How did you choose your career path?

Publish Date: Sep 5 '18

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Over the last year, I have become an Oracle APEX Developer. With that, I have become adept with basic front-end languages, such as HTML, CSS and Javascript, but mainly the use and maintenance of the Oracle database using SQL and PL/SQL.

I enjoy it, but I can already feel the restriction in the career path. I can continue to become an APEX Developer and hope that it continues to take off, or I can go into Database Maintenance which I'll be honest, I have no interest in.

Then there's learning different languages, but I never know what to pick. I like the look of application development, but I also like the fact that I am pretty much full-stack in my current role.

How did you choose your career path and what advice would you give developers that are fairly new in our career?

Comments 4 total

Sam FerreeSep 5, 2018

I didn't choose the .NET Core life... The .NET Core life chose me.

Advice for devs fairly new in their career:

Learn what interests you. If it doesn't pay well*, you can learn two things. Three might be a stretch. But learn at least one thing that interests you. I really reject the idea that money is evil. Money is great, but it can only take the edge off a shitty job so much.

*It's very hard to find something that you can become an expert in, and not find somebody to pay you well to be an expert in it.
- Ross HendersonSep 6, 2018
  
  Thanks for the reply. I believe you to be correct on the money thing. I want the money so I can live a comfortable and happy life doing what I love, developing. I don't want to have to choose between my happiness and health or a job.
  
  And you are correct, I could continue down this path and become quite well compensated for it. I just don't know if I like putting my eggs in one basket, as they say.
  
  Thanks for your advice though! I'll keep that in mind :)
Leonardo TeteoSep 5, 2018

My intention at first was to work with network infrastructure, I even did a internship on that end, but right after the contract ended (there was no possibility of extension), my current company invited me to my current position as Java Web Developer. The circumstances led me to my current job and I don't have any regrets, I don't see myself doing anything else. And the language I liked more was not even Java, it was C#. Not going according to plan may be better sometimes. Plus, the computer networking background helps with my second passion: cloud computing. :)
- Ross HendersonSep 6, 2018
  
  That's a great story! Glad it has a happy ending too. Maybe you are right, maybe I shouldn't be thinking about what I want to do and just go with the flow; who knows what could happen then!

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Ross Henderson @scottishross

How did you choose your career path?

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