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How do you constantly improve your pay / career in the tech world?

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    How do you constantly improve your pay / career in the tech world?

    Hello all,

    This is something I am increasingly coming across in the tech world. It is a very broad topic on how fast things change in the tech world.

    A) There is ever increasing competition
    B) The technology is changing at a faster and faster pace
    C) Predictable tasks / codes are now done easily by computers
    D) Specialists are valued more than people with broader skill sets

    How do you stay on top when there are so many moving variables? For example you might be a contractor who specialises in a software, methodology, or something else. Within about 2/3 years it either becomes out-dated or there are more people that can do what you do so harder to justify a good price or you are behind some other new software, methodology that is now the 'In' thing.

    If you want to move to a more 'soft skill' position then they want experience which is harder to get and also brings it's own challenges.

    So how do you keep up?

    There is probably no right answer to this but just seeking some good advice and mindsets from your experiences.

    #2
    Originally posted by HealthyProtein View Post
    Hello all,

    This is something I am increasingly coming across in the tech world. It is a very broad topic on how fast things change in the tech world.

    A) There is ever increasing competition
    B) The technology is changing at a faster and faster pace
    C) Predictable tasks / codes are now done easily by computers
    D) Specialists are valued more than people with broader skill sets

    How do you stay on top when there are so many moving variables? For example you might be a contractor who specialises in a software, methodology, or something else. Within about 2/3 years it either becomes out-dated or there are more people that can do what you do so harder to justify a good price or you are behind some other new software, methodology that is now the 'In' thing.

    If you want to move to a more 'soft skill' position then they want experience which is harder to get and also brings it's own challenges.

    So how do you keep up?

    There is probably no right answer to this but just seeking some good advice and mindsets from your experiences.
    I've just identified the kind of stuff that can't easily be offshored or farmed out to people onshored through the big consultancies.

    Last few contracts have been very ui focused & I'm now in a semi-hands on role working on a low-code ui platform prototype.

    I hope to continue in a similar vein.

    Bottom line is I felt I needed to move away from the "Full Stack .Net Developer" stereotype.

    Comment


      #3
      Move to the cloud! (Azure).

      qh
      He had a negative bluety on a quackhandle and was quadraspazzed on a lifeglug.

      I look forward to your all knowing and likely sarcastic and unhelpful reply.

      Comment


        #4
        Learn how to bleed radiators and gen up on your gladiators.. HTH
        'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by HealthyProtein View Post
          Hello all,

          This is something I am increasingly coming across in the tech world. It is a very broad topic on how fast things change in the tech world.

          A) There is ever increasing competition
          B) The technology is changing at a faster and faster pace
          C) Predictable tasks / codes are now done easily by computers
          D) Specialists are valued more than people with broader skill sets

          How do you stay on top when there are so many moving variables? For example you might be a contractor who specialises in a software, methodology, or something else. Within about 2/3 years it either becomes out-dated or there are more people that can do what you do so harder to justify a good price or you are behind some other new software, methodology that is now the 'In' thing.

          If you want to move to a more 'soft skill' position then they want experience which is harder to get and also brings it's own challenges.

          So how do you keep up?

          There is probably no right answer to this but just seeking some good advice and mindsets from your experiences.
          Learn to fib at least as well as everyone else is doing.
          His heart is in the right place - shame we can't say the same about his brain...

          Comment


            #6
            Telling you would make you competition so I am afraid we will be unable to help.
            'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

            Comment


              #7
              Just pay yourself a bigger dividend...

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by stek View Post
                Just pay yourself a bigger dividend...
                But that's not increasing his pay......
                'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

                Comment


                  #9
                  I don't always seek to improve the rate (my pay stays largely the same...). I look for opportunities to enter new sectors, roles that will be interesting with new things to learn, or the chance to work with people I know and like.

                  Most of my gigs come from recommdations and I keep up to date with training in areas that look interesting.

                  I have no desire to have a huge bank balance; my bills are paid, I can afford time off and nice holidays when I want, and I have a decent stash to cover the lean times. It's all about quality of life for me.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by northernladuk View Post
                    Telling you would make you competition so I am afraid we will be unable to help.
                    Your accountant told me for a fiver.....

                    Comment

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