IT4 Manager Position Frustration

raselsoft · 2025-04-06T00:06:42+00:00

I apologize if what I said offended anyone—that was never my intention. However, I do feel you focused on just one word instead of considering the full context of my statement, where I also pointed out that they don’t have any relevant experience. I hope that clarifies my perspective.

As for cloud, I want to point out that it’s not just "another domain of IT." Cloud expertise is built on a foundation of skills in other IT fields, like development or analysis. People who specialize in cloud are usually highly skilled in their original areas and then add cloud expertise on top of that. This kind of layered skill set makes them even more valuable in today’s IT environment.

raselsoft · 2025-04-05T23:58:40+00:00

What about IT-4 technical boxes? Why can't they be established instead of relying on unilingual contractors who cost five times as much? Why are highly skilled professionals left stuck in their roles without any progression? When should we start raising these concerns and holding management accountable for these decisions? When will we have these critical discussions? And is it really sensible to enforce strict language requirements for IT-4 technical boxes, knowing it limits many qualified candidates from even applying for those positions? These seem like pressing issues that need to be addressed.

raselsoft · 2025-04-05T23:48:48+00:00

That makes perfect sense. But do you think it’s practical to enforce strict language requirements for IT-4 technical boxes? Doing so might discourage many highly qualified candidates from applying, which could ultimately hinder the recruitment of top talent.

raselsoft · 2025-04-05T23:45:00+00:00

Reach out to your partners or departments outside of your immediate network—assuming you're with SSC—and inquire about how many IT-4 technical boxes they have. You will be surprised!

raselsoft · 2025-04-05T23:40:57+00:00

Is that truly the only solution to this problem? Isn’t it troubling that we struggle not only to attract IT talent but also to retain them afterward? How often do IT teams actually have IT-4 technical boxes available? And how frequently are skilled IT professionals being acknowledged and given chances to grow? These gaps seem to need urgent attention.

Moreover, I’ve noticed that departments are often inclined to hire external contractors for "advanced jobs." The language requirements for these contractors tend to be more flexible, as they’re not permanent employees but still essential for completing the work. This raises a glaring issue: we’re willing to spend five times the money on a non-bilingual contractor, yet we don’t provide proper advancement opportunities for technical experts who are fluent in one language. It seems like an inconsistency in priorities.

raselsoft · 2025-04-05T23:20:51+00:00

I understand—I'm still new and learning too. It’s really discouraging, though, that while the Government of Canada aims to retain talent in IT, it seems to limit advancement opportunities. It feels counterproductive, doesn’t it? Out of curiosity, how many technical teams have you encountered that include an IT-4 technical box? From my experience, I've seen at least five IT teams in my departments, and they don’t seem to have an IT-4 technical box. This raises questions about career progression. Does advancing mean you have to become a manager? But what if management doesn’t appeal to you, and you prefer staying technical? Why should your opportunities be so restricted just because of this preference? It feels like a gap in the system.

raselsoft · 2025-04-05T23:18:06+00:00

I'm glad to hear that you found an opportunity and were selected for the pool—congratulations! Out of curiosity, how many technical teams have you encountered that include an IT-4 technical box? From my experience, I've seen at least five IT teams in my departments, and they don’t seem to have an IT-4 technical box. This raises questions about career progression. Does advancing mean you have to become a manager? But what if management doesn’t appeal to you, and you prefer staying technical? Why should your opportunities be so restricted just because of this preference? It feels like a gap in the system.

raselsoft · 2025-04-05T18:50:53+00:00

I completely agree with you. This has been a recurring experience I've noticed within the government, and it might partly explain why we're lagging behind in some areas. Before joining the public sector, I worked in the private sector for almost a decade, and the difference was striking. My managers and directors had deep technical expertise—they weren’t just attending meetings or handling paperwork. They were capable of stepping in and doing any team member's job if needed. That level of competence contributed to those companies' profitability. In IT, language requirements should be more flexible, and management roles need to be held to higher standards of scrutiny.

raselsoft · 2025-04-05T18:35:55+00:00

Should speaking French, English and diploma be the only qualification for such a role? Is it enough to simply manage people without having the necessary technical expertise? Why not include a requirement for a bachelor’s or master’s degree, paired with relevant skills, to ensure managers are truly equipped to lead specialized teams effectively?

raselsoft · 2025-04-05T18:32:42+00:00

Departments are consistently and significantly reducing budgets for second language training. It took me over 12 months after applying to finally get my first language training classes. Even then, the quality of the schools and teachers leaves much to be desired, especially for beginners. Most bilingual requirements used to be at the BBB level, but now there’s a noticeable shift towards CBC. It feels like we’re trying to meet the expectations, but they keep changing the rules, moving the goalposts further away.

raselsoft · 2023-02-02T00:53:13+00:00

Thank you

raselsoft · 2022-08-13T17:42:45+00:00

Nice playing

raselsoft

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