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I followed my dreams to get demoted to software developer

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Re: I followed my dreams to get demoted to software developer

#31

Post by hinkley »

spicymaki wrote: post #9

I just get a feeling that no matter how privileged you are, how intelligent you are, how high or low a position you are in, or how much money you make there is going to be some random article on HN to make you feel insecure.

Security is an illusion and like kerning, you can both inform and break people by bringing their attention to the 'solutions' to that problem.

There are other ways to look at the world. In some ways they can be both more and less stressful than contemporary western ideology.

Re: I followed my dreams to get demoted to software developer

#32

Post by mssundaram »

nix23 wrote: post #11

When you think Managers (Directors) are more worth then the peoples who actually create something. Maybe have a look at Gates and Musk who are actually engineers rather then Managers....or more correct Managing-Engineers. But congratulation for your "demotion".

What you're ignorant of is intangible value. Sure there are managers and C levels that don't, but I'd bet that most are successful at creating value that you're just quite not able to see.

Re: I followed my dreams to get demoted to software developer

#33

Post by tharkun__ »

progre wrote: post #8
jacobsenscott wrote: post #3

From someone who's spent nearly 20 years trying to stay near the bottom of the org chart, welcome!

I've always fought to stay a developer as well. It seems that as soon as I know a codebase well enough to be really productive, there is a "team lead" or "scrum master" role waiting. Once or twice I've even fallen for it but the result have always been more meetings, less customer interaction, more responsibility and somehow less power over the product. Pay has stayed the same of course.

If pay stayed the same, then something went wrong. And I get it. I've had some friends go through this, where they'd get offered a lead position but technically it's 'Lead in training' so he gets the old pay while they evaluate him etc.

Complete BS. If they offer it to him, they think he would be a good fit and they're just trying to pay less. Contrast it with my experience, where I just stepped up to fill the gaps whenever I saw them, my boss noticed, offered a lead position including pay bump.

Re: I followed my dreams to get demoted to software developer

#34

Post by JoeAltmaier »

I am quite happy being a developer. In this the tail of my career I'm happy to work as a consultant with peers, getting contracts and billable hours for all of us.

I never wanted management in a corporation. Used to be only half of America for instance worked in a big company. The rest of us worked in small business, or as individuals. That's changing I guess.

I hope there continues to be room for those of us who prefer a life to a career.

Re: I followed my dreams to get demoted to software developer

#35

Post by can16358p »

"Demoted" from a common perspective, promoted from a true perspective: life isn't that long to do something that you don't love, or at least that you love less. No matter how much less (if it does) they get paid, congratulations on following your dreams.

Re: I followed my dreams to get demoted to software developer

#36

Post by skeeter2020 »

jacobsenscott wrote: post #3

From someone who's spent nearly 20 years trying to stay near the bottom of the org chart, welcome!

My strategy: pursue a lot of things as hobbies. If you view amateur in the true sense as "not paid" vs. "not good" you can do so many things for a much purer motivation - it's sooo much more rewarding. Nothing wrecks something you love like having to do it.

Re: I followed my dreams to get demoted to software developer

#37

Post by tharkun__ »

dlkf wrote: post #29
jbay808 wrote: post #6

Kind of frustrating to see this framed as a "demotion". But it's great to see someone starting over in a new career track that suits them better.

I interpreted it as tongue-in-cheek. On my reading, the point of the article is that titles and prestige are far less important than being excited about what you're working on. If having a more fulfilling job means a less fancy title (and you can afford the pay cut) you should go for it. Sometimes people working in tech lose sight of why they went into this field. The author's enthusiasm is a great reminder why. Fant…

I would agree with it being tongue-in-cheek. The wording could be chosen to not include the negative connotations though.

These two are quite different:

I followed my dreams and got demoted to software developer

I follow my dreams and got promoted from Development Team Team to Software Developer

Re: I followed my dreams to get demoted to software developer

#38

Post by skeeter2020 »

tharkun__ wrote: post #33
progre wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've always fought to stay a developer as well. It seems that as soon as I know a codebase well enough to be really productive, there is a "team lead" or "scrum master" role waiting. Once or twice I've even fallen for it but the result have always been more meetings, less customer interaction, more responsibility and somehow less power over the product. Pay has stayed the same of course.

If pay stayed the same, then something went wrong. And I get it. I've had some friends go through this, where they'd get offered a lead position but technically it's 'Lead in training' so he gets the old pay while they evaluate him etc. Complete BS. If they offer it to him, they think he would be a good fit and they're just trying to pay less. Contrast it with my experience, where I just stepped up to fill the gaps w…

I've always believed and practiced this too. You get the promotion & bump because you're already essentially doing the job. I'm OK with a trial without the promotion, but many (most?) seem to think you should get the opportunity to succeed or fail, with the rewards up front. I do't get this viewpoint.

Re: I followed my dreams to get demoted to software developer

#39

Post by can16358p »

leowoo91 wrote: post #12

As someone trapped into the software, does anyone know how I can go out?

Sure. No one can tell you exactly what job to apply, only you know what you'd really love. If you feel "trapped", start searching for something that you love doing (and also can get paid for that) that doesn't feel trapped. When you find it, you'll feel that it's the right thing.

Re: I followed my dreams to get demoted to software developer

#40

Post by twitch-chat »

spicymaki wrote: post #9

I just get a feeling that no matter how privileged you are, how intelligent you are, how high or low a position you are in, or how much money you make there is going to be some random article on HN to make you feel insecure.

I get a feeling you commented after reading the headline and didn't read the article. This is a positive story and I'm glad the person was given the opportunity to chase her dreams.
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