I Was A German SW Engineer. Now I'm Almost Unemployed And Alone In the Forest - How Did I Get Here?

Summary

In this introspective video, Alex reflects on his first 30 years and evaluates his career in tech. He shares his experiences working in the German corporate world, discussing the downsides of meeting-heavy cultures, lack of impact, and the rigidity of corporate hierarchies. Despite these frustrations, Alex expresses his passion for content creation and his desire to help others, even if it’s not financially rewarding yet. He’s unsure about his next career move, contemplating a possible shift, but remains optimistic about the future. The video offers a mix of personal reflection, professional insights, and motivation for those facing similar challenges.

Takeaways

• 😀 Alex reflects on his 30 years of life, sharing his journey to help others in similar situations feel less alone.
• 😀 Despite a successful career in software engineering, Alex expresses frustration with the corporate culture, especially the overwhelming number of meetings.
• 😀 He highlights how in large companies, employees are often small cogs in a big machine, making it hard to create real impact.
• 😀 Alex discusses the lack of appreciation in corporate jobs, comparing the feedback he received in his career to the positive responses he gets from his YouTube videos.
• 😀 He also shares concerns about job security, especially in the context of the tech industry's volatility and potential layoffs.
• 😀 Alex points out the generational gap in the workplace, particularly in the German car industry, which lacks younger hires and results in high competition among engineers.
• 😀 He expresses his dislike for the emphasis on managerial roles in corporate Germany, noting that it’s more about taking on responsibility than improving the work itself.
• 😀 Alex feels restricted in his corporate job due to fixed salary levels and limited opportunities for self-expression or side projects.
• 😀 He touches on the anti-business mindset prevalent in Germany, where many don’t fully understand the importance of business and economic principles.
• 😀 While the shift to remote work improved his quality of life, Alex is still concerned about potential pressure to return to the office, as seen in recent corporate trends like Elon Musk's approach.
• 😀 Alex enjoys content creation, especially video-making, but feels that in Germany, it’s often undervalued, making it difficult to pursue it professionally or openly in corporate environments.

Q & A

What inspired Alex to create this video?

Alex created the video as a way to reflect on his past 30 years, share his personal journey, and to help others who might be in a similar situation. He hopes to provide encouragement and insight for people considering career changes or dealing with dissatisfaction in their jobs.

How did Alex’s early career unfold?

Alex began his career by studying electrical engineering, and after college, he worked as a software engineer. By 24, he was promoted to senior software engineer, gaining financial stability and success at a young age.

What did Alex dislike about corporate work culture?

Alex was frustrated with the meeting-heavy culture in corporate environments, feeling that meetings often didn't lead to tangible results but were just meant to show visibility to management. He also disliked the lack of meaningful impact in large companies, where individual contributions can feel insignificant.

What prompted Alex to reconsider his career path?

Although Alex was initially successful in his corporate job, he started to feel that it wasn’t fulfilling. The high-pressure environment, the corporate structure, and a lack of personal control led him to reflect on whether his next 30 years should follow the same path or look completely different.

Why did Alex decide not to resign in 2019?

Alex had already prepared his resignation letter in 2019 but postponed his decision due to the comfort and satisfaction he found in remote work. The ability to work remotely and live in the countryside significantly improved his quality of life, making him decide to stay in his job at the time.

What did Alex learn from his experience with Indie hacking?

Alex dabbled in Indie hacking, where he worked on smaller startups on his own. While he made some money, it wasn't substantial, but it helped him realize that he enjoyed creating and helping people solve problems. This experience also made him more focused on content creation and entrepreneurship.

What is Alex’s main motivation behind starting his YouTube channel?

Alex started his YouTube channel because he enjoyed the process of content creation and wanted to help others. His goal was not to make money but to reach and positively influence as many people as possible. He also found fulfillment in producing content and learning new skills like filmmaking and editing.

What challenges does Alex face as a content creator in Germany?

In Germany, content creation is not widely appreciated, especially in corporate environments. Alex faced challenges with people questioning his content creation efforts, and there is a general lack of understanding of how content creation can be a legitimate career. Additionally, corporate rules prevent employees from filming in offices, making it difficult to showcase his work life.

What are some key frustrations Alex has with the German corporate culture?

Alex pointed out several issues with the German corporate culture, including the rigid hierarchical structure, the focus on management rather than actual work, and the competitive atmosphere that leads to stagnation in salary progression. He also highlighted the lack of flexibility, with employees being restricted from pursuing outside contracts or self-employment.

How does Alex view the future of his career?

Alex is uncertain about his future career path. While he may continue working in the same industry, he is also open to a career switch. He enjoys content creation and learning about filmmaking and editing, but he’s unsure whether this will become a full-time career. He remains open to whatever opportunities come his way.