After spending so many years working at one place, I took the opportunity to transition on my timeline and still have two more weeks until I start the new job. It’s giving me the opportunity to feel like I have real closure for the end of that chapter. (Although with my husband still working on my old team, I have to fight the temptation to add my $0.02 sometimes.)
I’ll be going from one of the top 5 senior-most developers to brand new and there’s so much information taking up space in my brain that I have little use for anymore. It feels weird expecting to lose that hard-won knowledge, but there’s going to be plenty to learn in the new system!
In fact, being in a position to learn new skills is a huge part of why I chose to take the leap. I’m excited to get more comfortable with React and put my JavaScript skills to use in the backend for once. I’m used to writing Java code, which is my “native” programming language, the one I learned at virtual school 15 years ago when I first started coding. That’s going to be a strange adjustment, a little like a culture shock.
I was tempted to spend some of my break brushing up on the skills I’ll need at my new employer, but my future boss encouraged me to really unplug. I don’t think the transition could have been timed any more appropriately for the state of the world at the moment. I’m very fortunate to be able to take this breather. So for now, my days are filled with full-time moming and embracing my time in the Loading Zone.