I can only speak for my IT career ....
I was a jack of all trades and called a Solution Architect. I did business development, light programming, system installs, ran multiple small teams etc.. The saying was go to VaTechie he knows the answer. VaTechie did not know the answer, but he could figure it out quickly where it was network, database, application server etc.
My last corporate job I had 3 customers and worked on 7 systems each week and it was brutal. One customer I was commuting 6 hours a day 3 days a week. I worked at home the other two days a week. I basically did most of the work to secure 6 million dollars worth of new business. I went to management multiple times about it was causing me health problems. Finally, two doctors told me I had to find a new job. I went home, resigned immediately with no job, and started my IT consulting business again.
My last day was a Friday and I was under contract to the same company for 4 years working at home for one customer that I got the 6 million dollars worth of business. That work dried up and I started looking again in my mid fifties after getting my AWS solutions architecture certification. I got some bites but it was really hard. My wife got really, really sick so I just retired way, way earlier than I wanted.
In the end, I am glad. I was burned out on IT.
Thread Replies (16)
It’s a low fire, low hire economy. Four years ago, it was the Great
-- RoswellGAHokie
Jun 11, 2026 at 07:01 PM ET
RoswellGAHokie
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06/11/26 07:01 PM ET
It would be helpful if arlington actually gave some information. **
-- PhotoHokieNC
Jun 11, 2026 at 07:46 PM ET
PhotoHokieNC
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06/11/26 07:46 PM ET
I know my company in IT did a RIF yesterday
-- turkeywinghokie
Jun 11, 2026 at 06:22 PM ET
turkeywinghokie
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06/11/26 06:22 PM ET
We’re still sending more jobs to Costa Rica & other countries
-- Vtskier1
Jun 11, 2026 at 09:42 PM ET
Vtskier1
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06/11/26 09:42 PM ET
What industry?**
-- arlingtonhokie
Jun 12, 2026 at 09:55 AM ET
arlingtonhokie
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06/12/26 09:55 AM ET
What industry? The construction industry is booming in Richmond right now.
-- MP4VT2004
Jun 11, 2026 at 05:56 PM ET
MP4VT2004
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06/11/26 05:56 PM ET
Commercial Real Estate/Sales
-- arlingtonhokie
Jun 11, 2026 at 07:52 PM ET
arlingtonhokie
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06/11/26 07:52 PM ET
you better find one quick, you hit 50 years old
-- VaTechie
Jun 11, 2026 at 08:54 PM ET
VaTechie
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06/11/26 08:54 PM ET
I know, its something that worries me
-- arlingtonhokie
Jun 11, 2026 at 09:57 PM ET
arlingtonhokie
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06/11/26 09:57 PM ET
Ageism is real, but so is the premium on experience. Companies aren't just
-- VTVOICE
Jun 11, 2026 at 09:28 PM ET
VTVOICE
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06/11/26 09:28 PM ET
I can only speak for my IT career ....
◄
-- VaTechie
Jun 11, 2026 at 10:18 PM ET
VaTechie
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06/11/26 10:18 PM ET
Glad you were in a position to be able to retire**
-- arlingtonhokie
Jun 11, 2026 at 10:25 PM ET
arlingtonhokie
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06/11/26 10:25 PM ET
Well, I would not say I was in the position to retire
-- VaTechie
Jun 11, 2026 at 10:31 PM ET
VaTechie
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06/11/26 10:31 PM ET
I think that's adjacent enough to commercial construction that you could...
-- MP4VT2004
Jun 11, 2026 at 08:13 PM ET
MP4VT2004
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06/11/26 08:13 PM ET