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Ask HN: Ways to progress career wise as SWE?

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Re: Ask HN: Ways to progress career wise as SWE?

#21

Post by testfit1 »

throwaway_32u10 wrote: post #20
testfit1 wrote: post #19

> I'm not a good enough software engineer to do complex stuff (think: very high load, distributed, etc) - so I can't pass interviews to all the FAANG move-fast-high-load-distributed-world-changing-do-our-7-round-dfs-bfs-interview style companies. Feel free to disregard if you're simply not interested in FAANG, but what makes you say this? What has your interview preparation looked like so far?

I have almost two decades of experience. I'm approaching 40 years old, I have a family. Sure, I might sound stubborn, but I don't have the time to study 3 months for the nuances of DFS algorithms, or grinding leetcode. The interviewing process should evaluate my knowledge as required by the job description, and not to play a role in satisfying the ego of the interviewer(s). So yes, while I did refresh my memory on Bi…

I don't think you sound stubborn, I think lots of people think the same way. Wishing you the best of luck in your search.

Re: Ask HN: Ways to progress career wise as SWE?

#22

Post by tuckerpo »

throwaway_32u10 wrote: post #20
testfit1 wrote: post #19

> I'm not a good enough software engineer to do complex stuff (think: very high load, distributed, etc) - so I can't pass interviews to all the FAANG move-fast-high-load-distributed-world-changing-do-our-7-round-dfs-bfs-interview style companies. Feel free to disregard if you're simply not interested in FAANG, but what makes you say this? What has your interview preparation looked like so far?

I have almost two decades of experience. I'm approaching 40 years old, I have a family. Sure, I might sound stubborn, but I don't have the time to study 3 months for the nuances of DFS algorithms, or grinding leetcode. The interviewing process should evaluate my knowledge as required by the job description, and not to play a role in satisfying the ego of the interviewer(s). So yes, while I did refresh my memory on Bi…

Warning: unsolicited advice incoming. DFS, at least in the context of big-tech interviews, basically just means searching a 2D matrix, or a graph. It's not some esoteric 160 IQ PhD CS concept. You probably've implemented DFS in your day job without even realizing. I used to think algorithmic interviews were beneath me, too, but then I realized that attitude and insecurity was just getting in my own way.

I begrudgingly started treating LeetCode and CodeForces like a game, and it turned out to be more engaging than I expected. I'm also 30 with a family, so I get the time constraints, but just 30 minutes a day for a few months made a huge difference.

Put it this way: If someone told you, 'I'll give you $500k, top-tier career opportunities, and a resume that opens doors, but you have to spend 30 minutes a day for six months solving toy programming problems,' would your sincere reply be "no thanks"?

Re: Ask HN: Ways to progress career wise as SWE?

#23

Post by scarface_74 »

throwaway_32u10 wrote: post #20
testfit1 wrote: post #19

> I'm not a good enough software engineer to do complex stuff (think: very high load, distributed, etc) - so I can't pass interviews to all the FAANG move-fast-high-load-distributed-world-changing-do-our-7-round-dfs-bfs-interview style companies. Feel free to disregard if you're simply not interested in FAANG, but what makes you say this? What has your interview preparation looked like so far?

I have almost two decades of experience. I'm approaching 40 years old, I have a family. Sure, I might sound stubborn, but I don't have the time to study 3 months for the nuances of DFS algorithms, or grinding leetcode. The interviewing process should evaluate my knowledge as required by the job description, and not to play a role in satisfying the ego of the interviewer(s). So yes, while I did refresh my memory on Bi…

Life is about choices. You want to make BigTech money you have to play the game. You’re not going to change the way the industry works.

It’s fine not to want to play that game and accept that you probably will make less as a “senior developer” working in “the enterprise” as someone just graduating from college and getting a return offer from any of the well known companies.

I am 50, married and an empty nester. Spent all of my career working in “the enterprise” and even my one stint at BigTech between the time I was 46-49 was working in the cloud consulting division (full time direct hire) working with enterprise customers and I am now doing the same thing at a smaller company

You can put your ego to the side and enjoy making a quarter million a year as a cog or you can keep your ego and not - choices.

I made my choice and I continue to turn down opportunities to make more money for better work life balance. But I am making that choice with my eyes wide open.

Re: Ask HN: Ways to progress career wise as SWE?

#25

Post by scarface_74 »

tuckerpo wrote: post #22
throwaway_32u10 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have almost two decades of experience. I'm approaching 40 years old, I have a family. Sure, I might sound stubborn, but I don't have the time to study 3 months for the nuances of DFS algorithms, or grinding leetcode. The interviewing process should evaluate my knowledge as required by the job description, and not to play a role in satisfying the ego of the interviewer(s). So yes, while I did refresh my memory on Bi…

Warning: unsolicited advice incoming. DFS, at least in the context of big-tech interviews, basically just means searching a 2D matrix, or a graph. It's not some esoteric 160 IQ PhD CS concept. You probably've implemented DFS in your day job without even realizing. I used to think algorithmic interviews were beneath me, too, but then I realized that attitude and insecurity was just getting in my own way. I begrudgingl…

> I'll give you $500k, top-tier career opportunities, and a resume that opens doors

And he is not going to spend three months grinding leetCode, after working for an unknown company and walk in the door making $500K. He will make significantly more than he is making now admittedly.

And being in BigTech doesn’t guarantee a job or really help on your resume in and of itself after you leave these days. As many people who have been laid off, it won’t even separate you from the noise. Especially if (hypothetical) you, don’t have anything to show for it but you pushed some code maintaining a service.

Again no shade toward the original poster. I was about where he is when I was 40. If you take away my AWS account , I turn into a pumpkin - an enterprise dev with above average soft skills.

Re: Ask HN: Ways to progress career wise as SWE?

#26

Post by paulcole »

throwaway_32u10 wrote: post #20
testfit1 wrote: post #19

> I'm not a good enough software engineer to do complex stuff (think: very high load, distributed, etc) - so I can't pass interviews to all the FAANG move-fast-high-load-distributed-world-changing-do-our-7-round-dfs-bfs-interview style companies. Feel free to disregard if you're simply not interested in FAANG, but what makes you say this? What has your interview preparation looked like so far?

I have almost two decades of experience. I'm approaching 40 years old, I have a family. Sure, I might sound stubborn, but I don't have the time to study 3 months for the nuances of DFS algorithms, or grinding leetcode. The interviewing process should evaluate my knowledge as required by the job description, and not to play a role in satisfying the ego of the interviewer(s). So yes, while I did refresh my memory on Bi…

So you don’t have the time or you do have the time but won’t do it?

Re: Ask HN: Ways to progress career wise as SWE?

#27

Post by idontwantthis »

> I'm not a good enough software engineer to do complex stuff (think: very high load, distributed, etc) - so I can't pass interviews to all the FAANG move-fast-high-load-distributed-world-changing-do-our-7-round-dfs-bfs-interview style companies.

You should challenge this opinion of yourself. I thought this too until I actually tried and found out stuff isn't that hard (at least so far). Specifically I know dfs bfs stuff isn't that hard because I have learned that. If you are competent at your job then you should be able to learn this. It just takes repetition. Even though you are busy if you can spend 30 minutes per day studying, you will learn it without it even feeling like a challenge.

Re: Ask HN: Ways to progress career wise as SWE?

#28

Post by marshughes »

When it comes to starting a business or making money, the most common mistake that technicians make is to act based solely on what comes to their minds and do whatever they think of.

In fact, the most crucial first step is to analyze the market. Go to places closest to applications, the market, and user feedback, such as the App Store, Product Hunt, Reddit, etc., and obtain user comments as the starting point for the product or service you plan to offer.

While quickly creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), promote and update information about your product on self-media platforms to attract seed users.

Don't stay in the comfort zone of coding. This may work for a very small number of people, but you must step out of it.

Your asking this question is already a good start.

I'm currently developing products based on market demands. It's just the beginning for me, but I know I'm on the right track. With continuous hard work, everything will turn out well. Keep going, young man!

Re: Ask HN: Ways to progress career wise as SWE?

#29

Post by mettamage »

throwaway_32u10 wrote: post #7
mattgreenrocks wrote: post #5

TBH, it sounds like you don't quite know what you want yet. That's fine, but until you figure out what you're aiming at, you'll be plagued by FOMO until you nail it down. Realistically, you'll probably have to sit in this discomfort until you get a clearer vision. > My only option is to jump between jobs and swim in somewhat the same salary range, until AI will replace That's the mind virus that the CEOs want you to…

I know what I want, but I'm afraid that it's not possible to achieve this. I want full autonomy (as much as possible) over my time and the kind of work I do, while still making at least the same amount of money I make now. So it would be something like a line of people who are willing to hire my services, while I decide what to work on and how to do it. > That's the mind virus that the CEOs want you to have. What do…

I'm not the best person to give advice on this, so take that into consideration.

But I think you need to have a fairly decent skill in networking.

I've been slowly building up my skill in networking (randomly approaching people on LinkedIn). It's currently slowly paying off in that I think I will have one friend that is working in FAANG.

I've had 10 conversations so far with people from FAANG (or related). I found most of them okay conversations. However, with this guy, the conversation was genuinely fun and I realized I could consider hanging out with him no matter what his title is.

So why not synergize and look for people that work in prestigious places that I also genuinely enjoy?

Once enough people know you, work will slowly roll in.

That's my strategy moving forward.

Re: Ask HN: Ways to progress career wise as SWE?

#30

Post by comprev »

throwaway_32u10 wrote: post #17
tacitusarc wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I didn't progress fast enough to the style of companies that deal with high load, and other mambo-jumbo tech. To clarify, you blame “not being a good enough software engineer” on working for the wrong companies?

I don't know how to express it correctly. But yes, sort of. I didn't work in high-load-kafka-like companies, so I'm kind of stuck in my mid level company types that do relatively simple things.

99.9% of software devs are likely in the same position as you.

Good (but not exceptional) salary working with old/stable technologies that solve established business problems in a digital way.

Working in high-load-kafka-like companies with salaries usually reserved for upper management of "boring" workplaces are the 0.1%.

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