[idi banashapan]

exactly what Kymmy just said. done both and still do both to a point (just don't answer the phone to people - I get the escalated stuff).

it's boring. there's no 'buzz' to be found in either role, imo. just stupid decisions made by people in high up positions who don't have to deal with it or have no technical knowledge of what it is they are asking (sometimes worse when they do have a little knowledge, but not much - they are the ones that throw around buzz words and tell the CEO it can be done easily at no extra cost, putting you in a really crappy spot), that you have to follow through with, even though you explain that it's not the best way of doing things.

oh, and they expect it to be done by the end of the week, at most - and this includes full testing and implementation with a working result that has no teething issues.

and when you do bust a gut to get it completed and implement that 'must-have all-important' BES server they need, they tell you they've actually signed up to use iPhones instead, so can you please configure the mail system and certificate enrolement for those instead. oh, and being Network Admin means you are automatically 24h support without the pay, even for the CEO's personal home PC issues. And of course, you will also be personally responsible for any system failure or problem, even if it's actually been coded in a way that the sales teams' bloody ridiculous 'necessary system behaviour' cannot actually be done, or if some bloody idiot got hold of an 8 port router, put it on their desk and brought the network down by creating a loop-back by plugging both ends of the cable into said router (and good luck finding that any time soon when you have a few hundred people in the company).

and if you get 10 minutes, can you run off a stupid report that no one will actually look at - but make sure it has pretty coloured pie charts. if you need to stay late to run that update, then that's ok because IT people don't have families or lives, right? And when you do finally get home, all your family and friends can call you at all hours with their computer issues - even if it's actually the DVD player that needs connecting to the TV (coz that's IT related).

And when your company moves offices, IT get to be the removals people, which is nice. that means YOU get to come in at the weekends and move crap just because it has a plug on it.

if fact, whilst you're there, you may as well move the chairs and desks too... make sure it's all ready for Monday. And of course, when there are cuts, yours is the first team to get hit, because IT is a resource user, not a money maker like sales. and no, you will NOT get the recognition for keeping everything running smoothly, but hell - they know your name when a server goes down.

and don't expect ANYONE to read the important email you send out to all staff explaining when, why and how long a server or service will be unavailable, so please do expect a plethora of phone calls when you take it down (which will be at 10pm because the company can't have it go down during sales working hours, otherwise they'd have to work later)... like me, you mean???

and what do you mean 'you'll need to look into that'?? why don't you know the answer to this highly technical question off the top of your head, instantly? and please don't expect any kind of budget to buy more SANs or servers - the company needs to expand, but IT cost do not change accordingly.

still, at least accounts got their new photocopying, faxing, printing, teleporting machine that was over priced because it was bought from a 'business office supplies' company, which you need to set up before it arrives so they can just plug it in and start using straight away.

*sigh*

don't get into IT - it's not worth it. honestly.