Former Microsoft Azure MVP,
Co-organizers of the French PowerShell & DevOps UG .
Find me on https://github.com/omiossec or https://www.linkedin.com/in/omiossec/
Living in Amsterdam, NL
You have a career and you have a job
If your job don't fuel your career, leave
Learn, always, never stop
don't be arrogant, there is always someone, somewhere better than you
Your boos is not your friend
Backend generalist. 10+ years coding professionally. Enjoys coming up with nuanced and thoughtful solutions to complex, thorny and ugly problems in old systems.
Learn what market compensation is and consistently ask for it (or, if you don't, have a very good reason for taking a pay cut). Don't leave money on the table. You're worth it. Allowing yourself to be underpaid isn't going to get you brownie points with your employer.
Programming/engineering skills are important but will stop getting you promoted after a while. You need people skills and the ability to relate to non-engineers to be successful at a staff or above level. Fortunately these are teachable and learnable, and you're probably better at them than you think.
Don't sell yourself short and assume that you won't make the cut at prestigious companies.
Take that small step from thinking that Bitcoin was a cool idea back in 2009/2010 or so and actually buy some. 😉
One of the most salient features of our Tech Hiring culture is that there is so much bullshit. Everyone knows this. Each of us contributes his share. But we tend to take the situation for granted.
I write code during the day. In the evening I cook for my beautiful family. By night I build fun stuff using hardware and software. Ping me if you have an idea and I can lend my hand.
There will be a time in the future when you will have a family. That should not stop you from innovating and solving world problems. It might seem overwhelming and sometimes you feel like giving up but don’t. I did not and so should you.
Top comments (28)
You have a career and you have a job
If your job don't fuel your career, leave
Learn, always, never stop
don't be arrogant, there is always someone, somewhere better than you
Your boos is not your friend
Don’t take things to serious. Have fun, do your best, enjoy the ride!
Took the words right out of my mouth (keyboard)!
Take a break from time to time.
Some rest can have a bigger impact than those late nights.
I would tell my younger self to socialize more...
Is this something that you have changed as you've grown older or is this something you still want to do more of?
I still need to do more... Even my inner self struggles on each attempt, I just don't like to ...talking. I am more like to thinking and doing things.
Learn what market compensation is and consistently ask for it (or, if you don't, have a very good reason for taking a pay cut). Don't leave money on the table. You're worth it. Allowing yourself to be underpaid isn't going to get you brownie points with your employer.
Programming/engineering skills are important but will stop getting you promoted after a while. You need people skills and the ability to relate to non-engineers to be successful at a staff or above level. Fortunately these are teachable and learnable, and you're probably better at them than you think.
Don't sell yourself short and assume that you won't make the cut at prestigious companies.
Take that small step from thinking that Bitcoin was a cool idea back in 2009/2010 or so and actually buy some. 😉
Most of what I write is advice I'm giving in disguise to my former self, very much including the two last ones on not being naive about money :)
There will be a time in the future when you will have a family. That should not stop you from innovating and solving world problems. It might seem overwhelming and sometimes you feel like giving up but don’t. I did not and so should you.
I wouldn't give myself any advice, as the process in which you acquire wisdom is just as important as the wisdom itself.
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