IT Job - Is it really worth the money it pays?

[The_Big_K]

CEans,

This topic will appeal more to engineers from India. I'd love to have opinions/views from engineers from all over the world to see how things are in different parts of the world.

This debate is all about the worth of IT jobs in India. No doubt they pay well; and way more than other engineering jobs.

Without providing much details; I'm leaving the topic open to debate. Comment!

[ranvir1986]

To begin with, the issue is a good one.

As for the worth of IT jobs, the generation that welcomed BPO`s would mostly think high of IT jobs, in monetary terms of course. The real setback though is the shifting pattern of your work, you need to learn and unlearn at a short notice, you never really gain experience, you are always changing platforms. So much for job security, its hard to survive long in this field.

[mayurpathak]

I think it depends more on what you are supposed to do. If you are just a cheap labor being asked to keep a watch on the client systems (*Read support and maintenance*) I would better not do it. Its only worth if you are doing some thing good and worthwhile.

There are enough innovative product companies in the world. Ask yourself what you are doing and what value does it add to you and your company apart from the money they earn? If people treat you as cheap labors, will the money worth your self respect?

Apologies for extreme or harsh views. I wrote two articles on my blog (here 1 and 2) many days back (although they are a bit India centric) regarding similar topic and received some flak even then. Probably every one wants to do a good piece of work and leave the bad to some one else. It depends on what you want in life...

[MaRo]

I've an indian friend here told me about how Banglore is very developed in the software career, Banglore labours take less money than western programmers although they do much of the hardcore coding, I think Indian programmers federation or something like this has to move to make a boycott or strike to raise their salaries.

I don't know IT salaries in India but here in Saudi Arabia they're more expensive than Egypt (2 countries I lived and know very well) here the average salary is ~$1000/month.

[mayurpathak]

Originally Posted by MaRo

I don't know IT salaries in India but here in Saudi Arabia they're more expensive than Egypt (2 countries I lived and know very well) here the average salary is ~$1000/month.

Oh! Interesting. This is only marginally costlier than what they pay in India. Here it might be about $750-800

[The_Big_K]

Here's my view -

I see that the software jobs are actually taking away 'health' from the software professionals. Now, I personally believe that the (software) engineers themselves are responsible. As I hear growing cases of 'back pain' , 'frozen shoulder' & 'kidney stones' among software professionals, I feel concerned.

Here's what comes as a part of your software engineering job -

• No time for exercise.
• Exposure to high levels of stress.
• No job satisfaction ( I hear it from everyone these days!)
• Bulging belly (check yours!)
• Overdose of caffeine.
• Poor intake of water ( since most of you are lazy enough to get and supply your body with enough water )
• High levels of smoking : Why do I see almost every software professional with a cigarette in his/her hand?
• Almost zero social life.
• Strain on eyes - that's what you get after hours of looking at computer screen.
• Back pain - agree?

Comment on whatever I've written above. I'd love to hear your voice!

[MaRo]

100% right big K, all these happens to me but back pain after long hours not always.

Job satisfaction - I'm satisfied

[mayurpathak]

Originally Posted by The_Big_K

Here's my view -

I see that the software jobs are actually taking away 'health' from the software professionals. Now, I personally believe that the (software) engineers themselves are responsible. As I hear growing cases of 'back pain' , 'frozen shoulder' & 'kidney stones' among software professionals, I feel concerned.

Here's what comes as a part of your software engineering job -

• No time for exercise.
• Exposure to high levels of stress.
• No job satisfaction ( I hear it from everyone these days!)
• Bulging belly (check yours!)
• Overdose of caffeine.
• Poor intake of water ( since most of you are lazy enough to get and supply your body with enough water )
• High levels of smoking : Why do I see almost every software professional with a cigarette in his/her hand?
• Almost zero social life.
• Strain on eyes - that's what you get after hours of looking at computer screen.
• Back pain - agree?

Comment on whatever I've written above. I'd love to hear your voice!

This is not confined to Software engineering alone. What about the support staff working in software engineering firms? Stress? health problems? Well they are every where. Every job has a different health hazard. Moreover I think IT companies have better offices with most of them having a gym and a recreation facility and/or a crash room.

Money wise, I think lot of Finance and Marketing jobs pay as good as the technology industry, if not more.

[kedarjk]

I think it varies as per individual.
If one manages to complete his work within given time ideally 9AM to 6PM or 10AM to 6PM. Then he/she can have social life and have ample time for exercise.
Talking about stress, in most of the companies there is a concept of bench strength. So for such people, what kind of stress is there?

For job satisfaction, one has to identify his/her interest and then choose a career. Or in IT which field one likes to work has to be identified by own and then struggle for it.

Other things I guess every individual has to manage on its own, like stress on eyes,back pain,lack of water, bulging belly etc.

To talk about advantages, in IT industry almost all companies give 2 week days off, which is not the case for mechanical industry people. So in those days one can have ample time to live his/her life in a way he/she wants. Continue his/her hobby.

[sauravgoswami]

Well india is a labour country,s/w professionals are labour out to off-shore companies,anyhow these days other sectors are also paying well,IT is no longer the attraction !!!!