31–40 of 237 posts
I went into tech sales as my exit. It feels like a highly paid vacation compared to SWE.
If you don't mind saying, what is "highly paid" in this context? I have no concept of what sales people make compared to SWEs. How much (if any) pay cut would I be looking at if I took this route?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you don't mind saying, what is "highly paid" in this context? I have no concept of what sales people make compared to SWEs. How much (if any) pay cut would I be looking at if I took this route?
I made almost 50% more this year. Also, the bonuses flow in continuously instead of once per year.
In software engineering, the gains are much more equally distributed and the contribution to society is more valuable.
It's why many of us try to rise up the ladder to get some level of "control" in a company to fix those frustrations. But then many miss solving the problems they previously worked on and realize that creating change isn't so easy after all.
So that leaves us in search for a company that one can be themselves, provides a feeling of accomplishment, and creates happiness. That's a tough mix to find.
For me, the only solution to this problem has been to start a company of my own. Sure it brings it's own problems, but the satisfaction and happiness it brings is well worth it.
In the middle of the rant on burnout, he says: > I'm sick of everyone being on Adderall. Is that really a thing? ie What proportion of software folks are using it?
My guess is that software development is a field where it is more common for folks with the ADHD hyperfocus to excel, but if there is a problem brewing it should be addressed.
"Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called everybody, and they meet at the bar." --Drew Carey That said, there are some good (if conflicting) points in there. Large tech companies are worse than startups, usually. Startups become large companies over time, if they don't fail. A good read on the real corporate dynamic: https://www.ribbonfarm.com/the-gervais-principle/
I'm sad for this guy that he let the fat checks keep him in misery until he burnt out on the work. I get how it happens, but I don't think it's a good trade. I hope he finds his way back to health.
Agree 100%. Similar situation; been doing this for 20 years; in my 40s now. My exit will be into rental properties and flipping houses. Not ready quite yet; might have another couple years in me, but we're planning on it.
That's great. That's not an easy life (speaking from experience), but certainly can be gratifying. I wish you much success, good luck!
My most hated thing about the industry: the amount of people who do not give a shit.
These people try to do the least amount of work possible. They actively try to stretch a day's worth of work into a month. They do not want to learn anything, even on the company's dime. They have zero passion and pride. Often they are vicious; they will act so kind and diplomatic but they are sneaky snakes that will take credit and control communication. They would shoot their own mother to look good (apologies for the morbid exaggeration). I know that this might be common elsewhere but I feel like our industry has seen such demand, and 90% of that demand was filled with awful people. The poor visibility of actual work done allows these people to continue feeding of the flesh of true, honest, hardworking devs. I've been eaten alive once too many and I'm sick of it.
"Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called everybody, and they meet at the bar." --Drew Carey That said, there are some good (if conflicting) points in there. Large tech companies are worse than startups, usually. Startups become large companies over time, if they don't fail. A good read on the real corporate dynamic: https://www.ribbonfarm.com/the-gervais-principle/
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I made almost 50% more this year. Also, the bonuses flow in continuously instead of once per year.
Pffffffft I am resisting my natural tendency to get very angry at reading this. Sales is a profession where the top 1% of earners are like lottery winners and the bottom 99% of earners are like customer service. In software engineering, the gains are much more equally distributed and the contribution to society is more valuable.
As for contribution to society, I don't agree. The big winners is software make some pretty toxic stuff.