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I went from Software Engineer to Solutions Architect a few years back, and can't be more happy. a) You are still coding somewhat, but just prototypes. It is fu

I went from Software Engineer to Solutions Architect a few years back, and can't be more happy. a) You are still coding somewhat, but just prototypes. It is fun to use the APIs your company builds and help customers with it b) You learn a ton about business. I would call this position more professional consultant, since in the right company, you learn about deals, how much a company pays for what and what value they get out of you You finally work with people and not nerds who never grow up. You can touch code, but also learn soft skills and make connections. Personally, the money was equal if not better. You finally work on the profit center of a company and not the cost center. After I switched to Solutions Architect, I come here every now and then and be so happy not to do this fulltime anymore. I don't care what you build at the weekend anymore. I am also more free after work. There is no special new tool I need to learn after the job to get a job in 3 years from now. The people skills I build with my wife, kid and friends are so much more valuable now. So socializing replaced hacking on a new project. Which also did good for my mental health.

larrykubin 6y ago
Did you switch within the same company? I have made attempts to apply to Solutions Engineer and Developer Advocate roles to match how my personality has changed over time, but have found that no one responds to my resume / applications, even when I have spent several years teaching, consulting, and building content and demos on the side to supplement my engineering experience and prove I can do the job. I immediately get responses and enthusiasm when I apply as Senior Software Engineer, but it seems people are skeptical of why I would want to change to Solutions Engineer or Developer Advocate when the title is not already on my resume.
- fireandforget 6y ago
  No, and I had the same responses. I applied at 12 Solutions Architect roles, and 1 company replied and offered the interview process. I actually don't know how people choose Solutions Architects. One tipp would be to go on LinkedIn, look for the Solutions Architects at the company you apply for, and ask them how they got hired or just look at their CV. Right now it can be that the market is dried up and this sales role is especially hard, since many fields don't have active customers any more (or won't get new ones in quite some time)

larrykubin 6y ago

Did you switch within the same company? I have made attempts to apply to Solutions Engineer and Developer Advocate roles to match how my personality has changed over time, but have found that no one responds to my resume / applications, even when I have spent several years teaching, consulting, and building content and demos on the side to supplement my engineering experience and prove I can do the job. I immediately get responses and enthusiasm when I apply as Senior Software Engineer, but it seems people are skeptical of why I would want to change to Solutions Engineer or Developer Advocate when the title is not already on my resume.

fireandforget 6y ago
No, and I had the same responses. I applied at 12 Solutions Architect roles, and 1 company replied and offered the interview process. I actually don't know how people choose Solutions Architects. One tipp would be to go on LinkedIn, look for the Solutions Architects at the company you apply for, and ask them how they got hired or just look at their CV. Right now it can be that the market is dried up and this sales role is especially hard, since many fields don't have active customers any more (or won't get new ones in quite some time)