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Surviving IT: Essential Advice for Build a Happy and Healthy Technology Career
Getting into the IT industry seems like a great choice for people who love technology. But things can start to look a lot less fun when you’re on the inside. If you don’t know how to navigate the industry, it’s easy to find
Stuck in the same job for years, with no idea how to get to the next levelWorking long hours to get everything doneTired, stressed, and always on the verge of burnoutIt doesn’t have to be that way though.
From help desk, systems admin and engineering, to consulting, managing, training and technical writing, Paul Cunningham has worked in almost every area of the IT industry over the past 20 years.
Like most people in the industry, he’s experienced stress and burnout. And he’s had his fair share of jobs go bad due to downsizing, outsourcing and bankruptcy. Over the years he’s developed a number of key strategies and mindsets that have allowed him to forge a successful career in IT; one that allows him to lead the life he wants for himself and his family.
Surviving IT shares those strategies and much more. It’s an essential guide for technology professionals looking to build a healthy, happy and fulfilling career.
Stuck in the same job for years, with no idea how to get to the next levelWorking long hours to get everything doneTired, stressed, and always on the verge of burnoutIt doesn’t have to be that way though.
From help desk, systems admin and engineering, to consulting, managing, training and technical writing, Paul Cunningham has worked in almost every area of the IT industry over the past 20 years.
Like most people in the industry, he’s experienced stress and burnout. And he’s had his fair share of jobs go bad due to downsizing, outsourcing and bankruptcy. Over the years he’s developed a number of key strategies and mindsets that have allowed him to forge a successful career in IT; one that allows him to lead the life he wants for himself and his family.
Surviving IT shares those strategies and much more. It’s an essential guide for technology professionals looking to build a healthy, happy and fulfilling career.
- GenresNonfiction
214 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2019
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23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 10, 2020
Autor posiada wiele ciekawych i słusznych refleksji nt. świata IT. W szczególności z perspektywy pracy w firmie usługowej.
Ksiązka w szczególności powinna trafić w ręce młodych adeptów IT aby poznali co oddają w zamian za te wymarzone 15k na rękę. I czy to jest naprawdę warte. A jeśli tak, to w jaki sposób, jakimi konkretnymi sposobami, ochronić siebie i swoją głowę, aby nie zatracić się w ciapaniu.
Jak zarządzać zadaniami.
Jak rozmawiać z szefem.
Jak mówić nie.
Jak odpoczywać.
Jak pracować.
Ksiązka w szczególności powinna trafić w ręce młodych adeptów IT aby poznali co oddają w zamian za te wymarzone 15k na rękę. I czy to jest naprawdę warte. A jeśli tak, to w jaki sposób, jakimi konkretnymi sposobami, ochronić siebie i swoją głowę, aby nie zatracić się w ciapaniu.
Jak zarządzać zadaniami.
Jak rozmawiać z szefem.
Jak mówić nie.
Jak odpoczywać.
Jak pracować.
July 12, 2021
The advice is Surviving IT is common sense and helpful to those starting their career in IT or for those looking for a shot in the arm to remind them about what is important to stay focused on. It is equal parts general self-help and IT career specific.
The way Paul writes is easy to digest and is down to earth; he isn't using a bunch platitudes or high-minded concepts here. The focus is on actionable and practical things to keep in balance for stress management as well as coaching for success in finding and keeping the right kind of job.
I wouldn't go so far as to say this is essential reading for anyone in an IT career, but I would say that it could be extremely helpful to the overworked and disenfranchised technology worker to remind them about what is important and how to orient themselves towards it.
Great read Paul!
The way Paul writes is easy to digest and is down to earth; he isn't using a bunch platitudes or high-minded concepts here. The focus is on actionable and practical things to keep in balance for stress management as well as coaching for success in finding and keeping the right kind of job.
I wouldn't go so far as to say this is essential reading for anyone in an IT career, but I would say that it could be extremely helpful to the overworked and disenfranchised technology worker to remind them about what is important and how to orient themselves towards it.
Great read Paul!
June 11, 2022
Good stuff, good stories, helped a lot.
September 16, 2019
I've followed Paul on the Practical 365 blog for a long time and therefore I recognise that he knows his stuff.
This is a departure from writing about Exchange, but instead it's focused about surviving a career in IT as this can be stressful at times with a high risk of burnout during the career. The book is a fairly quick read and gives the reader a lot of practical tips and areas of growth to work on.
An overview of the industry, Finding and leaving jobs, Working on the business of You, Dealing with people, Productivity, Personal Health and Veteran advice are all chapters in the book.
Each of the chapters had little nuggets that are useful in personal growth and development with some great tips on interviewing as a specific example. Use these when negotiating for a job and you will easily recoup the minimal cost of this book.
This book is aimed at the IT worker at all stages of their career but starts with the reader writing down their ideal workday. This exercise is useful in later sections of the book as a guide on how each of the chapters will be appropriate for the reader.
The book is not going to make life in IT easy overnight, but it will certainly help you think positively about the career choice. It can be stressful working in IT but it can also be very rewarding as long as you don't let it control your life 24/7 and that really is possible. Make sure you take notes of the relevant tips as you go along as a final review at the end of the book will give you an action plan of how to put the things you've learnt into practise.
This is a departure from writing about Exchange, but instead it's focused about surviving a career in IT as this can be stressful at times with a high risk of burnout during the career. The book is a fairly quick read and gives the reader a lot of practical tips and areas of growth to work on.
An overview of the industry, Finding and leaving jobs, Working on the business of You, Dealing with people, Productivity, Personal Health and Veteran advice are all chapters in the book.
Each of the chapters had little nuggets that are useful in personal growth and development with some great tips on interviewing as a specific example. Use these when negotiating for a job and you will easily recoup the minimal cost of this book.
This book is aimed at the IT worker at all stages of their career but starts with the reader writing down their ideal workday. This exercise is useful in later sections of the book as a guide on how each of the chapters will be appropriate for the reader.
The book is not going to make life in IT easy overnight, but it will certainly help you think positively about the career choice. It can be stressful working in IT but it can also be very rewarding as long as you don't let it control your life 24/7 and that really is possible. Make sure you take notes of the relevant tips as you go along as a final review at the end of the book will give you an action plan of how to put the things you've learnt into practise.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews