I've been on the career grind for almost 15 years. Mostly on small companies. I'm at a point where I don't want to get promoted. I'm happy at a senior/staff level. I don't wanna get promoted. I don't wanna go through all the hassle. I just wanna get job done. I don't wanna demonstrate what I'm capable of. I already know it. I just wanna do good honest work, get to spend time with my family and get to do other things I'm interested in on the side.
Every tech job right now seems to be expecting so much from each IC, it is honestly exhausting. They all assume you are going for a promotion or to get to the next level. AI changed the craft and I don't like it all that much, yeah you're fast but you're also disintegrated from the one thing that helped you understand things deeply. Now everything is superficial.
I don't want fulfill ambiguous career values and expectations like being "fast", or "embracing uncertainty", I think that's just fancy talk for "this is a shitshow, we don't know what we're doing, so just figure it out".
I'm also tired man, yeah. I've taken close to no vacation in the last decade. At least no more than the regular holiday break and a couple isolated days here and there. I feel like I need a reset. 6-9 months of full recharge. Then, get back at it at a reasonable pace. Doing good work, established clear work.
If you feel this way or have similar feelings I'd love to read you. Thanks for reading.