The Stagnant Software Engineer
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re bored out of your mind. You feel you’re no longer growing and guess what? You’re probably right.
I was in this position a few weeks ago. Maybe I still am but it’s a LOT better than before.
This phase where you feel unease, boredom, and even frustration is not a bad thing. In fact, I think it’s a good sign, showing that you’re ready for the next level of your career.
I’ll be sharing a question and actions that can help you move past this stage.
- Do you dislike your job?
I use “dislike” for a reason. This question is not about if you dislike your city, boss, colleagues or company. It’s about the WORK itself (career). It’s important to ask yourself this because if you answer YES to this genuinely, then there’s no point reading on. You have your answer; Life is short, so go do something else.
If you don’t like how things are, change it! You’re not a tree.— Jim Rohn
- Solidify your current knowledge
We all forget things when we aren’t actively using it. It doesn’t mean you don’t know it. Make a list of everything you think you know and remind yourself by reading books, watching videos, scan through public codebases, contribute to open source and very importantly, WRITE ABOUT IT.
You don’t have to publish it publicly but write a draft for yourself. It’s like taking notes in class, something you can go back to for a quick reference and it’s a good way to gauge your understanding of the topic.
If you can’t explain something simply, you don’t understand it well enough. — Albert Einstein
Here’s an article about writing and how it improves our memory.
- Learn new things
This step is unavoidable. You must push yourself outside of your comfort zone. It might entail feeling stupid, a lot of frustration, maybe even crying but you must do it. As time goes by, your brain will get better at learning.
Use the resources available; books, videos, articles, speaking with colleagues, getting a mentor, etc. and again, WRITE as you learn.
Just try new things. Don’t be afraid. Step out of your comfort zones and soar, all right? — Michelle Obama
- Build/Create things
One reason children develop so fast is because they DO. Paper airplanes, Sand castles, Skyscrapers with lego blocks, Animals made with play dough, etc. Their hands and minds are always busy.
No theoretical knowledge beats building, failing and correcting mistakes. You’ll never get the AHA moment if you’ve not tried to do it. The new knowledge you’ve acquired, you need to practice it. Be a child again.
You know what’s better than building things up in your imagination? Building things up in real life. — Ryan Holiday
- Consider changing your workplace/company
So this one is a bit tricky because it affects other areas of your life (Location, Finances, etc.).
If you’ve tried the other suggestions and you still feel like something is lacking, then definitely change your workplace. A new job will accelerate your growth if it involves a lot of new things to learn. If your company is a large one, maybe changing teams might be a good idea.
Your growth should be the primary factor to consider when choosing a company, so make sure you take your time, do your research and weigh the pros and the cons.
Step out of history that’s holding you back. Step into the new story you’re willing to create.”— Oprah
