• 🖖USS-Ethernet@startrek.website
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    2 months ago

    Me: I’m in IT (trying to keep it simple)

    Them: OK, but what do you do in IT?

    Me: I’m a system administrator (again trying to keep it simple)

    Them: I don’t know what that means. What does a system administrator do?

    Me: I work on servers (again, trying to keep it simple)

    Them: What’s a server?

    Me: I’m in IT…

    • wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      2 months ago

      That’s a combination of too simple/short in your sentences, mixed with too specific jargon with no clarification. It’s dumb as hell that people don’t know stuff like what a server is, but if they don’t you have to abstract it more.

      My go to is some form of: I’m in IT, I do systems administration. I help keep all the things behind the scenes working so that everyone’s stuff works at my workplace. Less of making your email work, more of making everyone’s email work.

      Obviously I work with a hell of a lot more than just email. I’m mostly scripting out custom automation jobs to bridge gaps in the integrations between different systems. But like you said, keep it simple.

    • stringere@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      Replied elsewhere: I cast spells that make the runes etched in sand translate the energy of magic stones into dancing light.

      Usually I just tell people that I work in IT and leave it at that.