If you work in a technical field, such as applications development, systems analyst/engineer/admin/architect/etc, you’re probably all-too familiar with scanning the classified ads, job hunting web sites (Dice, Monster, etc) and so on.  But how many times have you read a position opening like this…

 Senior Network Administrator:

Responsibilities:
The Sr. Network Administrator’s responsibilities include:
** Supporting Cisco Routers for LAN/WAN connectivity, which includes connections to the internet, remote offices, and remote users.
** Running network support over 300 users, both local and remote.
** Installing, maintaining, and upgrading server OS, Exchange 2003, SonicWALL firewall and local, interoffice, and Internet network connectivity.
** Managing VMware ESX Servers running critical business applications.
** Implementing and monitoring network security.
** Ensuring completion of nightly backup jobs and batch files.
** Troubleshooting problems that arise with critical and non-critical applications and resolve local and remote user issues.
** Maintaining and troubleshooting CTX, voicemail, and telephone problems.
** Evaluating networking and communication products for potential purchase.
** Checking status of nightly backup and scheduled batch file jobs, empty Exchange queues, update Spam Filter if needed, check Emanager logs, and handle NDR**s.
** Troubleshooting network connection, user problems, critical and non-critical application issues, CTX and telephone issues.
** Researching potential product upgrades, network changes, and problem solving.
** Other duties as assigned.

Anything else?  How about: “must be able to walk on water” or “revive the dead”?  Holy crap!  A “Network Admin” that masters telephone systems, VMware ESX, firewalls, routers AND MS-Exchange???  Why not add more?  Actually, most DO.  That’s right, they can’t stop smoking the crack while describing the requirements for candidates.

What does this say to potential candidates?

Simple: It says “Avoid this job!!!”

Why?  Because it’s asking (you) to wear too many hats, work too many hours, deal with too many vertical responsibilities and it screams “MBA’s in charge that have no clue how to divide responsibilities effectively among a suitable staff”.  Every time I see an ad like that, I move on to the next.  Even if I somehow qualify for every line-item, it’s suicidal to take the bate.  If you don’t have a life, then maybe it’s worth it.  I like to think I have something close to a “a life”, so I prefer to keep my responsibilities more narrowly defined.  I wear a lot of hats already.  Most experienced IT workers do these days.  Admit it.  I don’t care who you are, there’s no one in IT these days that does ONE JOB and ONE JOB alone.  The days of single-role jobs are long gone.  It’s time for the CEO’s, CFO’s and CIO’s to rethink their hiring intentions and try to address a need, rather than regurgitating unrealistic rhetorical shlock.