[Typ616]

Long time member, using a different account because this stuff gets googled nowadays (when your profile is your name, that's not paranoia)

I am having a bit of a career reset moment in the IT industry, as I am moving and looking at job postings, and I was wondering what others in the field believe is the smart way to go... (the rest of you, you'll find this boring, feel free to move along)

It seems to me that while I wasn't looking, IT turned on its head:
Skills are becoming crazy specific. Just as an example, QA jobs (not my thing but a backup plan) now require high level C++ and/or Java coding plus 5 different automation tools (selenium python, ruby, you name it). IMO people possessing all those skills would take a programmer's salary instead. From past experience (3 times now), most IT functions eventually get outsourced to service providers (which provide crap service but are good for the bottom line), hardware infrastructure goes to big server farms (same rationale), and IT people get outsourced to India. "Agile" and "Scrum" have become code words for "sweat shops" now. Am I being negative ? That's just my experience in 3 big software development companies in the last 20y.

I let myself get painted into a corner by administering a "too specific" software deployment tool for too long, which was a fun job, but not super common, and therefore I gotta think plan B.. What do you IT gurus see as a stable, in demand Plan B in the industry, that allows you to at least pickup your kids after school now and then?

I think pure coding isn't my thing, scripting OK... Systems analysis seems to be more an art than a science, and they generally want architect level folks... Business analysts, I never really understood the need for, if the IT guys aren't complete nerds and can use their words. I am not terribly attracted to project management either because every PM I've dealt with made me want to rip my hair calling for repetitive meetings that advanced nothing... Then most support functions (from network, Server admins, Desktop admins) seems to recruit at lower levels now and have horrendous hours / midnight calls... I'd like at least to pick up the kids from school on a semi-regular basis (after 5, even if it means getting in at 6:30AM).

Just wondering what your thoughts are in general, on the industry, ideas, comments, whatever… Maybe it's just in my head.