Heavy Networking HN808: Is IT a Young Person’s Game?
Dec 12, 2025
Joining the discussion is Russ White, an experienced network engineer and author with decades in the field. He delves into whether IT favors younger professionals willing to embrace long hours and learning curves compared to seasoned veterans. The conversation covers the intense Silicon Valley grind, how modern networking's complexity can overwhelm newcomers, and the risk AI poses to entry-level roles. Russ highlights the importance of experience in navigating tech and the evolving landscape of IT roles driven by automation.
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Grind Culture Favored Youth
- IT used to reward long, irregular hours and personal sacrifice, favoring younger workers able to grind through nights and weekends.
- That culture creates promotion bias toward those who sacrifice family time and discourages older workers seeking balance.
Interaction Surfaces Drive Complexity
- Modern networks have far more interaction surfaces and dependencies than in the early days of IT.
- That rise in interactivity increases systemic complexity beyond just protocol differences of the past.
Build A Mental Map, Not Just Skills
- Specialize deliberately but keep a mental map of adjacent areas to stay flexible across changes.
- Use accumulated experience to ask the right questions when learning new technologies.