7 ms·

I have 18 years of experience in software development and engineering. Due to my concern that I wouldn't make it doing anything else, I've stayed stuck in the

I have 18 years of experience in software development and engineering. Due to my concern that I wouldn't make it doing anything else, I've stayed stuck in the technical path. Let me just say that after at least 10 years of routine 10-12 hour days and occasional weekend work, I think maybe you made a better decision than I did. I make less than industry rates working for a large corporation and you'd be shocked by how much pressure and technical responsibility I have as one person. And no matter what I do to try to get help, the burden stays on me because it's perceived that "I can handle it". So again, maybe you made a better decision. Out of curiosity, what do you do instead?

dunpeal 8y ago
> I make less than industry rates working for a large corporation and you'd be shocked by how much pressure and technical responsibility I have as one person. And no matter what I do to try to get help, the burden stays on me because it's perceived that "I can handle it". Why don't you find another job then? If you're making below market wages, you should be able to find another employer to pay you about the same for a much more relaxed work environment.
- sixdimensional 8y ago
  I suffer from imposter syndrome, for one. Even with the experience I have, I never feel good enough. Also, I frequently get stuck working hard to the point of burn out at a place and then don't have the energy to find the next thing. Also, come out exhausted from the current gig, not motivated for the next one. I think partially, the market where I am, employers are quite greedy and it can be difficult to find places that have good work/environments and the higher pay. It's a bit of a tradeoff, choose one or the other. It's been getting better as more cutting edge companies have moved to the area over the years, but still, the good stuff happens elsewhere. I tried to get career counseling before to get some help, however, they recommended I start my own business rather than continue to look for a traditional job. I know that would be a hard road (been through several startups already). I'm not afraid of the hard work, I just have some familial limitations that make it infeasible at the moment (trying to adopt). That said, your point is well taken, and my friends and colleagues often recommend the same. I'm not sure if I'm an optimist and keep hoping the place I'm at will recognize and reward my contribution (unlikely), or I'm some kind of work sado-masochist. Not sure!
  - dunpeal 8y ago
    If I were you, I'd focus first on reducing workload to manageable level. Every single aspect of your life and work is hurt by you being overworked right now. You effectively say so in your comments. Talk to management and bring the workload under control. This is a must in my opinion. After that, you'll have the energy to either find a new job, or get along in the current one. You're not doing your employer or (especially) yourself any favors by burning out.
    - sixdimensional 8y ago
      I have certainly tried, with quite a lot of effort, to get more resources. The company is going through a lot of change right now, so the request is a bit lost in the chaos. It's partially due to the change that workloads are so imbalanced- hoping for things to change. Also, everyone here is right too, I have been trying to change myself for a long time now. Getting better but it has been a difficult process.
  - ianai 8y ago
    Maybe creating a log of the work you do would give you some measurable objective points for your own self worth? I did that at my last place to establish their PIP was pretextual. It kept me around long enough to find the next place. But it also built my self confidence - by having an undeniable, immutable recount of my work. I’d keep a running log each shift and email it to myself at the end. Everything time stamped, dated, summarized, and relevant documents included. IT support and now sys admin/engineering stuff.
    - sixdimensional 8y ago
      You're right. I was good at that for a while, but eventually I started juggling so many different things that it became too time consuming to write it down. I also tried using timetracking, like ManicTime, and that was helpful for passive tracking.
  - natalyarostova 8y ago
    Employers will take everything you're willing to give. You have to set boundaries. I used to work twice as hard over a weekend to meet a deadline. I then worked with people who, confidently, stated "Sorry, If you want to meet that deadline we need more resources." They would also simply not work weekends. If work didn't get done, it didn't get done. This is obviously where imposter syndrome comes into play. If you're confident in your ability, you aren't scared you will be fired or let go for standing up for yourself.

dunpeal 8y ago

> I make less than industry rates working for a large corporation and you'd be shocked by how much pressure and technical responsibility I have as one person. And no matter what I do to try to get help, the burden stays on me because it's perceived that "I can handle it". Why don't you find another job then? If you're making below market wages, you should be able to find another employer to pay you about the same for a much more relaxed work environment.

sixdimensional 8y ago
I suffer from imposter syndrome, for one. Even with the experience I have, I never feel good enough. Also, I frequently get stuck working hard to the point of burn out at a place and then don't have the energy to find the next thing. Also, come out exhausted from the current gig, not motivated for the next one. I think partially, the market where I am, employers are quite greedy and it can be difficult to find places that have good work/environments and the higher pay. It's a bit of a tradeoff, choose one or the other. It's been getting better as more cutting edge companies have moved to the area over the years, but still, the good stuff happens elsewhere. I tried to get career counseling before to get some help, however, they recommended I start my own business rather than continue to look for a traditional job. I know that would be a hard road (been through several startups already). I'm not afraid of the hard work, I just have some familial limitations that make it infeasible at the moment (trying to adopt). That said, your point is well taken, and my friends and colleagues often recommend the same. I'm not sure if I'm an optimist and keep hoping the place I'm at will recognize and reward my contribution (unlikely), or I'm some kind of work sado-masochist. Not sure!
- dunpeal 8y ago
  If I were you, I'd focus first on reducing workload to manageable level. Every single aspect of your life and work is hurt by you being overworked right now. You effectively say so in your comments. Talk to management and bring the workload under control. This is a must in my opinion. After that, you'll have the energy to either find a new job, or get along in the current one. You're not doing your employer or (especially) yourself any favors by burning out.
  - sixdimensional 8y ago
    I have certainly tried, with quite a lot of effort, to get more resources. The company is going through a lot of change right now, so the request is a bit lost in the chaos. It's partially due to the change that workloads are so imbalanced- hoping for things to change. Also, everyone here is right too, I have been trying to change myself for a long time now. Getting better but it has been a difficult process.
- ianai 8y ago
  Maybe creating a log of the work you do would give you some measurable objective points for your own self worth? I did that at my last place to establish their PIP was pretextual. It kept me around long enough to find the next place. But it also built my self confidence - by having an undeniable, immutable recount of my work. I’d keep a running log each shift and email it to myself at the end. Everything time stamped, dated, summarized, and relevant documents included. IT support and now sys admin/engineering stuff.
  - sixdimensional 8y ago
    You're right. I was good at that for a while, but eventually I started juggling so many different things that it became too time consuming to write it down. I also tried using timetracking, like ManicTime, and that was helpful for passive tracking.
- natalyarostova 8y ago
  Employers will take everything you're willing to give. You have to set boundaries. I used to work twice as hard over a weekend to meet a deadline. I then worked with people who, confidently, stated "Sorry, If you want to meet that deadline we need more resources." They would also simply not work weekends. If work didn't get done, it didn't get done. This is obviously where imposter syndrome comes into play. If you're confident in your ability, you aren't scared you will be fired or let go for standing up for yourself.