Software Engineering Sucks

Summary

The speaker candidly discusses the reality of being a software engineer, dispelling the myth that it's a dream job. Despite earning a significant salary, they found the role isolating and overhyped, focusing more on technical problem-solving than impactful user experiences. They argue that software engineering is misrepresented, often seen as a prestigious career without acknowledging its demanding and sometimes thankless nature. The speaker encourages authenticity in career choices, advocating for pursuing interests over societal pressures or financial incentives, and shares their personal transition from software engineering to sales engineering, emphasizing the importance of finding fulfillment in one's work.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker humorously claims to make $175 billion per year as a software engineer, highlighting the absurdity of such a high figure.
• 💼 The average total compensation for a software engineer at Facebook is around $196,000, with the speaker receiving approximately $190,000.
• 🌐 The speaker discusses the societal and cultural pressures that lead many, especially those from immigrant backgrounds, to pursue software engineering.
• 🚀 The profession is often marketed as a way to make a significant impact and solve real-world problems, which the speaker argues is a misconception.
• 🛠️ Software engineers typically deal with technical implementations rather than directly solving human problems, which can be a shock for new entrants.
• 😓 The speaker experienced a decline in social skills due to the isolating nature of the job, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance.
• 💬 There's a stark contrast between the glamorous image of software engineering and the reality of long hours spent debugging and maintaining code.
• 🏆 Despite the high pay, the speaker feels that software engineering is often undervalued and overlooked by other departments within a company.
• 💡 The speaker encourages individuals to pursue their interests and not be swayed by societal expectations or the lure of a high salary.
• 🔄 The transition out of software engineering can be challenging and time-consuming, but it's essential to find a career path that aligns with personal interests and values.

Q & A

What is the speaker's stance on income transparency?

The speaker believes in income transparency and openly shares their salary as a software engineer.

What is the average total compensation for a software engineer at Facebook according to the speaker?

The average total compensation for a software engineer at Facebook is stated to be around $196,000.

Why does the speaker claim that the job of a software engineer is overrated?

The speaker argues that the job is overrated because it is often marketed as a way to solve human problems directly, but in reality, software engineers mostly deal with the technical implementation of solutions that have already been defined by business people.

How does the speaker describe the social skills of software engineers?

The speaker suggests that software engineers may experience a decline in social skills due to the nature of their work, which often involves long periods of solitary problem-solving and interaction primarily through digital means.

What is the 'on call' responsibility mentioned by the speaker, and why is it challenging?

The 'on call' responsibility refers to the expectation that software engineers must be available to fix technical issues as they arise, often immediately, which can be challenging due to the constant pressure and the need for immediate response regardless of personal time or circumstances.

Why does the speaker feel that software engineering is not for everyone?

The speaker feels that software engineering is not for everyone because it requires a specific interest in problem-solving and technical work, and it often comes with high stress, long hours, and a lack of social interaction.

What is the 'Holy Grail' vision the speaker had for their future as a software engineer?

The 'Holy Grail' vision the speaker had was the idea of working at a prestigious tech company, making a significant impact, and earning a high salary, which was influenced by the hype and marketing around software engineering.

How does the speaker feel about the marketing of software engineering jobs?

The speaker criticizes the marketing of software engineering jobs as misleading, suggesting that it often overpromises the impact and satisfaction one will get from the job, focusing on high salaries and prestige rather than the actual day-to-day work.

What advice does the speaker give to those who may not enjoy their job as a software engineer?

The speaker advises those who do not enjoy their job as a software engineer to be honest with themselves and not feel guilty about not liking the job. They encourage exploring other interests and finding a career path that aligns more with personal enjoyment and fulfillment.

How long did it take the speaker to transition out of software engineering into a different career?

The speaker mentions that it took almost two full years to settle into a new career after leaving their software engineering job.

What is the speaker's current career after leaving software engineering?

The speaker transitioned into sales engineering, which they find to be a more fulfilling career path.

Outlines

00:00

😅 Income Transparency and Software Engineering at Stroy

The speaker humorously addresses the question of how much money they make as a software engineer at Stroy, stating an exaggerated salary of $175 billion per year to emphasize the point that income transparency is important. They clarify that they do not do the job for the money but out of love for the profession. The speaker then transitions into promoting an interview preparation course and discusses the reality of software engineering salaries, citing an average total compensation of $196,000 and their own compensation package of around $190,000. The speaker reflects on how software engineering has become a highly coveted job, especially in their social circle and online presence, where they see many people boasting about their salaries and benefits. They express their belief that the job is overrated and shares their personal journey into software engineering, influenced by marketing hype and a desire for financial stability.

05:03

🤔 The Reality of Software Engineering and Its Marketed Image

The speaker delves into the reality of being a software engineer, contrasting the marketed image of the job with their personal experience. They express disappointment with the profession's poor marketing, which often promises an impactful role in solving real-world problems. The speaker argues that software engineers mostly deal with the technical implementation of solutions already defined by business people, rather than directly solving human problems. They discuss the isolating nature of the job, which involves long hours in front of code editors and databases with minimal customer interaction. The speaker also touches on the decline in social skills that can result from such a work environment and the pressure of being 'on call' to fix issues immediately. They conclude by stating that software engineering is essential but often undervalued and overworked within companies, and that the job is not for everyone, contrary to the glamorous image often portrayed.

10:04

😔 The Pressure and Dissatisfaction in Software Engineering

The speaker shares their personal struggle with the software engineering profession, emphasizing the pressure and dissatisfaction they experienced. They discuss how the allure of a high salary and prestigious job title can lead to a slow realization of discontent over time. The speaker advises against making significant life decisions based solely on external images or perceived success, such as those portrayed on platforms like LinkedIn or Glassdoor. They encourage individuals to find joy in their daily work by pursuing interests and not feeling obligated to stick with a career path simply because of the investment made in it. The speaker also addresses the societal and familial pressures, particularly within certain communities, to maintain a prestigious job, even if it leads to personal unhappiness. They stress the importance of self-honesty and the freedom to leave a job that does not bring satisfaction.

15:04

🚀 Transitioning Out of Software Engineering and Pursuing Fulfillment

The speaker talks about their transition from software engineering to sales engineering, which they found to be a more fulfilling career path. They acknowledge that such a transition can be a lengthy process, requiring patience and persistence. The speaker emphasizes the importance of gradually increasing the amount of work that one enjoys, even if it's just a few percentage points per year. They suggest that this pursuit of aligning one's work with personal interests can significantly contribute to overall happiness. The speaker concludes by reiterating the importance of personal satisfaction over societal expectations and encourages listeners to be honest with themselves about their job satisfaction and to take steps towards a more fulfilling career.

Keywords

💡Software Engineer

A software engineer is a professional who applies the principles of software engineering to design, develop, maintain, test, and evaluate computer software. In the video, the speaker discusses their experience as a software engineer, highlighting the common misconceptions about the job, such as high pay and the glamorous image often portrayed. The speaker emphasizes the reality of the job, which includes long hours, complex problem-solving, and the pressure to maintain and improve software systems.

💡Income Transparency

Income transparency refers to the practice of openly discussing and disclosing one's salary or earnings. The speaker mentions their belief in income transparency, suggesting that it can help demystify the financial aspects of certain jobs, like software engineering. However, the speaker also humorously exaggerates their income to make a point about the unrealistic expectations people have about software engineers' salaries.

💡Compensation

Compensation in the context of employment refers to the financial and non-financial rewards an employee receives in exchange for their work. The video discusses the average total compensation for software engineers, which includes salary, bonuses, and other benefits. The speaker contrasts the perceived high compensation with the actual experience of working in the field, suggesting that the job may not be as rewarding as it seems financially.

💡Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance refers to the equilibrium between an individual's work and personal life. The script touches on the challenges software engineers face in maintaining a healthy work-life balance due to the demanding nature of the job, including long hours and the expectation to be on-call to fix issues as they arise. The speaker implies that the high compensation does not necessarily compensate for the potential toll on one's personal life.

💡On-Call

Being 'on-call' in a professional context means being available to handle work-related issues outside of regular working hours. The speaker discusses the on-call responsibilities of software engineers, which can disrupt personal time and contribute to a poor work-life balance. This concept is used to illustrate the unappealing aspects of the job that are often not highlighted in marketing or recruitment materials.

💡Marketing

Marketing in the context of the video refers to the strategies used by companies to promote software engineering jobs and attract potential candidates. The speaker criticizes the way these jobs are marketed, suggesting that they often overpromise the impact and satisfaction one can expect from the role. The video argues that the marketing of software engineering jobs can lead to unrealistic expectations and disappointment.

💡Sunken Cost Fallacy

The sunken cost fallacy is a cognitive bias where people continue an action because of the money or effort already invested, even if it is no longer the best option. The speaker uses this term to describe the mindset some software engineers may have, where they stay in a job they do not enjoy because of the time and resources they have already invested in their career.

💡Passion

Passion in this context refers to a strong interest or enthusiasm for a particular subject or activity. The video suggests that while software engineering can be a rewarding career for those who are passionate about coding and problem-solving, it may not be the best fit for those who are in the field for external reasons, such as salary or societal pressure.

💡Career Satisfaction

Career satisfaction is the contentment and fulfillment one derives from their job and career path. The speaker discusses the importance of finding a career that aligns with one's interests and values for long-term satisfaction. The video serves as a cautionary tale against pursuing a career solely for its perceived prestige or income potential.

💡Algorithm

In the video, the term 'algorithm' is used metaphorically to describe the sequence of life events or decisions that lead someone to a particular career path. The speaker reflects on how societal influences and personal circumstances shaped their decision to become a software engineer, suggesting that these 'algorithms' can sometimes lead individuals down paths that may not be the best fit for them.

💡Sales Engineering

Sales engineering is a role that combines technical expertise with sales skills to assist in selling complex products or services. The speaker mentions transitioning from software engineering to sales engineering, which allowed them to leverage their technical background while also engaging in a role that better suited their interests and skills.

Highlights

The speaker humorously claims to make $175 billion per year as a software engineer at Stroy, emphasizing income transparency.

Average total compensation for software engineers is revealed to be around $196,000, with the speaker's compensation being approximately $190,000.

The speaker expresses a love for the job itself, not the money, and promotes an interview preparation course.

Software engineering is described as the 'Holy Grail' of corporate careers, especially within the speaker's social circle.

The speaker discusses the over-marketing of software engineering and its impact on job expectations.

The reality of software engineering work is contrasted with the glamorous image often portrayed in marketing.

The speaker shares personal experiences of feeling isolated and the decline in social skills due to the nature of software engineering work.

The 'on-call' responsibility in software engineering is highlighted as a significant and often unappreciated aspect of the job.

Software engineering is positioned as a necessary but undervalued and overburdened department within companies.

The speaker argues against the idea that software engineers are solving human problems, but rather implementing technological solutions.

The pressure to enjoy software engineering due to societal and familial expectations is critiqued.

The concept of a 'sunken cost fallacy' in career choices is introduced, where individuals feel obligated to continue in a field due to past investments.

The speaker encourages honesty with oneself about job satisfaction and the importance of pursuing interests for career fulfillment.

A personal transition from software engineering to sales engineering is mentioned as an example of a successful career shift.

The importance of patience and gradual change in building a fulfilling career is emphasized.

The speaker concludes with a call to action for individuals to increase the amount of time spent on activities they enjoy as a path to happiness.

Transcripts

so many people have been asking me how

much money I make as a software engineer

at stroy so today I'm going to be

telling you how much money I make as a

software engineer at stroke ofi I

believe in income transparency I make

$175 billion per year as a software

engineer at stroy I'm even wearing the

swag now a lot of people think I do this

job for the money I don't do this job

for the money I do it because I love the

job I love it so much that you should

buy my interview Prep course at leod

jesus.com I think software engineering

is the best job

ever okay no but for real this job

sucks I'm going to be sharing with you

exactly how much I made as a software

engineer at Facebook how much do

software Engineers really get paid

average total compensation of

$196,000 and they were giving me a total

compensation of around $190,000 all

right man for some reason in my world

software engineering has become the Holy

Grail of corporate careers and when I

say my world I don't know I mean I grew

up in a Midwest suburb with a lot of

Asian people I have immigrant parents I

went to a school with a big computer

science program um I have immigrant

parents I moved to a big city after

school to work in Tech um I have

immigrant parents you know I'm not

really sure what the underlying theme is

here on the algorithm that I have found

myself on in life and on social media

software engineering for some reason is

this highly coveted job that has just

taken over my existence on my

side of the internet all I see

is software Engineers showing off about

how much money they make how amazing

their perks are how you can also break

into this highly coveted field of

software engineering where you can solve

real problems and make a big

impact but today I come to you to tell

you that in my experience this job is

overrated as and look I'll preface

this by saying I'm not trying to

dissuade you from becoming a software

engineer in fact I would almost say I

encourage you to become one I became one

I'm no longer one but I used to be one

and man it did open up a lot of great

doors for me but I also think I could

have saved a lot of time if I just knew

what I was getting into so I guess let's

start with that how did I get into this

in the first place you know I get

asked this a lot

and I don't know it just it just kind of

happened I mean if I really think hard

about it I think I remember junior year

there was this video for code academy it

had just come out I think will IM was on

there and he was like yo man code is the

future man yo everyone got to learn how

to code and like he's even sitting there

taking the coding course himself

like okay actually they didn't do that

part I completely made that up my bad

yeah will I IM was for sure learning

python a grammy-winning billboard

topping artist is sitting here learning

python on code academy.com and he is

afraid he's going to be out of work yeah

that makes so much sense right there was

so much hype and marketing around

software engineering and working in tech

there was clearly a high demand for

these jobs but not enough people to fill

them and so we were plagued with way too

much marketing for software engineering

over the next more than a decade I saw

all that and I'm like okay you know

what I'm good at math and stuff and this

could probably get me to a job that'll

make me money I don't know and then I

got to college and then I'm like around

all these smart kids who are really

shooting for the Stars trying to get

that big software engineered job all of

a sudden I I don't know how but I think

a combination of the environment I was

in and the values I was raised by

culminated in this Holy Grail

vision of what my future would look like

as a software engineer at a highly

coveted company I was sitting here

thinking oh one day man I'm going to be

sitting at this Fang software

engineering job like oh oh oh where

should the button go here or should the

button go there and I can write the code

to put the button there and then oh the

button's there and then the user click

the

but like you're just imagining yourself

walking around this office

placing buttons on apps and just

changing the world every single goddamn

day oh I'm going to make so much money

placing buttons on these apps and

hella and making hella

money I'll finally be free and happy and

never have problems again I'll be free

from uh I don't know something maybe my

inner conscience yeah I'll be free from

that and once I get this prize I've won

and I can just like die or something oh

oh please please I'll do anything you

say any c any no I know very inspiring

right anyway so I drank the

Kool-Aid I was a sheep I copied everyone

that I went to school with so I got

there at my first job and you know while

I acknowledged that that job perhaps was

not at a company known for how it treats

its people and its work life balance I

knew deep down that this was not for me

all right like I said one one of my

biggest issues with this profession of

software engineering is how poorly it's

marketed if you are looking for a

software engineering job you will be

told things like you're going to make an

impact you're going to impact real users

you're going to solve real problems

you're going to take the users's

and yeah who doesn't like the

sound of that I think anybody who's

wanted to work at any job ever

would love the sound of that but you

quickly realize it does not go down like

that for some reason these companies are

fooling people into thinking that

software Engineers are solving human

problems and I'm here to tell you right

now that is not what they do what the

software engineer does is it takes a

problem that has already been solved by

business people and solves the last mile

of it which is the technology

implementation so yes you spend your

days in logs in code editors in code

documentation in databases in AWS in

everything but the customer

and I know I was shocked by

this I know a lot of my peers were also

shocked by this cuz we just got to our

jobs and we're just sitting there

like like you're just sitting there and

your social skills are declining by the

second I remember like 3 months into my

first software engineering job there was

a week where I don't think I set a work

like I didn't see anyone during the week

none of my co-workers talked we skipped

stand up every day I didn't say a

word I remember trying to form

sentences like I I I I I was I could

barely form sentences anymore y'all

might clown me for that impression I was

doing at the beginning all right but

this is a result of the decay of social

skills that comes with working in

software engineering okay you are going

to be sitting there solving technology

problems you need to love that software

engineering is for people who when

things break you love fixing that

you love getting in there and

getting in the code and figuring out why

something's breaking not for the person

who's like oh can I just oh like

that that's not who it's for not only

that but you've got to love maintaining

this okay there's this thing called

on call I'm sure you've heard of it I

could do a whole separate video

about that you simply don't have the

option to sit there and be like oh can I

just do this tomorrow no it needs to be

fixed now because the company is going

to lose money if you don't fix it now

and I get it it's necessary like I'm not

saying these jobs need to stop doing on

call I'm not saying saying that like

again software engineering is very

necessary for any company but again I

don't think people realize these kind of

shitty Parts when they get into the job

and that's because it's not marketed

properly and do you know why they Market

it like this because this job

sucks but not only because it sucks but

because it's essential to the

company this might be one of the most

crucial jobs at a company I not here to

say that this is the most important I

understand sales product all of its

important right the product doesn't

exist without the software Engineers

that's just a fact so not only is it

essential but it sucks and if it

sucks and they make it sound

like that to potential job candidates no

no one's going to come do it for them so

they Market this job to you like you're

going to enter this company and become

some God right like they'll slap

some big salaries on there and some big

fat buzzwords in the interview they try

to make you feel like you're going to be

God when you get there and the crazy

part is you are anything but God you're

actually

just a in my opinion there

is no Department that is more of a

to the rest of the company than the

engineering department now I know what

you're thinking oh Veron isn't every

team at a company technically a to

the company well well well unfortunately

yes but I don't think there's a

department that gets to get stepped on

as much as software engineering does by

pretty much every team at the company

when support discovers that some

something's broken when sales needs

something built faster and better or

when product just needs something done

differently all of a sudden they know

who to call they're little in

software engineering the whole company

literally just sits all over you and

kind of just tells you what to do yeah

that's when you realize software

engineering Isn't that cool and really

isn't for everyone this is a great job

for people who like to be kind of just

handed a problem and you want to just

kind of sit here and do the technical

part you'll get paid well but yeah All

Things Considered you are the company's

and you have to accept that but

the thing is you you don't know that in

college but then you get there with your

fat paycheck and you slowly slowly Decay

into your first software engineering job

out of college or out of training

wherever you got your training you

slowly slowly just Decay into the soil

your brain still fixated on that end

result That Glory of being a software

engineer and then after each stock vest

after after each bonus vest after each

performance review survived you slowly

slowly realize over several years that

you hate your life bro if you

take one thing away from this video you

need to stop making big decisions based

on just the image or just some YouTube

video you saw based on something you saw

on glass door based on your bank account

or your resume dude your life is not

spent staring at your LinkedIn page or

your resume or your bank account it will

be spent working on something working

towards something you have to find a way

to enjoy the mundane day-to-day moments

of life and you can do that by doing

things that you're interested

in WoW crazy concept right now am I

insinuating that people who do software

engineering aren't actually interested

in it no okay I have met some of the

most brilliant passionate intelligent

people in this field but I just know

this job gets presented as something

that it isn't for people on the same

life algorithm as me this job the way

it's presented can fool us into thinking

that this is what we are meant to do and

this is the best thing to do for us and

that we should feel bad if we fail at it

or don't like it and it's it's truly so

sad how many people just get fooled into

doing something that they hate for so

long they they they feel stuck I get so

many DMS from Indian kids Asian kids who

are like yo I hate my life Veron I hate

software engineering I did compi I did

this job and I don't know what to do I'm

like bro I recommend therapy you need to

like realign how you value yourself look

I have the computer science degree I did

software engineering I did the damn

thing and am I telling you not to do

that no I'm not telling you not to do it

but I am trying to actively discourage

you from feeling obligated to like it

because you invested so much in it

whether you went to college or your

self-taught this is one of those

industries that takes a lot of

investment to get in whether that's

money time all of it it takes a lot of

work and investment to get into this

industry and once you get that job and

you get that fancy title and that little

paycheck I think a lot of US enter this

perpetually confused and stuck and

dissatisfied State of Mind where we're

like okay I invested so much time into

it it's kind of this sunken cost fallacy

right like we invested so much time and

money into it if you're from a community

like me my parents love the look of it

my family members love the look of this

job on my LinkedIn page they love

hearing oh he was a software engineer in

Amazon oh I know all the parents friends

are oh man they see parents eat

this up dude there's not only

sunken cost fallacy but there's also

insane expectations like you do this

thing a lot of people want to do and

then when you don't like it or it's not

satisfying you somehow we we feel guilt

and I'm here to tell you that you should

never feel guilty about not

liking a job dude it's a

job I need to remind you and myself this

is a job the only person who

should care about your job is you you

need to like put on your Indian

parent ear muffs dude and just put those

ear muffs on and promise me you will

just be honest with yourself that you

don't like this okay yes you I'm

talking to you be honest with yourself

that I'm doing something that I just

don't like and I need to move on

to greener pastures look it doesn't

matter how much you've invested you you

can't change the past you are in the

present now I certainly didn't enjoy

this career but I certainly felt

pressure internally and externally to be

this NPC robot like I made it

and I guess I'll get married and die now

and I just want to say if you are in

this field and you sometimes have the

passing thought of hm maybe I don't

enjoy designing systems and breaking

things apart and troubleshooting them

and staring at logs all day you

are not alone now this all begs the

question Vero since you didn't like it

what did you do how did you get out of

it how can I get out of it thankfully I

was able to switch out into sales

engineering which is this awesome career

path but I can do a separate video on

that or post on Insta about it but even

that transition literally took almost

two full years to settle into after I

left my software engineering job it it

takes a while okay it takes a long time

to actually build a fulfilling career I

need you to understand that you need to

be patient it's not going to happen with

one job switch it's not going to happen

with one project or one company change

it's not going to happen with a new boss

but even if you just slowly slowly try

to find ways to do a little more of

things you're interested in whether

that's in your current job in a side

project at a new job whatever if you can

just even like a few percentage points

per year increase the amount of things

you are doing during your day that you

enjoy that you're like driven to do

that's a win that's a huge win that

Pursuit like the pursuit of you know

increasing the amount of time you're

spending doing things you like that

pursuit in itself can provide you like

70% of your happiness Max but like

that's a big part of it okay the other

stuff is like you know health and

wellness and family and and all that

good stuff you you could die with that

amount of Happiness okay most people

never even get to say they got to do

that like just just optimizing for all

this stuff is what keeps me going okay

I I I guess I do kind of sound like

a software engineer but God damn it