What do you want?
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Hey, folks. I'm doing more research for my next book, and as many of you know I tend to focus on the career aspects of the biz rather than techie stuff. I figure we have a pretty good variety of people here, which gives you a strong collective voice. What non-techie things do you want from your job / career (promotion, more money, work / life balance, more decision making authority, flexibility, etc.), and what are the problems that keep you from getting them?
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
I think what I want most from my job, and fortunately happen to also get it, is a satisfaction of accomplishment. Whether it happens at the end of each day, or as a series of different events over time, I like being able to walk away from work, having a big smile on my face knowing that my efforts have helped others get their jobs done. And I also think that the biggest impediment to achieving this is simply time and experience. This is not something that happened overnight for me. It has taken years to develop my experience and knowledgebase and to know what situations these can be applied to as well as what problem domains to avoid. All the other issues concerning money, time off, how autonomous I work, these are all certainly important to me, but if that sense of accomplishment were missing or went away, I'd be seriously looking elsewhere for plying my trade. :) Good luck with your next book.
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] Donate to help Conquer Cancer[^]
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Sometimes the key to getting what you want is to more fully understand what it is that you really want. You don't want management to appreciate the value of IT. What you really want is more funding, and a powerful voice in both planning and budgeting. Once you know the specifics of what you want, the next question is, "what's keeping you from getting it?" If you also answer that question with very tangible and specific points, you'll find that you're much closer to a solution than you might think.
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
Christopher Duncan wrote:
What you really want is more funding, and a powerful voice in both planning and budgeting.
No what I really want is for them to value IT enough to employ someone qualified to do it, rather than palming it off on me or some other developer. :) It is precisely the lack of percieved value that prevents this from occuring. Paying for cleaners is not queried and goes in the budget without argument but paying for compentant IT support is not considered beyond, we'll muddle through as we always do. Even if I could force somebodies hand to get the practicalities of what I'd like in my specific scenario the fundamental unwillingness to engage would ultimately undercut any advantange gained . The solution has to begin with fixing the mindset.
Nothing is exactly what it seems but everything with seems can be unpicked.
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What problems are keeping you from getting these things today?
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
More money: only started working 7months ago so it's normall that that's not going to happen soon. Promotion: small company (only 15 people working there) Car: no problem just a company polacy, only after working there for at least 1.5 years you get a car opertunaty for study: at the moment not much problem only time shortage
If my help was helpfull let me know, if not let me know why. The only way we learn is by making mistakes.
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Hey, folks. I'm doing more research for my next book, and as many of you know I tend to focus on the career aspects of the biz rather than techie stuff. I figure we have a pretty good variety of people here, which gives you a strong collective voice. What non-techie things do you want from your job / career (promotion, more money, work / life balance, more decision making authority, flexibility, etc.), and what are the problems that keep you from getting them?
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
I want the skills necessary to achieve the direct contracts, the pinnacle of success as I see it, in the consulting world.
Need a C# Consultant? I'm available.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest Hemingway -
Hey, folks. I'm doing more research for my next book, and as many of you know I tend to focus on the career aspects of the biz rather than techie stuff. I figure we have a pretty good variety of people here, which gives you a strong collective voice. What non-techie things do you want from your job / career (promotion, more money, work / life balance, more decision making authority, flexibility, etc.), and what are the problems that keep you from getting them?
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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Christopher Duncan wrote:
What you really want is more funding, and a powerful voice in both planning and budgeting.
No what I really want is for them to value IT enough to employ someone qualified to do it, rather than palming it off on me or some other developer. :) It is precisely the lack of percieved value that prevents this from occuring. Paying for cleaners is not queried and goes in the budget without argument but paying for compentant IT support is not considered beyond, we'll muddle through as we always do. Even if I could force somebodies hand to get the practicalities of what I'd like in my specific scenario the fundamental unwillingness to engage would ultimately undercut any advantange gained . The solution has to begin with fixing the mindset.
Nothing is exactly what it seems but everything with seems can be unpicked.
Since you have a clear picture of what you want them to do, the best way to make it happen is to ask one simple question: what's in it for them? When you answer this question, you have to think from their frame of reference, not yours. It doesn't matter what you think is important. It only matters what they value. When you know what motivates them (could be as simple as money, could be other considerations) and you can draw a direct line between your proposal and their benefit, they'll knock each other over rushing to agree with you. And of course, if you can't show them a benefit that they would value, why on earth should they do it your way? :)
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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I think what I want most from my job, and fortunately happen to also get it, is a satisfaction of accomplishment. Whether it happens at the end of each day, or as a series of different events over time, I like being able to walk away from work, having a big smile on my face knowing that my efforts have helped others get their jobs done. And I also think that the biggest impediment to achieving this is simply time and experience. This is not something that happened overnight for me. It has taken years to develop my experience and knowledgebase and to know what situations these can be applied to as well as what problem domains to avoid. All the other issues concerning money, time off, how autonomous I work, these are all certainly important to me, but if that sense of accomplishment were missing or went away, I'd be seriously looking elsewhere for plying my trade. :) Good luck with your next book.
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] Donate to help Conquer Cancer[^]
Don't know how rewarding you find the mentoring process, but you're right about the value of experience. Of course, what took you years to figure out doesn't have to take the next guy years, if you're willing to share what you've learned. That, too, can be rewarding. :)
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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I want the skills necessary to achieve the direct contracts, the pinnacle of success as I see it, in the consulting world.
Need a C# Consultant? I'm available.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest HemingwayThe primary skills required are salesmanship and the ability to effectively navigate corporate / governmental bureaucracy when necessary. These two things make most techies twitch. Do you want the direct contracts badly enough to expand your training in these areas? If so, then there's no reason you can't accomplish your goals.
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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I want an office with a door. I am tired of the cubicle life. I need the reduced interruptions that an office provides. I would also appreciate the respect that it brings.
A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer. - Mitch Hedberg
That certainly sounds like a modest and achievable goal. What's standing in the way of you getting it?
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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Are you going to post me that advice such that it arrives 5 years ago? ;)
regards, Paul Watson Ireland & South Africa
Andy Brummer wrote:
Watson's law: As an online discussion of cars grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving the Bugatti Veyron approaches one.
Just as soon as I can get the damned Delorean to start again. :)
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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More money: only started working 7months ago so it's normall that that's not going to happen soon. Promotion: small company (only 15 people working there) Car: no problem just a company polacy, only after working there for at least 1.5 years you get a car opertunaty for study: at the moment not much problem only time shortage
If my help was helpfull let me know, if not let me know why. The only way we learn is by making mistakes.
TDDragon wrote:
Car: no problem just a company polacy, only after working there for at least 1.5 years you get a car
You're talking about a company car then, not a personally owned vehicle? That wasn't apparent in your original post.
-- If you view money as inherently evil, I view it as my duty to assist in making you more virtuous.
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That certainly sounds like a modest and achievable goal. What's standing in the way of you getting it?
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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Don't know how rewarding you find the mentoring process, but you're right about the value of experience. Of course, what took you years to figure out doesn't have to take the next guy years, if you're willing to share what you've learned. That, too, can be rewarding. :)
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
I've got to file that idea away. Somewhere between 5 and 8 years from now, I'll be retiring and mentoring based upon experience sounds like it would be enjoyable. Might even still provide that level of accomplishment I no doubt will still be seeking. :)
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] Donate to help Conquer Cancer[^]
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More money: only started working 7months ago so it's normall that that's not going to happen soon. Promotion: small company (only 15 people working there) Car: no problem just a company polacy, only after working there for at least 1.5 years you get a car opertunaty for study: at the moment not much problem only time shortage
If my help was helpfull let me know, if not let me know why. The only way we learn is by making mistakes.
TDDragon wrote:
More money: only started working 7 months ago so it's normall that that's not going to happen soon.
That's an invalid assumption, but as long as you believe it, it will be true. My careers in several industries over the years have verified that it's all about how you present yourself. When I started programming in '89, I had no college and only 5 months of self training on the living room computer at my house. I took my first job for $16k (little more than minimum wage). 10 months later, I started changing jobs once a year (or less), increasing a minimum of $10k per job. If I believed I had to slug it out with one company and accept what most people accept, 5 years later I would have only received a modest increase. Promotion and car work the same way. The only difference between me and you is that when I started programming, it was already my third career. That means I had enough road behind me to realize I could get whatever I could sell. No need to settle for less, man. Just show people why you're worth it. :)
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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I've got to file that idea away. Somewhere between 5 and 8 years from now, I'll be retiring and mentoring based upon experience sounds like it would be enjoyable. Might even still provide that level of accomplishment I no doubt will still be seeking. :)
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] Donate to help Conquer Cancer[^]
One of the reasons I'm focusing on writing and speaking these days is the joy I find in helping others. To me, it's incredibly rewarding to see people succeed (or avoid doing the stupid things that I did early in my careers). I suspect when you get to that point, you'll enjoy it immensely.
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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At my company only managers get cubes with doors or actual offices. X|
-- If you view money as inherently evil, I view it as my duty to assist in making you more virtuous.
Which frames the question pretty clearly, don't it? :-D
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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Which frames the question pretty clearly, don't it? :-D
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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yeah, cube without a door, interesting work, minimal overtime; cube with a door, boring work, pointy hair, and long hours. Tough call.
-- If you view money as inherently evil, I view it as my duty to assist in making you more virtuous.
Or self employed, buy your own door. :)
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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Hey, folks. I'm doing more research for my next book, and as many of you know I tend to focus on the career aspects of the biz rather than techie stuff. I figure we have a pretty good variety of people here, which gives you a strong collective voice. What non-techie things do you want from your job / career (promotion, more money, work / life balance, more decision making authority, flexibility, etc.), and what are the problems that keep you from getting them?
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
To be the boss. Which I am now. But, as an employer and business owner I want potential employees to stop being sheep and actually engineer things rather than wait for a dispensation of knowledge from a corporate blog. -- modified at 15:27 Wednesday 31st October, 2007
My Blog A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long
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To be the boss. Which I am now. But, as an employer and business owner I want potential employees to stop being sheep and actually engineer things rather than wait for a dispensation of knowledge from a corporate blog. -- modified at 15:27 Wednesday 31st October, 2007
My Blog A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long
Chris Austin wrote:
But, as an employer and business owner I want potential employees to stop being sheep and actually engineer things rather than wait for a dispensation of knowledge form a corporate blog.
What's their incentive to do so, and how many of them are aware of this incentive?
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com