I was laid off as a software engineer... (Quick Rant)
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2024
- If you've been following my channel over the last few months, you might've been thinking "how is this guy able to travel this much?!" Well... this video answers that
But more importantly, in this video I talk about some of my frustrations with the state of the tech job market right now, expectations surrounding the software engineering field in general, and where I fit into this mess
Amidst the frustration and uncertainty, I refuse to be defeated. I share my loose plans and aspirations for the future, discussing my next steps in rebuilding my career and finding fulfillment beyond the confines of traditional tech roles. I remain determined to carve out a path that aligns with my values!
If you've ever felt disillusioned by the tech industry, faced unexpected challenges in life, or are considering going to school for software engineering or becoming a software engineer, definitely hear me out! This video is for you. Join me as I share my unfiltered thoughts, and embrace the journey of growth and self-discovery.
#TechIndustryRant #CareerChallenges #LaidOff #CareerJourney #SelfReflection #Resilience #Authenticity
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I'm blown away by the amount of comments on this video, I'm happy that I resonated with so many people but at the same time I'm sorry we are all struggling. Still, I suppose that's life! I'll respond to as many comments as I can and make a follow-up video on this topic. Appreciate all of you!
i was laid off when the pandemic hit. I took a job at a Media Company that owns a chain of porno/adult/viewing rooms in big cities in the North America. I customized their POS SYstem. Improved their payroll system. Updated their video viewing booth systems and modernized their web based shopping cart.
Everyone else refused to work for a Porno/Adult Retail chain.
I survived and advanced my skills.... others... collected government cheques.
Stop voting for biden 😊
"laid off" videos are very popular on CZcams these days, unfortunately.
BUT THE MEDIA IS TELLING US THE ECONOMY IS BOOMING
They wouldn't just... lie to us like that, right?
Right? I've seen 3 from the devs I follow in the last week.
we went from those 'a day in the life videos' to the laid off videos
DO NOT make it a habit of going home to code after spending the day coding at your day job. You WILL burn out.
If you enjoy coding it’s fine your not going to last long in this industry if you only code when you at work, remember coding is supposed to be the fun part
Way ahead of you my friend 🤣
@@levelup2014 Coding is the funnest part of the job. I've been coding since I was 7 - almost 40 years now. I'll never burn out coding. What burns me out the most is the stupid politics at work and working for managers that have no clue about what you do.
@@KingTheRat yup hit the nail on the head with that one, unfortunately that’s most if not all white collar jobs
I do it but not to get better for my job/s, i do it because i WANT to learn things, i mean, i enjoy it.
Right now i dont have the time, but when i have it, i wish to retake game development because i really enjoy it, really fun
"The amount of work that you just have to do to stay relevant in this industry is just nuts!"
Damn so true.
Yeah I am all thinking I should invest in myself and get into IT or software boot camp but just feels like it's a big competition
Amateur hour
Yes well this is actually true. The expectation is increasing more and more
I completely agree with you, I'm specialized in a backend language but throughout my work history I had to learn and use frontend, CI/CD and cloud(aws) as well. And it is not just that, since they are not your primary areas, occasionally you have to go over those information again and again just not to forget
That's true of any professional job. In order to manage a small tech company, I not only have to stay on top of current practices in the fields of software engineering, but also financial accounting and related B2B services integration, network engineering, cybersecurity, and applicable laws, regulations, tax codes, and so much more.
I have been a software developer for 35 years. I keep my skills up to date and have reinvented myself every 5 or so years. I refuse to go into management because you have to lie to and cheat people (if you are in management, yes that is what you do). I end up carrying people and get shit on constantly. If you protest you’re labeled difficult. This isn’t just software development. It’s all non-management positions. Management IS the problem.
I did a manager position for 6 months, thinking I'd fix the issue I always found when I was a SWE, turns out it's all politics, I was restricted by absurd burocracy and people trying to backstab me to make my project fail, decided to resign. It's just not it...
Management is the problem at most companies in every industry... I wish they were more genuine and not so money and power hungry. It would be nice if they upheld their positions while still viewing the employees as apart of their team and not just their "resources".
What I've seen is that when I was at a startup and my boss actually wrote code almost every day - it was pretty good, even if he knew we could all earn double at a bigger company. At the bigger companies, the non-coding managers are all liars just trying to not rock the boat and keep their promotions / salaries going.
@@studynoook It’s called stewardship and it’s dead. Our culture is completely corrupt.
@@cornellouis The big difference is that in a startup, the money is the boss's, therefore, they care about doing things properly and cost effectively. The larger the organisation, the more the money is 'other peoples money' and no-one cares and no-one takes responsibility.
I look at people and question whether they would do things if it was their business or their money on the line.
Having been a startup business owner twice, it is my view that no-one should be allowed anywhere near management in big organisations until they have experience of running their own business.
Having been laid off several times, I understand your frustration. And right now the job market is the worst it's ever been in my 10 years in the industry. I'm done relying on companies and, while I still need a job for now, I'm positioning myself to be my own boss.
This is my first time experiencing a layoff, but I'm right there with you. All I was thinking in the moment was "what if I had a family to provide for and this happened?". A completely different story, and that is the reality for a lot of people. I'm taking this time to learn other skills to stack on top of SWE. Best of luck to you bro!
@@jaulpanos I do have a family to support and that is the hardest part for me, feeling I let them down. But I know there are better things on the horizon. Best of luck to you too! 🙏🏾
@@jaulpanosi was laid off a few months back and this is my exact thought
@@jaulpanos What other skills are you learning other than photography?
@@LeeConnellAnthony videography and video editing go hand in hand with photography nowadays. Also sales!
I was trying to find a programming job as a new starter and after zero responses to my applications I gave up (I was able to solve FANG programming questions with ease and have a few projects on my github). In the UK truck drivers earn more than the majority of SE and one takes 2 months to learn and pass exams and the other is years of hard work and studying never ends. And let's be honest 99% of tech jobs is as boring as driving a car. That 1% of cool jobs requires you to have a deep knowledge of math, physics, or biology. In the past if you were able to code a for loop you got a job (I know a few people that got their jobes with just basics around 2013) Now you need to know 3 languages, 15 frameworks, and all algorithms only to get a 10-stage interview. It's ridiculous.
PREACH!
Being a programmer is definitely not as boring or as tiring for that matter as a truck driving job come on now
I've seen the pay range for software engineers in Europe and it is less than I was making in 1993. I would earn more by just retiring and taking Social Security, but I plan on not drawing Social Security payments until forced to (and even then I will keep working).
Just a quick reality check, the only job security you have a software engineer is the ability to find a new job.
Well in that case job security has gone out of the window for a lot of people.
I've been a developer since 1998. The last 10 years have been hard. I felt like I'm doing the same thing, just with a different set of tools every 5 years or so. I recently decided I'm done looking at computers all day and started my own lawn mowing business. I've been at it for a little over a year and half and now I'm at 90% of my old salary as a principle engineer and I never have to worry about being laid off/fired again. Plus, I'm outside all day and I don't bring my work home with me. I sleep better than ever and have gotten a lot healthier. Maybe this is your opportunity to break away from the cubicle prison ;)
That's such an awesome transition! Good for you! My first job was landscaping believe it or not. You might be right!
@@jaulpanos wow what a coincidence. Yeah I love it.
I think we’re all now coming to terms with SWE being just another job. We were sold the idea of it being the most lucrative job, that’d provide all sorts of perks, benefits and security. In reality, it’s just like any other job, with daily tickets waiting for you to complete each working day. And managers, CEMs, clients pinging you to find out when you’re gonna get shit done. People playing the corporate game and sending tasks over the fence for other teams to complete.
And somewhere in between all of that noise, you get left alone to code a bit.
At the end of the day, you just need to work, make some money to support yourself and your family. So I’m not too hung up on the title. Make some money and stay out of debt.
damn
Almost everything on the Internet is virtual and not real. Why are we then surprised that the fantasy we were sold about this industry turned out to be bogus? The two most influential men in the field (Musk, Zuckerberg) were recently about to fight each other in a literal cage. That's this industry's leadership: manchildren.
good attitude bro, i feel same. its just a job, you learn what you have to in order to get it done
Don't do photography dude. AI already taking jobs. I'm losing work in my publishing company to AI. Just check out what AI can do now with film and photography. Do it as a hobby but for job you are going to be in for a rude awakening
It's just sad what is happening to these creative type jobs. Remember the saying "do what you love and you won't work a day in your life!". This whole AI boom is not to make a world a better place, that will simply be an after-effect in the future once these systems become super intelligent. But from now until that point, it's serving only to fill the pockets of CEOs so they can fire people and use AI instead.
My next-door neighbor has over $50K invested just in special lenses and filters. I'd wouldn't want to guess at his total investment in equipment for photography and videography. He's already given up on trying to even cover costs by selling photographs and videos.
I got out after 27 years. People see my resume and go "wow" because of all the prestige names but have no idea of the stress involved. And it's never the actual work it is overpaid management who force us into the latest 'cool' methodology so they can appear to be doing something. I never had a job I really liked and am sorry I put myself through those awful decades.
I just got laid off for the first time as a JR dev after a year of work. It douse suck as you never see it coming and then you are back to the grind again. Anyone else in this situation, I wish you all the best. Keep going. 💪
It's cool to hear you being real with yourself. I've had many people over the years ask my advice about bootcamps, etc, and I always encourage them to spend 6 months to a year learning on their own before spending a dime. After this period of time, if they find themselves losing sleep with the desire to solve the problems, then it's worth pursuing further.
Coding is absolutely not worth going into for the money; you should love it or leave it. Otherwise, you will likely be miserable when the deadlines hit. I was lucky and got into coding as a hobby before I even knew making money with it was possible. Deadlines aren't always fun, but I'm thrilled to be coding 95% of the time. I even demoted myself years ago from the CTO track so I could keep my hands on the code. If this isn't you, it's probably worth considering a different path.
I hope you find what you love to do! Don't worry about the degree; it's all transferable (my degrees are in music.....most job skills are learned on the job, not in school).
I love to hear this! That's awesome you found software engineering when you did and continued to excel in it! And I completely agree with your take. I've thought I enjoyed it just enough to make it a career, but it's definitely not my passion. None of the new technologies excite me (if anything, it's the opposite LOL). My saving grace is that I think embedded systems are cool - I just need to find the right opportunity for that. Thanks for your comment!
I feel you brother, I was lay off in one of the most strage ways, on june last year I switched jobs from a small startup to a bigger "startup" for money reasons, just 3 months in they fired me on the pretense of "Business needs" in actuality they expected me to work non-stop outside of work hours just to appease upper managemenet, basically sell my soul to the company. I didn't and complaint about it so that was it. The funny thing they call themselves a startup with 10 years in the market and 200+ employees is plain stupid.
Lucky for me I ended up having two freelance projects that helped me until end of last year, and just next week I'm starting a new position on a real company, no more startup BS. I feel this is going to be demanding but at least meaningful, creating software for important clients and it seems that in a good team of people, also with a strict check-in and check-out hours, so much better in comparison to the "work whenever but deliver when I say" mentality. Also I started picking up hobbies I go to boxing classes twice a week and started playing bass, things I mentioned on this new job interviews and got a possitive response so that is also good.
I like to watch these "doomer" Software Engineer videos since I suffered it and it seems we share similar perspectives, I already grinded the shit out of programming, now I just want to work and live normally, like if I could switch careers in an instant for something that pays me 50% less but is a mature industry with a defined career path I would do it but here we are...
For now I just hope you find a job that fullfils you and take care✌
Sorry to hear about your abrupt layoff experience but glad you made it into a stable position! Best of luck to you!
The burnout is real! So many people are in the same boat! Good luck with the job search!
I am 42, 16 years of exp. In software industry and now since last 2 years acted as an Eng.Manager…. Exactly what you said, I am experimenting to move towards management and don’t want to stay in coding forever…. Unemployed since 4 months and struggling though… hate companies when they ghosted me after 6 rounds of interview lately…
6 rounds of interviews...that's insane....and bs.
@@toddc3135 trust me .. this BS is real and happening
@@toddc3135 Yes, it is. I've never finished even one interview session before being offered a job. The interviews I did complete entirely turned out to be for jobs that I decided were not a good fit for me.
The ghosting is the worst part. It's really fucked up that this is the way things are now.
@@kermitfrog593 You are right. I've always had the courtesy to follow up with each applicant, as this was common practice when I was young and old habits stay with a person.
There is more to life than IT.
Hey man I just quit a toxic tech job and now back on the market. This is a could time to assess your options. There may be other jobs out there that provide a better environment. Just be careful when they start saying, "We are family and we are friends".
Quiting a job without another lined up is a bad decision now. You're lucky to even find a new one within a year with this horrible job market now.
Good for you for doing what's right for your mental health! I couldn't agree more, I've been taking some time to do just that - weigh my options. Now feels like the time to try something new, since my academic credentials and in-industry experience will always be there for me to fall back on in a pinch. But always ignore that corporate lingo 😂
The 'we are family thing' is the absolute worst. It's like these socially retarded business execs read this crap in some book and think it actually works.
I've been in the industry for 30+ years now and getting ready to retire. The BS you all have to put up with now is crazy. I did see and talk to people that thought the gravy train would never end. They acted like the were is the city on the clouds. I survived most recessions except the one I was in during a divorce. I was months away from living in my car. I finally found a startup gig that lasted 6 months that got me back in the rat race. It is frustrating interviewing.
Yeah it's so crazy now. I wish the industry as a whole would acknowledge the people that don't obsess over coding, the people that are good enough to meet their deadlines and solve their problems without going home to learn more coding stuff afterwards. Glad to hear you survived and got back on your feet! That's the important thing
Oh yes, interviews. I take the view that any organisation that has more than two interviews is simply telling me they don't want me.
Then there is also all this 'Hacker Rank' nonsense being used as entry tests. Sorry, but that is for uni graduates fresh out of uni. It is not for someone with over 30 years of experience who has founded businesses and manage people, projects and clients across the board.
Some interviewers seem to forget the whole purpose of their own role.
Amen.. Same for me here. I'm retiring... I'm sick of the corporations and the direction they have been going for the last 5 years. They treat people like cattle. Let them self implode with AI. I'll be happy to retire on social security.
Thank you for sharing. I graduated top 3 of my class in june 2023 and I have had 7 jobs since then just to pay rent. Some people tell me to work harder but I already work as hard as I can and i'm mentally exhausted since school and depressed because of how things turned out for me
I'm sorry to hear that, but you're doing the best you can. "Working harder" isn't gonna get you out of that situation but working smarter will. I have faith in you, you got this 💪
No one has job security in any field.
Yes, it's a complete bullshit that you automatically get job security just because you're a software engineer. As software engineers, we often work hard to maintain or expand our already broad knowledge and skills, but we may still be the first ones that are laid off. These are facts. Many companies do not value software engineers enough. Furthermore, even if you genuinely enjoy software engineering, after 8-10 hours of work, you've had enough. I absolutely love programming, but programming requires constant thinking, which can be exhausting. So, you also need to relax to recharge our batteries for the next day. If you don't do that, you'll eventually burn out.
2-3 hours od true Deep Work is max for me. After that my brain hurts. Enough sleep, rest and nutrition are the keys in our job!
HI Jaul, I feel the same way. I am currently working in game development, and its the most unstable thing I've ever been to. I was blinded on how amazing it would be to create games and see myself in credits, but the amount of work required to stay relevant is as you say, WAY TOO MUCH. It has eaten up part of my life, to the point I come home and then do some portfolio work. But lately I have reduced the amount of work to spend time with Family and my pets. This has cleared up my mindset and feel a lot better with my life.
I don't see myself staying in game dev if this continues on, as im not even making a lot of money but being put into a lot of work, to the point of burning out and losing motivation to complete the task at the office.
Not sure what to do, but all I can say is I hope we find a brighter future for ourselves :). Looks like your photography hobby sounds cool, I will need to find something similar that can motivate me in the days ahead!
Sorry to hear you're feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment, but I'm sure you will figure it out! There are plenty of SWE jobs that aren't as demanding, with higher pay. And being a game dev probably means you have above average coding skills. Take some time to re-evaluate what you want longer term, but if you think that's a different SWE role, I'm sure you'll find something even in this sh*t market! If you already have a solid portfolio, take a break from coding after work and maybe explore some hobbies you had as a kid
I've always entered any kind of job with the intent to do it as well as I can, but try to establish boundaries for the sake of my mental health. Once I have a job, I would like to think I'm improving as an engineer and providing value just by showing up to work everyday and putting in my 8 hours (sometimes more if there's a deadline or something) working with code and SW. But... these interviews make me feel otherwise 😅
@@jaulpanos Thank you for the encouragement bro. To Good times!
Bro it's a grass is always greener on the other side situation. Tech outside of games isn't great either. Frontend development is as suck as game programming or even more, backend is automated and getting outsourced as hell, embedded is a low paid field and has harsher conditions and most of the time you're required a PhD or electronic degree and has literally zero remote work. I mean, stay in game industry but try to find a good company, lefting the industry won't solve your problems suddenly. You can look for mobile game companies around you, mid-seniors can get pretty damn good money at these companies and they have mostly regular working hours, just don't work for AAA.
What kind of game dev, do you do the network stack, the graphics pipeline, game logic, UI/HUD? I think using ai agents might make it easier to make certain types of games.
We need to tell people to go into hardware/robotics as there are too many software people chasing too few jobs. Companies should train people, not just go with people who have *EXACTLY* 4 years of knowledge in their tech stack
The thing is, no matter what career you choose, you will have frustrations, and nothing is certain and there is no such thing as "job security", which has been something of a myth that came out of the 1950's when there was such a thing (and only for a short time after WWII). So you have to steel yourself as a human being to working hard during your lifetime. Now this does not mean you shouldn't seek to do what you enjoy. However, you need to view that through the lens of your lifetime... If the thing you enjoy cannot make you enough money to eventually retire on, despite your wish that it would, then pursuing that because you enjoy it is only going to make you suffer in the end. And you may say, "Well that's a long time from now", but you will be surprised as everyone else has ever been how quickly that time goes by and you find yourself there. Your life decisions will impact whether you live later in life with regrets and hardships or not. And the truth is, you may have hardships regardless of what you do... but if you live your life thoughtfully and make the best and wisest decisions you can, and don't look for the easy way, but instead look for the right way, then you don't ever need to have regrets. And when it's your last breath, whether or not you have regrets will be the only thing that matters, really. Live your life in a way that you won't regret later. Don't be lazy, work hard, be honest, help others as best you can, and live well. That's my best advice.
Also, I have been a programmer / analyst since 1997, and I'm still doing the same work now. I never wanted to get into management. But I picked, luckily, a set of skills that have remained useful over this entire period of time without having to vastly upgrade my skills constantly. However, I also worked for companies that provided training as part of the job (two weeks per year). So yes, I agree, you shouldn't be spending all your time doing programming, even if you are a professional. But you need to look ahead and see what is most likely to be useful over as long a time horizon as possible and go do that. For me it was ASP.Net / SQL Server. Great combo. Last long time. And all that said, this entire past year I spent doing a deep dive into python and AI ... because that's most likely the next big wave. If you want to stay in an interesting industry for a long time, then follow my lead. I've totally enjoyed it the entire way through, and still do. Not even close to feeling burned out. But that's also because I never let management bully me. I do a good solid job, and don't work myself to the bone, but I do high quality work every time.
Anyway, just somethings to think about. Wishing you well, you seem like a good person. But don't be lazy. And don't be too idealistic. You will need to retire some day, and if you have a wife and kids, you'll need to provide for your family, whether now, or in the future. Consider it. It's important. Happiness comes to those who live their lives well, and have no regrets. Be one of those people and you'll do well, no matter how things go. My best wishes to you. Ciao.
I really appreciate your insight man! Another valuable insight that stuck with me from last year is "pick the problems that you enjoy trying to solve". Which brings me to what you said - we will always have problems we face in life, but luckily some we can choose. I'm very grateful that up until this point, I have't had may regrets (at 26, still a ways to go lol) so I hope to continue to make the best choices I can given the experiences I've had until now. I am grateful that, if it comes to it, my academic credentials will always be there for me to fall back on should my other plans not work out. Thank you for your comment and best wishes to you as well!
You said it well. I have been in IT for a while and I always had to edcuate myself and make sure my skill set was the best. I've started with A+, NetWork+ Windows NT and worked at and ISP. Updated my skill set to Security+ Worked at a Internet Security Company in a SOC. Took Cisco CCNA and worked at a T1/Fiber provider. Each time I updated my skill set my pay and work life improved. I've trained people, hired people, managed people and always looked to learn for whats new in technology. Now towards the end of my career, I am more flexible with what I want to work on but the love of learn has never changed. My mind is still sharp and this world has a lot to teach me!
There was true job security when more than 19 of every 20 people lived and worked on farms. Humans were basically self-sufficient at that time. It was a huge mistake to move people from agricultural living into high-density population centers. It will be difficult to realign expectations and prepare people for the agricultural lifestyle the majority will need to return to in the future.
That's a simplistic way of looking at things. There is indeed job security when there is a balance of available labor and jobs. But corporations lobby the government to open their borders to unfettered immigration, free trade and outsourcing, which creates a labor surplus and job shortage. That results in layoffs and a desperate workforce willing to work longer hours for less money. Companies love this. None of this is an accident.
@@kermitfrog593 The tech sector layoffs are a direct result of Section 174 of the tax code. If you want it fixed, then petition your Representative and Senators.
Same thing at my end!
Glad to hear your experience - I’m glad I’m not crazy.
Currently, going through cyber security certification cuz that interested me. Just trying to get my desire to go back into tech
I'm happy to validate your feelings! Luckily there are multiple niches in tech, I'm sure the right thing will stand out to you
Sorry to hear that. I was there a few months ago. Prepare prepare and prepare yourself. It's crazy out there.
I've been in tech since around 2009, full time since 2012. I want out as well. My brain feels like a lump of concrete, I'm not progressing and don't want to.
Absolutely no idea what I want to do instead. I'm thinking about a career break or sabbatical just for some "me" time for once.
Taking a career break or sabbatical might be the way! Mental health is important. Take some time to disconnect and refocus, the answer will come to you! You got this
I’m in the same exact boat, and the reason why I’m reading through all of these comments. :)
same with me, our company recently informed that there will be layoffs next quarter and most affected positions are on the senior level. my skills are not that competitive though since I mostly handle requirement documentations, client meetings (requirements discussion) etc. (more on business analysis). as of now, I have started getting my skills back in programming and hopefully I could use it in the near future.
Best of luck to you!
I’m not on tech but I can relate to a lot of what you’re saying. I got laid off 1/4/24. My frustration is I played by the rules. I financed a bachelor’s degree with debt. Held a job since I was 15 years old. Spent $70k of my savings on a MBA from 2019-2021. Did that with work and a kid. I didn’t quiet quit or participate in the great resignation. Got rave reviews on my work from my last boss. Now, I can’t seem to get a call back. No s teens. No interviews.
One thing about your video that I’m having a hard time with is this message of acceptance. I get it. This isn’t in your control. You have choices as to how you approach this. But we’re all being told by people with jobs to be patient. Keep at it. Something will pop. But no one is trying to create more jobs or ease restrictions on hiring. In fact, they’re doing the opposite. A, “year of lean.” So we’re missing out on earnings, 401k and other benefits. Idk. I get that we can’t all just implode. But this shit has gotta change.
I understand your frustration. People employed around us are just trying to be encouraging because that's all they can do. And realistically, we WILL find something eventually. It's just how soon that is the question... I definitely don't have all the answers, and I'm not gonna say you don't have a right to feel frustrated. But you're doing the best you can. So for that I applaud you
Canada and the US have let in waves of immigrants to oversaturate the market with labor, to drive down wages and allow companies to exploit labor. Then job hunters are told the problem is us: we're not patient enough, don't have a good enough resume, are not networking enough. It's all a lie. The problem is an imbalance of supply and demand, caused by the government, which is in the pocket of the business community.
Well said dude, well said. Remember everything happens for a reason, you'll be okay. This happened to me a year ago and i was able to snag a new position within a few months. Believe in yourself and you'll make it
For sure, it felt like this happened for a reason to be honest. Glad you were able to bounce back relatively quickly. Thanks for the kind words man!
I graduated with a computer science degree (BS) in the late 1980s. At that time, I tried to keep up with the latest things as best I could. I held my own for a while, but at some point in the 1990s, I determined that I just couldn't keep up with everything related to technology. Over the years, my focus got narrower and narrower. At some point, you burn out and decide that it isn't worth it to invest the time in learning new things that will be obsolete in just a few months. You can't win that game. Some skills, like troubleshooting and design are pretty similar no matter what the technology. I spent the last few years mentoring less senior folks on those skills. I just let them do the code. Good luck with the next adventure.
Thanks for sharing. Also reevaluating. There was a time when I was obsessed with learning and coding. But these last years think that drove me in a burnout.
First brother, i'm sad to hear that. I guess it happens from time to time but since right now you are somewhat frustrated, you can take a free time to make sick pictures and enjoy yourself, coding skills as we know them are very easy to transfer from one tech to another so you shouldn't be worried about those skills dissapearing or something. Just take a deep breath and enjoy yourself for a minute. Then if you want you can try the industry once more. Hope everything gets better from here and my best wishes to you.
I appreciate the kind words and insight brother! I've been trying to do just that. My struggles with technical interviewing made me second guess my skills but you're right. Software skills are transferable, something will come up
@@jaulpanosWe older workers warned all these young people jumping into this field. 10s of millions of IT workers globally will lose their jobs from 2023-2028.
Let's be honest. Most of what we build as software engineers is not necessary. We're well paid to do superfluous work, and are often only hired so companies can show shareholders they are staying current in the digital economy. It's all a facade and most engineers are expendable. This industry is built on smoke and mirrors except select few services that are actually necessary.
I got a EE degree and ended up in hardware development. I move processors around all day and get given "day job plus" projects which can range from low level project management to figuring out company specific software/processes to ship parts to other places.
I quickly realized job security here is trash after multiple rounds of layoffs and the fact i have next to no real experience on anything (on paper is a diff story)
I have to deal with constant anxiety. If my boss says something weird it throws me into a spiral all day. Same if i see coworkwrs cliquing up into little groups and forming new projects.
But what other job can i get when the market is this bad. Feel like im warding off the inevitable most weeks
I can relate to your resistance to learning tech 24/7 to stay current. When I got into IT, it was 1980 and I taught myself how to program BASIC and away I went. Back then, only the devoted hobbyists played with computers and some were lucky enough to program for a living even though it was not a common job back then. Fast forward a few decades and everyone was learning coding and jobs were plentiful. Now, things have specialized and coalesced so much that you have to be a Staff Engineer or higher to get noticed. I went the way of management from individual contributor / team lead in 2010 and immediately my skills rusted. Now I'm a computer hobbyist again, pursuing my computing interests on my own. Full circle.
That is crazy! Kudos to you for making the jump into management, I hope that was more fulfilling for you. If I weren't laid off, after another year or two my skills would've been right where I wanted them to be (in embedded systems). I'm hoping that technology will stay constant, I have no interest in learning to code AI 😅
I respect your brutal honesty. I’ve been a software engineer for nearly 30 years. While I still enjoy it at my job, I am totally with you on how it loses its luster when I’m back at the computer trying to get my side hustle going. Also, most of the programmers I’ve worked with don’t have your nice communication skills so you have a tremendous edge with that.
Happy to hear you can relate. I appreciate the kind words!
I've been a software engineer over 15 years now and I totally recognise what you're saying. I am lucky to have found a job I'm comfortable in and get some enjoyment out for the last 7 years but obviously at some point that may come to an end. If I was laid off tomorrow I would find it an absolute pain in the ass to have to brush up on the data structures, algorithms and whatever is the latest hot framework or some AI crap just to find another job. You mention you are not 'exceptional', but most programming jobs don't really require 'exceptional' people: all that 'exceptional' stuff is just performative guff you have to do to get through the hiring process. Despite the competition for jobs as someone who can write code and adapt a little on the job you skills are still in a huge amount of demand compared to a lot of other fields. That said I think we are at a stage of reckoning where the frankly unsustainable huge salaries developers, particularly in the US, have been being paid is going to have to fall a bit.
I wish companies hiring for tech jobs set their bar a little lower and did away with all the tech BS about employees having to have work well under pressure, be exceptional, be a part of us changing the world etc. It would encourage more applications from more diverse people. As far as my own ambitions go I would like to shift my career into doing more design work both on the UX / product side and / or possibly technical architecture. I feel tech companies undervalue proper design and testing in favour of hiring a bunch of software engineers whenever they get investment (then laying them all off when they run out of money). I really don't get much enjoyment out of writing code for poorly designed / managed projects. What I do enjoy more is when I have a chance to work with stakeholders and provide input into the design and product direction. Some of the most satisfying work I've done is where I've talked to a real user, they've told me about something annoying about a product or that they would like added and I've pitched the idea, got the buy in and written the code. And that can be as simple as adding a 'bulk update / delete' feature so users don't have to delete or update individual rows in a table one at a time. So much of the time 'simple' stuff like this is actually what matters to users, not some AI assistant BS they didn't ask for.
Anyway best of luck in your future endeavours! If I ran a tech company I'd want to hire people like you that are pragmatic, not some 'exceptional genius' who doesn't understand there's more to life than trying to prove how smart you are or working all the hours for nothing but tech-bro kudos.
I was laid off back in November 2023 from IT consulting project management work. I have come to the same realization as you, working in the software development field is very demanding as you always need to "update" your skills. Also, the barrier to entry is very low, lots of people enter IT by doing some random 2-3 months bootcamps, work on little projects here and there then enters the field. The market is then oversatured and you realize your 3-4 year degree is now compared to the same level as some bootcamps "grads", which obviously feels like undervalue.
Also in project management, you always end up getting all the blame and criticism when things don't go to plan which is all the time since companies always underbudget their projects and you somehow have to make it work when you should have at least twice the funding to make it work. Your job is always on the line because of this since you essentially need to deliver without the resources needed/required for quality work/deliverables. It took me 4 months to find a new job, but thankfully since my background is in electrical engineering, I decided to switch to electrical/civil engineering field. Basically switching career, leaving all this tech field behind.
In those 4 months, I continued self-education in trading the financial markets, developing manual/automated systems which is something I've been doing for +10 years on and off. Having been laid off really helped me to understand my goals and take action towards it. If you can, switching career might be the best move for you as I can sense you lost the passion to continue in this field. Better to come to realization now imho. Best of luck!
Would you mind sharing what new job you took up in the electrical/civil engineering field? I’m an undergrad in electrical engineering and am curious about my career options outside of tech
"Also, the barrier to entry is very low, lots of people enter IT by doing some random 2-3 months bootcamps, work on little projects here and there then enters the field. The market is then oversatured and you realize your 3-4 year degree is now compared to the same level as some bootcamps "grads", which obviously feels like undervalue"
This is actually a failure of the IT industry.
In most other professions, it is a requirement to do some form of training/apprenticeship to get a professional qualification to enable you to practice. I personally, have done this in the IT industry with the British Computer Society professional qualifications. The problem is, IT doesn't require this like other industries and it should. We should not have a situation where individuals who put no effort into professional qualifications end up holding higher positions than those below them who are more qualified. For a start, it creates a race to the bottom where people start asking why they should bother getting qualified if they can get ahead without getting qualified. Then the whole industry goes down.
The reason why we have so many cook-ups in our industry is because we have far too many unqualified people in leadership roles that they don't have the competency to hold. Big business loves the 'saturation' because it means cheap labour and allows them to force rates down. They are short-sighted and only interested in the immediate dollar. Because none of the individuals involved have ever run their own business, they have no idea how their actions compromise a business, compromise it relationship with its clients and compromise the quality of the products and services they provide.
@@gppsoftware I worked at the highest level with all the partners and senior executives as I was coaching them on how to use the engineering approach to solve their business problems. It's not that they never ran a business, most of them have/had +100 ressources if not more reporting to them. The issue is that at this level, none of the executive has a tech background, they are all MBA's or salespeople. They don't understand the difference between a qualified and certified ressource, hence the short-term immediate dollar perspective leading to market crash as we are seeing right now. Eventually I lost my job because I use common sense instead of following blindly what others are telling me to do which lead to conflict with one of the client. Sitting idle, thus creating overhead is something frown upon in consulting but it's ok, better to find better opportunities than working on projects going nowhere because management prefer going the inefficient route.
@@alexandrenguyen4048 took a job in civil engineering where they needed electrical engineers to do schematics and review of the lightings/alarms/communications systems related to infrastructure. Basically, look at the layout/conception/schematics/plans before they get electricians to install the wiring. You will find it is a skill that is highly in demand and not enough electrical engineers to fill these roles. Also, because its related to civil engineering any new development projects require this type of work anywhere in the world, meaning its a skillset not only in very high demand but you can also export it if you wish to relocate once you gain enough experience.
You should still apply for tech jobs when fresh out of school, it gives you some initial experience and pays your bills. However, staying too long in specific IT roles will box you in or categorize you as "this" type of resource which makes it more difficult to do career switch the longer you stay in same roles. I've worked closely with the recruitment division as well and that's how they operate, if you have been doing X job for X years, you won't be considered for any other jobs even if you know you can do good work doing something else.
@@alexandrenguyen4048 I took a job in civil engineering as an electrical engineer looking at schematics/layouts/wiring for the lighting's/alarms/security/telecom systems. Every new development project or construction of a new building needs these type of engineers. High demand but not enough engineers to do this type of work, meaning supply/demand is in your favor. I make as much with little experience in this field than I would with +7 years of experience in IT. Also, because most of the work is for new development projects, its a skilled that can easily be exported anywhere in the world. You could possibly have a chance to relocate once you gain enough experience.
I would still apply for tech jobs if you are fresh out of school, any professional experience is good. Just be careful to not get boxed in or categorized as this "type" of worker/resource. The longer you stay doing the same job, the harder it will be for you to switch positions or possibly career. Ideally, every 2 years, look for something a bit different so that recruiters or HR will look at you as someone who's done many different roles within IT, making you more knowledgeable and credible when checking out new responsibilities. If you don't try for new positions, you will eventually get boxed in and feel like your work is boring and redundant and recruiters won't give you a fair chance. For example, I started as call center tech support then computer technician support, systems administrator, deployment supervisor, project control, project manager, IT consulting and just lately switched career as electrical engineer in civil engineering.
I been coding for over 30 years. Starting off as a system administrator, then networking, then databases, then programming. At every single company I been at I would be 1 of a very few that understands completely how our systems work.
Yes I love tinkering and spend hours every day after done with work learning new things and fixing things up with lately dealing with fixing up macbooks and iOS programming. It is the curiosity that fuels it. Good luck on your next journey.
Engineers are like bank loans. Highly in demand when interest rates are low, less so when companies need to save money. I am a software engineering student and the idea that I might be unwanted after finishing my education terrifies me. I am also a people person but I think this is a good thing! As a matter of fact, I was recently offered a paid internship *after* the employer discovered I was a people person and I don't code in my spare time.
Software development is a team sport! Like you said, your relevance in this industry is highly dependent on market trends. You don't need to internalize a problem you didn't cause. Good luck on your job search!
I'm a people person too! Too bad for my pet tho, he is a dog person :(
And let's not take about my fish persons...
Absolutely! It's important to recognize where our strengths are, like how my coding skills are good but not exceptional, while my people skills help me navigate technical environments pretty well. Awesome to hear your people skills helped you get into a cool opportunity, and good luck after graduation!
Manager role is more crazy than just being a developer. Planning and meeting all day long coordinating different teams. You also need know the product and the brand you’re selling very well.
I’m sorry you went through this… I was recently put on pause (not laid off but I’m not working) from my 1st job outside of college. I do animation and I have been learning to code in my free time. I’m planning to work in a retail job temporarily. I live with family but still it sucks. I’m planning to work a job and do a side hustle because job security just doesn’t exist.
I've been in the software business for 40+ years. This shit is nothing new, I'm sorry to say. There have been times when just being good at your job was enough to keep it, but now is not one of those times. A company can decide to change direction with their product line, and your reason for being (as far as the Company thinks) just disappears.
My wife summed it up nicely: "There are more engineers who want to be cowboys than cowboys who want to be engineers."
Take it from someone who has been in the industry for decades. Find something to do that you're passionate about - and see what monetary value to others can be derived from it. There is nothing worse than waking up each morning wanting to be doing something else in your career. Software engineering will require large amounts of time to keep up on technology. It's a sacrifice that can only be made if you're having a blast doing it.
I have been in tech for over 20 years, much of the time coding and sometimes leading teams. Spending lots of time studying for coding interviews or spending hours after work learning something you think you might need for work should be done with caution. You really have to know when enough is enough
A career last decades, this is a minor setback. You might consider looking into a program support role, like marketing, working with customers as quickly as you can after you return to work.
It's a path that leads to a management role and good compensation
However if you want to stay close to the technology you will have to spend your own time on getting better and staying current.
To be forced into unemployment is unpleasant so good luck.
Sorry about your job loss. I was lucky, I worked in Metrology and never was without a job. I'm retired now. My last job I was working in Dubai. The labor laws would only allow people over 60 to work if the company paid a penalty. I made it to 63 and got the boot. Life is full of surprises so always be prepared.
Absolutely true, I also hated practicing DSA even after 5 years of work exp. but sad reality is all good product based companies ask DSA in interview processes even for 5+ years exp folks
I was just laid off as a software engineer AND I don’t want to spend my spare time learning new frameworks, libs, and languages AND photography is my hobby and side hustle AND I’m a good software engineer but not exceptional.
Everything you said is spot on, unfortunately.
FML
I just want to learn AI agents so i can use the ai agents to help me learn frameworks, libs, and languages. I wish Smalltalk/Self were in the browser and what if C had the ability to self-modify code and had closures at the start...
Yup, it's rough out there 🫠
Well said, brotha.
I love that this showed up on my feed, nice one mate! ❤️
No way!!! Let's gooo love this!
Seems like most of the tech crunch is with the big companies like Apple, Amazon, etc. Seems like there are still lots of tech jobs around that don't pay astronomical salaries. As a survivor of Y2K, the 2004 recession and 2008, tech will bounce back in a different form. One of my key takeways is to develop your network and keep in contact with people. My contacts have led to jobs. Second, your knowledge and skill is what keeps you employed. Yes, it's difficult to keep up with things, but make the most of your opportunities to learn. Lastly, AI will be a big help, but it won't solve everything. Let them try. Completition will eat them alive.
Couldn't have said it better myself!
Bro chose the wrong career.
Never too late to pivot!
Yea I did. Or rather, I fell into it by nature of being addicted to being on a PC 10+ hours per day
Sure I'm probably 130IQ and that helps, but ultimately the wrong thing
It is the best field! !! Duhh
@@Ryhamz
Get this I wanted to make games or work for a company like Nintendo.
Going to college made me realize how much I would hate that so I stuck with regular software engineering.
Nailed it! Most videos on tech fail to mention how bad job security can be in this industry. I have been working as a developer for about 4 years now and since then I have had 3 jobs and been laid off twice. The industry has term called "sink or swim", and that basically means u have to perform at a certain level with little to no support, or else u are out, and that usually means they treat u like shit until u resign or else they just fire u. There is very little room for training and mentorship, and u r expected to learn most things on your own. So u either need to be a really fast learner, a natural at coding, or willing to spend most days learning just to keep up with industry in order to have employment. It's basically a rat race between employees to see who can create best solution in shortest amount of time, and if u find yourself struggling near the end of the pack watch out because these companies can get real nasty real quick.
Yeah, 💯. Unless someone truly enjoys development and is not just doing a bootcamp or something to get a 'better job,' stay away from this field. Well said.
Wish you the best - hope you find a job that you enjoy soon
I wish you the best for your journey! I'm a semester away from graduating in CS and I'm overwhelmed with how many of my classmates can't find a job. It's funny because software engineering will have your typical elitist that shame you for not being a "super passionate coder" who can't have normal and even exciting things to do outside of work. In part, they are right, the best engineers are the ones who devote themselves in a similar way a catholic monk would, but why is it then that many people are in the field mainly for the money? My S.E friend told me that most people do after I told him how I felt like I was a fraud. Perhaps I did choose the wrong degree, but that's okay. God still has a plan for all of us. I don't see myself coming home and grinding + coding for hours because I have a LIFE.
"super passionate coder" is huge BS used by managers to squeeze free labour from engineers
I completely agree with your take. At least you are starting to question things from now before graduation. I couldn't imagine graduating now with the market the way it is, my heart goes out to you sir. Work hard and live a life authentic to yourself!
I had an interviewer ask me if I do additional training on the side? Well, I do but it is not in SWE. I am interested in mathematics, quantum physics and computation neuroscience! I am a parent and take care of the house. These take up time too!
With hobbies like those (math etc) he should've just given you the job!
Is Mathematics super-high level language programming?
Can you give me a link to some interesting computational neuroscience materials? Any ideas on computational neuroscience techniques that can improve our ability to use AI, program computers, and solve problems in the world?
Be careful of questions like that with permanent roles. They can sometime be re-interpreted as 'are you prepared to do additional training on the side in your time at your cost so that we don't have to pay for it'. Presented with the original question, I'd ask for clarification.
In contract roles, you have to undertake your own training at your own cost/time.
Its not that people dont like to code in free time but Its exhousting. Human brain is not constructed like that. You cant work 12h for whole life. Where is family, friends and hobbies?
I pursued career in IT but got laid off year ago(still unemployed). Now my skills are outdated, and I just cant sit again for free and learn whole day. And the worst part is that i have friends with much lower ambitions that earn more in their trades, They have families hobbies etc.
In my opinion IT is overhyped and kinda feels like hell and I mean it.
I spend my days usually about 10-15% coding nowadays, is it something that I moved towards? No, but when people start turning to you asking for questions and help it's natural your individual coding time will decrease even though overall the effort is amplified because you are helping less experienced people level up their skillset and knowledge.
I hope you find your passion!
I think the last part was really important. Technologies change, concepts dont. If your company decides on a new framework your skillset gets outdated quickly but identifying business cases, enabling key users to comunicate their requirements preciesly and managing tasks has been a reqired skill for business baiscally forever. Dont be content with just coding, try to take on responisbility for business cases.
3:28 honestly Python for automation and C without RTOS are common in any large tech company but NOT for web dev or new greenfield projects.
Those sorts of framework/design decisions were likely arbitrary and I agree with both you and him that it isn’t worth spending too much time “learning” them. Nobody will use “outdated” tech for new development and you don’t need to learn it until you’re working with it. I’d read up maybe 2 weeks before my start date but I’ve had the experience several times where the job/project changes on a whim and that effort is never worth it.
The interviews are a different story however.
Yeah that's exactly my problem, and frustration. It feels like such a waste to spend x amount of time studying for essentially a test where you have no idea what you'll be asked, even with as much preparation as you can. Granted I'll have to do just this if my back is against the wall in the near future, but... I can still complain LOL
It's funny because at least in Sweden there has been a trend going on for a decade where the employee has to sign a paper that says that all IT related stuff that the employee produce even during free time belongs to the company.
At the same time you are expected to do hobby projects and join open source communities according to job interviews.
You even have to write a POC application during a weekend in order to get the job.
But if you already have signed such agreement with your current employer it's impossible to apply for a new job while still working for a current employer because you are not allowed to do open source and the weekend POC also belongs to your current employer.
that sounds awful, the company owns you lock, stock, and barrel.
This is something that makes me hesitant to get into the tech field at 23. I’ve heard that you constantly have to learn and keep up to date with the latest developments, and of course, it’s in your own time (unpaid). I think I could like a few jobs in the tech industry, but I don’t want to make my job my life. It’s the same reason why I decided against med school. Too much debt for too much schooling, not to mention the grueling hours of residency. And even for medicine, you have to keep up to date, although not as much as tech.
Despite the situation I am in now, I don't regret studying computer engineering. I'm confident I could pick up a new tech job and do it well, but getting past the interviews is the hard part. It's literally a different skill set than what you would use on the job...that's where I am frustrated. My initial mindset with studying it was that it would be something I didn't hate doing for work, that would simultaneously afford me the energy and time to pursue my hobbies. Which proved to be true for most of my career so far. I hope that helps!
Yeah, back 10 years ago when I worked for a company that went down due to the CEO being an idiot, they laid me off literally on the day I was sitting on a flight to my brother's wedding and when I scheduled a 2 week vacation... I had like 6k in the bank for savings because I had just started being a professional in the industry.
That was ridiculous, but they were like "uhm, yeah, just call me when you get back and we'll work through the documents then. Sorry!"
Yeah. Find something you like doing. I’ve been doing this for 30+ years because I enjoy it. You can’t be a successful as a dev long-term if you don’t want to reinvent yourself every 3-5 years.
Good for you! Glad to hear you've done so well with this career. Trying to reinvent myself every 3-5 years doesn't sound super appealing to me 😅 but at the same time, at least most of the skills in-industry are transferable!
A lot of professions require you to be constantly learning. They don't expect you to do it on your own time and your own dime. And they don't expect you to memorize academic puzzles for interviews.
@@JD-vj4go 💯
@@JD-vj4go 100% !!!
hey, by 'reinventing' you mean learning new technologies and approaches, or you mean switching to the whole new fields?
I went the STEM route and ended up in medical school. Good luck with your job hunt. Cheers!
You could probably have better job security picking certain companies to work for versus others. I personally know some software engineers who have never been laid off and have ended up working for that company for years if not decades, bro.
Thats completely true... I hate how it seems that to be relevant in this industry we are expected to program MORE at home after leaving work. No! I wanna go to the gym, see friends, go for a walk, practice some martial art... Not doing the same thing that I was already doing for 8 hours straight. I like programming but not enough to do it 12 hours per day.
uff, myself as a software developer for almost 20 years without a degree. Just a mediocre apprenticeship ...
1) Get real! Life is not a walk in the park.
2) The work culture and worker rights just suck af in the US, join a union or vote for someone who is not dead in his head.
3) To work on skills in your sparetime to some extend is required in every job. Even the lowest job will require you to do so. It all comes down by how much time you want spent on it. The least minimum amount of effort would be to read articles related to your field. Automation is a large field for big potential like any field in IT.
4) Pick a job you have a passion for. Otherwise every job will be tedious after a while
5)Job security is more on the term of finding a new job within a short amount of time. Sure laid offs suck and I as german don't experience such thing, but I switch my developer job every 2-5 years to another company.
6) IT is a very fast pace industry. Either you pick an area that is slower or does not require constant learning and just awareness or just pick a different industry. You mentioned photography, just in the corner of my mind I could think of different stuff that could be used in conjunction with automation ...
Very refreshing to hear someone speak out about this grind culture. It should be OK not to want to go home and code after doing so all day. The endless treadmill of learning isn't sustainable or healthy for most which is why so many people escape into management roles before they're 30.
Exactly! Once you have a level of technical knowledge, it can be used in management or elsewhere outside actual coding. And it's only up from there :)
Grind culture is like the so-called 'skills shortage'. The people who run the show want workers to train themselves on their own dime and time, and be grateful for the opportunity. That's what it comes down to.
Damn, finally a relatable video. I'm so done with people telling me to waste away my free time by self improving, call me selfish but I have better things to do. I love coding but doing it as a career drained all my passion for it
Self improving for coding is definitely not the move for me 🙃 I agree!
Is this the USA? If it is, there is no such thing as job security in the USA, especially in tech. I have worked in corporate America for nearly 30 years. In all those years, I have gone through almost 2 dozen layoffs, two of which I got affected. It can happen anytime and to anyone. You should always be ready. Always assume that tomorrow may be your last day. I never leave anything in my cube that I will miss. If you want to work in this industry, you must constantly improve yourself. That is always a must. You will need to constantly learn new things. If you cannot do that, then you won't last. It's a tough profession, and that is why it pays well.
I can relate to this. Tech industry expects us software engineers to up-skill at our own personal time (outside work) in order to be classified as passionate, if your skill is not exceptional, you’re out. Becoming toxic. Good luck and all the best to you man! ❤
Couldn't have summed it up better myself, thanks man same to you!
Think SWE has been overtaken by hustlebro culture, parts of IT as well. They skew younger or tend to work three jobs and neglect thier families just to bring high six figures. It comes with a shorter lifespan.
I'm glad GRC is seen as the "unsexy" job, so it keeps those kind of people out. You can always learn on the job, or just poke around some spots online to keep up to date.
The value I took is that you see your strengths, and you don't seem afraid to walk in that direciton.
I love software engineering. I code in my free time. I have run startups. Now I'm at a major tech company. I've worked at other big box swe companies.
A LOT of times it's the company and their engineering practices that I absolutely come to hate. These companies want cogs they can fit into their machines. They do not want people who don't want to be cogs.
Sounds like you've had a really successful career! In one of my first roles out of college, I was forced into a technician role (not by title, by responsibility) and that left a bad taste in my mouth for test engineering, when that was something that was only specific to that company. Luckily though, past that it was smoother sailing!
Engineering practices at most companies are afterthoughts
If you are ever in a company that has an actual engineering culture, it's immediately obvious and you will want to stay
Product focused companies built on 15 years of ZPR economy are just not going to make it, as we are seeing now
Aside from the gaming industry being garbage nowadays, people stop playing when they get older because they have no time. Work + commute + family time + chores and appointments on the weekends all while attempting to get 8 hours of sleep
Too bad that this happens during vacations, hope you find a good job soon. Also, as a Peruvian, hope you are enjoying your visit to Peru
Thank you! I am home now but, I loved Peru so much! I could see myself living there someday
Don't forget all the hiring managers who think the technologies you learned on your own time don't count because you didn't use them on the job.
We need to extend the OPT tax break to all students and the unemployed. This would encourage companies to stop with the ridiculous requirements (which exist only to reduce the number of candidates, and for no other reason). And give companies and incentive to train.
If you leave the job early, say before 3 years, you pay back the tax.
If you stick with it, then you will at least have learned new skills, if not a new profession.
This would also end the prejudice OPT induces in the economy to prefer foreign workers over locals.
Something beneficial for our own citizens?! Nah we can't have that 😂
I have been a software engineer for 43 years and are still learning. By it's nature, software engineering is a creative job about solving problems with computers. Sounds like you need to follow your passion instead. For me programming and simple hardware has been my hobby for 50 years. So for me back then things were a lot simpler in terms of what was available in hardware initially. Find your passion and get good at it. Network and be open about opportunities. Volunteer in your town / state / country. I volunteered for a computer user group. two years later they sent me to the USA and through meeting people, a company in the USA offered me a job a few years later. Never imagined that volunteering would lead to such a big life change !
Big problem for US and some parts of Europe engineers... is the replacement by third world countries engineers like South America or India/Bangladesh.
Senior US engineer = u$ 15k/month right?
Senior ThirdWorldCountry engineer = u$5k/month
More like $15 / hour, but we keep working hard and try reinventing ourselves!
senior SW engineer in Dublin 60-70k, a bus driver tram driver after 2 months of training 60+k
Ultimately, yah gets what yah pays for, but of course, a lot of businesses don't care because it is always other people's money involved!
my brother in christ, i hear you and i stand with you.
You are not alone. Same thing happened to me over a month ago.
I'm sorry to hear that! Best of luck trying to find work elsewhere 🙏🏻
@@jaulpanos Employers understand about being laid off. I know this from interviewing different companies (I was laid off April 3rd, 2024). They usually don't even ask me. A lot of people have had it happen to them in 2023 and 2024. My manager told me it would not happen to me, after my friend was laid off in 2023. It happens.
That's the nature of the industry. You have to keep learning new skills to stay competitive in the market
Steven Covey said, "Begin with the end in mind." Now, it's time to pay the piper!!
Unfortunately in software you have to learn new skills/technologies all the time or become a domain expert.
ive had 20 jobs in 20 years. gov contracting. im just exhausted having to constantly start over and self teach myself what it next. Wish I could just find a job and retire with it at this point
I had 7 job offers last week.
I am a mid-senior developer at best depending if it is something I know, or kinda know.
But I got the offers not because I am an exceptional developer.
And I can get a job whenever I want.
That's awesome dude! Love that for you 🙏
wow, similar story. 17 years experience. I could have said about everything you did. Don't want to code after work. laid off 2 weeks ago. Feel like my profession has played out. It requires too much location dependency for something so virtual. Like you need to be around an office or in a certain size city. And if you don't find a job, you need to move and moving is expensive and sucks. warning to stem majors, try something else.
and yeah im of the opinion that you need to enjoy code if you want a job in code. Makes learning new things easier since you do it naturally and look forward to it.
The future may not be finding a major full-time position at a company, but instead leveraging AI tools to facilitate our own visions and ideas. Within the next several years, there will be a major paradigm shift in business development and startup ventures as more individuals will capitalize on the same technology causing big businesses to axe numerous positions. It’s an interestingly ironic ouroboros cycle.
This is a good point. To add further: you will never make money working for someone else.
This sounds like trucking lol. Everything your saying is what I was saying about OTR(over the road) trucking before I quit. You got to have some passion to do this job otherwise your gonna hate it. It’s not just another job where you can turn off at the end of the day. It’s a lifestyle. Trucking is supposed to have done job security but there really isn’t unless you take pay cuts. There’s a lot of BS you have to deal with at your stops before, during and after that most outsiders don’t see. It’s not just “drive forward”.
It's interesting to hear the parallels in our respective industries! Glad you got to do something else you liked
Some events in our life they might be presented in a negative way, but they are a great opportunity. Please remember that the world is vast. Look around you, and you will find birds finding their livelihood without high Tech job. May God bless you!
Aw this is such a wholesome comment! Couldn't agree more, thank you so much!
If you do not keep up with Technology, you are in Deep Sh*t. I am a Fire Protection Engineer, when I started all plans were drawn by hand like an Architect, then comes Computer Hydraulic Calculations, AutoCAD, REVIT, Ect............................It just never freaking ends.
You'll bounce back sooner than you expect. You have the right mentality.
At this point im interviewing for entry level jobs and going back to college.
It sounds like you may have a hard time finding a job unless you use your people skills because i was a top performer and its hard for me to find a job.
I'm sorry to hear that! I wish you the best in your job hunt
I totally understand that you don't want to spend outside time working on SWE skills. You just need to realize that if you're looking for remote work, and even sometimes in-person, you're competing against people who are. So if you want job security, you can work for a govtech contractor on the east coast where you need to wear a tie to work but you'll get a steady job. This is just the reality of it.
100% agree - this is the reality of the industry, with or without the tough economics of today. If I had a couple more years of experience doing what I was doing in my last job, I probably would've been in the ideal spot experience wise. But that's life, no guarantees! Hoping one day I can finesse that remote job, but it won't be soon 😅
@@jaulpanos If we had remote robots + MIXED reality setup do you think it might increase trust?
I think you are on to something when you described liking photography. I assume it is because you like great photographs, not knowing every brand of camera inside-out, the compatibility of certain lenses, the best way to ship a pallet of cameras across the globe....
the ART part is the real photography, no "hardware porn"
My passion for it comes with my passion for travel. They can go hand and hand, and I love looking back on old pictures too!
what would be the in demand frameworks for automation more in demand
From what I've seen on job posts, software like Selenium for SQA. Testing the software itself