| Topic Name: |
24 year old burnout |
| Message Name: |
** Heck of a Speech ** |
| Date Posted: |
08/26/2001 |
| In Reply To: |
"I think it is unique for our generation for us to face so much stress so soon."
Probably right about that son. My generation got drafted at 19 and sent to Vietnam. You grew up real fast there. When you left country at 20 you looked like an old man.
Ever watch someone die? It makes you old. Have it happen repeatedly and it takes the life out of you.
With that in mind - you don't really have it so bad. I've been laid off, fired, watched helplessly while people died, and dealt with other stuff.
Do you know how swords were made? They forged the steel and then pounded it with hammers. Why? That pounding compressed the molecules and made the steel stronger. That's what your layoff did to you.
Look, I'm really sorry that you got laid off and I wish I could say it won't happen again. But what I CAN say is that you WILL survive the next one simply because the first one taught you.
You are right. You did everything like you were supposed to do, yet, it still happened to you. Like all the rest of the world you have been victimized by "Parents Conspiracy". What the hell is that you ask? Well, parents don't tell us about the REAL facts of life. Forget about sex, I'm talking about the hard lessons in life!
I hope now you will have some empathy for guys like me in your father's generation. Guys like me built systems years ago, some in use today, others were used as stepping stones for systems today. We are constantly victimized by age discrimination. Think I'm kidding? How old is the manager you report to? How many of his people are older than him/her? Wonder why?
Just think about how much you've grown and how much more advanced you are then those college kids. Now think about guys in there 40s & 50s like me. I hope you will give us as much respect as you wish to have.
I don't know you but if I did I'd probably take you for a walk, put my arm on your shoulder, and just let you spout off.
I promise you this: life will get better. I've been where you are now and have progressed various stages since then, and you will too.
Good luck in your journey. There are those of us with much experience in the cyber-world that can help. Keep talking it out. |
| Message: |
Congratulations, that was a hell of a monologue. My father went to war (WWII) long before Vietnam was ever on the map. And his father before him paid some other ridiculous price for the political game of control and power. Everyone appreciates all that any veteran has done but the basic process of history never changes, a given, however, I believe more directly relevant comments might be more helpful.
I'm about a decade older than yourself, "24 year-old burnout". So, I went through the early 90's recession and I??m starting to look a little older myself. One thing I believe truly differs is that there is an enormous amount of overcapacity in technology largely undeployed by companies (i.e. servers, software, etc., etc.). This has never before been the case and is a real issue to recokened with. Since we haven't had a war in so long, among other things. there's no pent-up demand left. It will take years, perhaps, for cyclical demand to support the profitable deployment of this capacity.
Essentially, this means very little demand for technical specialists will ensue any time soon. This might not be what you wanted to hear, on the other hand, there will be raising near-term demand for people who can assist companies in using existing technology better (i.e. systems and business process analysts, financial systems analysts, data warehousing and data mining professionals, etc.). The day of the $200 an hour coder is over ! Admittedly, you can't develop these skills overnight, but over time I would recommend developing a broader background that will support you in these death valley days.
Good Luck !
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