I was laid off as a software engineer... (Quick Rant)

If you've been following my channel over the last few months, you might've been thinking "how is this guy able to travel this much?!" Well... this video answers that

But more importantly, in this video I talk about some of my frustrations with the state of the tech job market right now, expectations surrounding the software engineering field in general, and where I fit into this mess

Amidst the frustration and uncertainty, I refuse to be defeated. I share my loose plans and aspirations for the future, discussing my next steps in rebuilding my career and finding fulfillment beyond the confines of traditional tech roles. I remain determined to carve out a path that aligns with my values!

If you've ever felt disillusioned by the tech industry, faced unexpected challenges in life, or are considering going to school for software engineering or becoming a software engineer, definitely hear me out! This video is for you. Join me as I share my unfiltered thoughts, and embrace the journey of growth and self-discovery.

#TechIndustryRant #CareerChallenges #LaidOff #CareerJourney #SelfReflection #Resilience #Authenticity

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[jaulpanos]

I'm blown away by the amount of comments on this video, I'm happy that I resonated with so many people but at the same time I'm sorry we are all struggling. Still, I suppose that's life! I'll respond to as many comments as I can and make a follow-up video on this topic. Appreciate all of you!

[raghavchugh]

"The amount of work that you just have to do to stay relevant in this industry is just nuts!"
Damn so true.

[heypaisan]

DO NOT make it a habit of going home to code after spending the day coding at your day job. You WILL burn out.

[StTrina]

I've been a developer since 1998. The last 10 years have been hard. I felt like I'm doing the same thing, just with a different set of tools every 5 years or so. I recently decided I'm done looking at computers all day and started my own lawn mowing business. I've been at it for a little over a year and half and now I'm at 90% of my old salary as a principle engineer and I never have to worry about being laid off/fired again. Plus, I'm outside all day and I don't bring my work home with me. I sleep better than ever and have gotten a lot healthier. Maybe this is your opportunity to break away from the cubicle prison ;)

[vby]

"laid off" videos are very popular on YouTube these days, unfortunately.

[kagreenk]

I have been a software developer for 35 years. I keep my skills up to date and have reinvented myself every 5 or so years. I refuse to go into management because you have to lie to and cheat people (if you are in management, yes that is what you do). I end up carrying people and get shit on constantly. If you protest you’re labeled difficult. This isn’t just software development. It’s all non-management positions. Management IS the problem.

[TwinBnotTwinA]

Having been laid off several times, I understand your frustration. And right now the job market is the worst it's ever been in my 10 years in the industry. I'm done relying on companies and, while I still need a job for now, I'm positioning myself to be my own boss.

[wdmeister]

I was trying to find a programming job as a new starter and after zero responses to my applications I gave up (I was able to solve FANG programming questions with ease and have a few projects on my github). In the UK truck drivers earn more than the majority of SE and one takes 2 months to learn and pass exams and the other is years of hard work and studying never ends. And let's be honest 99% of tech jobs is as boring as driving a car. That 1% of cool jobs requires you to have a deep knowledge of math, physics, or biology. In the past if you were able to code a for loop you got a job (I know a few people that got their jobes with just basics around 2013) Now you need to know 3 languages, 15 frameworks, and all algorithms only to get a 10-stage interview. It's ridiculous.

[tommeadows-iexb]

I got out after 27 years. People see my resume and go "wow" because of all the prestige names but have no idea of the stress involved. And it's never the actual work it is overpaid management who force us into the latest 'cool' methodology so they can appear to be doing something. I never had a job I really liked and am sorry I put myself through those awful decades.

[rbaron]

Just a quick reality check, the only job security you have a software engineer is the ability to find a new job.

[ThePetit]

I think we’re all now coming to terms with SWE being just another job. We were sold the idea of it being the most lucrative job, that’d provide all sorts of perks, benefits and security. In reality, it’s just like any other job, with daily tickets waiting for you to complete each working day. And managers, CEMs, clients pinging you to find out when you’re gonna get shit done. People playing the corporate game and sending tasks over the fence for other teams to complete.
And somewhere in between all of that noise, you get left alone to code a bit.
At the end of the day, you just need to work, make some money to support yourself and your family. So I’m not too hung up on the title. Make some money and stay out of debt.

[melvyn]

The burnout is real! So many people are in the same boat! Good luck with the job search!

[YumT-voxc]

I am 42, 16 years of exp. In software industry and now since last 2 years acted as an Eng.Manager…. Exactly what you said, I am experimenting to move towards management and don’t want to stay in coding forever…. Unemployed since 4 months and struggling though… hate companies when they ghosted me after 6 rounds of interview lately…

[mrcheezits]

Hey man I just quit a toxic tech job and now back on the market. This is a could time to assess your options. There may be other jobs out there that provide a better environment. Just be careful when they start saying, "We are family and we are friends".

[halfbakedproductions]

I've been in tech since around 2009, full time since 2012. I want out as well. My brain feels like a lump of concrete, I'm not progressing and don't want to.

Absolutely no idea what I want to do instead. I'm thinking about a career break or sabbatical just for some "me" time for once.

[daltonridenhour]

It's cool to hear you being real with yourself. I've had many people over the years ask my advice about bootcamps, etc, and I always encourage them to spend 6 months to a year learning on their own before spending a dime. After this period of time, if they find themselves losing sleep with the desire to solve the problems, then it's worth pursuing further.

Coding is absolutely not worth going into for the money; you should love it or leave it. Otherwise, you will likely be miserable when the deadlines hit. I was lucky and got into coding as a hobby before I even knew making money with it was possible. Deadlines aren't always fun, but I'm thrilled to be coding 95% of the time. I even demoted myself years ago from the CTO track so I could keep my hands on the code. If this isn't you, it's probably worth considering a different path.

I hope you find what you love to do! Don't worry about the degree; it's all transferable (my degrees are in job skills are learned on the job, not in school).

[Xnn]

I feel you brother, I was lay off in one of the most strage ways, on june last year I switched jobs from a small startup to a bigger "startup" for money reasons, just 3 months in they fired me on the pretense of "Business needs" in actuality they expected me to work non-stop outside of work hours just to appease upper managemenet, basically sell my soul to the company. I didn't and complaint about it so that was it. The funny thing they call themselves a startup with 10 years in the market and 200+ employees is plain stupid.

Lucky for me I ended up having two freelance projects that helped me until end of last year, and just next week I'm starting a new position on a real company, no more startup BS. I feel this is going to be demanding but at least meaningful, creating software for important clients and it seems that in a good team of people, also with a strict check-in and check-out hours, so much better in comparison to the "work whenever but deliver when I say" mentality. Also I started picking up hobbies I go to boxing classes twice a week and started playing bass, things I mentioned on this new job interviews and got a possitive response so that is also good.

I like to watch these "doomer" Software Engineer videos since I suffered it and it seems we share similar perspectives, I already grinded the shit out of programming, now I just want to work and live normally, like if I could switch careers in an instant for something that pays me 50% less but is a mature industry with a defined career path I would do it but here we are...

For now I just hope you find a job that fullfils you and take care✌

[ransomemckissick]

I was laid off from my job as an embedded systems software engineer for a defense contractor in 2001. That's why I have been a paralegal for 16 years, and taking the California Bar Exam next month! I have never looked back.

[vbywrde]

The thing is, no matter what career you choose, you will have frustrations, and nothing is certain and there is no such thing as "job security", which has been something of a myth that came out of the 1950's when there was such a thing (and only for a short time after WWII). So you have to steel yourself as a human being to working hard during your lifetime. Now this does not mean you shouldn't seek to do what you enjoy. However, you need to view that through the lens of your lifetime... If the thing you enjoy cannot make you enough money to eventually retire on, despite your wish that it would, then pursuing that because you enjoy it is only going to make you suffer in the end. And you may say, "Well that's a long time from now", but you will be surprised as everyone else has ever been how quickly that time goes by and you find yourself there. Your life decisions will impact whether you live later in life with regrets and hardships or not. And the truth is, you may have hardships regardless of what you do... but if you live your life thoughtfully and make the best and wisest decisions you can, and don't look for the easy way, but instead look for the right way, then you don't ever need to have regrets. And when it's your last breath, whether or not you have regrets will be the only thing that matters, really. Live your life in a way that you won't regret later. Don't be lazy, work hard, be honest, help others as best you can, and live well. That's my best advice.

Also, I have been a programmer / analyst since 1997, and I'm still doing the same work now. I never wanted to get into management. But I picked, luckily, a set of skills that have remained useful over this entire period of time without having to vastly upgrade my skills constantly. However, I also worked for companies that provided training as part of the job (two weeks per year). So yes, I agree, you shouldn't be spending all your time doing programming, even if you are a professional. But you need to look ahead and see what is most likely to be useful over as long a time horizon as possible and go do that. For me it was ASP.Net / SQL Server. Great combo. Last long time. And all that said, this entire past year I spent doing a deep dive into python and AI ... because that's most likely the next big wave. If you want to stay in an interesting industry for a long time, then follow my lead. I've totally enjoyed it the entire way through, and still do. Not even close to feeling burned out. But that's also because I never let management bully me. I do a good solid job, and don't work myself to the bone, but I do high quality work every time.

Anyway, just somethings to think about. Wishing you well, you seem like a good person. But don't be lazy. And don't be too idealistic. You will need to retire some day, and if you have a wife and kids, you'll need to provide for your family, whether now, or in the future. Consider it. It's important. Happiness comes to those who live their lives well, and have no regrets. Be one of those people and you'll do well, no matter how things go. My best wishes to you. Ciao.

[kebabfoto]

Thank you for sharing. I graduated top 3 of my class in june 2023 and I have had 7 jobs since then just to pay rent. Some people tell me to work harder but I already work as hard as I can and i'm mentally exhausted since school and depressed because of how things turned out for me