Job Thoughts
For the first time in a few years, I updated my resume and realized I'd found myself in more of an architecting/strategy position than a developer one. I confirmed that's what my direct manager is looking for, and immediately started looking for other positions. I'm not terribly interested in architecting and strategy work, so if that's my future where I am I need to make a new path for myself.
My job is stable, so I'm being picky. I've set out possible training plans and career paths, depending on what seems reasonable. And I've applied to a few positions, a couple to get my feet wet and shake off the cobwebs - it's been about 10 years since I last seriously looked for a job - and a couple because they sounded interesting. My resume seems to be working, so far everywhere I've submitted it has asked for an interview, so while it needs work it's good enough.
A friend pointed out that unless I'm willing to grow my career beyond "senior developer" I'm going to struggle with companies willing to pay my salary at some point. I know I'm not willing to go into management. I need to decide what other paths I have. I've been a senior dev since my 20's. Am I really not going to be able to sit there for another 20+ years? I've been browsing job ads and it looks like currently it might be easier to spend the next few decades in the security field while still getting to work and not having to turn into a manager or architect. Do security as a day job and dev work as a sideline? Figure out a way to make sure I can do dev work while holding a strategy level job?
I'm also having a personal debate about how much I'm willing to sell out for. At what salary level would I be willing to wear business casual to work? How much money would make me be willing to architect? It's useful for me to think about, since I start out at "not taking a job where I can't wear jeans" but there's a salary point at which that ceases being true. I need to figure that out so I can negotiate effectively. Although, Zoë does not buy my argument that my "nice" sneakers are "dress" sneakers. They worked for when I was a fed & did the whole business casual thing, so I'm sticking by my position with a very slight nod to the idea that maybe a 25 yr old could get away with dress sneakers in a way a 45 yr old can't.
In other news, Zoë is completely crushing crew try-outs. She's coming home exhausted and happy every single day. She's decided to make it her mission to be the first Sophomore in the first boat (it's unlikely to happen, although so far in the erg times she's making a splash, finishing in the top 8 every time). She's usually so happy-go-lucky it's quite the change to see her be so focused on something. One of her teammates who graduated last year ended up at a fairly local college with a rowing program and has come back to visit, and I think it's convinced Zoë more than ever that rowing in college will happen. Not sure how it'll fit with a pre-med track, but if she wants it I know she can make it work.
One of my coworkers asked if I was enjoying living vicariously through her, and I thought that was an odd question. She is so different from me. She's living a life I would never have lived in a million years, and would not choose. I'm very much enjoying watching her grow and figure things out, but I have my own life.
My job is stable, so I'm being picky. I've set out possible training plans and career paths, depending on what seems reasonable. And I've applied to a few positions, a couple to get my feet wet and shake off the cobwebs - it's been about 10 years since I last seriously looked for a job - and a couple because they sounded interesting. My resume seems to be working, so far everywhere I've submitted it has asked for an interview, so while it needs work it's good enough.
A friend pointed out that unless I'm willing to grow my career beyond "senior developer" I'm going to struggle with companies willing to pay my salary at some point. I know I'm not willing to go into management. I need to decide what other paths I have. I've been a senior dev since my 20's. Am I really not going to be able to sit there for another 20+ years? I've been browsing job ads and it looks like currently it might be easier to spend the next few decades in the security field while still getting to work and not having to turn into a manager or architect. Do security as a day job and dev work as a sideline? Figure out a way to make sure I can do dev work while holding a strategy level job?
I'm also having a personal debate about how much I'm willing to sell out for. At what salary level would I be willing to wear business casual to work? How much money would make me be willing to architect? It's useful for me to think about, since I start out at "not taking a job where I can't wear jeans" but there's a salary point at which that ceases being true. I need to figure that out so I can negotiate effectively. Although, Zoë does not buy my argument that my "nice" sneakers are "dress" sneakers. They worked for when I was a fed & did the whole business casual thing, so I'm sticking by my position with a very slight nod to the idea that maybe a 25 yr old could get away with dress sneakers in a way a 45 yr old can't.
In other news, Zoë is completely crushing crew try-outs. She's coming home exhausted and happy every single day. She's decided to make it her mission to be the first Sophomore in the first boat (it's unlikely to happen, although so far in the erg times she's making a splash, finishing in the top 8 every time). She's usually so happy-go-lucky it's quite the change to see her be so focused on something. One of her teammates who graduated last year ended up at a fairly local college with a rowing program and has come back to visit, and I think it's convinced Zoë more than ever that rowing in college will happen. Not sure how it'll fit with a pre-med track, but if she wants it I know she can make it work.
One of my coworkers asked if I was enjoying living vicariously through her, and I thought that was an odd question. She is so different from me. She's living a life I would never have lived in a million years, and would not choose. I'm very much enjoying watching her grow and figure things out, but I have my own life.