Whirlpool

I need some advice here for my career. Just graduated with distinction average from an IT degree for a couple of years. Have done some help desk and software/database dev work. Very good at maths, statistics etc by the way. The only problem I am facing is that my bad eye strain problem, for which I have saw a lot of eye care professionals, but it didn't get improved much.

I am wondering if there are any areas in IT which don't require constant reading paper documents or working in front of a computer. I don't expect I can get anything by asking this question, but just try my luck, as I think IT work inherently requires working with computers(in front of computers screens) all the time.

When I worked at help desks, it was the only time that my eye strain got a bit relieved as from time to time I needed to talk to people on the phone that was when my eyes took a break off the computer screen, but that job paid very averagely. And I got distinction in my uni study, so I think I should be able to do alot more---hence earn a lot more in other more advanced areas like software dev.

Have thought about quiting IT altogether if this problem is not addressed and maybe do some academic research or pursuit a career in statistics or actuary. Not sure if those plans are feasible.

Thank you for your attention.

Kind of a curly question. As you note, there's not a lot of areas in IT which don't involve a lot of screen work.

However, if you really wanted to make a go of it, I guess one way might be to look into computer interfaces for blind people, and close your eyes when using the PC.

Or, if you can use screens to some degree before the problem sets in, how about something like a field technician specialising in hardware? There's some configuration screenwork, but there's also a lot of time spent travelling and physically assembling/disassembling/upgrading machines.

On the gripping hand, if you're good enough in tech support you can make reasonable money. I've seen jobs paying $35-40ph for phone work.

Most jobs will be happy to assist you in creating a comfortable work environment – so they could potentially provide you with screen filters, different video cards and different monitors which may assist in removing the eye strain you get.

guguy writes...

I am wondering if there are any areas in IT which don't require constant reading paper documents or working in front of a computer.

My eyes used to get sore from close computer work, so now I put the monitor about 1 metre away. This way its not close computer work.

Thanks for your reply Geminii, but...

Geminii writes...

I guess one way might be to look into computer interfaces for blind people, and close your eyes when using the PC.

This is simply a too hard job to find with very limited career progress. (my eyes are of normal vision, just the bad eye strain---maybe due to the eye muscles coordination)

something like a field technician specialising in hardware?
Isn't that for school leavers trained in a two year traineeship? arn't I a bit over qualified. besides, what's the pay range for a field tech?

On the gripping hand, if you're good enough in tech support you can make reasonable money. I've seen jobs paying $35-40ph for phone work.
I am getting this pay already in developement and there is a huge room to grow if it's not the eye strain.

King Ralph writes...

provide you with screen filters, different video cards and different monitors which may assist in removing the eye strain you get.

tried all those, but thanks King Ralph

Timsterz writes...

so now I put the monitor about 1 metre away.

This is a reasonable suggestion.

I have tried this at home, but I think I need it a bit even further away say, 1.5 metres or futher. By the way, how can you manage to put it 1 metre away? my desk is not that wide, unless I put the keyboard on my lap and sit away from the desk, which is quite awkward. Do you put your screen on another desk in front of you?

also, I noticed that when I play games with my plasma tv more than 2 meters away, I don't get eye strain even for hours and hours straight. Not sure if a workplace can allow this distance, but the further away the screen the smaller the text looks which needs to be compensate by increasing the screen size. This seems a too hard requirment?

guguy writes...

I am wondering if there are any areas in IT which don't require constant reading paper documents or working in front of a computer.

Most roles will involve about 50% of your work load being infront of a computer for techie type roles.

And I got distinction in my uni study, so I think I should be able to do alot more---hence earn a lot more in other more advanced areas like software dev

So you got a distinction a few years ago and now want to get paid more becuase you studies more/did betetr in tests?

Have thought about quiting IT altogether if this problem is not addressed and maybe do some academic research or pursuit a career in statistics or actuary. Not sure if those plans are feasible.

Why not??? Honestly what would happen if you choose another career path? Would the world end? Don't want to start off back on entry level pays if you get a distinction?

something like a field technician specialising in hardware?
Isn't that for school leavers trained in a two year traineeship? arn't I a bit over qualified. besides, what's the pay range for a field tech?

So all field techs are school leavers doing a traineeship? Well blind me, who come I know some field techs who are in their 30's earning at least $75k + company car (most the ones I know are one $80K+ car).

~~~~~~~~~~
Ok so your eyes are stuffed to a certain level (just saying it how it reads).

But you also sound like you should be getting more pay because of your degree, don't want to start another career for whatever reason.

Don't want to do a field tech unless it pays well, and of course make sure it's not below your UNI degree as you got distinctions.

Forget about the bloody money with the job. If you think you'll be happy doing JOB A or JOB B then go and do it. If all you care about is the cash you can earn you'll never be happy in any job. Sorry but seems like you are more interested in the cash and what you think you should get becuase of your degree.

Hope all works out for you, but things seem to be to hard, not good enough (Suggested idea's)... Maybe you should look at another career or be willing to start from the bottom say as a field tech and move your way up.

As per above, no one ever starts at the top of the ladder, you need to start at the bottom and work your way up.

guguy writes...

I need some advice here for my career. Just graduated with distinction average from an IT degree for a couple of years. Have done some help desk and software/database dev work. Very good at maths, statistics etc by the way.

With both DBA / DB Dev & "help desk" the entry level involves a lot more screen time than even the next job up.
Once you go to the second or even third level of the hierarchy, you will spend more time dealing with people (either over the phone or in meetings) and less time punching stuff into a script/db console / ...

Others have suggested field work, there IS still field-based work that is technical enough that they want degree qualified PLUS certificates – and these jobs tend to only have you in front of a computer maybe 30 minutes at a time.

IMO, any public service role would have no choice but to "reasonably" modify a workspace to fit your medical condition. Larger businesses would also fall in line. So even being a "code monkey" / DBA at a big enough workplace you would be able to come up with screens which should let you sit easily 80cm+ away from the screen. I'm managing that with a plain old single 19" screen – if I go to my other desk with dual screens I move back another 20cm and dual screens "is nothing unusual".

If you can play games on a screen without eyestrain you can do work on a screen without eyestrain. You just have to adjust your setup a bit.

One more thing I will say is, in the workplace you are meant to manage yourself.
If you let youself do so much screen-time that at the end of the day you have eyestrain it's your own fault.

Sure there are call-centres with managed breaks etc: but even they have OHS obligations, and I'm sure their setups are done to manage compensation claims as much as the setups of data entry pools I looked after ten years ago. If anything we've gotten better at identifying lighting requirements, sensible work times, staff rotations, etc.

Just a suggestion: have you thought about giving natural vision improvement techniques / exercises a try? This might help resolve the root cause of your problem, i.e. your eye strain problem.

Maybe you could use a projector instead of a monitor.