What's it like being an IT guy?

Most of us know at least one person (or one too many) who works in the IT industry. So, what are the typical things that define an IT guy? We find out!

Sanjay Manaktala's rap song, IT guy 4.0, has taken the Internet by storm. From listing out the stereotypes associated with professionals from this industry to rapping about their quirks -Sanjay's video has not only generated laughs, but has many people identifying themselves with it.

Capturing the essence of IT professionals to the T, the video has gone viral online. And taking a cue from the video, we get a few professionals from Hyderabad's booming IT industry, to list out quirks common among the IT crowd.

NEVER-ENDING WORK HOURS
Many clients that techies deal with are in another time zone, so they start work early morning and end late at night, even if it means working from home. Sanjay Manaktala, the man behind the video, says, "A lot of techies work from home, but don't tell their clients. So, when they are on a conference call, you'll hear babies and kids in the background."

`WHEN I WAS IN THE US' SYNDROME Almost everyone in the IT industry has gone to the US on A work, at least once. So, it becomes a reference point for any conversation they strike. This is a point highlighted by Sanjay in his hugely popular video. Agreeing, Subhojit Chatterjee, a well-travelled IT professional for more than 10 years, says, "Let's say, a discussion starts with driving in the city and we are stuck in a traffic jam, so the conversations start like, `When I was in the US, the guys maintain the lanes so well, that you can drive with your eyes closed.' If it's movies then, `When I was in the US, the multiplexes have like 20 screens' or something like,`I used to have six pack abs when I was in the US, the gyms were so good, it sucks here, bro.' People just love to brag about being to the US and how it is the most awesome place."

TAKING THE BRAND WAY TOO SERIOUSLY Techies love to make a statement with their company's logo. "IT guys love being the brand ambassador for their company, and they take it seriously. They often flaunt coffee mugs, T-shirts, laptop bag etc., with their company name or logo. I've even seen people wearing belt buckles with the company name inscribed on it!" says Pushpayan.

BEING WEEKEND PARENTS Since working hours are erratic, techies only spend time with their kids during the weekend. Sameer Sharma, father of a 7-year-old agrees, saying, "By the time I am home, my son goes off to sleep and when I wake up in the morning, he has gone to school. So, the only time I spend with him is over the weekend. It is sad, but there's nothing I can do about it."

LOVE FOR THE LAPTOP
Laptops are techies way of L flaunting their profession and they don't leave even a single chance of doing that. Subhojit says, "IT folks, especially travelling for the first time, have to flick open their laptops at the first opportunity to show that they are important and very busy. Some of those laptops are so secure that you cannot even check your office mail using a public Wifi, so the only use of it is watching movies, listening to songs, etc. And the funny part is, on an international flight, you have more in-flight entertainment than on the laptop! Yet, they flaunt it."

BEFORE AND AFTER TRAVEL BUG
Life, it seems, takes a turn for many after they have lived abroad for some time -especially their accent. Anahita Arya, who spends at least half of the year abroad, says, "People from the IT industry who travel abroad often would suddenly start talking in a strong American accent. It's a way of bragging, `I have travelled abroad.' The worse thing is that most can't even get it right, so they end up becoming a butt of joke."
CLICK FROM A FANCY CAMERA Buying a fancy camera is something all IT B folks do, most amateur often than not, due to peer pressure. Yes, most photographers are IT guys. Pushpayan Mitra, a techie for more than 10 years now, says, "With lots of people going abroad, and entry level DSLRs being available at throwaway prices, everybody buys a DSLR, irrespective of whether they have any interest in photography or not. For many, it is their first camera, which means, they have never ever taken a picture other than from their smartphones."

THE PRECIOUS RESIGNATION Putting in papers and writing the last letter to colleagues is also something IT folks are pushy about. Pushpayan says, "Everyone in the IT industry wants to stand out from the crowd. So their goodbye letters too are an attempt at standing out. We think our old company will remember us only if we send some witty, emotional, thank you email, eventually making it like a full blown five paragraph article, in the hope of it being shared online, maybe."