Would You Hire Yourself? The Difference Between Stagnation and Growth
With over eight years in the tech industry, I’ve learned a simple but uncomfortable truth. Effort compounds. The work you put in today pays off later in ways you cannot predict when you’re just starting out.
Credentials Don’t Build Careers. Consistent Work Does
Degrees, diplomas, and/or certifications do matter, but only to a point. It might help your CV get noticed or secure an interview. What it won’t do is carry you through a conversation where you’re expected to explain how you think, how you approach problems, and what you’ve actually built. Without tangible evidence of real work, you’re already at a disadvantage.
There Are No Shortcuts in a Competitive Market
The job market is tough. Whether we like it or not, shortcuts don’t exist.
One of the most common and damaging assumptions, especially among graduates or people moving into tech from another field, is that companies will provide deep, structured training once you’re hired. In reality, that rarely happens.
Having the right attitude matters, but its almost never enough on its own. Good intentions don’t replace real exposure or practical experience.
Think Like a Hiring Manager
Try to see things from a hiring manager’s perspective.
If the role exists so they can focus on higher level, strategic work, would they really want to spend months training someone from scratch? Or would they prefer someone who can add immediate value, even if they’re still learning?
Sure, you will get guidance, but most roles assume you’ve already done the foundational work before your first day.
Credentials Without Evidence Only Go So Far
If you are finding it difficult to get hired, relying solely on paper credentials is often the reason. You need to put yourself out there and build a presence. Networking and creating content, whether that is writing blogs, making YouTube videos, sharing lessons learned or documenting your projects, takes time and consistency. More importantly, it demonstrates how you think, how you communicate and how seriously you approach your craft.
Whether you’re trying to change careers or move up in your current one, the principle is the same. Make your thinking visible.
Ask Yourself the Hard Question
At some point, you need to be honest with yourself.
Would I hire myself for this role, and why?
If your answer is yes, you should be able to explain the value you bring.
If your answer is no, then you’ve just created yourself a roadmap to your Tech journey🙂
Companies are looking for people who can solve problems. Telling them you can isn’t enough. You need to show how you approach problems, how you break it down🕺💃, and how you follow through (consistency).
Documentation Is Part of the Job
In the tech space, documentation isn’t optional because people move on, teams change but systems remain.
Good documentation helps to keep things running, reduces risk, and saves time. Writing clear documentation also forces you to understand systems properly, which makes it a form of problem solving in its own right.
Tip: If you already have a job and want to stay relevant, don’t leave all the thinking to your manager. Asking questions is important, but asking them without doing your own research first will eventually work against you.
Experience Doesn’t Automatically Mean Growth
Be careful not to confuse tenure with seniority. You can have five years of experience, but if you’ve spent the last two years coasting in your comfort zone, then you’re stagnating.
Its painful if you want to progress in a company only to be told that while you’re reliable, you’re not seen as ready for a more senior role because you’re only good at what you’re currently doing. In many cases, the gap isn’t time, but depth and impact.
Use AI Carefully and Intentionally
Over reliance on AI to handle so called tedious tasks often hides a deeper problem. Many people have lost the mental sharpness they once had. Earlier in their careers, they were curious and willing to wrestle with problems. Over time, that muscle weakens if its not used.
Don’t get me wrong, AI is powerful and should be used, but it should support your thinking, not replace it. You still need to understand the output, the implementation, and the reasoning behind every decision. The responsibility always sits with you.
You really Don’t Need Expensive Tools to Learn Properly
I’ve been homelabbing since 2020 but I understand that not everyone can afford premium software or high end hardware, and thats fine, because I’m one of those people.🙂
Free tiers and open source tools are the industry standard. In many cases, it teaches the same underlying concepts as enterprise tools, which makes your skills transferable.
You can learn tools and technologies like Asana, Slack, Atlassian products, Freshdesk, GitHub, Git, Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack, n8n, Linux, Docker, Nginx, Python, Bash, Proxmox and many more without spending a cent. Some of these tools will require you to sign up (no credit card needed) so you can start exploring right away, while others can be installed locally, giving you the freedom to experiment. The key is not just using them, but understanding what problem each tool solves and why it exists.
Stop Waiting and Start Building
At some point, you have to stop waiting or you will get stuck in planning will everyone else progress.
If you really want it, you should be willing to make the necessary sacrifices and save up to buy an affordable, upgradable second-hand laptop. It doesn’t need to look flashy or brand new. As I shared in one of my articles about the rather unattractive laptop I bought, it may not turn heads, but it runs smoothly and gets the job done. There really are no excuses.
Once you have your setup, the next steps are simple: set up a lab, build something real, break it, fix it, and document everything along the way.
NB: Avoid chasing every new tool(shiny object syndrome) or trend just because it looks exciting. Moving from one tool to another might feel productive, but going deep and mastering a few important tools is far more valuable than constantly switching to whatever is new. Focus on what is relevant to your field of interest and commit to it.
