Systems analysis, which I’ve done in the finance, energy, and healthcare industries.
I started by doing mundane, repetitive computer stuff. Then I taught myself Excel and VBA and started automating it, so that became my job. Basically finding ways to make existing processes faster and more consistent.
At some point I started learning more advanced programming languages, but in my last job switch I moved away from that and back to Excel and VBA. The pay is similar, and the career development is worse, but I work from home and spend more time with my kids and my cats.
When I didn’t have kids, I’d have prioritized working in-office and building my career. But nowadays I’m much happier this way.
Honestly it worked to an extent. It got me an ok job where I was paid decently until eventually I’d built up enough experience that I was underpaid.
Then I switched jobs a couple times to get my salary up, and now that I’m older and have kids, I focus more of work-life balance than on my career.
Working hard is still a good thing to do, especially when you’re young.
Can I ask what career field you went into?
Systems analysis, which I’ve done in the finance, energy, and healthcare industries.
I started by doing mundane, repetitive computer stuff. Then I taught myself Excel and VBA and started automating it, so that became my job. Basically finding ways to make existing processes faster and more consistent.
At some point I started learning more advanced programming languages, but in my last job switch I moved away from that and back to Excel and VBA. The pay is similar, and the career development is worse, but I work from home and spend more time with my kids and my cats.
When I didn’t have kids, I’d have prioritized working in-office and building my career. But nowadays I’m much happier this way.
I didn’t know VBA was still a thing lol.
It’s still an easy way to solve a lot of problems, especially around Excel.