What’s your sign? The sys admin’s zodiac

Sys admins, alchemists, astrologers… all three jobs seems to be part fantasy and part mythology to people who don’t do the job. The subject came up around the table recently and we started to compare the traditional traits of the various Zodiac signs to those of the typical sys admin role and character. Of course, one or two might be a stretch, and at least one is pretty wacky, but all have an element of truth to them.

We borrowed the traditional traits from http://www.astrology through online.com, and then mapped them to key sys admin roles.

Different astrologers may assign the specific dates for each sign plus or minus one day. Some people are born on the cusp, and many sys admins wear more than one hat as they fulfill multiple roles, so if you are not a perfect match, see if you are a mix. Find your sign and your IT role, and see if we are completely off, we hit the mark, or you fell somewhere in between. Try mapping the traits to colleagues… that could be fun.

♈ Aries

21 March through 20 April

Positive traits

Adventurous and energetic

Pioneering and courageous

Enthusiastic and confident

Dynamic and quick through witted

Negative traits

Selfish and quick through tempered

Impulsive and impatient

Foolhardy and daredevil

Sys admin role

Network Admin
The Network Admin is always up for an adventure, like recomputing routing tables on the fly, or reconfiguring the VLAN database at lunchtime. Always cheerful around those he likes, but with the patience of a two-year-old in a candy store, the Network Admin is compatible with Linux, Unix, and Helpdesk Admins, but should avoid PMO and auditors.

♉ Taurus

21 April through 21 May

Positive traits

Patient and reliable

Warmhearted and loving

Persistent and determined

Placid and security loving

Negative traits

Jealous and possessive

Resentful and inflexible

Self through indulgent and greedy

Sys admin role

Active Directory Admin
The lovable AD Admin can be patient, but also stubborn, with a sense of self-entitlement and a feeling that no one really “gets it”. The AD Admin should seek out the PMO, internal auditor, or SharePoint Admin, and avoid the Unix Admin or webmaster.

♊ Gemini

22 May through 21 June

Positive traits

Adaptable and versatile

Communicative and witty

Intellectual and eloquent

Youthful and lively

Negative traits

Nervous and tense

Superficial and inconsistent

Cunning and inquisitive

Sys admin role

Linux Admin
The Linux Admin is too cool for school and has a hard time with punctuation. Witty on the outside, nervous and full of self-doubt on the inside, the Linux Admin should seek out the Unix Admin, consultant, or webmaster, and avoid the Email and SharePoint Admins.

♋ Cancer

22 June through 22 July

Positive traits

Emotional and loving

Intuitive and imaginative

Shrewd and cautious

Protective and sympathetic

Negative traits

Changeable and moody

Overemotional and touchy

Clinging and unable to let go

Sys admin role

IT PMO
The IT PMO can be the staunch supporter of his project team, being protective and loving, but let one milestone shift to the right and you will never hear the end of it. Moving from happy and hyper to brooding and distant, the IT PMO is naturally drawn to the AD, Email, Security, and SharePoint Admins, but would do well to stay away from the Network Admin or Consultant.

♌ Leo

23 July through 21 August

Positive traits

Generous and warmhearted

Creative and enthusiastic

Broad through minded and expansive

Faithful and loving

Negative traits

Pompous and patronizing

Bossy and interfering

Dogmatic and intolerant

Sys admin role

Unix Admin
The Unix Admin can be a loyal and loving admin, but can also be pompous to the point of absurdity, patronizing both management and younger admins while making it clear the he is just indulging your silliness. Unix Admins should seek out Network Admins, Linux gurus, and consultants, and avoid both AD Admins and Security Admins.

♍ Virgo

22 August through 23 September

Positive traits

Modest and shy

Meticulous and reliable

Practical and diligent

Intelligent and analytical

Negative traits

Fussy and a worrier

Overcritical and harsh

Perfectionist and conservative

Sys admin role

Email Admin
The Email Admin is both bashful and smart, with equal parts practicality and perfectionism. Imminently practical and wickedly sharp, the Email Admin is naturally drawn to AD Admins, the PMO, anyone from security, or the internal auditor, but should avoid the Linux Admin and the helpdesk team if they want the best chance at happiness.

♎ Libra

14 September through 23 October

Positive traits

Diplomatic and urbane

Romantic and charming

Easygoing and sociable

Idealistic and peaceable

Negative traits

Indecisive and changeable

Gullible and easily influenced

Flirtatious and self through indulgent

Sys admin role

External Consultant
The External or Independent Consultant stands apart from the rest of IT, as he’s there to do a job. Once done, he leaves, so nothing is personal and everything simply is. A social butterfly who never puts down roots, the External Consultant is the most susceptible to Jedi mind tricks, as long as you distract him with something shiny. Consultants should seek out Linux and Unix Admins, the Webmaster or Helpdesk Admin, and avoid the PMO and Auditor like the plague.

♏ Scorpio

24 October through 22 November

Positive traits

Determined and forceful

Emotional and intuitive

Powerful and passionate

Exciting and magnetic

Negative traits

Jealous and resentful

Compulsive and obsessive

Secretive and obstinate

Sys admin role

Security Admin
The Security Admin is the rock star of the IT world, as long as you think more Trent Reznor and less Justin Timberlake. With the ability to say no in over 20 languages, including Klingon, the Security Admin is the afterlife of any party. Security Admins are drawn to the PMO and Email Admins, but mix like oil and water with Unix Admins or Webmasters.

♐ Sagittarius

23 November through 22 December

Positive traits

Optimistic and freedom through loving

Jovial and good through humored

Honest and straightforward

Intellectual and philosophical

Negative traits

Blindly optimistic and careless

Irresponsible and superficial

Tactless and restless

Sys admin role

Helpdesk Admin
The Helpdesk Admin is the eternal optimist, unless the first call of the day involves a screaming user, or the last call of the day involves an executive who needs handholding, then they can be quite blunt about their feelings, feelings that come from a deep, dark pit of despair that knows no end. But usually, they are a glass half full kind of person, which they truly need to be considering the people they usually have to deal with. Helpdesk Admins go together with Network Admins or consultants like peanut butter goes with jelly or chocolate. They are both great, but not together… and they should avoid getting too chummy with email or SharePoint Admins.

♑ Capricorn

23 December through 20 January

Positive traits

Practical and prudent

Ambitious and disciplined

Patient and careful

Humorous and reserved

Negative traits

Pessimistic and fatalistic

Miserly and grudging

Sys admin role

Internal Auditor
The Internal Auditor is like the cop in the movies who rats out his corrupt partner and is banished to the lonely life of an internal affairs investigator; necessary but reviled. Auditors take a cautious and methodical approach to everything they do, and are the only people on this list who will actually read, word for word, any and all documentation you send them. And they never forget a typo. Auditors should seek out Active Directory or Email Admins, and avoid both Network Admins and Consultants.

♒ Aquarius

21 January through 19 February

Positive traits

Friendly and humanitarian

Honest and loyal

Original and inventive

Independent and intellectual

Negative traits

Intractable and contrary

Perverse and unpredictable

Unemotional and detached

Sys admin role

Webmaster
The Webmaster embodies both the intellectual and the artistic, as they must create and maintain sites that not only function, but look good doing it. Outwardly friendly, it is only once you get to really know them that their coldly logical side becomes apparent, as they work with a clinical detachment from others. Webmasters looking for romance find Consultants and Helpdesk Admins to be the most appealing, while AD and Security Admins can really harsh their mellow.

♓ Pisces

20 February through 20 March

Positive traits

Imaginative and sensitive

Compassionate and kind

Selfless and unworldly

Intuitive and sympathetic

Negative traits

Escapist and idealistic

Secretive and vague

Weak through willed and easily led

Sys admin role

SharePoint Admin
The SharePoint Admin must work closely with everyone – from employee to executive and show compassion and pity for all. Open to the slightest suggestion from others, the SharePoint Admin can quickly find themselves going astray, so must take special care to stay focused.

What about you? Are you a perfect match? What’s your sign, what’s your role, and who do you get along with in IT the best?