Hey everyone! I'm an aspiring developer and recently finished my associate's in Computer Science. I'm continuing to work towards my bachelor's this fall. Right now, I work in operations at my company, and I've noticed so many areas where I could implement automation to improve efficiency—despite my limited programming skills. I'm in a middle management position, so these tools could really make my job easier.
I haven't mentioned my project to my boss yet because I want to ensure it's well-developed and secure before presenting it. My question is: would it be a bad idea for me to create this tool on my own? I'm 30 and hopeful that if I get approval from IT or the developers and it shows positive results, it might lead to more opportunities for me, possibly in development. Should I ask for compensation for my work, or is it better to offer it for free and see where it leads? I've already put in about 75-100 hours of R&D into this, not counting the need for additional resources like Azure token access from IT. What do you think?
2 Answers
It's a great move! Many people advance by taking the initiative in these situations. I did something alike when I was younger, and it led to a job title change and a salary increase. You're gaining great experience, even if nothing major comes from it at your current company.
Not dumb at all! I actually do something similar in my position. It’s self-serving and helps both you and the company. I’ve also made connections with a senior developer who I sometimes consult with to ensure I’m on the right track, but I don’t always need to run every single idea by him.
That’s amazing! I'm glad it worked out for you. I’m learning a ton from this project and I really want to see it through. Should I offer it for free or request some kind of compensation? I’ve been warned that maintaining the app could lead to extra responsibilities that aren’t currently paid for, but I want to leverage this opportunity as much as possible. What are your thoughts?