What's your work industry? Retail? Marketing? Real Estate?
Believe it or not, the importance of tech in your company will vary based on where you work.
Tech isn't innovative and vital all around across the board.
My first job out of college was at a marketing agency. It was a decent job, but most of their websites were old with outdated code. My primary duty was to update these websites with promo codes, that was it. There were no new technologies, no optimizing layouts, no database enhancements, nothing.
Marketers aren't going to look at tech directly. They want numbers, data, and how to get to that bottom line; it only makes sense. Tech only plays a role if it gets them what exactly they want.
Or take another example, Apple. Surprise, it's primary focus is in their marketing. How do you sell and keep selling? I know of people who worked there, and they tell me that their engineers fall second to their design department. Sure, tech plays an essential role, but it's their focus and dedication to design that sells.
These aren't bad things, but it goes to show that it's not always about tech innovation everywhere you go.
Each company has its priorities, but tech is always going to be needed. Unfortunately, you're not always going to be as valued as you'd like.
Now let's bring it back to perhaps the worst place to do tech work, eCommerce/retail. As someone who works in this industry, I find that not only do I get poorly paid, I'm also not as valued.
I have skills and knowledge that would most definitely be useful, if not grown much more exponentially if I wasn't at a company that puts their retail stores first before technology.
My reality is that the company I work for caters to a generation that wants to go out and shop for clothes rather than purchase them online. At the very least, this is what's keeping me at the job, and I'm grateful.
However, for these reasons is why I precisely want to leave my company. I majored in computer science in college because I had a passion for innovating, building, and improving things. But, if a company hinders you from doing these things, isn't it fair to move on from it?
Ask these questions to yourself when looking or at your current job:
- Are you satisfied?
- What are your long-term career goals?
- Are you looking to take more ownership?
- If so, how about a startup?
- How about this...Are you looking forward to Mondays?
When you're first starting, don't be picky.
If you're well into your career, start looking for a change if your work does not align with your passions. You're going to be working for most of your life, the least you can do is invest your time into a company that you feel takes you seriously and develops you in ways you'd like.
Top comments (2)
The last paragraph is super powerful.
Thanks Duane =)