The Harsh Reality of Being a Software Engineer

Summary

Jassy discusses the harsh realities of being a software engineer, beyond the allure of high salaries and perks. The video addresses the risk of burnout due to intense workloads, the stress of technical interviews, and the pressure to constantly learn and keep up with the latest technologies. Jassy also touches on the double standards and imposter syndrome prevalent in the tech industry, urging a reevaluation of work-life balance and the expectations placed on developers.

Takeaways

• 💼 The tech industry and being a software engineer is not always as glamorous as it seems, with many people focusing only on the positives like high salaries and perks.
• 🔥 Burnout is a common issue in the tech industry due to the pressure to constantly improve efficiency and the overwhelming workload that comes with climbing the career ladder.
• 📈 The never-ending backlog of tasks such as bugs, refinements, UI/UX work, and technical debt can contribute to the feeling of being overwhelmed in a software engineering role.
• 👥 There's often an under-staffing issue in tech teams, which can exacerbate the workload and stress on individual developers.
• 🤯 The pursuit of success and high earnings in the tech industry can lead to unhealthy habits, such as lack of sleep and constant programming both at work and home.
• 📚 The preparation for technical interviews can be extremely demanding, affecting the quality of life and causing stress even before starting a job.
• 🤔 There's a disconnect between the skills tested in technical interviews and the actual day-to-day tasks of a software engineer, which involves more creativity and collaboration.
• 🚫 The tech industry can sometimes have a double standard, expecting developers to both excel in rigorous interviews and maintain a lifestyle centered around coding.
• 🏆 Junior developers face the pressure to learn quickly and keep up with the latest technologies, which can be frustrating for those with interests outside of coding.
• 🧐 Imposter syndrome and comparison with peers are prevalent in the tech community, leading to feelings of inadequacy despite being valuable contributors.
• 🤝 There's a call to reevaluate the expectations placed on developers, including the number of hours spent programming and the importance of work-life balance.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Jassy's video?

The main theme of Jassy's video is to highlight the less-discussed negative aspects of being a software engineer in the tech industry, providing a more realistic view beyond the positive perks and high salaries.

What does Jassy believe can cause burnout for software engineers?

Jassy believes that burnout for software engineers can be caused by the constant pressure to become more efficient, growing expectations, overwhelming workloads, and the understaffing of development teams.

Why does Jassy mention the issue of 'technical debt' in the script?

Jassy mentions 'technical debt' as one of the issues that contribute to the burnout of software engineers, as it represents a growing list of tasks that the team never gets to due to being understaffed.

What does Jassy suggest about the impact of success and high salary expectations on software engineers?

Jassy suggests that the allure of high salaries and success can be addictive, leading software engineers to overwork themselves, neglect healthy habits, and constantly strive to increase their income, which can lead to stress and burnout.

How does Jassy describe the experience of preparing for technical interviews?

Jassy describes the experience of preparing for technical interviews as extremely demanding and time-consuming, often leading to a poor quality of life and feelings of exhaustion.

What is Jassy's opinion on the relevance of technical interviews to the actual job of a software engineer?

Jassy believes that technical interviews do not accurately reflect the reality of a software engineer's job, which involves creativity, collaboration, and the ability to use resources like Google and Stack Overflow, rather than just memorizing data structures and algorithms.

Why does Jassy feel that the tech industry has a double standard for software engineers?

Jassy feels that the tech industry has a double standard because it expects software engineers to prepare intensely for interviews like an SAT, yet also expects them to live a lifestyle that revolves entirely around coding, even outside of work.

What challenges does Jassy identify for junior developers in the tech industry?

Jassy identifies that junior developers face the challenge of needing to learn the codebase quickly and produce a high volume of work, while also feeling the pressure to keep up with the latest technologies and coding practices outside of work.

How does Jassy perceive the impact of having diverse interests outside of coding on a software engineer's career?

Jassy perceives that having diverse interests outside of coding can make a software engineer feel like they are not doing enough in their professional field, as they may not be able to keep up with the constant technological advancements or the expectations of their peers.

What is Jassy's stance on the importance of work-life balance for software engineers?

Jassy advocates for a reevaluation of the standard 40-hour work week for software engineers, emphasizing the importance of human interaction and mental health, and suggesting that programming for extended hours can be detrimental.

What is the motivation behind Jassy creating this video?

Jassy's motivation for creating this video is not to discourage aspiring software engineers but to provide a realistic perspective on the challenges they may face, inspired by observing the struggles of his wife and her peers during their coding boot camp.

Outlines

00:00

😔 The Reality of Software Engineering: Burnout and Unrealistic Expectations

The first paragraph discusses the misconceptions about the glamorous life of a software engineer and the harsh realities that come with it. The speaker, Jassy, admits to contributing to the trend of only highlighting the positive aspects of the tech industry. The main issue addressed is burnout, which is attributed to the constant pressure to be more efficient and the overwhelming expectations as one advances in their career. The speaker also touches on the understaffing of development teams, the addictive nature of success, and the unhealthy habits that can develop as a result of the industry's demands.

05:01

😥 The Struggles Before Starting: Technical Interview Challenges and Imposter Syndrome

In the second paragraph, Jassy elaborates on the difficulties faced by aspiring software engineers even before they begin their first job. The intense preparation for technical interviews, often at the expense of personal life and well-being, is highlighted. The speaker also discusses the frustration of not getting clear feedback after being declined from a job, the double standard of being expected to both excel in technical knowledge and keep up with the latest technologies in one's spare time. Additionally, the paragraph touches on the imposter syndrome prevalent in the tech community, where developers often feel like they are not good enough, leading to unhealthy comparisons and stress.

10:01

🙏 Balancing Life and Work: A Call for Reevaluation of Developer Expectations

The final paragraph serves as a conclusion to the video script, where Jassy expresses hope that the video has provided a realistic perspective on the life of a software engineer. The speaker emphasizes the importance of balancing work and personal life, especially considering the mental health implications of long hours of programming and the need for human interaction. Jassy calls for a reevaluation of the standard 40-hour workweek for developers and encourages viewers to share their thoughts on the topic, aiming to foster a discussion that considers the well-being of those in the tech industry.

Keywords

💡Software Engineer

A software engineer is a professional who applies engineering principles to design, develop, test, and evaluate computer programs and systems. In the video, the term is central to the discussion as the speaker, Jassy, reflects on the realities of working in this role, highlighting both the positive aspects and the challenges such as burnout and the high expectations placed on professionals in the tech industry.

💡Burnout

Burnout refers to a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion, often caused by excessive and prolonged stress. In the context of the video, Jassy discusses how the demanding nature of the tech industry, including long hours and high expectations, can lead to burnout among software engineers, affecting their mental health and overall well-being.

💡Technical Interviews

Technical interviews are a part of the hiring process in the tech industry where candidates are assessed on their problem-solving skills, coding abilities, and understanding of computer science concepts. The script mentions the intense preparation required for these interviews, which can lead to a poor quality of life and feelings of exhaustion, especially when combined with the demands of a regular job.

💡Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as a 'fraud'. In the video, Jassy talks about the prevalence of imposter syndrome among developers, suggesting that many feel they are not good enough or are slacking compared to their peers, despite being valuable contributors to their teams.

💡Culture Fit

Culture fit refers to how well an individual's values, work style, and personality align with those of an organization. The script points out the irony of being told one is not a culture fit after being evaluated on technical skills, suggesting that there may be more to job fit than just technical proficiency.

💡Tech Industry

The tech industry encompasses companies and organizations that deal with the development, creation, and sale of technological products and services. The video script discusses the harsh realities of working in this industry, including the high stress levels, the pressure to constantly learn and adapt to new technologies, and the potential for burnout.

💡Programming

Programming is the process of writing, testing, debugging, and maintaining the source code of computer programs. The video emphasizes the demanding nature of programming as a profession, where there is an expectation to be constantly coding, even outside of work hours, which can lead to stress and burnout.

💡Undermanned Teams

Undermanned teams refer to work groups that do not have enough staff to handle their workload effectively. In the script, Jassy mentions that tech teams are often undermanned, leading to an ever-growing list of tasks such as bug fixes and technical debt that never seem to get addressed.

💡Pull Requests

In software development, a pull request is a proposal to change code in a repository. The script uses pull requests as an example of the workload junior developers face, suggesting that success in the tech industry is often measured by the number of pull requests one can open and close.

💡Technical Debt

Technical debt is the concept of work that needs to be done to address issues in the codebase that were not addressed in the initial development phase. The video script mentions technical debt as a common issue in undermanned teams, where the pressure to deliver new features often takes precedence over addressing existing problems.

💡Coding Bootcamp

A coding bootcamp is an intensive, short-term educational program designed to teach programming skills. The script refers to the experience of Jassy's wife and her peers in a coding bootcamp, where the reality of the tech industry's demands can become apparent, leading some to reconsider their career choice.

Highlights

The tech industry and being a software engineer are often portrayed unrealistically, focusing only on the positives.

Aspiring software engineers should have a realistic understanding of the job, including its challenges, not just the perks like high salaries and free snacks.

Burnout is a common issue in the tech industry due to the pressure to be more efficient and the overwhelming workload.

Developers face a never-ending backlog of tasks, including bugs, UI/UX work, and technical debt, often due to understaffed teams.

The pursuit of success and high salaries can lead to unhealthy habits and stress, contributing to burnout.

The process of applying for jobs and preparing for technical interviews can be exhausting and demoralizing.

Technical interviews may not accurately reflect the reality of a developer's job, which involves creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.

The tech industry has a double standard, expecting candidates to prepare extensively for interviews while also maintaining a lifestyle of constant learning and coding.

Junior developers are expected to learn quickly and keep up with the latest technologies, which can be overwhelming.

There is a cultural expectation in tech to be constantly coding and learning, even outside of work hours.

Imposter syndrome and comparison with peers are common among developers, leading to feelings of inadequacy.

Developers may feel pressured to spend excessive hours programming, which can affect their mental health and work-life balance.

The speaker suggests reevaluating the standard 40-hour workweek, especially for developers who need human interaction and a break from screens.

The video aims to provide a balanced view of the software engineering profession, acknowledging both opportunities and stressors.

The speaker shares personal experiences to highlight the harsh realities of being a software engineer, rather than discouraging viewers.

The video concludes by encouraging viewers to consider the full spectrum of the software engineering profession, including its mental and emotional demands.

Transcripts

[Music]

you know being a software engineer it

isn't all glitz and glamour what's up

everyone jassy here and i really wanted

to make this video because i see this

like trend where people only really talk

about the positive

aspects of the tech industry and being a

software engineer i myself definitely am

guilty of that i have

at least

probably a dozen videos where i only

really talk about the positive aspects

of being a software engineer which can

kind of make the industry and the job

itself seem a bit unrealistic aspiring

software engineers should have a deeper

understanding of what the reality is

like for software developers opposed to

just these expectations

of a six-figure salary and free coffee

and snacks at work and being able to

bring your dog to work for one as

someone who desired all of those things

i realized that those are major perks

but there are some not so healthy things

that come along with landing that dream

fang job or really high paying salary so

what are some of those negative things

that come along with being in the tech

industry as a software engineer working

for a competitive company the first

thing that i can think of is burnout so

what causes burnout developers are

always working harder to become more

efficient and as you climb the ladder

your expectations obviously grow larger

you have more meetings but also have the

same amount of programming which can get

overwhelming quickly for one your

backlog seems like it's a never-ending

growing list

of

bugs and refinement and ui ux work and

technical debt that your developer team

never gets to because

because most teams are typically like

under man like there's usually like a

need for more developers which is

another issue in tech also success gets

pretty addicting especially with all

these videos talking about how people

are making you know 120 000 right out of

college people are making 200 000

in their 20s it makes you want to like

make that amount of money as fast as you

can

so you jump from company to company and

you're working on your skill sets at

work obviously and then outside of work

you're programming and coding all the

time not building healthy sleep habits

so that's one example of how programming

or just the tech industry in general can

cause stress and overload which leads to

burnout that's an example of burnout

while you're working in a job as a

software engineer let's talk about the

burnout that people experience before

they even start their first day at work

when i was preparing for technical

interviews

i seldomly had time for really anything

else which really created this like poor

quality of life

i was not only programming for my

regular job which was quite difficult at

times and demanding but i also was

studying data structures and algorithms

basically a student after 5 pm which is

a totally different beast like your

actual software engineering job is

significantly different than like what

you're studying and preparing for which

is another reason why i don't understand

the purpose of some of these technical

interviews they don't reflect what your

reality is as a developer programming

for a company

takes creativity and collaboration along

with having the ability to google stuff

and go on stack overflow to debug your

code or figure out how to create

whatever thing that needs to be created

whereas in an interview they can ask you

any questions so i was studying

algorithms and data structures i was

doing

at least two medium lead code questions

a day

along with watching stanford lectures on

data structures and algorithms and i

even went as far as doing virtual

peer interviews through pramp which i

definitely recommend that definitely

helped me a ton

and i also got really good objective

feedback from people who don't know me

the point that i'm making is applying to

a million jobs because let's just be

honest like linkedin at this point is

just a resume stack along with preparing

for technical interviews

interviewing and then starting the job

to make a lot of people feel exhausted i

know for one that after i finished my

interviews i was like i don't think i

ever want to do a technical interview

again i was preparing for my technical

interviews it was during the holidays so

literally during new year's eve i

celebrated with my wife and her family

for like a couple minutes when the ball

dropped and then after that i was on the

ipad studying for the technical

interview that i had like in the next

five or six days it's such a horrible

feeling when you get declined from a

company where you made it to like the

final round of interviews and that

happened to me a couple times now

obviously i'm really grateful to even

have those opportunities but you can

feel really defeated when you like do

three four five rounds of interviews and

then you don't get the job and then you

don't really get a clear reason for why

you didn't get your job oh you just need

to work on data structures more or

algorithms more but that's such a vague

statement and that really is predicated

on who's interviewing you at the time

and how nitpicky they're being there's

this other thing in tech

that can be really annoying

which is that double standard for one

there's that you know whole gotta be

able to prep for the interview and study

for like a act or sat that no other

industry really has to deal with and

then there's that double standard that

oh you should really be you know eat

cold and sleeping like that should be

your lifestyle it can feel that way

especially when you're a junior

developer because see when you're a

junior developer

your job really is to just learn the

code base like as well as anyone and

knock out as many pull requests as

possible it seems like to be considered

a successful developer you need to not

only open and close a bunch of prs in a

sprint but also need to code outside of

work and be up to speed with all the

latest technology and see that's

probably one of the more frustrating

things when it comes to the tech

industry especially if you're someone

like myself who has other interests

outside of coding i honestly feel like i

can't keep up like i like to work out i

like to play basketball i like to i

don't know go on walks with my wife and

do photography and videography you know

i kind of have a youtube thing going on

that takes a lot of time and sometimes i

feel like

i

am not doing enough as a developer here

my like co-workers talk about all this

new technology that they have experience

with outside of work and the things that

they're doing outside of work and it

makes me feel like i'm slacking when in

reality i'm not because what other

industry do people expect you to

do the same kind of work that you do at

work at home for like fun like only

industry i could think of is like

athletics right you have practice in

your games but then you're also expected

to work out and do other things to get

better and technically programming is

like that because it is a skill set and

it does seem like a lot of your value is

based on how well of a developer you are

despite the fact that the company told

you that they didn't hire you because

you weren't a culture fit a culture fit

and that's the irony of it all we all

know

that

yes programming is a very competitive

field especially landing a really good

job but there's a lot of in demand jobs

and there are way more jobs than there

are programmers but there's that feeling

that you get where you feel like you're

in jeopardy of potentially losing your

job or looked down upon

if you feel like you're not the best

developer on your team i think there's a

lot of imposter syndrome that goes on

within the tech community especially

amongst developers and a lot of

comparing which is really unhealthy

because the reality is if you have

programming skill sets and you're

working for a company as a developer you

are very

valuable i know that some people eat

sleep code and they're fine with that

but some of us we enjoy technology and

we like programming we need to rethink

how

many hours we should be programming

especially for like our mental health

because programmers are interacting with

computers all the time all day and we

need that human interaction so i

definitely think we need to reevaluate

that 40 hours a week whole thing for

everybody but definitely for develop

anyways that's my rant on

why you maybe should not become a

developer or really the harsh realities

of being a software engineer and

my motivation behind this video isn't to

discourage you but i recently saw how

difficult it was for my wife and her

peers throughout their coding boot camp

and i can only imagine how excited they

were in the beginning i'm about to

become the software engineer and make

all this money which is definitely a

reality but going through their coding

bootcamp a lot of people realize that

hey this really isn't for me and i think

i just was thinking about like all the

opportunities and the money and not

thinking about the stress of critical

thinking all the time that concludes

this video i hope you all enjoyed it

comment down below some of your thoughts

on this topic i'm curious to see what

you all think i love engaging with you

all through the comments section and as

always have a wonderful blessed rest of

your week i'll see you all soon peace

[Music]

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