I don’t work in SWE, but I can very well say that it is about the value that you associate with the work you do. When you try to equate meaning and direct impact, you might not always end up being satisfied. But when you start to understand that every cog in the wheel matters - replaceable or not- you do see a value to what you do.
Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?
201–210 of 214 posts
Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?
#202I get my satisfaction out of feeling useful to people whom I care about. I can find that in almost any job.
When I don’t find it I have to stop.
This is why I love being independent and working short gigs.
Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?
#203You are right a lot of jobs out there are meaningless crap that build some pathetic e-commerce just for profit and people working there, are in for it just to pay bills. On the other hand you can be a poor scientist and do meaningful work which contributes to science, society and people's life.
In both cases you won't be very happy. The trick is finding a balance between sort of meaningful and interesting work that also pays well enough. If you are lucky you can get that in something like a FAANG.
Also happiness is relative to the person you need to find what it means to you.
Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?
#204There is a book of philosophy called Ecclesiastes [1] from the Judeo-Christian writings. It's a reflection on the question 'What profits have a man for all his toil, in which he toils under the sun?' and some suggestions on how to find contentment with your life despite that. I think you'll find some camaraderie with the author based on your post. Written sometime between 450-200 BCE, it has nothing to do with comput…
Truely, node.js is a sore travail.
Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?
#205I hate my job. I stick with it because it seems that nothing better exists. All the other job postings seem terrible. One thing I will do is post to other positions internally. Sometimes just being on a new team will give you a very brief period of hope that the work or tech is interesting, or that the political environment is more friendly. Sadly, this fades quickly. Every team I've been on violates company performance management policies.
Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?
#206[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?
#207Each of the below "traditional" industries provide a net benefit to humanity, some are more stodgy than others, but all will adopt new technologies to improve over time, including making moves towards greater sustainability:
--Engineering - infrastructure, public works, buildings and facilities --Healthcare - hospitals, medical devices, pharma --Energy - solar, wind, natural gas --Public utilities - water, electricity, gas --Food and beverage --All kinds of manufacturing
There could be various opportunities at companies from the above to create a small impact at relatively low stress for a place that does something useful.
Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?
#208Earlier quoted context omitted.
Or they could have just chosen a profession they don’t like?
Apparently so! Maybe it's the desire to stick with a profession you hate in practice is caused by some kind of disease.
There is no evidence they have such a desire. In fact the opposite is true.
Why you want to find disease here is unclear.
Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?
#209Consider, you don’t have to be a software engineer.
Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?
#210...And software developer job is still in the top 1% (also salary is not bad), probably only dog trainers love their job more (just a guess).