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?
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