A Day in the Life of a Software Engineer | Indeed

Summary

Sarah, a software engineer, shares her daily routine starting with an early morning workout and caring for her pets. She discusses her workday from 8:00 to 4:00, which includes coding, responding to emails, mentoring interns, and using Java, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Sarah emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and shares her career aspirations to move into a management role. She also highlights the benefits of working from home, such as cooking as a form of meditation and the flexibility to run errands. Sarah advises aspiring software engineers to gain experience through projects and online courses, reflecting on her own journey from journalism to coding.

Takeaways

• 🌞 Sarah, a software engineer, starts her day early with a workout and caring for her pets.
• ☕ She emphasizes the importance of a morning coffee routine to kickstart her workday.
• 💻 Sarah has been coding for over a decade and currently works a typical 8:00 to 4:00 schedule, allowing flexibility during the day.
• 🔧 Her daily tasks include updating code, responding to emails, and mentoring interns.
• 🖥️ She uses a dual-monitor setup for coding and reviewing changes, along with various mice and keyboards for comfort and efficiency.
• 🛠️ Sarah's primary programming languages are Java, HTML, CSS, and she particularly enjoys JavaScript and Node.js for its dynamic nature.
• 👩‍💻 She finds Sublime Text to be a low-effort and user-friendly integrated development environment (IDE).
• 🍳 Sarah values cooking as a form of meditation and a way to recenter herself during the workday.
• 🌐 She stays updated with new software and frameworks by reviewing job postings and learning from them.
• 🏡 The benefit of working from home includes the flexibility to run errands like grocery shopping during the day.
• 🎮 To unwind, Sarah plays video games, finding it an effective way to decompress after a day of coding.
• 📈 Sarah's career goal is to transition into a management role, for which she is pursuing a project management course.

Q & A

What does Sarah do for a living?

Sarah is a software engineer who has been coding for over a decade and has worked at her current company for about five years.

What is Sarah's typical work schedule?

Sarah's usual work schedule is from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

How does Sarah start her workday?

Sarah starts her workday with a cup of coffee after taking care of her pets and getting her workout in.

What are some of Sarah's daily tasks as a software engineer?

Sarah's daily tasks include updating code, replying to emails, and checking in on her interns to offer help if needed.

What is Sarah's desk setup like?

Sarah's desk setup includes two external monitors, one for coding and one for seeing changes, along with her computer for emails and terminal work. She also has a fun space for birthday cards and a collection of different mice and keyboards.

What programming languages is Sarah currently working with?

Sarah's primary programming languages include Java, HTML, CSS, and she finds joy in writing JavaScript, particularly with Node.js.

What text editor does Sarah use?

Sarah uses Sublime Text as her text editor because she finds it low-effort and easy to use.

How does Sarah handle coding mistakes or issues?

Sarah acknowledges that it's difficult to write code that is correct on the first try and is prepared to find mistakes or receive feedback that requires adjustments.

What does Sarah do to relax and refocus during her workday?

Sarah cooks as a form of meditation to reposition her brain and recenter herself for the day.

How does Sarah stay updated with new software and frameworks?

Sarah stays updated by looking through job openings to see which new frameworks are in demand and are being listed as job requirements.

What advice does Sarah give for aspiring software engineers?

Sarah recommends taking classes on websites like Udemy, attending coding boot camps, or starting a project from scratch to gain experience.

What are Sarah's future goals in her career?

Sarah aims to transition into a management role and has enrolled in a project management course to help achieve this goal.

How does Sarah wind down after work?

Sarah winds down by playing video games, which she finds to be a relaxing and easy way to end her day.