Dear Bob ... 5 months ago, I was running my own e-commerce website. It was done with admittedly very basic software I'd written, and mostly open source components. Doing this gave me a lot of enthusiasm for getting a 'real' job, in IT. I have a university degree, and a lot of experience in computing in my spare time, though not much in formal development. With this in hand, I managed to land a technical support Dear Bob …5 months ago, I was running my own e-commerce website. It was done with admittedly very basic software I’d written, and mostly open source components. Doing this gave me a lot of enthusiasm for getting a ‘real’ job, in IT. I have a university degree, and a lot of experience in computing in my spare time, though not much in formal development.With this in hand, I managed to land a technical support position – a junior position as a software developer, on a trial 4-month basis. After the 4 months were up I had a meeting, was told I was doing well, and got a new extension contract. I was over the moon. For the 4 months, I’d been given good advice, and was set clear goals week by week, or day by day, and I felt I was learning lots again. Since then though, everyone above me has been busy. I’ve been pretty much left to my own devices. No goals, no tasks (apart from very simple menial ones). Since the 4 month mark I’ve lost 99% of my enthusiasm.I love software, I want to be able to develop large scale applications, code for fun in my spare time etc. But by the time I get home in the evening, I feel deflated and a bit let down. I’m not sure why things have changed. Maybe they regret taking me on with so little developing experience? Maybe they’re genuinely too busy for me? Or am I just paranoid? What do you think?– NewbieDear Newbie … Just a guess – since you did well your first four months, your managers figure you no longer need weekly goals and so much attention. Take it as a compliment. Take your lack of close supervision as an opportunity.If you’re an entry level developer and you’re geting simple menial tasks … well, that is the nature of the work sometimes. If you aren’t getting enough to keep you busy that’s one thing – talk to your manager about it. If the problem is that you want more challenging tasks, keep in mind that so does everyone else, and they have more knowledge and experience than you do right now.You’re four months into a new job that’s a great opportunity. One of the stranger aspects of American life is that very often, nobody tells new entrants into the workforce the most basic rule of employment: You’re working for yourself, and your employer is your customer. Your employer hired you to solve its problems, not to make you happy and fulfilled, any more than anyone spends time and energy worrying about the happiness and fulfillment of their vendors. Yes, the best employers do spend lots of time and energy doing just that, but it isn’t an obligation, merely a good practice for developing and retaining the best employees. From your side of the relationship, focus your attention on doing what needs to get done, not on what you want to be doing.In general, employees who do this – who take care of the work in front of them, independently and without fuss or bother, are the ones who get the opportunities. Make sure you’re one of them.– Bob Technology Industry