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Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?

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Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?

#11

Post by throwaway984393 »

Congratulations! You've not yet been duped into the assumption that you have work 8 hours a day for a paycheck to live.

Go find something to do that you find meaningful. It may not be in computers. Maybe you'll enjoy making art, crafts, music. Maybe you'll enjoy helping people directly, like teaching or social work. Maybe you'll work with nature. Maybe you'll develop a new beer brand.

You will be working harder and struggling more initially, but you'll be enjoying what you do more. Good luck to you!

Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?

#12

Post by asimpletune »

This isn't the a direct answer to your question, but maybe you should consider being an entrepreneur if you find SWE work pointless or unfulfilling? Maybe you're just looking for bigger, more inter-disciplinary challenges. Figuring out how to convince people to give you money by giving them something they want is pretty hard and therefore a rewarding problem to work on.

Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?

#13

Post by alisonkisk »

hobonumber1 wrote: post #3

It is just you. Those jobs that you deem "pointless" make the economy work. To find great jobs: 1. Be clear about what "great" means to you. What do you value? 2. Research the company to determine if what you value is the same as what they value. Every company goes after profit. This is a good thing. Profit = you're providing value to someone. If you don't believe that, work for a non-profit. That's cool too. 3. Real…

No post body was provided.

Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?

#14

Post by colordrops »

siva7 wrote: post #8

Yes, it is you (and few others). What you are experiencing is best described as depression. Been in a similar situation as you once. Of course the most important step is acknowledging that you need help otherwise that feeling will persist. Sometimes the source of the depression has not so much to do with your work life but has deeper roots.

I wouldn't be so quick to call it depression. This person is seeing a truth about the state of affairs in the corporate world and hasn't yet figured out how to integrate that truth and become functional in our broken system.

Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?

#15

Post by guerrilla »

Maybe you just see capitalism for what it is [1]. If so, this might be the wrong forum for you to be asking that question on. On the other hand, not every job is unproductive busywork (despite being for profit), so maybe you're just not feeling well or you've had exceptionally bad luck?

1. https://www.reddit.com/r/antiwork/

Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?

#17

Post by jsiaajdsdaa »

>how do you cope without wanting to off yourself?

it's simple really-- make no attempt to pretend you have freedom! acknowledge that, unless ww3 comes and the entire system that runs our world is upended in a likely radioactive manner, we are but hamsters running in wheels.

why do the hamsters run? some enjoy running, some only for food and water, others because they feel compelled to fit in with the other hamsters.

but if you are looking for a way to exist in this system without having money, be prepared for quite the journey!

Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?

#18

Post by dlahoda »

throwawaynay wrote: post #5
ilamont wrote: post #4

Not an SWE, but reading your post I am concerned that this may be more than an unfulfilling career. Please consider reaching out to these good people: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

I was very depressed when I was still working. I'm doing pretty good mentally without a job.

find some goal? squize as much money as possible working as little as 2 hours a day. avoid companies where they want more.

or try learn some foundational math and do some weird yoga from youtube, if not yet) keep going until you find that things you undrestand can do are above what others swe can do.

or became stoic and force discipline on self)

and stop coffee if you do) or other stimulants.

Re: Ask HN: Is it just me or do 99% of SWE jobs offers seem completely pointless?

#20

Post by wahnfrieden »

siva7 wrote: post #8

Yes, it is you (and few others). What you are experiencing is best described as depression. Been in a similar situation as you once. Of course the most important step is acknowledging that you need help otherwise that feeling will persist. Sometimes the source of the depression has not so much to do with your work life but has deeper roots.

This is a neoliberal take. Consider the deeper roots may be part of the system you’re absolving of responsibility, whether out of your own optimism or realism
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