Is passion really a must to succeed in the tech world?
Grace, a coding apprentice, gets called out for not being “passionate enough” about her work. But what does “passionate enough” look like and is that really what matters most in tech?
In this episode, we challenge this stereotype and explore how your skills, not your obsession, should define your success. If you’ve ever felt like passion alone doesn’t cut it, this one’s for you.
Got a tech tale of your own or some workplace drama? Hit us up at jellyfish.co/offthevpn. And don’t worry - we’ll keep it Off the VPN.
Highlights:
- Passion vs. Performance: Why passion isn’t always the key to tech success
- The “Code Nerd” Stereotype: Breaking free from the narrow mold in tech
- Balancing Passion: How to stay true to yourself while thriving in your career
Jump into the conversation:
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00:00) Intro
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02:29) Do you need passion to succeed in tech?
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03:35) Grace’s apprenticeship journey: balancing school and work
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05:06) Not “passionate enough” about coding
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05:38) Trying to prove herself at work
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08:57) Being procedural VS. creative
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10:46) The inappropriate comparison to a male coworker
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14:17) The “passion engineer” stereotype and its impact on career
What is Off the VPN?
Is bringing up your software engineering salary a dating red flag? How do you strike a balance between career ambition and incendiary burnout? Is it ever okay to hold your code hostage in escrow? Navigating a career in tech raises a lot of tricky questions that aren’t exactly appropriate for the daily stand-up. So let’s take this off the VPN.
In this new podcast from Jellyfish, work besties Jasmine and Allison scour the internet to find the real questions engineers and developers are whispering over drinks and posting about anonymously. Together, they’ll tackle the most troubling of inquiries with authenticity, humor, and absolutely no holding back.