Figuring out what you want to do professionally
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@scottalanmiller said in Figuring out what you want to do professionally:
@EddieJennings said in Figuring out what you want to do professionally:
@IRJ said in Figuring out what you want to do professionally:
This is ALWAYS true when you are not investing in yourself by keeping up to date and is NEVER true when you are staying on top of your training and education.
One thing I’ve observed, which may only be perception, is it can seem like efforts to stay on top of training result in forever being behind.
I think that the concept of "behind" is misunderstood in IT. What would this mean? Behind what? Unless you set arbitrary targets, IT doesn't have an ahead or behind concept. It's not like being a doctor and no longer being certified and have to stop practicing.
Perhaps the concept of behind is misunderstood. As I was formulating a response, I realize every idea I had is based on feelings rather than logic.
Back to my corner. 
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In my experience of myself with that feeling of being behind is driven by two things:
- How I think my peers are doing (social media syndrome)
- Whether or not I know what I need to to do my job
Rarely have I felt "behind" because of the things I wanted to learn or were interested in.
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@Kelly said in Figuring out what you want to do professionally:
- Whether or not I know what I need to to do my job
That's part of my current disconnect. My job isn't fully aligned with my training interest.
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@Kelly said in Figuring out what you want to do professionally:
How I think my peers are doing (social media syndrom
This one is tough because we tend to associate a lot of people as peers, and to some degree are correct. But, for example...
If you feel as a Linux Admin that a Windows Admin is a peer, you will likely always have one person that feels that they are "behind" on PowerShell and object scripting, and one that always feels that they are "behind" on text processing. But really, it's because they aren't direct peers. Sure, they are equals, but they aren't doing the exact same job.
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@scottalanmiller said in Figuring out what you want to do professionally:
@Kelly said in Figuring out what you want to do professionally:
How I think my peers are doing (social media syndrom
This one is tough because we tend to associate a lot of people as peers, and to some degree are correct. But, for example...
If you feel as a Linux Admin that a Windows Admin is a peer, you will likely always have one person that feels that they are "behind" on PowerShell and object scripting, and one that always feels that they are "behind" on text processing. But really, it's because they aren't direct peers. Sure, they are equals, but they aren't doing the exact same job.
Exactly why I refer to this as the Social Media syndrome. "Based on my perception of myself in relation to this narrow slice of what I see of you (not allowing for any context), I am not as good as you." Even two Windows Admins will not have the same sets of responsibilities and scope within their job. IT (and many other jobs) is full of "oughts". I ought to do more automation. I ought to have a <type> plan. I ought to have more documentation. I ought to understand this LOB software better. I ought... I have judged myself based on my oughts and other based on their successes. It is a deceptive, and ultimately destructive, perception.
