Career Crossroads

Ph3n0m

Well it was bound to happen.

I am stuck at a crossroads in my career and am looking for some advice.

Currently I am working for a company doing a messload of php based stuff, that they intend on selling to the public market (its an online website creator).

However over the past few months, the market has become more and more saturated with such products - some of them well more advanced then what I have done.

Likewise I am the only developer working for the company, the reason being I was told no new people would be hired until we start making money - which I feel is ridiculous.

I am constantly pushing for a slow to down to allow for more productive development, and whilst I am legally a Director of the company, I feel my words are not being heeded.

One of the products I have developed on the side, is fairly unique, however unless things change in the work place, as a developer I will always be constantly trying to play catch. On the flip side I want to avoide becoming a "paper pusher" as I am in no way inclined to do so.

I always loved getting my hands dirty while working, pure hands on approach and I am now left in the quandry - should I stay or should I go.

I would like to stay if things changed, however if I left - I honestly feel the market has become to staturated to find suitable employment especially for the new year.

I am not looking for job offers (I can look for them myself), I am basically asking the question, if you were in this position what would you do?

MrNuked

Both. Stay until you find something you'd be happier doing.

Peace

Likewise I am the only developer working for the company, the reason being I was told no new people would be hired until we start making money - which I feel is ridiculous.

I am constantly pushing for a slow to down to allow for more productive development, and whilst I am legally a Director of the company, I feel my words are not being heeded.

For the love of god man, strap on a pair and start kicking some serious director ass. The problem will not dissapear if you sit still and say nothing, action bets inaction everytime.

One of the products I have developed on the side, is fairly unique, however unless things change in the work place, as a developer I will always be constantly trying to play catch.

Quality should take preference of quantity IMO. Ofcourse companies are about making money so they can't waste resources on the one proiject forever. So it indeed sounds like you need one or more developers to help out. Does you company want to be know as somone who churns out copius amounts of tripe?

if you were in this position what would you do?

I'm afraid i'm not in your position and i'm sure there's a lot more to consider than what you've oput in your post. Pick a plan of action and go with it. Whatever it is it will be better than whats coing on right now no?

pebble

Originally posted by Ph3n0m
Well it was bound to happen.

I am stuck at a crossroads in my career and am looking for some advice.

Currently I am working for a company doing a messload of php based stuff, that they intend on selling to the public market (its an online website creator).

However over the past few months, the market has become more and more saturated with such products - some of them well more advanced then what I have done.

Likewise I am the only developer working for the company, the reason being I was told no new people would be hired until we start making money - which I feel is ridiculous.

I am constantly pushing for a slow to down to allow for more productive development, and whilst I am legally a Director of the company, I feel my words are not being heeded.

One of the products I have developed on the side, is fairly unique, however unless things change in the work place, as a developer I will always be constantly trying to play catch. On the flip side I want to avoide becoming a "paper pusher" as I am in no way inclined to do so.

I always loved getting my hands dirty while working, pure hands on approach and I am now left in the quandry - should I stay or should I go.

I would like to stay if things changed, however if I left - I honestly feel the market has become to staturated to find suitable employment especially for the new year.

I am not looking for job offers (I can look for them myself), I am basically asking the question, if you were in this position what would you do?

Are you sure you're a director?
I mean, no offence, but if I was the director of a company, I would say 'I am a dircetor of a company', and not 'legally Im the director of a company'
What does that mean?

I think you need to sit down and discuss your role as either a developer, or as a director.
You can't be both. I think it's time you sat down and decided whether or not your love of programming is going to stand in the way of your career, or whether you want your career to be in programming.
Also, as the director of a company, I feel you should have a clear vision of what your business is doing, and where it is going, but you don't seem to me to know this. Perhaps you need to learn some business savvy? Who knows?

From my own point of view, I would continue to work until I got another job that I really wanted. after all, your current job will either stay the same, or it will not.