How do you deal with being forced to work with something you don't like?
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Hi again people ;) I have a question. You who are software engineers with many years of experience. If you don't like to work with a certain programming language or a field that you are not intrested in, for example you are intrested in embedded systems but you have to work with web development. Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? Or maybe you love programming that much that you don't mind, as long as you can program? I'm curious :^)
Depends, you like eating? You keep the job you have until you find the job you want. Try to do your best at whatever job you have and look for opportunities both inside and outside. I worked for a Gov't contracting company on a project that was still using Delphi 6 in 2013. The Army decided they didn't need our system anymore and the boss gave us free rein to look for other work while we finished out the contract time (30 days). I was looking everywhere for anything and got a call about a job using Delphi 6, I REALLY didn't want to keep using that outdated tool but went on the interview anyway. Was offered the job on the spot and am still at the same job, but the Delphi 6 work has vanished. I was moved to a Java project and am thriving.
I’ve given up trying to be calm. However, I am open to feeling slightly less agitated.
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Hi again people ;) I have a question. You who are software engineers with many years of experience. If you don't like to work with a certain programming language or a field that you are not intrested in, for example you are intrested in embedded systems but you have to work with web development. Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? Or maybe you love programming that much that you don't mind, as long as you can program? I'm curious :^)
We all have our off days, sometimes something we don't like comes along at work. I usually shrug it off and wait for better things to come my way. However, when it's structural, and it may take weeks or even months to realize this, I'm off for a new job. I also take my resume into account. When I get offered a job as a WinForms developer now , I'll decline. WinForms is not really what most employers are looking for today and taking such a job may hurt your chances for future jobs (even though I still love WinForms). On the other hand, if I get offered a job that doesn't seem particularly appealing, but I know I'll get to work with some hot new technologies, I may just take the job. All that's in the past of course, as I'm now my own boss and I'm not planning on going back into employment :D Disclaimer: Don't quit your job before you got a new one! Try to find something you like "on the side". I once quit before I got something new, but I was in a very luxurious position that allowed me to do that (and I REALLY hated my job, even took unpaid leave so I could get away sooner), wouldn't recommend otherwise :laugh:
Best, Sander Azure DevOps Succinctly (free eBook) Azure Serverless Succinctly (free eBook) Migrating Apps to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript
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We all have our off days, sometimes something we don't like comes along at work. I usually shrug it off and wait for better things to come my way. However, when it's structural, and it may take weeks or even months to realize this, I'm off for a new job. I also take my resume into account. When I get offered a job as a WinForms developer now , I'll decline. WinForms is not really what most employers are looking for today and taking such a job may hurt your chances for future jobs (even though I still love WinForms). On the other hand, if I get offered a job that doesn't seem particularly appealing, but I know I'll get to work with some hot new technologies, I may just take the job. All that's in the past of course, as I'm now my own boss and I'm not planning on going back into employment :D Disclaimer: Don't quit your job before you got a new one! Try to find something you like "on the side". I once quit before I got something new, but I was in a very luxurious position that allowed me to do that (and I REALLY hated my job, even took unpaid leave so I could get away sooner), wouldn't recommend otherwise :laugh:
Best, Sander Azure DevOps Succinctly (free eBook) Azure Serverless Succinctly (free eBook) Migrating Apps to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript
Sander Rossel wrote:
Try to find something you like "on the side".
Exactly.
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Sander Rossel wrote:
Try to find something you like "on the side".
Exactly.
Just don't let the wife / girlfriend find out. :~
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Hi again people ;) I have a question. You who are software engineers with many years of experience. If you don't like to work with a certain programming language or a field that you are not intrested in, for example you are intrested in embedded systems but you have to work with web development. Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? Or maybe you love programming that much that you don't mind, as long as you can program? I'm curious :^)
I can suggest two solutions: 1. 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 2. 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺
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The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing. -
Hi again people ;) I have a question. You who are software engineers with many years of experience. If you don't like to work with a certain programming language or a field that you are not intrested in, for example you are intrested in embedded systems but you have to work with web development. Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? Or maybe you love programming that much that you don't mind, as long as you can program? I'm curious :^)
When the game you are playing is boring, take an extremely close look at what you can do to alter the game in subtle ways. Look Very Closely I've found that if I look very closely at a specific technology and the more I understand it the more I can find things I am interested in. Many things become more beautiful when you really understand what is behind them and how they are made. Put all of your focus on the thing you don't like so much and you'll probably begin to like it more. And for the boring repetitive parts you can begin to automate those things using a tool (alternate programming language) that may help you enjoy the work better also.
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Hi again people ;) I have a question. You who are software engineers with many years of experience. If you don't like to work with a certain programming language or a field that you are not intrested in, for example you are intrested in embedded systems but you have to work with web development. Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? Or maybe you love programming that much that you don't mind, as long as you can program? I'm curious :^)
Find another job, but while you're at your current position, do the best job you can with the tools at hand.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013 -
Hi again people ;) I have a question. You who are software engineers with many years of experience. If you don't like to work with a certain programming language or a field that you are not intrested in, for example you are intrested in embedded systems but you have to work with web development. Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? Or maybe you love programming that much that you don't mind, as long as you can program? I'm curious :^)
Refuse -- politely -- when possible. As long as I have enough work which I _do_ enjoy, I see no point in taking on work which I would not. Let them hire someone who wants to do it.
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Hi again people ;) I have a question. You who are software engineers with many years of experience. If you don't like to work with a certain programming language or a field that you are not intrested in, for example you are intrested in embedded systems but you have to work with web development. Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? Or maybe you love programming that much that you don't mind, as long as you can program? I'm curious :^)
I take jobs that interest me, so I'd not take a web development position. I would take work that involved a little of it, but not where I was the primary. I've done my time working on jobs I disliked when I was younger. I earned my way out of that mess - at least that's how I see it. I mean, not that I only do things I like for work. Work is work, otherwise it would be play. But the job itself has to catch my interest.
Real programmers use butterflies
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Hi again people ;) I have a question. You who are software engineers with many years of experience. If you don't like to work with a certain programming language or a field that you are not intrested in, for example you are intrested in embedded systems but you have to work with web development. Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? Or maybe you love programming that much that you don't mind, as long as you can program? I'm curious :^)
My suggestion is to be born rich - then do what you want. I, unfortunately, had no one to give me such advice and so, well, here I am. Endowed abundanly with the Three C's: Charming, Clever, and Cute will only get you so far without that forth C: Cash. So, as you decide your best route to rage against the machine, remember where and when your problem started out.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
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Hi again people ;) I have a question. You who are software engineers with many years of experience. If you don't like to work with a certain programming language or a field that you are not intrested in, for example you are intrested in embedded systems but you have to work with web development. Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? Or maybe you love programming that much that you don't mind, as long as you can program? I'm curious :^)
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Hi again people ;) I have a question. You who are software engineers with many years of experience. If you don't like to work with a certain programming language or a field that you are not intrested in, for example you are intrested in embedded systems but you have to work with web development. Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? Or maybe you love programming that much that you don't mind, as long as you can program? I'm curious :^)
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Hi again people ;) I have a question. You who are software engineers with many years of experience. If you don't like to work with a certain programming language or a field that you are not intrested in, for example you are intrested in embedded systems but you have to work with web development. Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? Or maybe you love programming that much that you don't mind, as long as you can program? I'm curious :^)
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You do what you can to put food on the table until you're able to do what you want.
I'm not sure how many cookies it makes to be happy, but so far it's not 27. JaxCoder.com
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Hi again people ;) I have a question. You who are software engineers with many years of experience. If you don't like to work with a certain programming language or a field that you are not intrested in, for example you are intrested in embedded systems but you have to work with web development. Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? Or maybe you love programming that much that you don't mind, as long as you can program? I'm curious :^)
I flatly refused to get involved in ML, python and web development in my final contract. I was too productive doing what I was proficient at for them to sack me, lucky I guess. It will depend on your financial/family position, a developer with a young family does not have the flexibility of and old fart with decades of experience.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity - RAH I'm old. I know stuff - JSOP
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Hi again people ;) I have a question. You who are software engineers with many years of experience. If you don't like to work with a certain programming language or a field that you are not intrested in, for example you are intrested in embedded systems but you have to work with web development. Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? Or maybe you love programming that much that you don't mind, as long as you can program? I'm curious :^)
I have programmed for 23 years in the domains desktop, server and web. In the desktop domain, I feel at home, especially when working with WPF, whereas I consider server and web interesting challenges, but nothing more. In my last 2 jobs, I was working as an ASP.NET web developer, trying to get used to the thought that desktop programming is out of fashion and I will not find a job where I can do it anyway. But that didn't work out. I was so discontent that I had to find a new job both of the times. Now I found a job as a WPF desktop developer, and I feel much better now. So my recommendation: Go find a new job. That's not as big a deal as you might think, even if you're already older. The software developer market is currently very employee-friendly.
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Hi again people ;) I have a question. You who are software engineers with many years of experience. If you don't like to work with a certain programming language or a field that you are not intrested in, for example you are intrested in embedded systems but you have to work with web development. Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? Or maybe you love programming that much that you don't mind, as long as you can program? I'm curious :^)
> Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? i would try to switch the job immediately and will work for minimal wage it the case were my job is what i do in my spare time. in case where i cannot find a job that also suits me as a hobby, i have no problem in doing a dull mechanical job for an average salary especially if it has some spare time to wonder your thoughts. anything is better that programming what you don't like in an environment where you have opposite philosophies and culture.
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Hi again people ;) I have a question. You who are software engineers with many years of experience. If you don't like to work with a certain programming language or a field that you are not intrested in, for example you are intrested in embedded systems but you have to work with web development. Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? Or maybe you love programming that much that you don't mind, as long as you can program? I'm curious :^)
You can try to bend the current job to your preferences: I once took a VB.NET job because I was working in C++ with no prospect of getting any real hands on experience of .NET. Within 18 months, my new employer switched to C#, partly because of relentless promotion of C# on my part :) I've always found that the key thing isn't to say how awful you think the work you're doing right now is, but to just get on and find a way to make it better. Build test tools using your preferred tech. Demonstrate to other people on the team how much less tedious their jobs are with your funky new tools. This also breaks up the grind a bit too. Bored with that dull or tricky problem? Go and hack your tooling for half an hour to break things up a bit. Or, you just wait it out until the right job comes along: I moved from the job above to my current employer after being touted as an ecommerce expert (no, just no) and railroaded into using a product called Actinic, which at the time was a dinosaur and a train wreck of a product. I hated that 3 month project so much that I left at the first opportunity when a contact from a previous job got in touch. Generally though, if it's programming with a decent toolset, in a C like language, then it's all good. Apart from when there's a toxic office environment, but that's another dimension entirely!
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Hi again people ;) I have a question. You who are software engineers with many years of experience. If you don't like to work with a certain programming language or a field that you are not intrested in, for example you are intrested in embedded systems but you have to work with web development. Do you change your job/ wait for another job oppotunity or do you force yourself to work in that environment anyway? Or maybe you love programming that much that you don't mind, as long as you can program? I'm curious :^)
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You do what you can to put food on the table until you're able to do what you want.
I'm not sure how many cookies it makes to be happy, but so far it's not 27. JaxCoder.com
Mike Hankey wrote:
You do what you can to put food on the table until you're able to do what you want.
Dang skippy! During 25+ years of consulting (in one form or another), my focus was being marketable. My career started in a recession and I've survived several more. I had assignments I really liked, and I had assignments where if I was given the choice of going to work or being skinned alive, I'd have to think about it. ;P These days? I'm in a job I like, mostly doing things I want to do. But my focus has not changed -- marketability. Never let personal desires get in the way of supporting yourself (and your family, if you have one). If a job really sucks (and I've had a few that did), find a new one. Keep in mind that technology and languages change -- frequently. 30+ years ago, change was slow enough that learning a given technology could mean employment for a decade. Things change a lot faster today -- remain flexible and keep learning.
