How much time do you spend improving your career on your own time?

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
none. i work at the office so i dont have to work at home. i already put in my time with higher education to qualify me for my position. if i wanted to do something different, i would prepare myself appropriately, but as long as i continue to do my job well, and continue to want to do the job, what is the point?

Some positions require you to continually educate yourself in order to remain competitive. I'm in consulting, and if I take even 6 months off then I'm already behind the curve. It's frustrating, but the rewards are greater if you can keep up.

It's less of an issue for full-time people since you have a lot more opportunity to learn on the job, but for the cut-throat world of consulting there's not much room.

 

[Throckmorton]

I don't see an option for "none and I work 40 hours a week"

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
none. i work at the office so i dont have to work at home. i already put in my time with higher education to qualify me for my position. if i wanted to do something different, i would prepare myself appropriately, but as long as i continue to do my job well, and continue to want to do the job, what is the point?

Some positions require you to continually educate yourself in order to remain competitive. I'm in consulting, and if I take even 6 months off then I'm already behind the curve. It's frustrating, but the rewards are greater if you can keep up.

It's less of an issue for full-time people since you have a lot more opportunity to learn on the job, but for the cut-throat world of consulting there's not much room.

Exactly why I will probably never be a consultant. I've entertained the notion, but I then realized I'm just too damn lazy and really not enthusiastic enough about software development. Which is why, after a year of working for a small(but very successful) software company where the stress and pressure was intense, I decided to take a nice, cushy, well-paying, stress-free, senior dev position at a manufacturing company.

I still sometimes feel like I should be spending my free time reading development magazines and going to classes and everything. But the truth is that I don't have the interest I used to and when I get off work, the last thing I want to do is read about anything IT related. Instead, I prefer to spend my time with my family or doing things like playing golf.

 

[brikis98]

i work in software engineering, but am often developing side projects at home... i do them because i find them interesting, i learn a lot, i like the creativity involved and some of them have the potential to make money. rarely does the thought "this will advance my career" come into mind and that would never work for me as a motivation. however, as quite a few of these projects, as well as the skills i learned from them, end up on my resume, the net effect is quite positive.

however, i'm a night owl, and only do this around 12 - 3am, when every1 else is long asleep anyway. i'd never pick doing these projects over hanging out with my friends & gf, exercise, relaxing, etc.

 

[Kev]

I work 40 hours a week which is already too much IMO. There is no way I could even fathom doing "professional improvement" on my own time. I guess I just like having a life too much?

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
none. i work at the office so i dont have to work at home. i already put in my time with higher education to qualify me for my position. if i wanted to do something different, i would prepare myself appropriately, but as long as i continue to do my job well, and continue to want to do the job, what is the point?

Some positions require you to continually educate yourself in order to remain competitive. I'm in consulting, and if I take even 6 months off then I'm already behind the curve. It's frustrating, but the rewards are greater if you can keep up.

It's less of an issue for full-time people since you have a lot more opportunity to learn on the job, but for the cut-throat world of consulting there's not much room.

Point taken. I do not think I would succeed at such a position

My goal is to milk the skills I have until they are obsolete, then manage people that know the new ones. Worst case scenario (lose job / need a new one) I guess I will have to learn something new!

 

[NanoStuff]

All the damn time. Getting up to eat is becoming problematic. I must look into one of those IV nutrient injection devices.

I think it's great, the field changing as fast as I can read about it means incredible times ahead.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

About 3-4 hours/day outside of work. It's working. I was called up to meet the VP of Yamaha Motors, who's in town for the rest of the week, and I've only been working there for two days.

Guess I'm one of the few who actually loves my career.

 

[beat mania]

Originally posted by: Kev
I work 40 hours a week which is already too much IMO. There is no way I could even fathom doing "professional improvement" on my own time. I guess I just like having a life too much?

I don't have a career; I have a job.

I do take time to go to community college for something completely different than what I do right now though.

 

[Scouzer]

Zero, and I work 37.5 hrs a week (or less)

 

[krunchykrome]

I'd say most of my time these days is to better my career. I'm working in public accounting, because it's the best thing for my accounting career. I'm paying my dues working these 60-70 hour weeks. I could be working a standard year long 9-5 job somewhere else in the private sector. Im also in graduate school working towards a masters in accounting and also to meet the credit hour requirement to sit for the CPA exam. Also, not sure if this counts, but public accountants are required to meet certain CPE requirements.

 

[ChaoZ]

Originally posted by: Dacalo
Been taking accounting classes past two years and then studying for CPA exam, working full time. Kinda burned out, but the last exam is on this Saturday, so I will be a soon.

So few hours a day, and then most of the weekends.

2 years? Please say it ain't so.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: ChaoZ

Originally posted by: Dacalo
Been taking accounting classes past two years and then studying for CPA exam, working full time. Kinda burned out, but the last exam is on this Saturday, so I will be a soon.

So few hours a day, and then most of the weekends.

2 years? Please say it ain't so.

? I dont get it

 

[PrinceofWands]

Since I love learning I'll probably continue in school for my entire life, as well as personal enrichment that will be just as useful. I don't know how many hours it will be, just that it will be constant.

I'm not doing it 'for my job' however, that's just a benefit. I never do anything 'for my job', because I don't give a rats ass about work.

 

[ChaoZ]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: ChaoZ

Originally posted by: Dacalo
Been taking accounting classes past two years and then studying for CPA exam, working full time. Kinda burned out, but the last exam is on this Saturday, so I will be a soon.

So few hours a day, and then most of the weekends.

2 years? Please say it ain't so.

? I dont get it

Does it take that much studying for the CPA?

 

[Jeff7]

I intend to do work while I'm at work. Outside of that timeframe, I don't want to have to think about it at all, unless I am charged with the design and testing of the Orgasmatron.

 

[nageov3t]

none.

I check my blackberry during my offtime and send out emails as needed, but I wouldn't count that as "improving my career."

 

[TallBill]

Well right now I'm going to school full time specifically so that I can further my military career as an officer, so lots.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: ChaoZ

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: ChaoZ

Originally posted by: Dacalo
Been taking accounting classes past two years and then studying for CPA exam, working full time. Kinda burned out, but the last exam is on this Saturday, so I will be a soon.

So few hours a day, and then most of the weekends.

2 years? Please say it ain't so.

? I dont get it

Does it take that much studying for the CPA?

Take a few minutes and google the CPA exam, and you'll quickly realize that it's not like the SAT's you took last weekend. It's tough, and it's taken in multiple parts.