I started at my company 9 months ago and focused on automating many critical processes such as AWS cost monitoring, patch management, backups, performance monitoring, and documentation. However, now my workload has dwindled to about an hour a day. During daily standups, I have to make up updates just to seem busy, and it feels like my colleagues don't even notice I'm there. I've tried discussing this with my manager, but he either ignores my hints or brushes them off, which leaves me feeling uncertain about my future here. Initially, this felt like a holiday, but now I'm worried about becoming rusty and I even experience impostor syndrome. I'm considering looking for another job or better using my free time to learn something new, but I'm unsure of the best approach. What would you suggest I do?
4 Answers
If you're looking to stay put, my advice is simple: don't mention the automation. You might find that your systems require maintenance, bugs pop up, or new updates change things up. Use this downtime to polish your skills or help your coworkers with their projects. Use this as an opportunity for growth and to document your processes more thoroughly.
Totally agree! Things will break eventually, and you'll be the go-to person to fix everything.
First things first, don't let anyone know you've automated everything! Instead, find a project that adds value but will take a while to complete. This way, you can impress others with how many things you're juggling while still contributing significantly. You could even consider consulting on automation for other teams or starting a YouTube channel to share what you've done. There's definitely a market for that!
Exactly! I automated a lot of my tasks too, and while it was a blast, after a while, I felt like I was just coasting. Sometimes it feels good to share some of that knowledge and give back!
Spot on! Just keep it under wraps for now and work on something that shows off your skills without revealing too much.
It sounds like you're in a prime position to take a breather while planning your next steps. Have you thought about documenting everything you’ve automated? It will help others and also serve you if someone questions your importance. Plus, dive into skill-building or explore areas that are still a bit complex for you. And if nothing else, enjoy the ride while it lasts!
Documentation is key! I’ve been documenting like crazy, and it’s helped me align my tasks with the company’s future needs.
Absolutely! Plus, having a solid backup plan for when things don’t run smoothly is invaluable.
Honestly, if you really feel you’re becoming obsolete, maybe it’s time to start looking for roles that align with the tech you want to work with, or even consider a part-time gig to keep your skills sharp. Once you’ve automated effectively, it’s easy to feel like you’re just biding time until the next thing happens. Keep exploring new tech or products, it’ll boost your confidence about jumping to a new role when you’re ready!
Definitely! Finding a side project or consultancy could actually help you stay relevant while keeping that income flowing.
Exactly! And even just learning something new could lead to opportunities you didn’t expect!
Yeah, and if your manager doesn't get how valuable you are, showing off how you improved efficiency can change the conversation!