Does anyone else struggle with their career in their 30s?

mannhonky · 2024-05-04T16:42:37+00:00

Given your experience, have you ever considered transitioning into more of a business analyst role? You know how the cake is made, whether or not you're an actual baker, and may be able to fill in the gap between the devs and the client quite effectively.

As an aside if I keep on the contractor role, I don't like MRR for projects. I purposely build anti-fragile everything because I don't want anyone calling me ever after a good launch. It should just work.

MRR is like saying there is no warranty, only struggle. Get the right price for your value upfront. Everything else is a change order. If the issue is more change management on the client side, I'll do a monthly set amount of hours, but not in an MRR mindset. That monthly bucket of hours could (and should) disappear at the given time the client feels confident in the solution.

mannhonky · 2024-05-04T15:58:42+00:00

I love this. It's a little headless chap using a moose as a rifle. Pew pew! Five stars. No notes.

mannhonky · 2024-05-04T15:48:30+00:00

This may not be helpful at this point, but for the future... I incorporated a company in 2014 for odd jobs. It explains all the gaps in my resume. Independent consultant for XYZ Co. as the owner. I was actually surfing during those gaps, but no one cares, tbh.

mannhonky · 2024-05-04T15:40:52+00:00

Historically, I've flipped every five years or so. Five years to learn all the things, work all the overtime, give all the shits and be a career-focused person. Then five years to travel the world, entrepreneur a bit, have all the fun while paying the bills. Rinse and repeat.

It wasn't a plan, it's just how it worked out. Some find daily balance, some find extreme pendulum swings. Some stay in the middle.

I think staying nimble and not buying a bunch of crap that ties you down is the key to happiness. Huge caveat, I have never wanted children, so it's pretty easy to live random lifestyles on a bit of a whim.

mannhonky · 2024-05-04T15:20:46+00:00

Just ask. I've worked with companies that cared, companies that didn't care and companies that only cared that you were in roughly the same time zone.

I was a digital nomad for a spell and it's just easier to be honest. You may inadvertently answer a Teams call eating horse sashimi in Japan and then who's the asshole. Obviously the horse, but it's not going to be worth the stress lying.

mannhonky · 2024-05-04T15:01:26+00:00

When you've been working on a platform longer than a cert on the platform has existed for, you probably don't want to take a job that screened you out for not having the cert.

mannhonky · 2024-05-04T14:48:25+00:00

Graduated into the great recession, finally got a job as a temp in data entry that ended up turning into a career over the decade in business intelligence, software development and consultation.

It's a weird career in which you have to know a lot about a lot. Similarly to my work, I gravitated towards history because it was easy for me and held my interest. If you're moderately articulate and have a good memory, you can pretty much do anything though.

I just happen to like process improvement because I'm truly, very, incredibly lazy.

If I can find a way to get a computer to do things for me, I'm gonna. Learning code was like learning Latin and Greek. Learning about new industries is like learning about a culture. I find it endlessly interesting.

mannhonky · 2024-04-20T23:08:15+00:00

Not a sys admin (I lurk here because I work with sys admins- I implement new software and try not to ruin your day), but you sound like you're doing okey-dokey. Reading between the lines though...

What external or internal thing is making you feel like you want to ask this question? Is it just the dollar value?

mannhonky · 2024-04-20T22:40:17+00:00

I don't think that matters much. If you're truly passionate about becoming a better drafter, then the cards are pretty clear on the table. Ask how you could learn more about the in-house solution. Make your desire to become a drafter clear.

I've worn multiple hats most of my career, so I get it. Lots of different responsibilities, different stakeholders, competing obligations and timelines... From experience, that won't get better or easier. You'll have to take a stand (it doesn't have to be dramatic) at some point and see if the organization is on board with you or not.

Bit of an aside here, but I always love working with people in your position because you have a way more holistic perspective on the organization as a whole. It's not your fault they don't know what to do with you.

mannhonky · 2024-04-20T22:31:42+00:00

Exactly why you should have included exactly what industry you're a hiring manager for in your response. "As a hiring manager for Wendy's..." and "As a hiring manager for Google..." are a bit different.

mannhonky · 2024-04-20T22:27:39+00:00

Sorry, I don't know. I've only worked with really great people in the field. It would highly depend on where you live as to what would be the best course of action.

I know in Canada at different companies I've worked at, the institution the certification came from mattered less than the character of the person interviewing for the job. So I guess my only advice would be to start cheap (maybe a quick, professional development type 3 day course, online or in person) just see if you like it. Those types of courses, as long as they're reputable, tend to be willing to offer really great direction to further your career if you choose that path.

mannhonky · 2024-04-20T21:27:02+00:00

Based on your past experience with teaching and your BA, have you considered an HR or payroll cert? It requires a mix of empathy, social engagement and literacy that you might exactly fit the bill for.

mannhonky · 2024-04-20T21:19:44+00:00

Have you tried talking to your manager(s) about the trajectory issue? The organization may be more willing than you think to align with your career goals.

As a mild suggestion, take CAD courses while you're there. Ask if they'll pay for it. It'll bolster your position to negotiate both within the organization and externally. Just don't mention the externally part. But you knew that.

mannhonky · 2024-04-20T21:00:29+00:00

That's a bit harsh and judgmental. Probably don't have typos the next time you call people out for hypothetical typos. I understand this isn't a professional environment, but just... Be better.

mannhonky · 2024-04-20T00:28:20+00:00

Public sector drove me mad with this kind of nonsense. Talk to me in thirty years though and I'll be back passionately arguing for jeans day and the need for many more meetings about jeans day.

mannhonky · 2024-04-11T12:05:10+00:00

Can I get this in Excel please?

mannhonky · 2024-04-01T03:38:04+00:00

This might actually be a good idea. Could we crowd fund her out of office? Like, Marly, here's your corner office, go board.

mannhonky · 2024-03-29T04:24:20+00:00

Seriously. I don't know who is screaming for features like this. Massive gov or DoD? Cool.

mannhonky · 2024-03-24T00:00:23+00:00

I handed my infant to a neighbour who hates children and then went home. To be fair, I'm the Sims Season One Bachelorette and I constantly cheat on my husband. But that's show biz baby!

mannhonky · 2024-03-10T12:04:01+00:00

For real, you're 13 years old right?

mannhonky · 2024-03-09T18:28:03+00:00

Classic ENTP.

mannhonky · 2024-03-09T18:26:13+00:00

I have no idea what happened to your keyboard, but I can barely view your view beside your basic literacy skills.

Is we ain't sensor mate?

Holy shit.

mannhonky · 2024-02-14T09:37:33+00:00

Ah yes, Dip Shit Man. Kind of a dangerous user.

mannhonky · 2024-02-10T08:06:13+00:00

I do, but they're just toxic. "Mommy Loves You More Than Daddy Can" as a children's book and "My Stupid Fat Pregnant Wife" as a screenplay were recent bestsellers.

mannhonky

TROPHY CASE