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Advice for someone going into tech.
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this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2023
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Technology
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No one else can tell you what you should pursue. I didn't know what I did or didn't like until I tried a few things and figured out what aspects of them I like and what aspects were not for me. For instance, I don't like frontend programming and I absolutely hate dealing with external clients. I do something more like data engineering, which a lot of people find deadly boring but I find perfectly satisfactory.
The other thing that's been really important to me is decoupling my career from my self-worth. My job is not the most important thing about me. My job is something I do so I can get paid enough to do the things I actually want to do. I don't need to LOVE my job. I need to like it enough to mostly not dislike having to do it 40 hours a week. For me this means I don't find the work boring, I work with nice people, I mostly don't have to do things I HATE (e.g. client presentations), and I'm not doing anything that conflicts with my values (e.g. I wouldn't work on blockchain, or law enforcement projects).
I've been in tech for 30 years now and this is the really key advice. I've know several people who were very good developers but fundamentally do not like the process of software development. And they are completely miserable because of that. It's great if you can find a job you love working at but that requires a lot of luck. Having a job you generally enjoy and it gives you enough money to do the hobbies that you really love then you are doing great.
On what degree to get, most of the time, outside of your first or second job, if a company cares about your degree more than your work experience then they are probably not somewhere you want to work.
All that said, anything security related will stay relevant as will as cloud system admins/engineers/architects. If you want a tech role that will last, doing something that is about designing and maintaining systems rather low-level implementation will server you a lot better.
Also, @funnyletter@lemmy.one what are you talking about? Blockchain is super useful for money laundering and blackmail and committing fraud and bribery and and... ok maybe not the best area to try and build a career in.
I'm older, so I'm not looking to love my job or make a lot of money. I want something that I can be proud of and just like you, I will not sacrifice my values for money. Did that and I hated myself for it. I'm just looking for something that won't take 10 years to have a good work/ life balance but also doesn't have me suck dick behind the 7-11 to make rent.