The "Share Your IT Job Thread"

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I thought it would be pretty cool to make a thread for sharing what you do in your IT-related job, and what your everyday tasks include.

I'll update my post later with my information. Post away!

Just a couple of ground rules:
1) Please stay on topic
2) If you don't have an IT job to contribute to the list but have a question for a user who posted their job, please PM the user instead of posting the question. If you do have one to contribute, feel free to quote that user, ask the question, and contribute in the same post.

Have fun guys, hopefully this will become an insightful thread for many!

Update: Wow, this thread is coming along great. Thanks to everyone who posted. It's great to see the varieties of IT jobs out there, as well as the quirks and perks of each.
 
I'm currently a Consultant for a BPM software vendor. I do mostly programming (ranging from VB to Java) and sometimes system architecture (mostly installing software, Oracle/SqlServer setups, and basically making sure their 3-tiered arch is correct for the software) for the clients. I also do quite a bit of BPM consulting (modeling and requirements analysis) as well and have worked for many of the fortune 100 companies.

My background is mostly from DBA work, development work, and network engineering.

Do I get the job?! :D
 
A colleague and myself have a small LLC, consultants for small to medium business networks. Basically all sorts of businesses such as law firms, dentist offices, healthcare, manufacturing, insurance companies, yacht brokers, I have a few exclusive resorts on an island, architect firms, construction companies...any business that has a network from say..10..to about 100 PCs...are clients of ours.

I love it. No "9-5" thing. Often work from home remotely for the morning..even 1/2 the day. Go onsite later on.

Love working with different people all the time, dealing with different networks, always something different, no boring cookie cutter things. Always something different, often unique setups and challenges. Variety!
 
I do a couple things:

Main job; Work for a local city. I do desktop/server/network troubleshooting. I do software development. I develop documentation, and recommend policy. I train users. General wire monkey for both data and telcom. Software installation and evaluation.

Contract: All of this, plus building plan decisions and recommendation. Purchasing.

I get to do a little of everything in my day to day. :D
 
I'm pretty much in the same boat as YeOldeStonecat. Work as a consultant for a smaller firm. We have like 8 people or so and sub out some web work to another 2.

Some of the guys are cable guys. It is nice to have them under us as it means I almost never have to deal with running a network drop or anything unless I want to relax some. Pretty much we cover a few non-profits(churches and a historic house), car repair centers, architect firms, lawfirms, ac/heating repair companies, land development companies, construction, accountants, etc. Cover everything from smart phones or pdas to multi-server enviroments. Most of out clients are on sbs2003 boxes but we have been moving more to windows 2003 std as sbs just isn't cutting it in some cases. One client is running enterprise and we still have one or 2 cleints on server 2000 boxes. Work goes from single person outfits to a 5 site dealership with 75 users on a domain and another 60 mechanics with notebooks. We had some clients asking for web work so we sub it out to 2 girls that do web work for the state during the day. For new clients it can be a foot in the door.

My days vary like crazy. Most of the time I don't wake up untill after 9 am. Visit clients through the day. When I need to do matence on networks I generally work at night. Also do server matence either at night or on the weekends.
 
Currently I am working for one of the largest Not for Profit Healthcare groups in the US. Supporting 14 hospitals, 1 primary care and our Children’s hospital are ranked in the top 10 in the US.

I develop, monitor and maintain interface mostly of an HL7 variety. We also move about every type of batch file you can think of. The group takes care of over 1400 interface on 3 primary servers 1 Sun box (12 procs and 24 GB or ram) and 2 AIX boxes.

My secondary duty is rewriting all of our monitoring applications and support tools (which is really cool… I feel like a kid in a candy store).

The 2 best perks: 1. Not dealing with end users and 1. Nurses.
 
CCTV Engineer

but that also includes being network admin for the office. maintaining several cctv servers online and offline. typical support stuff to help clients over the phone. minimal web development. lots of testing new products and gettin the manuals from chinglish to english
 
Ugghhh...IT Analyst

- In the midst of a Wireless Lan projects for 20 sites that all communicate over the WAN

- Layer 2/3 switching, VLANS
- Juniper firewalls
- Exchange 2000/2003 admin
- occassional desktop support
- used to be primary server guy for 150+ windows DC's, I pawned it off on someone else, now I just back him up
- blah blah blah
 
Im small time compared to the others..

Currently work for a small (15 Employees) Software company that is older than me, and family owned. My job title it Technical Support, but I wear many hats.

I mainly log into our CRM, look at the calls and call our customers back w/ there software/hardware problems relating to the software. Around the office I do a bit of IT Stuff, helping the SysAdmin/Dev guy with our Asterisk VOIP box, PC Maint, etc. We all wear many hats since its a small company. I put my 2 weeks in though..And im moving.
Downsides: I speak to daycare ladies all day long, they arent the brightest when it comes to computers.
Perks: Small company lets me take a moderate amount of time off just because.

Job in ~2 weeks, I will be Helpdesk for a large Call/Data Center in Salt Lake City. I should be doing more internal Helpdesk stuff, which gets me out of the public whiny tech support stuff. Not sure what else, as I havnt started training yet.
 
Niartov said:
Currently I am working for one of the largest Not for Profit Healthcare groups in the US. Supporting 14 hospitals, 1 primary care and our Children’s hospital are ranked in the top 10 in the US.

I develop, monitor and maintain interface mostly of an HL7 variety. We also move about every type of batch file you can think of. The group takes care of over 1400 interface on 3 primary servers 1 Sun box (12 procs and 24 GB or ram) and 2 AIX boxes.

My secondary duty is rewriting all of our monitoring applications and support tools (which is really cool… I feel like a kid in a candy store).

The 2 best perks: 1. Not dealing with end users and 1. Nurses.
Click to expand...
What hosiptal would that be?
 
App developer for a construction company. VB.NET 2.0, MSSQL, reporting services... I am primarily running anything to do with 'purchasing'.

perks: ahhhh.. i just enjoy writing code..
occasional perks: flexing my public speaking/poli sci background in meetings when dealing with users who are thick skulled.
 
My official job title is Technical Operations Engineer.

Our company installs monitoring and control systems aboard mega and super yachts.

Half my job is sysadmin. That means taking care of the servers, resolving problems, ensuring the network is healthy, backups, etc. It also means coming up with budgets, planning for the future, developing upgrade plans. As we are a smaller company I handle the client side as well, software installs, computer builds, choosing vendors, software packages, audits, etc.

The other half is resident geek. I figure out how to make things work. I design interfaces to foreign controllers or come up with workarounds when problems exist onboard a vessel. A small part is running wires onboard or installing controllers, etc.
 
I am currently in college at the University of Toledo, I am majoring in Computer Network Administration. I will be entering my second year and will have an AS in the spring.
I run my own small business, specializing in residential clients. I do computer repairs and upgrades, network installation and troubleshooting, and voice/data/video cabling. I also do some work for commercial customers. Right now I am working on a large cabling job for a commercial building. This consisted of removing 240 pounds of old/abandoned cable, installing new voice and data cable, terminating to patch panels/blocks, toning and testing all cable (currently on this step), and then installing jacks and wallplates. I will also be installing cable for a camera system. I have had several years of experience working at a local telecom interconnect, learning about phone systems, sound systems, cabling, networks, etc. This hands on training, combined with tech ed classes in high school, has fueled my desire to be in this industry.
 
recently relocated to work in the "special projects" division at a financial company. (thank god I'm outta chicago) We come up with new ways to increase profits utilizing new and developing technologies. basically trying to stay 3 steps ahead of the other guys. I think I am gonna dig this job.
 
IT Support Tech for an indian gaming casino

what dont i do....

exchange administration

cisco VOIP and cisco lan administration

desktop support for 250+ clients

AS400 operator(freakin nuts) one time a ran a job with a decimal spot in wrong spot and got a call few minutes later saying that a customers ticket from a slot machine read 99,000,000 dollars, needless to say i got a stern talkin to about that.

this is my first IT job and learning alot but getting underpaid.

gotta start somewhere eh.......
 
infamus said:
this is my first IT job and learning alot but getting underpaid.

gotta start somewhere eh.......
Click to expand...

My advice to you is to volunteer for extra things and try to learn as much as possible. Use that experience to make sure you get a better job either by replacing someone their down the road that leaves or moving up by moving on elcewhere.

I would try to get into the exchange and cisco some if they will let you. Both are very good things to know.
 
"Retail Technical Support Representative" for an anti-virus company. Pretty sweet deal, duties are average 50 calls a day and 30 emails over an 8 hour period. Laid back but sometimes deal with people who should not use computers.
 
Server support for a fairly well known dedicated server provider.

My job mostly consists of fixing stuff that customers break. Or telling customers why their 'brilliant idea' is actually terrible. Like this: "We enabled anonymous FTP because our clients want to be able to have their customers upload to the server, but when I log in as anonymous, it won't let me write files. Can you fix that?" ... No. Also lots of new server installs.

I work 3rd shift, so I get lots of awesome stuff like rebooted boxes & ensuring the new kernel update was applied correctly, or recompiling PHP at 3 AM, etc. /sigh.

I do get the immense joy of occasionally finding hacked boxes because of people's insecure scripts or what have you. That's the highlight of my day.
 
Doliviss said:
Or telling customers why their 'brilliant idea' is actually terrible. Like this: "We enabled anonymous FTP because our clients want to be able to have their customers upload to the server, but when I log in as anonymous, it won't let me write files. Can you fix that?" ... No.
Click to expand...

Fucking brilliant.

Don't feel too bad. I've had to tell customers multiple times that the name or short name their business is not a good domain admin password. Yea I feel your pain.


One thing I forgot to add into my jobs listing. I end up being the one that has to go to our clients houses and fix the boss kids machines and what not. Not sure how I got stuck doing this but I have been to at least a dozen clients homes. Sucks.
 
magnetik said:
recently relocated to work in the "special projects" division at a financial company. (thank god I'm outta chicago) We come up with new ways to increase profits utilizing new and developing technologies. basically trying to stay 3 steps ahead of the other guys. I think I am gonna dig this job.
Click to expand...

I'm confused...are you saying you're glad you don't live in Chicago anymore? Or are you saying that you are glad you are based out of Chicago?

I live in the Chicago area and love it.
 
My title is Network Administrator, although our webpage still has me listed as an IT Technician.

I work for a schoolboard in Ontario with 26 schools I believe and somewhere around 2500 computers. We used to have roughly 40 servers but thanks to consolidation that number has dropped and were approaching probably 20 by the end of the summer.

We have our own wireless network spanning the region using redline radios so part of my job is climbing towers to replace things that have been struck by lightning...thats the "fun" part of my job. The rest of it is spent roaming our switches and routers to make sure that everything is running in top shape. Documenting and seeing where I can speed things up.

I like it, although with everything I do, I think I am being underpaid. Specially when you're oncall 24/7...
 
I am a PC Support Technician for an acute-care community hospital in Michigan. We have around 1,000 computer users and 600 desktop computers that are supported by about 2 dozen people in Information Systems (Mostly programmers and interface analysts). There are only 5-6 people on our Network Support Team, and we handle all helpdesk break/fix issues, all new equipment/upgrades, project support for hospital projects (document imaging for electronic medical record, PACS digital imaging, etc), and a million other things. We do have a pretty cool datacenter that was designed by IBM - it is climate controlled, electronically locked (keycard access only), has moisture and noise sensors that page us in the even of abnormalities, etc. We have about 65-75 servers, mostly running Windows 2003 Std, which host dozens of different apps used around the hospital. We have a couple Citrix server farms as well, which has been a learning experience to say the least. (Citrix printing, grrr! Autocreation of client printers is a big pain!)

I'm addicted to working in a hospital environment though. It is really cool to have a cafeteria and fitness center within walking distance (on campus), as well as having a job that directly effects patient care. I never imagined that I would be in a position that allows me to get scrubbed up and head into an Operating Room to help a surgeon view diagnostic images on a 46" LCD wallmounted display when there is a procedure occuring/about to occur. Just goes to show, no matter how smart a doctor or surgeon may be, they are all just human... and often don't have the greatest computer skills! Hospitals spend a hell of a lot of money, too.... a lot of the equipment I mess with feels like a privilege. Besides another hospital, I don't know where I'd get to play with batches of diagnostic-quality monitors for Mammography that are like $15k per monitor, and help in projects that cost tens, and sometimes hundreds, of thousands of dollars.
 
Associate Director of IT for an all-girl's catholic university............ i'm also the network engineer. I make sure all the servers and the overall network is running smoothly.

The highlights of my day include writing scripts and playing pranks on people, and throttling youtube usage for known bandwidth abusers when I feel like having some giggles.
 
versello said:
Associate Director of IT for an all-girl's catholic university............ i'm also the network engineer. I make sure all the servers and the overall network is running smoothly.

The highlights of my day include writing scripts and playing pranks on people, and throttling youtube usage for known bandwidth abusers when I feel like having some giggles.
Click to expand...

Pranks? Would that be tapping into webcams? I smell the trails of the movie "sliver"... just kidd'n.
 
I'm a NOC monkey for the world's largest independant credit card issuer.
 
JayAre said:
I'm confused...are you saying you're glad you don't live in Chicago anymore? Or are you saying that you are glad you are based out of Chicago?

I live in the Chicago area and love it.
Click to expand...

glad I left actually. cost too much to live there, snow is ok.. just not for 3 months, and the freeway system sucks (no feeders or beltways).

to me.. It's a great place to visit.. just not to live. I am more of a tropical person.. give me the heat. My AC bills were dirt cheap though
 
I'm the lone IT guy for a gauge and fixture company. My day to day tasks are usually just setting up new systems, troubleshooting problems that come up, and doing our daily and weekly backups. Obviously since I'm the onyl guy I do other stuff too, but that's pretty much my job on a regular basis.

Been here for five years this past April. I'm a year and a half away from getting my CS degree, then I'm out.
 
Network Engineer / Systems Engineer

I work for a company called "Data Eclipse" in Bryan, Ohio. We have roughly 25 employee's, it started off as a mom n pop computer store but has turned into a full blown corporation. (well as big as you can be with 25 employee's) We do computer sales, service, cabling, Cisco networks and Microsoft networks.

My daily activities vary, some days I'm designing converged Cisco networks, other days I'm installing them or troubleshooting existing customers problems. Most of my clients are school districts (some local, some 3hrs away) and local large businesses. I have a few smaller businesses with small Cisco equipment that I support as well.

If it has anything to do with Cisco equipment, I handle it. VoIP, IP Telephony, Routing, Switching, etc etc etc.
 
Woot I will add my jobs here. First I have a part time job with Hershey's Chocolate in there distribution Warehouse in Redlands, CA. I help with just a virety of task, but mainly dealing with the units on the forklifts and end user support. My boss is super nice, and its nice moving away from my old job where I dealt with nothing but teenagers who did not give a shit about there job nor there future. My second part time job is with this small to medium CPA firm who was looking for someone to help out. I am still in college with about 1 year to go.
 
my title is 'network technician' - for a company of 300.

our network runs active directory, so i manage that, along with the everyday problems someone would have with their computer. simple explanation.
 
Day Job: "Civil Designer" (aka. CAD Monkey) for a very small engineering firm in Souther California. Naturally, I also do all the IT stuff for our office (purchasing, troubleshooting, arguing with the boss, etc...). Perks: I can pretty much make my own hours so long as I get my work done and my 40 hours in each week. No HR department!

Night Job: IT support for just about everyone I know (and the people they know). I charge about $50/hr now and still can't seem to make them leave me alone. I've set up a couple of offices from running the network drops to all the hardware installation. Being that my father was a general contractor helps too since I'm pretty comfortable doing just about anything to a building. I'm also preparing to go full-time with residential PC maintenance services. Perks: I get enough spare change to pay for my "tech-addiction".
 
Network Systems Administrator for a cement roof tile manufacturing company of about 500 users.

We have all the bells and whistles normally associated with an up to date network enterprise (AD, Exchange etc). However I am very proud of my move to a full citrix environment encompassing VM servers and now Sharepoint 2007.

Consolidation, energy efficiency and full collaboration is the name of the game.

If I could ever recommend anything at this point in the I.T. world, it would be most definitely be the mastery of Sharepoint 2007. I have no doubt this fledging platform will be an enterprise standard in the very near future.
 
Director of Network Operations

We're a small company with 19 employees, we are a CLEC and build fiber to the premise networks and compete with companies like Qwest & Embarq(formerly Sprint). I manage the fiber networks and all the equipment that encompasses from extreme networks switches, cisco routers and FTTP equipment. I also manage several servers both windows & linux as well as do top tier troubleshooting when my tier 1 & 2 people can't fix the issue. Last but not least I am in charge of IP design and traffic engineering for new networks as we build other communities out.
 
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