Being an informaticist can really suck at times…especially those times where you have to use your creative juices and problem solving muscles to figure out solutions that will help real people lead happier and healthier lives.
Of course we’re being sarcastic because we think helping others is our primary mission in live. So, if you find that the following ideals appeal to you, you may want to reconsider a position in the informatics field (sarcastically? or seriously?).
1.) You Don’t Like Helping Others
Hate helping others? Informatics is definitely not for you then. Why would you ever want to find ways to make patients healthier through data? Who in this country would ever want faster internet or faster applications? That’s just silly!
2.) You Hate Seeing the Results of Your Work
Don’t like seeing your name on a published study? Don’t get that warm and fuzzy feeling when a clinician walks in and thanks you for solving the problem with her most used application that she’s been having for the last year? Would you prefer to sit in front of your computer screen typing figures into a spreadsheet and wonder where you went wrong with your life? If so, informatics is the last place you should be.
3.) You Want to do the Same Stuff Every Day
Do you like knowing exactly what you’ll be doing at 9:34am, 10:32am, 1:14pm, and 3:45pm, every. single. day.? If so, maybe you should take up assembly line work, because you definitely won’t find a predictable work day in any informatics position. New projects are constantly coming up and problems always need solving, so this would definitely not be for you.
4.) You Like to be Bored at Work
Don’t like a challenge? Would you rather sit in your cube and pray that no one comes by to disturb your latest game of Candy Crush or your recent obsession with prank videos on YouTube? Sorry, but if you prefer to only be by yourself all the time, informatics is not a good fit for you, since informaticists often have to work as part of a team, while completing their own individual work as well.
5.) You Enjoy Being Micromanaged
Loathe freedom? Enjoy being controlled in everything you do? Yup, don’t come in to this field. You’d have too much say in how to get projects done and a certain degree of freedom in the way you can solve organizational problems. Who would ever want a sense of competence from your supervisor, or challenge or trust?
[GARD]