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Ask HN: Ways to progress career wise as SWE?

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Ask HN: Ways to progress career wise as SWE?

#1

Post by throwaway_32u10 »

I work as a software engineer and make an Ok salary (market salary). However, it seems like I'm stuck at my level. I have no managerial experience, hence I can't get any leadership roles (either people or software), and 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.

My only option is to jump between jobs and swim in somewhat the same salary range, until AI will replace me, which is far from ideal. I have a SaaS that generates pennies, and I have no idea how to scale it further. I don't have the skills or time to raise money and start my own company. I tried to bootstrap some projects, but most of them are hit and miss (more on the miss side).

I would love to switch to being self-employed either via consultancy or having my own business, but I can't seem to figure out how to make the switch.

Anyone got any suggestions how I can take my career to the next step which will provide me with (1) more autonomy over my time and my work and (2) more money?

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

#2

Post by scarface_74 »

I submitted this a little while ago. I’m not the author

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42818169

Every level of software engineering above a mid level developer is based on “scope”, “impact” and “dealing with ambiguity”. Title doesn’t matter, if you are pulling stories off the board with well defined business use cases - you are a mid level developer.

https://www.levels.fyi/blog/swe-level-framework.html

> I would love to switch to being self-employed either via consultancy

“Consult” on what? If you don’t have a specialty and no “full stack developer” or “backend developer” is not a specialty.

There is a huge difference between “staff augmentation” and strategic consulting where you are bringing in specialized expertise and talking to decision makers.

more autonomy over my time and my work

Learn how to deal with “the business” and be more strategic, learn system design and architecture and some project management.

> more money

This is a different optimization. It might sound reductive. But to make more money, work at companies that pay more money. You are never going to make the eye popping comp that you are seeing on levels.fyi as an “enterprise developer” - ie non tech companies.

In the words of r/cscareerquestions “grind leetCode and work for a FAANG (or equivalent paying company)”. That’s the first step and then see the first part about getting ahead.

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

#4

Post by fatnoah »

> However, it seems like I'm stuck at my level.

Have you gotten any feedback in your current role about why you're stuck? The reasons can vary from the difference in expected behaviors from level to level, no room at level +1, your current company/manager not really caring about your advancement, etc.

> I have no managerial experience, hence I can't get any leadership roles (either people or software)

Is this because you don't (or haven't had opportunities to) step up to lead/own chunks of work?

> I'm not a good enough software engineer to do complex stuff

Do you plan to do anything about this? It's hard to advance without some amount of self-improvement?

> I have a SaaS that generates pennies...[snip]...I tried to bootstrap some projects, but most of them are hit and miss (more on the miss side).

This seems to conflict with some of your earlier statements. Are you saying that you're motivated enough to try to bootstrap multiple projects, and have started a SaaS that actually has paying customers? It seems to me that if you have that motivation, you should be able to improve and grow to learn the things that you think are holding your career back.

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

#5

Post by mattgreenrocks »

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 have.

> I have a SaaS that generates pennies

Most people's initial independent ventures don't make any money, so give yourself some credit here.

> I would love to switch to being self-employed either via consultancy or having my own business, but I can't seem to figure out how to make the switch.

Limit risk by requesting a reduced working schedule at your current gig and do more independent work in the time you get back.

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

#6

Post by throwaway_32u10 »

fatnoah wrote: post #4

> However, it seems like I'm stuck at my level. Have you gotten any feedback in your current role about why you're stuck? The reasons can vary from the difference in expected behaviors from level to level, no room at level +1, your current company/manager not really caring about your advancement, etc. > I have no managerial experience, hence I can't get any leadership roles (either people or software) Is this because…

> Have you gotten any feedback in your current role about why you're stuck? The reasons can vary from the difference in expected behaviors from level to level, no room at level +1, your current company/manager not really caring about your advancement, etc.

I'm in a family-like company, so there is not much feedback giving. I'm trying to change a job, but there are few struggles: (1) I can't really improve salary that much due to OP, (2) the market is currently shit, (3) even if I find a job, it sets me back to square zero.

> Is this because you don't (or haven't had opportunities to) step up to lead/own chunks of work?

I did lead/own chunks of work. But it just seems not enough to justify leadership roles. I get the "it's impressive, but we need someone a BIT MORE qualified".

> Do you plan to do anything about this? It's hard to advance without some amount of self-improvement?

When I was younger, I dabbled in many areas: game dev, web dev, os dev, embedded, assembly, C, Java, JS, PHP, etc. Eventually I found my career and my niche, but due to certain luck (or lack thereof), combined with my young naivety, I didn't progress fast enough to the style of companies that deal with high load, and other mambo-jumbo tech. And now, I just have a lot of years of experience in mediocre companies/products.

> Are you saying that you're motivated enough to try to bootstrap multiple projects, and have started a SaaS that actually has paying customers?

I do. I have a lot of motivation when it comes to actually solve problems. I talk with customers, do development, and try to find new ways to market my SaaS. I just hate doing to for someone else when corporate politics is involved.

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

#7

Post by throwaway_32u10 »

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 you mean by that?

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

#8

Post by mattgreenrocks »

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…

The current zeitgeist is extremely anti-employee: mass layoffs in a lot of BigTech, and DOGE sadistically slashing federal employee jobs. All of this is meant to send a message that you, an employee, should be more compliant. For some, however (like yourself), the natural reaction is to step back and realize that you don't want that at all. It's an extremely healthy reaction, actually.

Concretely, as I said, I'd look at chiseling time off of your main job to work on other things. This will require a lot of patience (and maybe a job switch to somewhere where that is acceptable). You will probably lose money in the short term.

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

#10

Post by throwawayjhajdv »

OP you're not alone, I'm in the same exact position and cried to my partner yesterday sharing like

- "Couldn't get level up as my startup employer keeps on giving great feedback but needs more impact" AND

- "not skilled or talent enough to raise money for start - rejected by YC (they claimed i'm at top 5% - which I think to drive their pipeline for next batch submission)" AND

- "Started bootstrap company crossed 2K$ MRR and failed due to cofounder conflict - you can blame me" AND

- "Tried building SAAS product and all failures with partner (but she is optimistic)" AND

- "Started consulting company and landed almost gov bidding for development contract (software) and failed in last round"

And currently started working on hobby project as open-source until something clicks. I feel every door is closed for me now atleast current perceptions (strong believer some door might open - but the wait time is killing me)

but one positive part is my networth gone from 0 to 650k (came from public company RSU and not a big amount for age 25 but heavily indexed) and this is giving some freedom to try and explore more things.

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