When It’s Time for a Software Dev Change. Do THIS
Photo by Edge2Edge Media on Unsplash
The Secret Developer is not averse to change. For example, they recently bought a second desk for their home office and are considering a Dvorak keyboard.
However, even the battle-worn Secret Developer has doubts about changing jobs and has recently started to consider whether keeping a comfortable job is preferable to a change in environment.
Let us analyze The Secret Developer’s attitude to risk and what it means to the wider software developer community.
“Making fun of people’s attitudes toward keyboards isn’t fun, as you should know. Relatively recently I’d use a QZERTY keyboard as I’d bought it on a discount. Probably why I have so few tyops in my work nowadays.”
The lure of change
There are undoubted benefits to change in your career. If you hop to another employer you gain the benefit of a new environment, new ways of doing things, and new things to learn from. Oftentimes there is a financial benefit to changing too.
“Personally, I think the best developers are tempted to change for the sake of change.
I’m not talking about a change from software development to sweeping the floor in McDonald's. Coding is my dream job, and if you’re in this game I think it should be something you love doing too.
Lately, I’ve been contemplating making a change in my life for once. Gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference.
I want a job that will give me more prestige and TBH give me more work to do. The fact is that I’m not entirely sure that the benefit of learning more is worth the risk. That’s even though I acknowledge that the problem lies with me in my current job, and I need a change and to change.”
Being open to the prospect of changing jobs means embracing the excitement of change. The opportunity to learn and earn more is foremost in people’s minds.
“I believe you should always take risks in your life. If not your life risks getting away from you.
I’m particularly keen to try to make it up the competency hierarchy as I believe AI will start to knock out some of the low-value software development jobs in the upcoming years. ”
Yet, The Secret Developer is hesitating.
The Risks of Changing Jobs
Changing your job carries risks. You do not know what making a leap into a new working context might bring until you actually do it.
Let us hand over to The Secret Developer to try to understand why they are surprisingly risk-averse in their particular circumstance.
“This is all about giving up what I already have. That is, I have reasonable benefits and a financial package that startups do not commonly match.
So, I’m looking at corporate jobs. Many jobs these days want you to go into the office. Although I actually enjoy going to the office and working with my team; I see the benefit in never needing to commute to the office giving me more time to rant on my blogs.
There is also the risk factor. I know the people where I am and although I hate my job I’m worried about moving somewhere worse. I’m worried about joining somewhere and immediately being laid off.”
What You Should Do
You should always take risks in your life. Don’t let your life get away from you and see opportunities rather than problems. It often pays to be flexible in your attitude to risk and weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of doing so.
“I think most software developers are open to their dream job. Regretfully this is often based on salary and benefits when it should focus on team and code. You should be making strides to improve in your career and your choice of employer and role is a big influence on this progress.
You might not know what you’re getting yourself into when you change your role, but the risk of doing so should not be blown out of proportion.”