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March 16, 2001

Whiz Kids

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In your travels through the high-tech world you have probably all encountered a fair amount of computer "whiz kids." These up and coming high-tech careerists will be the ones who guide the way to our technological future. They will take what we have built and enhance it in ways we never imagined. This is why it is so important for all high-tech workers to take a moment out of their busy careers and offer a helping hand to these "new kids on the block." While they may have dazzling technical skills, in some ways we have abandoned their social education. We need to get involved today to insure that the future they build for us is one where we will want to live.

Abandoned

In some ways I feel that today's newest high-tech careerists have been abandoned. Their amazing skills have led them into great jobs, but their love for their work can be exploited by those who only see the bottom line. The treadmill of 18 hour work days and constant disappointment when companies fail can be enough to drive anyone out of the high-tech market. New workers need someone who can help them understand the bigger picture of career and life. Too many of them are forced to figure this out for themselves; usually through no small amount of suffering.

Not every new high-tech careerist will want to be helped, though. Some may even resent the intrusion of their "elders" into their lives. There are others, though, who will seek out advice and guidance, especially when they are facing the big decisions in both their work and personal lives. The most important assistance you can provide is simply being there for them. Remember how you felt when you were faced with similar decisions in your career. Did you have someone who could help you work through the issues or were you on your own? What do you wish someone had told you when you were first starting out on your high-tech life?

Let people know that you are there for them should they ever want to talk. This doesn't just help them with their careers. It can also help you keep a talented member on staff and productive. Too often workers leave their jobs because they don't feel that anyone is listening, either professionally or personally. You don't have to act the wise sage and offer specific rules and advice. Simply listening can help someone work out problems for themselves. When we take the time to listen, everyone benefits.

Pass the torch

Connecting with new high-tech careerists can also allow you to have another great effect on your life. This contact allows you to pass on your greatest concerns for the high-tech future. You will be living in their world that these high-tech workers create. You need to tell them what type of world you will want and need when you are ready to retire. These concerns might include technological issues or general social issues like privacy, security and poverty. Not only does this let you promote your own agenda for the future, it also provides new challenges for these high-tech workers. We all love to be challenged in our careers. Let's place some big challenges before this new generation of high-tech workers.

Balance

Finally, along with your support and understanding, you can offer advice on one issue that we have all been grappling with the last few years -- the balance between work and home. Despite the Internet boom and the people who have been sacrificing all for their jobs, more and more people are looking at this issue and trying to develop ways to be both productive and happy in their lives.

While none of us have the generic answer to this issue we can help others address it in their own personal way. For some, taking a job that pays less so they can have more time with their families may be one solution. For others, it may mean working exceedingly hard now in order to work less in the future. For still others, it can mean forgoing being a high-tech "star" in order to have a life they want to live.

Engaging in conversations such as this not only helps others, but often they can help you to refine your own life choices. It has been said that to truly understand a topic you must teach it. Perhaps by teaching others about the life/work balance you can gain a deeper understanding of your own life and career choices.

The next time someone comes to you with questions don't brush them off. Listen, converse, prod, challenge. The high-tech workers you are shaping could be the ones to discover new ways to make our lives even better.

about this column.

Douglas E. Welch is a freelance writer and computer consultant in Van Nuys, California. Readers can discuss career issues with other readers by joining the Career Opportunities Discussion on Douglas' web page at: http://www.welchwrite.com/dewelch/ce/

He can reached via email at douglas@welchwrite.com