Tech-Affiliate

Beating Work Place Boredom

One day me and a friend of mine were sitting at work and just plain bored because nothing was going on.
It occured to us that maybe it’s time to start looking for some new work. We had just completed a 1.5 million dollar server migration of production systems and now the dust had settled and things are working as they should be. We can take a break now and get some much needed rest. Well, too much rest can make Jack a dull boy! Has anyone ever reached a point in the workplace where you sit there and say to yourself, “I think it’s time to move on to more adventurous work.”

My friend casually mentioned, “You know, in order to keep a geek happy, you have to keep him entertained.” I think that is the most honest and real statement that can be made. Although, it seems to hold true across the board. If your bored with your work then you have to move on. I know some people say, “Hey, I can come in to work everyday and put up with this as long as the pay is good.” That’s really unrealistic because the fact of the matter is, PEOPLE GET BORED!! No matter what it is you can’t stand around watching paint dry because you will go out of your mind with boredom! You have to be generally interested and generally entertained with what you do on a daily basis on the means that got you there will no longer hold true and you’ll jump ship! It especially holds true in the tech industry as things always change because the Technology changes so rapidly. If your in an organization that doesn’t keep up with current technology you start to feel a little stale as the world around you rapidly presses on. It’s time to let go of the safety belt and step out of your comfort zone. The best thing about it is you don’t have to leave one work place until you’ve found another! Unless of course, your boredom prompted you to do something silly and you lost your job. In that case, get to lookin if your savings can’t support you for awhile.

I offer the following tips to help kick boredoms butt in the tech field. By all means there may be other ways and if so, post em up! Without further ado in no particular order:

• If your interested in some form of new technology, use your down time study up and do some research at work.
• If your company has spare systems or a lab, see if you can use those systems to install and test trial software, do a new OS install, or test a concept.
• Ask your boss if there are any upcoming projects that you can get a jumpstart on.
• Ask your boss if there are any products they are considering and if you can start evaluating them.
• Ask if there are any training offers available through your company or if you can spend a day, attending a seminar that covers a system or technology your company already uses.
• Use VMWare’s free Server edition on your work laptop/desktop to install and test different configurations and apply updates, patches, or new software.

Now most of these may seem like common sense but, others actually might help you out as well. A few of the tips above focus on you, the employee, developing a working relationship with your boss. You will find that most companies offer training incentives to help keep their employees up to date in the IT Industry. You have to realize that companies want to maintain a competitive advantage as well and that means, well trained employees. Also, there are seminars and events offered all the time. I have attended a few myself, like the Red Hat Government Users Conference. These are great networking opportunities as well as a day away from the office. Don’t be afraid to ask your boss if you can do this, especially if it directly relates to technology in use at the office. Do your research on what is going to be covered at the conference or seminar and make it seem like a great opportunity and not just a day off! Some of the other tips involve getting in with your boss and taking a proactive approach to the future of the company. This makes you look responsible, dedicated, and proactive which in turn means you will be easier to recognize when raises are discussed. Businesses in general are always looking to lower expenses and increase revenue. This often involve leveraging new technologies and products. Why not let you evaluate these products and give your professional recommendation. This does not cover just higher level IT Positions at all! You will find that as the actual engineer or tech that deals with the technology on a regular basis your input is invaluable.

Overall, I think this article will help you guys or gals out there that are getting a little bored with the workplace and need a way to liven things up a bit. Being in the industry myself these things have definetly helped me out and have helped keep me promoted to higher and higher positions. As stated earlier though, if your just not happy with where you are or where your going then maybe it’s time to look for a new environment. Find that next great job, make sure you give your 2 weeks to keep the relationship strong, and move on. It’s all about being happy and content with the geek that you are!