10 Regrets People Have Choosing Tech As A Career & 10 Positive Aspects
Dream Job or System Error?
Careers in tech have been pretty much all the rage since the early 2000s boom, but not everyone who followed that path is loving it. After all, we can't all be Steve Jobs. Those who regret it report feelings of dissatisfaction, feeling like a cog in the machine, and finding the corporate culture toxic. But don't write off tech as a career choice just yet. The other angle is that tech offers competitive salaries, room to be creative, and the opportunity to be a part of new and exciting innovations. Here are 10 regrets people have after choosing tech as a career and 10 reasons why they would do it all over again.
1. Choosing Stability Over Passion
Many people chose tech as a career path because it was "safe," not because they felt passionate about it. For many, the cost of spending all day, every day doing a job they hate is worse than doing something that makes them happy but pays poorly.
2. Burnout
In the tech industry, burnout culture is real. Many tech companies glorify 60-plus hour workweeks and offer poor work-life balance.
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3. Toxic Corporate Culture
The "tech bro" stereotype didn't come out of nowhere. The corporate culture in the tech world is notorious for being unhealthily competitive, lacking transparency, being unethical, and overly profit-driven.
4. Job Insecurity
Tech used to be considered one of the most stable industries, but the rise of large language models and their ability to code is bound to change the industry. Many entry to mid-level programmers are fearing that their jobs might be threatened.
5. Lack of Lateral Movement Opportunities
It's far too easy to get pigeonholed in the tech world, and while it can be hugely beneficial to specialize deeply in something, it lacks variety. What's more, tech is an ever-changing industry, and before you know it, your specialization could become obsolete.
6. Bad Management
While many people love the technical side of their job, the frustrating human factors at several companies take away from it too much. Being poorly managed by people who don't really seem to understand what people in tech do is one of the major problems.
7. Turning a Hobby Into a Job
For those techies who were actually passionate about computers when they decided to pursue tech as a career, the complaint is that turning their hobby into a job took all the joy away. You really can't seem to win.
8. Imposter Syndrome
Because tech is such a rapidly changing industry, even highly skilled programmers have to constantly look things up to be able to keep up. This need to always play catch-up can lead to feelings of incompetence.
9. Lack of Fulfillment
Many people who go into tech imagine they'll be building all kinds of neat apps and devices, advancing technology. In reality, many tech jobs are boring and repetitive, and it can be difficult to achieve meaningful upward mobility.
10. Isolation
While your co-workers in sales seem to spend all their time networking and socializing, most of your time is spent on independent tasks. While this wouldn't be seen as a negative aspect to many, some people find it too isolating.
Now that we've covered some of the regrets people have after choosing tech as a career path, let's talk about why it's still a great choice for many.
1. High Earning Potential
While not everyone who pursues tech can be a Bill Gates, there is the potential to earn a healthy salary. Even mid-level positions offer relatively high pay and generally come with great benefits as well.
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2. Opportunities For Continuous Learning
Because tech is an ever-changing industry, you'll need to keep learning all the time to keep up with the changes. This keeps things fresh and interesting for you.
3. Creative Problem-Solving
A lot of tech jobs, especially in machine learning and product management, require a lot of problem-solving, which allows you to be innovative and flex that big brain of yours. For people who are attracted to tech, this is a huge pull.
4. Global Opportunities
Tech is a universal language, and it's in demand all over the world. This means you potentially have the opportunity to work all over the world, immersing yourself in different cultures and languages.
5. Remote Work
Tech is one of the more portable professions. Ever since the pandemic, many companies have offered tech positions on a completely remote basis, allowing you the freedom to work from wherever you want.
6. Impact
As we have seen with the invention of computers, the internet, and now, AI, technology has the power to transform the world. Many people who are involved in it find fulfillment in knowing their work may improve the lives of others.
7. Entrepreneurial Opportunities
Many tech-savvy people with the right background and a good idea create startups or tech ventures and scale them into successful companies. Their time in tech arms them with the right tools, knowledge, and resources to do this.
8. Job Versatility
Because tech is so in demand, people who work in it don't necessarily feel the same pressure to hold on to the same job forever. They have the freedom to jump around to different companies and transition to different roles.
9. Growth Opportunities
If you're someone who thrives with continuous learning, likes to network, and has plenty of soft skills, there is a lot of growth potential in the tech industry for you. Especially as entry-level jobs are replaced by AI, the opportunity for rapid advancement is even greater.
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10. Being a Part of Something New
One of the main reasons people choose to go into tech is that they get to be right at the crux of new, cutting-edge technology. Not only do you get to witness it, but you get to be an active part of it.
