Should I Quit Programming?

[NinaWilliam]

Hi there,

I need your help and advice in this… I have a programming analyst diploma with GPA 3.8. I work as a programmer for 4 years in a medical corporation. I am successful at my work and I get every task given to me done. Currently, I am holding 4 projects and my boss is really a good man and he is very kind to me.

The problem is: I am not interested in programming I just do my job because I have to. I don’t feel I love my job. I don’t like going to work. I find it very hard to move from .NET framework 1.1 to 2.0 to 3.5. Even if I start reading a programming book or article I don’t really understand every thing.

I find my self interested more in software installing and troubleshooting, Computer maintenance, user support.

Should I quit programming because I don’t like it?
Please I seek your advice.

[Mostafa Nabil]

I think u should think well before quiting programming and working with something else because u can have the same problem again with the new fileld after some time (I mean getting bored).U say that u have a good boss so that is a good advantage in your work as there are little good men these days.

And about getting bored and not understanding from books the .net framework 2.0, what about taking courses? I think if u have time and money they will be more interresting, easier and less boring.

At last it is your dicission.

[nemowolf]

Hi there,

I need your help and advice in this… I have a programming analyst diploma with GPA 3.8. I work as a programmer for 4 years in a medical corporation. I am successful at my work and I get every task given to me done. Currently, I am holding 4 projects and my boss is really a good man and he is very kind to me.

The problem is: I am not interested in programming I just do my job because I have to. I don’t feel I love my job. I don’t like going to work. I find it very hard to move from .NET framework 1.1 to 2.0 to 3.5. Even if I start reading a programming book or article I don’t really understand every thing.

I find my self interested more in software installing and troubleshooting, Computer maintenance, user support.

Should I quit programming because I don’t like it?
Please I seek your advice.

In an economy where more people are losing their jobs then people are finding them, i think you would be silly to think that quiting your job was a smart idea. Especially so if you have nothing lined up to replace it.

That said ... I dont know you, nor does anyone here, know you as well as you do. You managed to get solid grades from your GPA so i can only imagine that malaise you are feeling about work isnt because its programming but because your not programming something you WANT to program. Switching over from .Net framework i cant really judge but i would say take advantage of your employer and see what sort of educational reimbursement or classes they can pay for to get you up to speed.

Now as for moving to help desk, sure everyone wants the easy job but half the work for half the pay doesnt really help you much. There isnt alot of "entry" level positions to get yourself in the door on that side. Also there isnt much room to grow simply doing desktop support. Your either on the phones or a mobile tech, from there maybe a supervisor position and your done. Moving on from there might move you to networking or servers but there really isnt much of a growth pattern within desktop support.



These types of grand questions really cant be answered on a forum by people who dont know you though ... so take everything concerning this with a grain of salt because ultimately its your life and your choice to make. What the hell do we know about your life or what you want end game. If anything, I would highly recommend you check out alternative side projects that might get your interest peaked in .net 3.5 like the XNA game creators club for LIVE and the Zune. Plenty of people have transitioned to being full time Apple programmers for their 3rd party apps as well, that might be something that interests you more and would be using your degree already.

[NinaWilliam]

I appreciate every single word written here… Thank you everyone for your concern and advice…

I was exhausted and frustrated when I wrote this post… because of the new standards of writing applications at my current work… and they want every developer to follow the same way of writing code… I used to program in my way… I don’t follow any standard… it is too hard for me… because it is killing my freedom in programming… but here is what I come out with after thinking about it…

I decided to stay and do my work as a programmer… I will do my best and never give up… I will love what I do for a living no matter what happen… Nothing is impossible…

Thank you my friends…