Some advice I'd give to people in their 20s entering the technology business is:
Don't accept "I give you my word" as part of any business negotiation or contract. This probably applies more in the UK, where there is a tradition/myth of gentlemanly conduct between professionals. On a couple of occasions in my 20s I got caught out in situations where the business partner had seemed to be completely trustworthy and had "given their word" that they would do the right thing.
Try to live a modest lifestyle, and save money. In the technology business companies come and go, and you can never rely upon continuous employment. Even in Europe, where there is supposedly a social security "safety net", there will be times when you need to fall back on savings made during the good times (this is assuming that you don't have wealthy parents).
Even if your job appears totally secure, it isn't. When you don't have much experience behind you it is possible to be lulled into a false sense of security. It doesn't matter how big the company is, or how illustrious the clients.
If you're doing contract work, always read the terms of the contract and be prepared to negotiate over clauses that you don't like. Signing up to stuff without reading it can get you into trouble.
In the software world focussing your career around one language or platform can be a mistake. Learn as much as you can about a variety of systems. I didn't make this mistake myself, but saw people who did. Don't let yourself become a language zealot, and avoid closing your mind off to other possibilities.
Don't accept "I give you my word" as part of any business negotiation or contract. This probably applies more in the UK, where there is a tradition/myth of gentlemanly conduct between professionals. On a couple of occasions in my 20s I got caught out in situations where the business partner had seemed to be completely trustworthy and had "given their word" that they would do the right thing.
Try to live a modest lifestyle, and save money. In the technology business companies come and go, and you can never rely upon continuous employment. Even in Europe, where there is supposedly a social security "safety net", there will be times when you need to fall back on savings made during the good times (this is assuming that you don't have wealthy parents).
Even if your job appears totally secure, it isn't. When you don't have much experience behind you it is possible to be lulled into a false sense of security. It doesn't matter how big the company is, or how illustrious the clients.
If you're doing contract work, always read the terms of the contract and be prepared to negotiate over clauses that you don't like. Signing up to stuff without reading it can get you into trouble.
In the software world focussing your career around one language or platform can be a mistake. Learn as much as you can about a variety of systems. I didn't make this mistake myself, but saw people who did. Don't let yourself become a language zealot, and avoid closing your mind off to other possibilities.