Do I need a reality check in tech (career)?
4 comments
You need to examine your expectations. Many junior people think they are entitled to raises and promotions, irrespective of market conditions. Making resources and guides sounds like a good thing to do, but unless it is a clear win for the company (read: moves the needle on sales, or is clearly making a difference in the productivity of people who bring in money, like sales), why would one be promoted or given raises in a poor market?
Stay at your job another year. After that, if we're not in a recession, then start looking for your next job. This month, student loan repayments begin, and that could be the event that finally triggers a recession during the first half of 2024. With the large layoffs that have been occurring recently, we may already be heading into a tech job recession.
Thank you. This thought did pop into my head at some point, but I neglected it due to all the other stressors. Maybe that's the compromise.
Reaction: If you aren't actively looking for your next job, you certainly should be.
I have started in the cybersecurity industry about a year and a half ago. The culture at my company back then was awful and it still is. People look at the ground as they walk down the hallways and barely speak to one another.
Despite this, I came in hungry for work and motivated to improve everything.
My first few weeks, I started making resources and guides on various tasks I was becoming immersed in, and I'm still doing so on top of my regular duties. These resources have been distributed throughout the entire organization to optimize some pretty major functions, effectively.
Though, now, seeing how little it is actually helping me in my career growth (compensation, promotions, etc), I am beginning to see myself become the demoralized employee that I tried to avoid when I first arrived.
Part of me thinks,
Culture problem: "okay, I am just letting the external culture affect me, that's a problem with me, not them. You can be at peace regardless."
Compensation problem: "You're being inpatient, it will pay off eventually"
Demoralization problem: "You need to find different work before you truly become jaded about this industry and the damage to your professional life is irreversible."
But the money is good, and the job security is great.
Ideally, I would transfer my passion into a smaller company that I can grow with - but I'm just lost in this industry being a year in.
Anyone have experience with this? Am I just complaining and need to be talked some sense in?