CIO - What do I like about my career?

Created by Theresa Rowe (Oakland University) on December 4, 2006

The close of another year encourages me to ponder my career choice. I carefully chose to ask "What do I like about my career?" rather than just my job. My jobs have come and gone over time. My career has been on a steady path. That difference can be described as stability, and that is one of the things I've enjoyed throughout my career. I understand what I need to do, including learning new technologies and investing my time in reading and review, in order to have a stable career, despite changing jobs. There's been continuity and progression that have proved to be very valuable.

Another aspect about my career that I enjoy is the community of techies. I work with really terrific, intelligent, hard-working people. We share interests; we point out interesting technical developments to each other and we share what we've learned. I am often surprised by the dedication and perseverance I see in those working in IT. I enjoy discussion. I enjoy the give-and-take of ideas that happens in a strong community.

I like to solve problems; even as a child, I enjoyed solving puzzles and reading mystery novels. I love to pull together all the pieces, the new and the old, the working and the failing, to create a new mosaic of a solution. I get to do this every day, and I find it very enjoyable and not at all troubling. In fact, earlier in my career, I changed jobs when I thought there were too few problems to solve. I like to find a way to make things better.

Those are probably the three most positive things I enjoy about my career: stability, community and problem-solving.

What about you - what do you like about your career?

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Careers

Submitted by Cynthia Golden (University of Pittsburgh) on January 5, 2007 - 7:17am.

Theresa - I liked your comments about the job/career distinction. For me, one of the important decisions I made about my IT career was to work within higher education. Helping to fulfill the mission of the institutions where I have had the good fortune have be employed is a significant part of what I like about what I do.Cynthia

		CIO - What do I like about my career? Created by Theresa Rowe (Oakland University) on December 4, 2006 The close of another year encourages me to ponder my career choice. I carefully chose to ask "What do I like about my career?" rather than just my job. My jobs have come and gone over time. My career has been on a steady path. That difference can be described as stability, and that is one of the things I've enjoyed throughout my career. I understand what I need to do, including learning new technologies and investing my time in reading and review, in order to have a stable career, despite changing jobs. There's been continuity and progression that have proved to be very valuable. Another aspect about my career that I enjoy is the community of techies. I work with really terrific, intelligent, hard-working people. We share interests; we point out interesting technical developments to each other and we share what we've learned. I am often surprised by the dedication and perseverance I see in those working in IT. I enjoy discussion. I enjoy the give-and-take of ideas that happens in a strong community. I like to solve problems; even as a child, I enjoyed solving puzzles and reading mystery novels. I love to pull together all the pieces, the new and the old, the working and the failing, to create a new mosaic of a solution. I get to do this every day, and I find it very enjoyable and not at all troubling. In fact, earlier in my career, I changed jobs when I thought there were too few problems to solve. I like to find a way to make things better. Those are probably the three most positive things I enjoy about my career: stability, community and problem-solving. What about you - what do you like about your career? Theresa's blog Login or register to post comments 3799 reads Careers Submitted by Cynthia Golden (University of Pittsburgh) on January 5, 2007 - 7:17am. Theresa - I liked your comments about the job/career distinction. For me, one of the important decisions I made about my IT career was to work within higher education. Helping to fulfill the mission of the institutions where I have had the good fortune have be employed is a significant part of what I like about what I do.Cynthia Login or register to post comments
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