When you think about working for a company, I’m pretty sure you expect to provide some kind of value to them. You may be developing products or doing some kind of service. Something that results in a near-term profit. And that expectation will be reinforced by the fact that you are being paid.

What would you think from a business perspective of a company that has learning as the only one initial expectation from their employees? It may sound like a very bad decision, right?

What would you think from a client perspective of a company that lets any new employee to do work on your project. Would you trust a newcomer doing work for you? What if the newcomer is not prepared enough?

How would you feel if the only expectation from you at your job is to learn while most of your workmates are providing value? And what if you even consume other workmates’ work time?

One might think learning is one’s responsibility. As such, one should do it as an investment on oneself. And I completely agree. Given that we are in a profession that changes rapidly, if you don’t invest in your own business – yourself as a professional – you will be out of the game soon.

But that doesn’t mean that any software company can avoid supporting that. Their business is at stake.