My *Honest* Advice to Aspiring Software Engineers

Summary

The video script discusses the changing landscape for software engineers, highlighting the shift from an overvalued market in 2018 to a more realistic expectation in 2024. It recounts personal experiences, such as starting as a junior engineer with a comfortable salary and flexible work-life balance. The speaker reflects on the glamorized image of 'Tech Bros' and the hard work behind it. They outline the new demands, including higher productivity, tighter deadlines, and less autonomy, driven by AI and market normalization. The advice is to join the field for passion, not just money, and to embrace continuous learning and adaptation to stay competitive.

Takeaways

• 📉 Software engineering compensation has normalized, with less overvaluation compared to previous years.
• 💼 The tech industry's expectations have shifted from high pay with little accountability to a more traditional job dynamic.
• 🏆 Tech bros, despite their negative connotations, were once envied for their high salaries and luxurious lifestyles.
• 🌐 The market has corrected itself, moving away from the unicorn era of excessive payouts for software engineers.
• 👨‍💻 The work-life balance for software engineers is still relatively favorable compared to other professions like law or medicine.
• 💻 The use of AI tools is now essential to increase productivity in software engineering roles.
• 🚀 The tech industry still offers decent compensation, free food, and flexibility, even if it's not as extravagant as before.
• 🔄 The job market has become more competitive, requiring software engineers to be more driven and quick to adapt.
• 🌟 Passion for problem-solving and continuous learning is crucial for long-term success in software engineering.
• 🌍 Location still plays a role, with certain areas like the Bay Area offering more perks and higher salaries.

Q & A

What was the compensation like for junior and mid-level engineers in 2018?

In 2018, junior and mid-level engineers, often referred to as 'Tech Bros,' were making upwards of $300,000 to $400,000, and sometimes even half a million dollars.

What was the speaker's personal experience as a fresh graduate in 2018?

The speaker, a fresh graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2018, landed a job as a junior engineer at a data analytics startup in Chicago, earning $75,000 a year with the perk of living in Greece and paying only $300 a month in rent.

How did the job opportunities look like for software engineers in 2020?

In 2020, there were abundant job opportunities for software engineers, with the speaker receiving LinkedIn messages from recruiters twice a day.

What was the common perception of the tech industry in 2020?

The common perception was that becoming a software engineer was a path to a grandiose life with high pay, flexibility, challenging work, and prestige.

What is a 'Tech Bro' according to the script?

A 'Tech Bro' is defined as an educated male lacking in social skills who works in tech, often with libertarian views and admiration for Elon Musk or those trying to reinvent existing technologies.

What were the expectations and perks of being a software engineer in 2020?

In 2020, software engineers were expected to learn quickly, had medium productivity with a PR every week, showed up to team meetings, had reasonable flexibility on deadlines, and enjoyed autonomy with their development and testing.

How has the tech industry's perception and reality changed from 2020 to the present?

The industry has shifted from being overvalued to correcting for what makes sense, with less demand for software engineers and a move away from the glamorized lifestyle portrayed in 2020.

What are the new expectations for software engineers in 2024?

In 2024, software engineers are expected to manage time with AI, produce PRs every other day, actively participate in meetings, have less flexibility on deadlines, and experience more micromanagement.

Why should someone still consider becoming a software engineer according to the speaker?

The speaker suggests that one should become a software engineer for the right reasons, such as a passion for problem-solving and learning new technologies, rather than just for the money.

What advice does the speaker give to those considering a career in software engineering?

The speaker advises that the tech industry is still a good choice for those who are competitive, driven, and willing to use new tools like AI to stand out.