Did I Settle Too Soon Into the Comfort Trap?
I’m a software developer working in a slow safety-first environment. I’m given a ticket every sprint or so that might take a couple of hours to complete.
I’ve spent much energy trying to make things better in the company and calling out issues with our technology and process. I became frustrated with the fact that my colleagues don’t seem to care about the quality of their work, technology or teamwork and started to make these feelings known.
I felt this attitude started to risk my position in the company (as people noticed my negativity). So, I started to ease back into cruise control.
What I’ve realised is that I’ve started to become *one of them*, and part of the problem. I might therefore be the next to go when we lay off more staff, and the prospect frightens me. I understand how I got here — any attempt to grasp responsibility has been roundly rebuffed — but I’m worried about what it means to be here.
The Comfort Trap
This drive is certainly helpful to some, but it can lead to toxicity and harm for others.
Why I’ve Embraced Comfort
I have to be transparent and honest. I like working from home. I like writing blog posts. I don’t have any stress. I don’t need to study anything to keep up with the rest of the team.
I’m in a good place for my current position, as I’m relying on my raw intelligence and training from previous companies.
In all honesty, it’s a good deal. I’m getting a healthy salary for doing next to nothing, as long as I attend meetings on time and participate in my technology area, nobody will complain about my performance.
The Trap
If you’re not learning anything in this job, you’re going backwards. This isn’t a basic career where you can freewheel to retirement, if you don’t work, you’re likely to become obsolete.
In my current company, they are laying off employees. So far, I’ve been protected from this since I have good experience in my tech area, but I’m unsure how long this might last.
I’ve had a few interviews where they ask what I’ve achieved in my current position. Unfortunately, I really don’t have anything to say at that point. I’m in the trap, and it’s difficult to escape. My comfort-mode strategy makes sense if you’re at the end of your career, but this doesn’t apply to me.
The Escape
I need to start studying again. I need to prepare for interviews. Doing nothing isn’t a good strategy for a long career.
This isn’t the same as trying to grasp responsibility in my current job though, as that path has been closed down by my manager (it’s clear this isn’t a place to grow). As I’ve given up on the chance of moving up in this position unfortunately, I’ve also given up on the idea of learning in this position. The best strategy right now is to move on and make progress at a company that will support me in my ambitions.
How to Avoid or Escape the Comfort Trap
Choose your Company Carefully
We are often told to interview a company while being interviewed for a job. This is hard to do, particularly if you need a job to escape a bad situation or are coming from unemployment.
If a company is a bad cultural or value fit, you might be better off without having an offer (or even rejecting it).
When I think about how bad a multiple choice first stage was for an interview process, I’ve just started (typos, incorrect answers etc.) I guess I can’t blame anyone else if I take the job and the standards are low.
Focus on Continuous Learning
As software developers, we still need to study and learn. Something over and above LeetCode would be good, so think about expanding into a new language, side project or anything that might keep you alive and competitive.
Networking
Engage with your professional network. Attend meetups (virtual or physical) and participate in online forums and tech communities.
Use this network to find a mentor. Work with people to develop your career and take your work to the next level.
Set Goals
Set clear, achievable goals for yourself and hold yourself accountable for them.
Certifications, frameworks, or contributing to just writing a blog post weekly having goals gives you something to strive for outside of the routine.
If I can write this blog daily, surely you can do something. I’m not expecting you to be quite as excellent as me though.
And Remember…
Be ready for interviews and new opportunities. Update your LinkedIn profile with skills and achievements that you pick up on the way.
It’s even good to interview for positions even if you aren’t sure about leaving. It’s important to understand market demands and your worth on the market — and be in a position to move if something worthwhile comes up.
Conclusion
The correct response to many coding questions is “It depends”. The same is true of programmers choosing to set into a comfortable life.
But that “it depends” is also on a scale. I don’t think you should give up learning and studying even if you are coasting for the last couple of years into retirement. Personally, I like to program and to work out new ways of doing things — how about you?