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Am I even who my resume says I am?

 
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I recently took what I thought was a great job that was going to allow me to doing many things but it turned out to be more of a legacy/support position and not a new development position. So I'm looking again.

My resume shows that I have done many things using many technologies in my career but since taking this job I haven't used them that much if at all.

Also, I've been in the industry long enough that I could be a Lead/Senior engineer and so for a lot of the possible positions I've interviewed for have been for that especially because that was the original intention of this role: be the first of the two lead developers for an internal team.

Well my resume belies someone that has done many things but these interviews do not seem to show it. I'm not sure if it's because I haven't used technologies of late or I just perform better when I have code in front of me that already works and I add to it.

I guess my confidence is fairly shaken and I'm wondering if it's even worth it to stay in IT. I know I can do the things on my resume but I've reached a point in my life that I have no intention of being a walking compiler, api compendium, or just some weirdo that prefers to be behind a computer screen 24/7.

But I know I can do the things on my resume and I have done them.

I feel this is starting to ramble but I think I've conveyed my confusion so I'll just see if people reply and answer their questions.
 
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As a side question, can you tell us what you want to do? You told us what you want to be, and what you don't want to be, but it is probably better if you know what you want to do, so that you can find a role that allows you to do that. And BTW, "lead engineer" is more of a title, than a description of what you will be doing.

Henry
 
Matt Kidd
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The honest answer, aside from "I don't know" because I really feel I don't anymore, would be I want to write Java code with a sprinking of JS (maybe) as part of a team where the only thing I need to do aside from contribute is ensure I'm a better developer/engineer today than I was yesterday.
 
Henry Wong
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Matt Kidd wrote:The honest answer, aside from "I don't know" because I really feel I don't anymore



Thank you for your honesty. Anyway...

Matt Kidd wrote:I want to write Java code with a sprinking of JS (maybe) as part of a team where the only thing I need to do aside from contribute is ensure I'm a better developer/engineer today than I was yesterday.



Given this goal of what you want to do, do you feel like you can do the job of "Lead Engineer". What do you think are the tasks of such an engineer? Do you think there is mentoring? Coordination and discussions with stakeholders? Some architecture/design work? etc. etc. Do you want to do these tasks?

Anyway, I don't have a good answer here, but perhaps, you should look into working for larger organizations. Small organizations tend to have less support resources, and hence, their engineers tend to do more (and need to know more) like system and database administration.

Henry
 
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Your situation sounds a bit like mine a few months ago.

Matt Kidd wrote:Well my resume belies someone that has done many things but these interviews do not seem to show it.



Matt Kidd wrote:I guess my confidence is fairly shaken ... just some weirdo that prefers to be behind a computer screen 24/7.



Yes, they presume you call all kind of stuff by mind, know it by heart. I had those interview and did not know them at first. Although I do use them. I just look them up. I took the books again, and studied and then I passed the interview. I am a person that does not like to be behind a computer screen 24/7, are you like that too? But to keep abreast of the latest technology, you must do some extra studies, though not 24/7.

Also I had these interviews in which they asked me to be a team lead. But I had this feeling I don't know all this technical stuff, and what if I am a team lead, but the worst programmer in the team.? That would not fit. I have even downgraded or downplayed (is that good English?) my CV a bit, since I think I am not that good as my experience shows. I am good in other things than computer programming. So maybe I am more all round, more versatile.

I managed to get a new job. Not with ease, but I am still here. Now doing a bit more computer science study, a bit less sport, human language study, voluntary teaching, helping my daughter with her homework. But I would not want to be a person sitting in front of computer 24/7 either, knowing all kind of details by head. I am surviving in the IT world nevertheless. I don't think programming 'is fun'. But I don't hate it either. For me it is just a job.

Good luck.
 
With a little knowledge, a cast iron skillet is non-stick and lasts a lifetime.
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