Developing Developers: What to do once you've reached the top?

As a successful Senior Developer, do you ever feel a sense of stagnation? A feeling that you’ve already contributed everything you could to a project, and now you’re just passing time??

Day after day, you log in and do your work, but it doesn’t bring you joy like it used to. You haven’t learned anything in months, even though you used to be so enthusiastic about new technology. What happened?

Suffering from Success

According to psychiatrist Dr. Steven Berglas, success is a two-edged sword. Many people think of it as a burden as well as a blessing. He calls this phenomenon The Success Syndrome. Success should be a gratifying and enriching experience, yet highly successful people might 'self-sabotage' themselves rather than face the rising expectations. Because if achieving success is the ultimate self-fulfillment, the question is - What should you do next??

Taking the Next Step

Luckily, there are many career development options for those working in the IT industry. As a Senior Software Engineer, you could become a Lead Engineer or a Software Architect, depending on which career track suits you best. If you enjoy providing mentorship and guidance to other team members, consider a career in management. On the other hand, if you prefer to keep to yourself, deliver solutions, and ensure that everything is done according to standards, a technical position might be better.?

If neither of these roles “speak” to you, don’t worry - the career ladder can take all forms and directions.

Perhaps you are looking for something more creative? In that case, you should consider the role of a web designer or technical writer. Your skills would also be beneficial working in sales, marketing, or customer support. Having technical knowledge allows you to understand products and services on a deeper level, which could be a great advantage when talking to clients and customers.??

From Plan to Action

Once you know your options and decide which path you’d like to take, the next step is to talk to your supervisor. Be honest and open about your career development plan so you can discuss the next steps. Establish specific, measurable, and attainable goals that you can track within a specified time frame. Ideally, you should work on achieving those goals together. Being a Senior doesn’t mean you never need any help. Personal growth is a never-ending process filled with ups and downs - it’s always nice to have a helping hand along the way.?

Conclusion

Whatever path you choose, stay true to yourself and your values. No raise or bonus will be big enough to make you like your job if you’re not interested in what you do. Since ? of our lives are spent working, you might as well make it as enjoyable as possible.?

If you’re looking for new career opportunities, consider a company that provides interesting projects, autonomy, and long-term development. Check out our Digihey career page - you might find something that reignites the old spark.

Good luck!

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Written by: Helena Grahovac