Monday, 25 March 2024
Lewis Kimber
6 minute read
In the realm of software development, creativity knows no bounds. Developers love exploring possibilities and creating new things. But what if I told you that two days a week, I trade my keyboard for a hammer, my code for concrete, venturing into the world of construction as a volunteer?
Tech workers are no strangers to the world of flexible working arrangements. Ever since the pandemic, phrases such as: working from home, flexible hours, and be your own boss have become all too familiar. But what about part-time working?
I began my construction work volunteering on a full refurbishment project of a community hall a few years ago, dipping my toes in on the weekends every other week or so. It was a big project, stripping the building back to basically just the four walls and rebuilding from there.
What started as a bit of a sporadic gig, though, soon became a passion project. I found that I was learning so much about the world of construction. The camaraderie, the tangible impact – there wasn’t anything quite like it. I achieved a sense of fulfilment that I hadn’t felt before. Being able to work towards a good cause and helping others was such a brilliant feeling I wanted to dedicate more of my time to it. So, I began volunteering 2 days a week regularly.
But let’s be realistic. Volunteering doesn’t pay the bills, and part-time work as a software engineer was a little hard to come by.
Enter Rock Solid Knowledge (RSK).
Recognising my unique situation and wanting to help, they brought me in for an interview.
After meeting them, they took me on as a team member, providing me with the financial stability I needed to support my pursuits. I have always loved software development, and working with the team at RSK has been a superb experience. So, being able to continue this secular work as well as the volunteer work was a perfect combination.
This extra dose of philanthropy really gives a sense of purpose unlike any other. It gives me a better work-life balance meaning I can enjoy software development more, be more productive, and achieve my personal goals. But straddling the worlds of tech and construction is not always sunshine and rainbows.
The first and probably most obvious challenge of this plan is finances. Working only three days a week doesn’t exactly scream financial security. However, with some savvy budgeting and a dash of frugality I am still able to fully support myself while continuing to volunteer.
Ah the joys of construction work – sweat, blisters, and the occasional windstorm. Long days of physical labour, in all sorts of weather conditions can really be a graft sometimes. Those days when its rainy or freezing are difficult, but seeing a community come together to build something beautiful makes it worth all the callouses. Plus, swinging a sledgehammer is oddly therapeutic after a long day of debugging code.
From demolitions to renovations to ground-up construction, the hard work often comes with mess and a few minor scrapes and bruises. Although these things are unfortunately inevitable on a construction site, we all work together to make sure everything we do is done as safely as possible. I still also have my commitment to my secular work as well and am conscious not to do anything that could cause a hindrance to this.
In the fast-paced world we live in, success is often defined by how much money we make. While money is important, what’s more important to me is finding purpose in my work. Whether I'm writing lines of code or laying down bricks, each endeavour brings its own sense of fulfilment. And that is priceless.
I love my work as a software developer, and RSK are a great team to work alongside. The fact I can support both of my passions is an amazing achievement and I’m proud to say I can do both.
I’m not one to shy away from getting my hands dirty, but in my endeavour to balance bytes and bricks, I’ve found a great sense of purpose.
Last updated: Monday, 25 March 2024
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