Ask HN: What low-maintenance career tracks, if any, exist for SWE's?

#1

Post by amazonavocado » Sun, Nov 01, 2020, 9:17 PM UTC

My parents are very blue collar and not from higher education (they haven't even completed their equivalent of high school) but what I share from them is that my outlook on work. I just treat my developer jobs as just that, a job, just to pay the bills. Not as a way to move up beyond an IC role, not to become a lead, not to stay on top of industry trends or news. My dad's been a welder at the same company for 20+ years, with the same position, and he only quit because the health risks associated with the job were catching up to him. He has been a trucker since.

So I want to follow my career cadence basically the same way, only needing to change jobs if I feel it's impacting my health (mental or physical) or if I no longer find my team and manager great to work with. Is there a career track like that for SWE's which is low-maintenance and have few disruptions? Traditionally I've been a web developer but am tired of running the tech treadmill.

Re: Ask HN: What low-maintenance career tracks, if any, exist for SWE's?

#2

Post by commonturtle » Sun, Nov 01, 2020, 10:24 PM UTC

I think life at a lot of the huge tech cos is pretty relaxed. Especially the older ones: Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, IBM, etc. Put in your 40 hours a week (if that), and chill.

The next generation of tech cos (Google, FB, Amazon, Netflix, etc.) are trending in the same direction but life can still be pretty hectic at times and they tend to fire people putting in the bare minimum.

Re: Ask HN: What low-maintenance career tracks, if any, exist for SWE's?

#3

Post by amazonavocado » Sun, Nov 01, 2020, 11:37 PM UTC

commonturtle wrote: post #2

I think life at a lot of the huge tech cos is pretty relaxed. Especially the older ones: Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, IBM, etc. Put in your 40 hours a week (if that), and chill. The next generation of tech cos (Google, FB, Amazon, Netflix, etc.) are trending in the same direction but life can still be pretty hectic at times and they tend to fire people putting in the bare minimum.

And these tech firms don't really ask tricky interviewing questions? I'm aware that FAANG companies ask Leetcode style questions which I'm not willing to drill myself over. That wouldn't be very low maintenance if the interviews are also cutthroat competitive.

I am considering probably Infosys or Accenture, though. I hear their interviews don't go deep and they give some in-house training.

Re: Ask HN: What low-maintenance career tracks, if any, exist for SWE's?

#4

Post by commonturtle » Mon, Nov 02, 2020, 4:17 PM UTC

amazonavocado wrote: post #3

commonturtle wrote: post #2

I think life at a lot of the huge tech cos is pretty relaxed. Especially the older ones: Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, IBM, etc. Put in your 40 hours a week (if that), and chill. The next generation of tech cos (Google, FB, Amazon, Netflix, etc.) are trending in the same direction but life can still be pretty hectic at times and they tend to fire people putting in the bare minimum.

And these tech firms don't really ask tricky interviewing questions? I'm aware that FAANG companies ask Leetcode style questions which I'm not willing to drill myself over. That wouldn't be very low maintenance if the interviews are also cutthroat competitive. I am considering probably Infosys or Accenture, though. I hear their interviews don't go deep and they give some in-house training.

2 hours / day of practice for 30 days will give you enough ability to clear Leetcode style questions. Trust me, it will be worth it. At Microsoft, you have plenty of autonomy over your life and work. Even if you don't work very hard, you get to do interesting things and deliver things of value.

At Infosys you might not work very much, but you will spend long hours in the office. You will have little autonomy and your boss will have great power over your life. Your work will be incredibly boring. In short, it is the worst of all worlds: not low-maintenance, not interesting work, and also doesn't pay as well.