I’ve spent the last week posting content about how to get a Data Center Technician job. This week I continue with that theme, but in this post I want to explain why. It’s one thing to tell a person to try to get specific role, but sometimes articles or videos don’t explain why. Or they do explain why and focus on the salary and benefits. While those are good, people also want to work a job that matters, or brings them so joy, or keeps them active. That’s the reason for this post. So keep reading to understand why I suggest Data Center Technician jobs.
Why I Suggest Data Center Technician Jobs: It’s Great For Those Who Like Physical IT Jobs
When I think about the various positions available in the IT Industry many of them are sedentary. I sat in a chair for a majority of my eight hour shift as a Technical Support Technician. I got up to go to the bathroom or to lunch. Software Engineers, Database Administrators, and Network Engineers all sit down for the majority of their day. Some employers installed standing desks, but a recent study shows those don’t really help improve a person’s health.
That’s why I suggest Data Center Technician jobs to individuals who are physically active in their personal life. And they want a job where they can stay physically active. I covered the physicality of the job in this previous post, but I will give a quick summary:
- Data centers are large buildings so there is near-constant walking
- Server racks are tall so one has to squat, kneel, and climb ladders to access the servers
- Computer hardware is heavy, and require a good amount of strength to move it around
Why I Suggest Data Center Technician Jobs: It’s Great For Those Seeking Variety In Their Shift
The next reason why I suggest Data Center Technician jobs is for the individuals who want to work on a variety of tasks during their shift. Some of these individuals want this because it makes the work day go by faster. Others just don’t want to do the same thing over and over.
Just like other IT jobs, this role requires each technician to perform a tasks that came in through a ticket. One ticket could have that individual rack and stack networking hardware and servers in a rack. The next ticket for the day could have that individual run Ethernet cabling across the floor to a communications closet, or into a customer’s rack. Another ticket could have that individual escort a vendor, like a Field Service Technician from an Internet Service Provider (ISP), around so that person can perform a repair, or install some equipment.
With this job the tasks change constantly, which means little to no repetitive tasks. And each work day is different.
Final Reason: It’s Great For Loners
My final reason why I suggest Data Center Technician jobs is for the loners. Depending on the shift there may be only one to two Data Center Technicians working in the entire building. I see this happen more-so with night shifts. Thus, if that individual prefers their own company and only talk to their coworkers when needed this job works out well.
I worked night shift as Data Center Technician at a previous employer so I speak from good experience. Granted, I got a little lonely, but overall I liked it. It did get a little stressful when I had many tasks to do. It would have been nice to have a coworker around then.