This article is cross-published from IEEE SpectrumThe Careers Newsletter. Register now for insider tips, expert advice and practical strategies, I wroten partnership with technology career development company Taro and delivered to your inbox for free!
At its core, engineering is an act of creation. This is why many of us chose to become engineers: we love building things.
But especially if you work in the private sector, it’s easy to forget that passion to develop as you climb the corporate ladder. Somewhere between quarterly planning meetings and incident retrospectives, we often lose the joy of creating in our corporate jobs. Large companies require a level of bureaucracy and specialization that is often at odds with building something new.
That’s why I frequently recommend burned-out engineers to do something very simple: start a side project. Over 15 years of working in various tech stacks and companies, this has been the simplest, most underrated, and most powerful way to get my enthusiasm back at work.
Beyond rekindling the passion for creation, side projects have many other benefits. Side projects allow us to explore new technologies or problem spaces. We can harness new ideas that our businesses may be hesitant to adopt. And you don’t need to get buy-in from a manager or explain the business rationale. Start using technology simply because you want to learn more.
When you build something as a side project, your understanding is much deeper than just following a tutorial or reading about it. I can attribute many of my career opportunities to projects I’ve built and published outside of my day job. Some of these projects, like my career development platform Taro, even turn into businesses!
We’ve entered the golden age of side projects because they’re so much more accessible. Compared to a decade ago, it’s significantly easier to research, build, and deploy your creation. Even compared to two years ago, you’re much less likely to waste hours struggling with any setup. Just ask ChatGPT or Gemini for help!
The advantages of a personal project are real: passion, learning, career development and pleasure. And they’re easier than ever to create. Now it’s time to create your side project portfolio.
—Rahul
The quantum computing industry is growing, opening up new opportunities for engineers, and you don’t necessarily need a background in quantum physics to fill these positions. So what skills TO DO do you need? Learn five key tips for breaking into the field from recruiters and researchers currently working in quantum computing roles.
Learn more here.
Mini Thomas has built a highly successful career as an expert in electrical systems and smart grids, thanks in part, she says, to the support of her family. Now a professor of electrical engineering in New Delhi, Thomas mentors women in the energy sector, helping to expand the pool of female leadership in India.
Learn more here.
The growth of AI and changing funding for scientific research has created some uncertainty among young people considering careers in STEM. To get a sense of how these changes affect the aspirations of the next generation, Wired spoke to five high school students across the United States about their futures.Learn more here.
From the articles on your site
Related articles on the web
