I'm a "non-trad" programmer, as in I was a professional musician/teacher for a decade after I got my Master's degree in Jazz Studies.
TBH, I feel like I need to study/code outside of my job because
I am by no means a master of my craft and have a lot to shore up for where I want to be professionally
Competition is real
I really like coding, don't get me wrong, but I know there are plenty like me that don't LOOOOVE coding. It's an interesting job that pays a hell of a lot better than any other job I've had. That said, for me it's a job. I'm not trying to do my job 100 hours a week.
But...
Tech moves FAST (from my perspective). Maybe I'm paranoid from my "starvation days", but I'm afraid of getting comfortable in a technology and getting left behind. I'm also curious where tech is going as an industry and want to be a part of that change. I'll tell you, though, learning new things at 38 is a far cry from learning new things at 23. It takes concerted effort and concentration, IME, which does not always happen 9-5.
I'm a "non-trad" programmer, as in I was a professional musician/teacher for a decade after I got my Master's degree in Jazz Studies.
TBH, I feel like I need to study/code outside of my job because
I really like coding, don't get me wrong, but I know there are plenty like me that don't LOOOOVE coding. It's an interesting job that pays a hell of a lot better than any other job I've had. That said, for me it's a job. I'm not trying to do my job 100 hours a week.
But...
Tech moves FAST (from my perspective). Maybe I'm paranoid from my "starvation days", but I'm afraid of getting comfortable in a technology and getting left behind. I'm also curious where tech is going as an industry and want to be a part of that change. I'll tell you, though, learning new things at 38 is a far cry from learning new things at 23. It takes concerted effort and concentration, IME, which does not always happen 9-5.
I feel the same way. The fear of being left behind or being ineffective is real.