10 years in high tech

As of today I've been working in high tech for 10 years now. I started full time at PRIOR Data Sciences back in January 1997. Wow, 10 years of this. I started full time right after my last exam in December in my Computer Science degree at the Technical University of Nova Scotia.

While at TUNS, I did all of my three Co-Op work terms at PRIOR, and they asked me to come on full time after I graduated. That was a huge good break getting on with PRIOR for that first work term back in January 1995. Of course I had to do a good job to get invited back for more work terms and subseqent full time.

In the 10 years lots has happened. PRIOR did a management buy out, then was later acquired by xwave. I navigated through Y2K and the dot com boom/bust. I've switched jobs on my own, been acquired a couple of times, and survived numerous downsizings. I'm lucky I've never been out of work in high tech. I've prospered financially in this career.

Things were different in 1997. At that time it was exciting. It seemed the possibilities were unlimited. PRIOR had a good team I still think well of including Martin M, Sean B and Jim P. They were outstanding individuals. Not just technically but they got the finer things in life like La Maison which I thought was so cool to be around. It made me aspire to reach that level myself.

My career is linked to my personal life. Very shortly after starting full time I was engaged, then married by the end of 1997, with a child by 1998. My life away from work has affected my career and vice versa. I've made moves in my career that I wouldn't have without personal considerations. I've also not made career moves I would have made if I was single and unattached.

I started out as a programmer. Today I'm still a programmer. That's a bit disappointing looking at it from the big picture, considering what seemed possible and even likely starting out. Still I like programming and I'm pretty good at it. I'm happy to keep doing it as long as someone will pay me well and slightly more each year to do it.

So 10 years in. Can I last another 10 years? I hope so. I don't have much else to go on so I hope I'm able to stick around.