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Shifts happen... a note to future IT professionalsJul 17 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line What to do when you're in really deep shift... You can't avoid it, so try to make the best of it. I remember the day that I graduated college like it was yesterday. My father, who only got as far as the eighth grade before he had to drop out of school to care for his family's farm, donned my mortar board hat and glowed with pride. As one of the many people of his generation who were not highly skilled and who thus had to take whatever factory or farm work that was handy, he was as excited about my prospects as I was. I remember him hugging me and saying, "I am SO happy that you will never have to work the crazy hours that I did!" Little did either of us know! It's now fifteen years later, and I'm still working absurd hours. I am a professional computer programmer. I started my career working with flight simulators for military aircraft. This was a rather cool application of my skills. The systems were like hi-tech Disney World rides. (Some were even made from the same components as those rides.) It was essentially like working on a multi-million dollar video game. Unfortunately, it had its drawbacks. With such expensive hardware and computers and over 200 engineers who needed access to them, scheduling was always an issue. In many cases, the programmers who needed to test their software prior to final acceptance testing would end up working 6 day rotating shifts (2 weeks on first shift, 2 weeks on second shift, and 2 weeks on third shift) for weeks or months at a time. The first time I went through this, my father had a hissy fit. "What the [bleep] did you go to the bother of getting that degree for anyway?" he grumbled. I answered by pointing out that the government withheld more from my first paycheck than he ever made in a month during any year of his life. Dad was satisfied. Since then, I have had numerous occasions to work obscene hours and shifts. Sometimes, it's a long shift (20+ hours). Sometimes, it's odd days and times (weekends and nights). Some incidents were worse than others, like the time that I worked 94 hours the week of Thanksgiving. Some were better than others, like the time I was "stuck" in a beach-side hotel in Puerto Rico while finishing a system for delivery. I have changed application domains a number of times. I now work with web development, and the hardware is much cheaper. However, because of trying to incorporate changes on live web sites, I often find that the best time to do changes is the time when most intelligent people are in bed. So here is some advice for the for future IT professionals. Hopefully, it will help you deal with all of the shifts you're sure to land in. Schedule time with those that are important I started dating my husband while I was working the rotating shifts for the simulator projects. This wasn't an easy time to try to start a relationship. However, with a little bit of planning and some deft note-passing, we were able to find opportunities to meet and get to know each other better. It wasn't uncommon to come to work to find messages such as "Thanks for the pizza at lunch yesterday. How about I meet you early for breakfast tomorrow?" This may sound like an insane way to live, and for people who aren't in the trade, I'm sure it would be totally unacceptable. But for us, it turned into a little game. Which leads me to the next point... Find ways to make it fun My husband and I made a game of finding times to get together. It reeked having to go to such lengths, but it a way, the challenge made it all the more enjoyable. Over the years, my fellow IT victims and I have found numerous ways to make it worth working that odd hour here and there. In the defense business, we brought balsa wood airplanes to work and launched them in the huge simulator bays. (I'm sure that there is still one stuck somewhere in the air conditioning ducts in a building in Akron!) In another, coworkers found ways to reprogram the voicemail system to play Homer Simpson's "Doh!" through the PA by just hitting a few keys on one of the house phones. Tbese activities might sound like juvenile wastes of time, and they are! But the few minutes of stress release often help to get the creative juices going again. Always keep an extra change of clothes handy Most people think of IT as a clean job. Let me tell you, it's not, especially when one is working long or late hours. In some cases, getting the job done means crawling across the floor, opening up computer cases, pulling cables, etc. These aspects of the job can be extremely messy. I have sworn off white for work for the rest of my career because of it. However, the real grime comes with long shifts. Office building managers are working hard to conserve energy, and the fact that YOU might be working through the night does not mean that they have a reason to keep the air conditioning going to keep you cool. In the summer, this leads to more sweat than one might see in an ironman triathalon. A quick change of clothes is critical on long shifts. A quick dash to the bathroom, a short paper-towel wash, and a change of clothes restores at least some sense of humanity. And when you are packing your clothes, don't forget the deodorant. Your coworkers will thank you. Don't get involved with a person who doesn't understand your career choice I suppose this could be true of any occupation, but it's particularly true in the IT field. I have seen many relationships crumble under the stresses created by shift work. In many cases, the significant other just cannot understand why a person would work such long hours or put in such superhuman efforts. Many of those people say that they would understand it of a medical resident or a firefighter. Those are typically NOT 9 to 5 jobs. But programming? That's "office work", some say. I am fortunate. I have never had to explain my career to my husband. He has been there and done that. Without his understanding and undying patience, my home life would be a wreck when one of these situations occurs. Meanwhile, many coworkers have complained about the spouse begging for time and attention. Being stuck on an off shift or working long hours is bad enough without someone making you feel guilty about it. It's bad enough to think that you're insane without others thinking it of you as well. Don't try to weasel out of it Nobody likes overtime or shift work. It's no fun. Throughout my career, I have worked with a number of people who have said, "Nope. Not going to work a minute of it." That's a big mistake. I'm as much for family values as anyone. I have a husband who, even after nearly 11 years, I still adore. I have a daughter who is the delight of my life and who is still young enough to enjoy my company. So I try to spend as much time with them as I can. However, when crunch time comes, extra effort is required. If you want to alienate your co-workers (and/or guarantee that your head will be the first to roll when downsizing occurs), refuse to work overtime or shifts. Going the extra mile for a project does not necessarily equate in job security. However, I have known many people who are remembered much more favorably because they were of the type that would go above and beyond the call of duty. People talk, and having a reputation of someone who is committed is much better than being known as a slacker. Know when to say when This is the other side of the coin. Know when to say, "WHOA!!! I can't do this anymore!" Let's face it. Even the most patient person cannot be patient forever. Even a significant other who understands your career may eventually decide that it's not worth understanding. One has to make sure that there is a life to go back to after crunch time is over. Watch for signs, and if those who love you are starting to show frustration, that's the time to stop. My general rule of thumb is that an IT company that requires employees to work odd hours for extensive periods of time (longer than 4 weeks or so) has big problems. In most cases, it means that they require more hardware or that they need more employees. If you feel that this is the case, go home, get some rest, and then voice your concerns to managerment AFTER you have had some sleep. Being well-rested will help you present your feelings calmly. Also remember that not every person has the same tolerance for long hours. I have noticed that my ability to work extended hours has decreased over the years. I'm older and in worse shape than I was when I was younger, and at 2 AM, I really feel every year and pound that I've acquired since I graduated college. If you have worked extra hours and really feel that you can accomplish nothing more until get some rest, then go rest. Comparing yourself to Mr. INeverSleep ThankYouVeryMuch is a self-defeating exercise. Just go home and rest. You will be much more productive later. That's my advice. Take it or leave it. You can't avoid it. It's not a matter of "if" it will happen as much as "when" it will happen. Try to make the best of it. And remember, a company with couches in a public area is a company that at least has a place to crash if the hours get too long.  |
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