In the last weeks of my internship, I had a lot to consider. The internship experience was and is a great experience that has taught me a lot about myself and the direction I want to go with my career. Dollar Tree is an excellent company with a wonderful working environment. Still, I do not see myself satisfied with working in a retail company. I want to be part of a team that makes a difference in our community. Though I wish to pursue a career with an organization that ethos I feel passionate about, I have a family to take of financially. I have to balance my dream career with my financial needs.
CompTIA is a non-profit trade association, issuing professional certifications for the information technology industry, and they also supervise a blog that talks about life issues connected to IT. For example, an article named “IT Job Satisfaction: It is About More Than Money,” stated that in the Global Knowledge 2019 IT Skills and Salary Report, that globally “IT pros are satisfied with their jobs” (Engle). The article reports that IT remains a profession in which the workforce enjoys going to work every day. When asked IT professionals what factors make their work satisfying to them, the prevalent answer was an opportunity for professional development, at 81% (Engle). In comparison, a higher salary was only a factor of 36% (Engle).
The article, while it did not directly touch on my concerns, still it made me feel better about my conflict between career and salary. I felt guilty about leaving the company that gave me a chance to an internship with them. However, I want to pursue a master’s degree, and I feel that dividing my time between work and my education right now is not the best plan. The positive overall satisfaction reassures me of others in the IT field. The article had a positive and renewal effect on me, and I am confident about my choice in pursuing what I want exactly.
The internship provided me with a better idea of what I want and whom I want to be. I want to develop my skills, build on what I have learned both in school and at the internship. I have previous military experience, and I believe I will be more productive and of better use working for the government or local law enforcement. I want to give back in a way that staying in Dollar Tree won’t allow me to. I want to enjoy waking up and getting ready for work every day, getting paid a substantial amount to take care of my family and to feel accomplished as an individual in the profession I have chosen. If, by any chance, I find myself in a place where I am dissatisfied, the article points out that “IT staff have no qualms about leaving for greener pastures” (Engle).
Nevertheless, working at Dollar Tree has set the bar for the kind of work environment, high morale, and professionalism that I expect from now on. The techs in Dollar Tree in the department I was part of, 85%, are all working on a degree or certification. The techs are comfortable in their current positions but are all planning on climbing the corporate ladder. Lastly, in these times of social distancing and staying at home, all of the IT team at the Dollar Tree are considered essential, in other words, job security.
Work Cited
Engle, David. “IT Job Satisfaction: It’s About More Than Money.” CompTIA. https://www.comptia.org/blog/it-job-satisfaction-it-s-about-more-than-money.