Versatile software engineer with a background in .NET consulting and CMS development. Working on regaining my embedded development skills to get more involved with IoT opportunities.
You bring up a really valid point I forgot to mention, thank you! My current career hunt has been really difficult psychologically. I would consider myself a senior-level dev, but with six years of experience and an incomplete education, a lot of places are trying to get me to see myself as a mid-level developer. It's especially frustrating with recruiters who refuse to even submit me for senior positions because they think that I will give in and just apply for the jobs they recommend.
I have been a generalist my whole career. I know the basics of React, I can read a query execution plan with a little bit of Google assistance, I'm proficient in a few CMS systems but don't care enough about them to dig deeper, and know enough DevOps concepts that people try to submit me for those positions. For the first time ever, I have felt like being a generalist is hurting me...maybe it only becomes a problem once you reach a certain point in your career.
I derive too much of my identity from my job, so it makes me feel worthless when I start questioning if I am a decent dev or if I have suddenly fallen years behind everyone else. I compare out to other people my age. I wish I could master everything, but I 'm going to have to find something to commit too with much greater intensity. I'm thinking about focusing on cloud technologies...I guess wherever I end up getting my next job will heavily influence what I specialize in.
Software dev at Netflix | DC techie | Conference speaker | egghead Instructor | TC39 Educators Committee | Girls Who Code Facilitator | Board game geek | @laurieontech on twitter
I completely understand that fear and insecurity! I think some of that is a failure of the hiring practices and how we view developer skills and value. All the best to you and your search!
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You bring up a really valid point I forgot to mention, thank you! My current career hunt has been really difficult psychologically. I would consider myself a senior-level dev, but with six years of experience and an incomplete education, a lot of places are trying to get me to see myself as a mid-level developer. It's especially frustrating with recruiters who refuse to even submit me for senior positions because they think that I will give in and just apply for the jobs they recommend.
I have been a generalist my whole career. I know the basics of React, I can read a query execution plan with a little bit of Google assistance, I'm proficient in a few CMS systems but don't care enough about them to dig deeper, and know enough DevOps concepts that people try to submit me for those positions. For the first time ever, I have felt like being a generalist is hurting me...maybe it only becomes a problem once you reach a certain point in your career.
I derive too much of my identity from my job, so it makes me feel worthless when I start questioning if I am a decent dev or if I have suddenly fallen years behind everyone else. I compare out to other people my age. I wish I could master everything, but I 'm going to have to find something to commit too with much greater intensity. I'm thinking about focusing on cloud technologies...I guess wherever I end up getting my next job will heavily influence what I specialize in.
Thank you for that insight!
I completely understand that fear and insecurity! I think some of that is a failure of the hiring practices and how we view developer skills and value. All the best to you and your search!