...:
al quick....?
Sure, I charge $50 an hour.
That's the only way to make it stop.
I was doing freelance work for a while and I was charging $55/hour. I had a friend ask if he could get the buddy price. I said that was the buddy price, the EVERYBODY price.
That's way too low.
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@dashrender said in When people ask you what you do...:
People with "higher education" will always look down upon those that they feel aren't in the same league.
You could be the "Does the hard stuff the higher educated people can't figure out guy".
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@wls-itguy said in When people ask you what you do...:
I can't describe how it changed. It just changed. Almost as if because I said "IT Guy" it was as if I had said I am entry level tech support. Maybe I'll go the route of Jack and just say I am in IT or IRJ and not say anything about my actual job.
I'll tell them all I am professional fisherman
I often tell people I'm an unemployed college drop out. My wife hates that.
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@scottalanmiller said in When people ask you what you do...:
@wls-itguy said in When people ask you what you do...:
@harry-lui said in When people ask you what you do...:
@irj said in When people ask you what you do...:
al quick....?
Sure, I charge $50 an hour.
That's the only way to make it stop.
I was doing freelance work for a while and I was charging $55/hour. I had a friend ask if he could get the buddy price. I said that was the buddy price, the EVERYBODY price.
That's way too low.
It was years ago. I don't have time for any of that now so if someone asks I say $150/hour. The tend to have a shocked look and then don't ask again.
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@scottalanmiller said in When people ask you what you do...:
@wls-itguy said in When people ask you what you do...:
I can't describe how it changed. It just changed. Almost as if because I said "IT Guy" it was as if I had said I am entry level tech support. Maybe I'll go the route of Jack and just say I am in IT or IRJ and not say anything about my actual job.
I'll tell them all I am professional fisherman
I often tell people I'm an unemployed college drop out. My wife hates that.
At my wife's Christmas party a few years back I was tired of telling people I was in IT and actually told someone I clicked next. Mind you it was later in the evening after a few whiskey ginger ales but I thought it was funny anyway. Wife was also not happy
