One of my problems is that I like to write code. Specifically novel code. But the places I work at really want me to just do regular CRUD work and glue work (use other people's code and avoid novel code). How do I find companies that write their own cool new code? Maybe coding teams get broken down into such small teams that there is only room for CRUD and glue and novel code gets too risky when trying to deliver use value at every sprint.
Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
21–30 of 293 posts
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#22My skills have deteriorated too. Mismanagement and poor company policies have created a lot of inefficiency and sapped my morale. I'm just coasting. I figure the disappointment, frustration, etc is present in any alternative job anyways.
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#23A competent manager would recognize you're not a good fit for whatever it is that she needs, and would help you find another role in the same company, and if not available outside of the company.
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#24I had a situation once where we had a minor re-org and I ended up with a new manager. Literally day one, he made an attempt to change everyone's role. We were a team of developers and business analysts. He decided that everyone would become both and spend 50% of their time on each activity. Not sure why he thought this was a good idea, but he did. After he announced it, I had a 1x1 with him and clearly let him know t…
This right here. I realized long ago I should do whatever I can to the best of my ability. If my superiors want to do something stupid or use my skillet in a suboptimal way my responsibility is to do my best to council with them, share what I see and then do the best job I can at whatever I am assigned to, assuming over course it doesn't cross legal or moral boundaries. My job is not my Identity we have an economic arrangement I do what I am asked to do, I do the best I can, not because my employer is fantastic but because I am mature enough to recognize that my work ethic is about me and not my employer, and then collect my pay check.
If my boss wants to pay me a SWE salary and then insists I clean out the break room fridge on Friday that is his perogrative not mine.
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#25Been there. I had very strong technical skills and was well known in the organization for that. Changed jobs on the promise I would work on projects using those skills.
In reality they wanted me to do change management, negotiate budgets, negotiate dates, coordinate projects, make power point decks…
Because of my excellent track record delivering technical stuff they expected great results from me doing this new stuff. I couldn’t deliver it as they wanted. “You must grow and become a leader, that’s the path forward” they kept telling me. In the end it didn’t work and I left.
Now I’m in a new team and they expect me again to become a leader but this time it’s different, it is truly a technical leadership and I hope this time it will be different.
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#26I had a situation once where we had a minor re-org and I ended up with a new manager. Literally day one, he made an attempt to change everyone's role. We were a team of developers and business analysts. He decided that everyone would become both and spend 50% of their time on each activity. Not sure why he thought this was a good idea, but he did. After he announced it, I had a 1x1 with him and clearly let him know t…
How did the rest of the department fare? Were you the only one who avoided going hybrid?
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#27Does anyone in the team understand what you bring to the table? Is your contribution key to the team's success? If that's the case then the others could serve as promoters for your case in front of the boss who apparently doesn't see or appreciate this. But if this is not the case then maybe your current skill set is not a good match to what is currently needed. I don't know, maybe someone else is already covering th…
Yes, I helped build the team. Many of the colleagues are my friends and best coworkers from past jobs. That’s what makes leaving so hard. I’m being recruited heavily by other internal teams, which helps my mental state right now.
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#28One of my problems is that I like to write code. Specifically novel code. But the places I work at really want me to just do regular CRUD work and glue work (use other people's code and avoid novel code). How do I find companies that write their own cool new code? Maybe coding teams get broken down into such small teams that there is only room for CRUD and glue and novel code gets too risky when trying to deliver use…
Learn a statically-typed FP lang and get a job doing that.
Even if you end up at a "Simple Haskell" place, you'll still have all sorts of opportunities to reinvent the wheel (so that you can run yourself over with it, of course).
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#29I think people put way too much focus on growth. Trying to scale the corporate ladder is really starting to seem like getting a PhD and trying to be a professor. There aren’t enough director or C level jobs for everyone, but most of us are compelled to join the rat race to try and get one.
difference being it is easier (especially if you've got some computer skills) to create a new company than a new university/research lab. My personal "growth" trajectory will eventually entail starting my own shop, I suspect many other people will have similar paths.
fantastic. i’ve been on that path for the last year. it’s odd and very different. it feels like there’s an actual fog of war now. things to discover and be curious about.
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#30Thanks man. I needed to hear that.