Re:Why you should have a side project
by finnmagic on Wednesday October 09, 2019 @02:37AM
(#21200665)
What the employer wants?
You could give the employer everything they want for years and welcome yourself as outdated and underskilled for any other job. The employee needs to look out for what is best for the employee’s life. That only moderately aligns with what is best for the employer — often they are opposed.
Jobs don’t typically last 35 years with the same company anymore. Skills need to be enhanced beyond what the current employer needs.
Side project freedom gives you the power to pick any skills you want to enhance and run with it.
I could even make a case that people who don't spend their free time coding make better employees than those who do - the employer wants the employee to spend their mental energy on work, not personal projects.
The vast majority of people who are going to give you a high quality 9-5 aren't going home to program, and it would be very bad business to discount them.
(The only person I knew of who coded outside of work was honestly a bad employee. I wouldn't use that case to discount others who code for fun outside of work.)