(no subject)
The position of software engineer has been named as “the nation’s best job,” according to a study from CareerCast. The position topped the list thanks to its low stress...
http://gigaom.com/collaboration/reports-technology-job-outlook-improving/
Low stress.
Low stress.
Low stress?!
Where the fuck are these reports coming from?
Between my own experience, thedailywtf, and the unending tide of bitter developers on slashdot, I'm really wondering where all of these happy software developers are.
Hell, I've seen entire threads on slashdot and stackoverflow devoted to urging people to NOT go into IT/SE.
Here are the fun things about being a developer:
1) No one, very likely including your boss/CEO/manager, understands what you do or cares about the quality of the work. You are expected to do the impossible and see the invisible. You are a wizard as far as they are concerned, which means that they will either respect you or fear your power and attempt to bully you.
2) You are competing with people in India/Cambodia/Russia/Indonesia/god knows where for work. They can work at a fraction of your rate.
3) Half the developers at Lulu got pagers. This was so they could be called into work anytime, anywhere. And they're all on salary. They all came in early and stayed late because it was the only way to get everything done. This seems to be the norm. None of them took vacations.
4) Every other department will hate you because you can never make any of them happy. Customer service wants you to fix bugs. Marketing wants you to add moar cowbell. Sales will want you to fulfill the fantastic promises they've pulled out their ass. etc...
The upsides of this job are supposed to be the pay (60-80k is pretty sweet, but while I was in the department I was making 35k. I make 27k now. fabulous) and the fact that if you get sick of the abuse at one company, it's usually pretty easy to find another company to abuse you.
Well, and the whole ~following your passion~ if you really, really love coding and computers and shit. These are the only people I would ever recommend try to make a career of IT. Anyone else who's just trying to go into it for the money or whatever is making a mistake. Basically, don't become a programmer unless you already are one. You have to be the kind of person that does this shit for fun to not come out of this kind of job wanting to shoot yourself / your coworkers / every living organism in sight.
http://gigaom.com/collaboration/reports-technology-job-outlook-improving/
Low stress.
Low stress.
Low stress?!
Where the fuck are these reports coming from?
Between my own experience, thedailywtf, and the unending tide of bitter developers on slashdot, I'm really wondering where all of these happy software developers are.
Hell, I've seen entire threads on slashdot and stackoverflow devoted to urging people to NOT go into IT/SE.
Here are the fun things about being a developer:
1) No one, very likely including your boss/CEO/manager, understands what you do or cares about the quality of the work. You are expected to do the impossible and see the invisible. You are a wizard as far as they are concerned, which means that they will either respect you or fear your power and attempt to bully you.
2) You are competing with people in India/Cambodia/Russia/Indonesia/god knows where for work. They can work at a fraction of your rate.
3) Half the developers at Lulu got pagers. This was so they could be called into work anytime, anywhere. And they're all on salary. They all came in early and stayed late because it was the only way to get everything done. This seems to be the norm. None of them took vacations.
4) Every other department will hate you because you can never make any of them happy. Customer service wants you to fix bugs. Marketing wants you to add moar cowbell. Sales will want you to fulfill the fantastic promises they've pulled out their ass. etc...
The upsides of this job are supposed to be the pay (60-80k is pretty sweet, but while I was in the department I was making 35k. I make 27k now. fabulous) and the fact that if you get sick of the abuse at one company, it's usually pretty easy to find another company to abuse you.
Well, and the whole ~following your passion~ if you really, really love coding and computers and shit. These are the only people I would ever recommend try to make a career of IT. Anyone else who's just trying to go into it for the money or whatever is making a mistake. Basically, don't become a programmer unless you already are one. You have to be the kind of person that does this shit for fun to not come out of this kind of job wanting to shoot yourself / your coworkers / every living organism in sight.