Memorial Day Update:
So, here's the deal. I basically was given my own LabVIEW work to do which was nice. I could do it - i don't want to say right - but more right! The issue is no one sees it. It's not really applications, more utilities that are written to be used every now and then and not really touched up again. What it has come down to, if anything, is it helps me realize what I don't want to do as a career. And that's partially doing LabVIEW here or there. I want it to be the majority of what I do. Is this good or bad? No, it just is.
As for changing the way things are done, it's a lot harder in the real world. There is budget. People pay for what you are working on. It's difficult to explain to an end user who only sees the GUI (which works) to pay for it to be rewritten. All they see is the present value of $$$; they don't see the benefits which may possibly save money in the long run.
Another thing I have run into is it's important to evaluate your workplace. Some places have a way of doing things; others have a culture. It is a culture that also makes things difficult. People get offended, defensive, and worst of all closed minded. That should not suggest you should not try and make an impact, but it is a lot more difficult.
What it comes down to is finding what you want. I have not found that where I am, nor do I think I will. However, other people do enjoy it. You just have to find your cup of tea, and don't expect anything less of yourself. If you are not doing what you want, life is too short to wait around. Go grab it. Find a place where you can make a difference and people respect and appreciate your skills. Everyone has the ability to do that no matter your career. That said, I look at current work as a stepping stone. I will probably be moving on after I take my CLD and hopefully pass in the next couple weeks.
I hope people don't take this the wrong way. It is not impossible to make an impact and change the way things are done for the better. In fact many times it's more than possible, it's invited. But other times the environment just isn't conducive to it, and that's a shame. Sometimes it just doesn't quite work out. I hope anyone in this situation, LabVIEW or not, can get insight from this thread and make the impact on their company that I couldn't quite seem to make on mine.
Anyone hiring? (rhetorical) haha.
