Unfortunately, in the IT department, the experience has declined significantly over time. Recent layoffs, even during periods of strong profitability, have left teams short-staffed and stretched thin. Often working long after quitting time and on weekends due to change management process changes. Despite the reduction in headcount, project load has only increased, leaving little time for thoughtful work or professional development.
Hiring has slowed to a crawl, and when it does happen, the pay offered to new employees is noticeably lower, raising concerns about long-term retention and the type of candidates being targeted. Career growth is hit-or-miss, highly dependent on your team and how much bandwidth you have to pursue training, something IT rarely gets anymore.
Leadership decisions are increasingly erratic. The CEO often makes sudden moves that ripple down unpredictably. The new CTO has introduced a slew of initiatives that seem aimed at cutting costs (like switching vendors) but result in more work and frustration for staff due to compatibility and support issues.
