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.

Outlines

00:00

💻 A Day in the Life of a Software Engineer

Sarah, a software engineer, shares her daily routine starting with waking up at 5:00 AM, working out, and taking care of her pets. She emphasizes the importance of coffee to kickstart her workday. With over a decade of coding experience and five years at her current company, Sarah's schedule is from 8:00 to 4:00 PM, allowing flexibility for personal errands. Her tasks include updating code, responding to emails, and mentoring interns. She uses two external monitors for coding and reviewing changes, and her preferred coding environment is Sublime. Sarah primarily codes in Java, HTML, CSS, and enjoys JavaScript, especially Node.js. She discusses the process of debugging and the importance of being adaptable to mistakes. She also highlights the benefits of working from home, such as cooking as a form of meditation and staying updated with Reddit and Discord. Sarah's afternoons are dedicated to more focused coding sessions, fueled by her morning coffee and meals. She also mentions her strategy for keeping up with new software and frameworks by reviewing job postings. The paragraph concludes with Sarah's advice for aspiring software engineers and her personal journey from journalism to software engineering, along with her future goals of transitioning into a management role.

05:02

🛒 Balancing Work and Personal Life as a Software Engineer

In the second paragraph, Sarah discusses her approach to winding down after work, which includes playing video games to relax and de-stress. She reflects on the demanding nature of software engineering and advises newcomers to be prepared for a high-stress, high-energy work environment. Sarah also shares her experience of entering the field unexpectedly, starting as a journalism major before finding her true passion in coding. She encourages confidence and authenticity in the workplace. The paragraph concludes with Sarah's routine of reviewing emails, planning for the next day, and logging her work hours, aiming to finish by 4:00 PM. She also mentions enrolling in a project management course to support her career progression. The script shifts to a lighter note as Sarah takes the viewers on a grocery shopping trip, showcasing her ability to balance work and personal life.

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, Sarah, the software engineer, discusses her daily tasks which include coding, updating code, and managing interns, illustrating the multifaceted nature of the role. Her experience of over a decade in coding and five years at her company highlights the progressive nature of a career in software engineering.

💡Workday

The workday refers to the typical hours or schedule that a person follows during a day of work. Sarah outlines her workday as starting at 8:00 and ending at 4:00, which allows her the flexibility to manage her personal and professional life. This schedule is indicative of the autonomy that remote work can offer, a theme that resonates with the video's portrayal of a software engineer's lifestyle.

💡Coding

Coding is the process of writing and maintaining the source code required to run software applications or programs. Sarah mentions that her primary languages include Java, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, with a preference for Node.js. The video showcases a specific instance of coding where she implements a 'Delete' button functionality, demonstrating the practical application of coding in software development.

💡Coffee

Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted coffee beans and is often associated with a morning ritual or a productivity boost. Sarah humorously states that she 'can't start her workday without a cup of coffee,' which not only reflects a personal habit but also a common cultural practice among many professionals to kick-start their day.

💡Remote Work

Remote work refers to employees working from locations other than a central office, using technology to communicate and access work systems. Sarah's ability to manage her home, go shopping, and cook during her workday exemplifies the benefits of remote work, such as flexibility and work-life balance, which is a significant theme in the video.

💡Project Management

Project management is the practice of initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing work of a team to achieve specific goals. Sarah's ambition to transition into a management role and her enrollment in a project management course underscore the importance of leadership and organizational skills in advancing a career in software engineering.

💡Interns

Interns are individuals who work in a company on a temporary basis to gain practical experience in their field of study or career interest. Sarah's role includes checking in on her interns, which reflects the mentorship aspect of her job and the importance of nurturing the next generation of software engineers.

💡Sublime

Sublime is a popular text editor among developers for its speed, efficiency, and flexibility. Sarah's preference for using Sublime to write code indicates her focus on tools that streamline her workflow, which is a practical consideration for any software engineer aiming to optimize productivity.

💡JavaScript

JavaScript is a high-level, interpreted programming language commonly used for enhancing web pages with interactive elements. Sarah finds 'the most fun in writing anything based out of JavaScript,' which suggests the language's versatility and dynamic nature, making it a key component in modern web development.

💡Stress Management

Stress management refers to the techniques and strategies used to deal with stress, balancing the demands of work and personal life. Sarah winds down from her workday by playing video games, which serves as her stress management technique. This highlights the importance of self-care and relaxation in maintaining a healthy work-life balance, especially in high-energy fields like software engineering.

💡Continuing Education

Continuing education is the process of learning new skills and knowledge after the completion of a person's formal education. Sarah's enrollment in a project management course and her interest in new software frameworks through job openings reflect the continuous learning culture in the tech industry, which is crucial for staying current with technological advancements.

Highlights

Sarah, a software engineer, starts her day 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 works a typical 8:00 to 4:00 schedule.

Her daily tasks include updating code, responding to emails, and mentoring interns.

Her desk setup is optimized for coding with two external monitors and various input devices.

Testing code functionality is a critical part of her daily workflow.

Sarah's primary programming languages are Java, HTML, and CSS, with a preference for JavaScript.

She uses Sublime Text as her code editor for its ease of use.

Debugging and iterating on code is a common challenge faced by Sarah.

She demonstrates the implementation of a Delete button feature in a UI.

Cooking at home serves as a form of meditation and a break for Sarah.

Sarah enjoys spending time on Reddit and Discord for leisure and community.

Afternoons are considered her most creative time for coding sessions.

She stays updated with new software and frameworks by reviewing job postings.

Sarah's flexibility allows her to leave for errands like grocery shopping during the day.

She advises aspiring software engineers to learn through projects and online courses.

Sarah's career transitioned from journalism to software engineering.

Her future goal is to move into a management role, for which she is taking project management courses.

Sarah's day ends with reviewing emails, planning for the next day, and logging work hours.

She uses video games as a means to unwind and de-stress after work.

Sarah encourages new engineers to be confident and adapt to the high-stress nature of the field.

Transcripts

Hi.

My name is Sarah, and welcome to you a day

in the life of a software engineer.

Come on in.

So I woke up at 5:00 today.

I already got my workout in.

I took care of my fur kids and gave them a little love.

But I officially can't start my workday

without a cup of coffee, so I make a cup of coffee.

A software engineer develops software

for multiple companies.

I have been working at my company for about five years,

but I've been coding for a little over a decade.

My usual schedule is 8:00 to 4:00,

it's kind of nice to be able to take a break here

and there to do anything that I need to around the house

or go to a store if I need to.

So the task that I perform on a daily basis

include updating my code if somebody

requested a change that I make.

Sometimes I spend a lot of time replying

to emails if that's necessary.

I check in on my interns to see if they

need any help with anything.

My desk setup consists of two external monitors,

and one's for code, one is for seeing my changes, and then

my computer for emails and different terminal things.

I also just have a little fun space where my birthday

cards sit, and then a whole slew of different mice

and keyboards.

So the first thing that I'm going to do today coding-wise

is making sure that what I built works.

This can usually take between 30 minutes to an hour

depending on what I'm working on.

So right now my primary language is include

Java and a lot of HTML and CSS.

But I find the most fun in writing anything based out

of JavaScript.

So like Node.js.

So I personally use Sublime.

I think it's very low-effort and is really easy to use.

It's really difficult to write code the first time

and it be right.

So either you're going to find a mistake or somebody is going

to say, hey, this isn't really working the way

that you said it would, and you're just going

to have to be OK with that.

The first thing I quoted today was the Delete button.

And so you can see the code here.

And this page is represented on this page

as the UI or the frontend.

And you can see that each what I call card has a Delete button.

And so now, if you click on Delete,

it'll delete that specific card, and now there

are no collections.

One of the benefits of working from home as a software

engineer is being able to cook at home.

It's my form of meditation to kind of-- it

repositions my brain.

I get to think about what I'm going to work on next.

I get to process maybe a meeting that I was just in.

But cooking is really a way for me

to recenter myself for the day.

I like to spend time on Reddit, and I think a lot of us

do when we're on the computer, pretty much all day.

But just so catch up on YouTube videos

or maybe just talk to my friends on Discord,

maybe plan what I'm going to do for the evening.

But that usually is about 30 to 45 minutes.

Right after lunch, I to get into work.

And since most of my meetings occur in the morning,

I really get a longer time period

in the afternoon to have my next coding session.

So it can range between one to two hours instead

of having to take breaks.

I feel the most creative in the afternoon.

I think that's because I've had all of my coffee

and I've had my food or my snacks,

and I really just am into the meat of the day.

So in the afternoons, I have more energy

in my brain to accomplish the tasks that I set for myself.

I like to keep up with new software and new frameworks

that happen and come up by actually

looking through job openings.

And if there is a new framework that's really important,

a lot of companies will post that in their job

description or a requirement.

So I'll kind of go through what jobs are available

and see what companies are using most of,

and sometimes I even learn about new frameworks that way.

Another great thing about working from home

is being able to leave if I have to.

And I'm feeling something really spicy tonight,

so there's this store that I'm going to go to and do

a little grocery shopping.

If you're looking to become a better software engineer,

I would recommend maybe going to a class website

like Udemy or a coding boot camp,

or even just kind of thinking about a project

that you'd like to build and starting it from scratch.

Gaining experience by doing is the best way

to keep yourself up to date and become a better software

engineer.

I got into my profession kind of by accident.

I knew that I wanted to write, so I actually started off

as a journalism major.

But I wanted to kind of work with my creative side,

so I decided to write code, which I am writing,

but I'm also using my creative side.

So I went from being a journalism major to a software

engineer.

My goals for my future are to kind of transition

into more of a management role.

So I enrolled myself into a project management course.

What's nice about being in this field

is that continuing education is very

important to a lot of people, so you get time

to be able to do that.

I usually wrap up my day by going through my emails

and making sure that I didn't miss anything that I was

supposed to get to by today.

I check my work schedule for tomorrow

to see if there are any meanings.

The last thing I like to do at the end of the day

or I have to do at the end of the day is log my time.

So I worked on the frontend for about four hours today,

and I worked on other things for about another four hours.

So that's eight hours.

And I try to end my day around 4:00

so that I have enough time at the end of the day

to kind of wind down from it.

Software engineering can be pretty stressful,

so the best way for me to wind down from a stressful workday

is to play video games.

It's just a really easy and relaxing game

to wind down my day.

So I think coding asks a lot from you

and it takes a lot of energy to do it.

So I would recommend just being OK with a high-stress,

high-energy environment.

I wish I knew how tough it would be entering the field,

but all you have to do is be confident and make

sure to speak your mind and just be yourself

and it's going to be OK.

Thanks for watching.

Be sure to give us like and subscribe to Indeed's channel.

See you next time.

Hi, welcome to the grocery store.

Let's go shopping.

Come on over.

Oh, am I going?

OK, away we go.