4 ms·

Help I hate being a software engineer

I am pretty good at it, but I hate all of the products there are to work on and I hate the culture and I hate the isolation. I thought I would like the job because I'm good with the logic and even with style, but it seems like every job available out there exists purely to further late stage capitalism into an ever more absurd farce of utility. What else can I do out there? I want to be actually useful to my fellow human beings, and I hate pretending that I care at all about company growth or whatever. Is this entire industry a Bret Easton Ellisonian nightmare?

MathCodeLove 5y ago
As someone else said, you'll likely have to take a pay cut if you want to find something you consider meaningful. It's difficult to find jobs that pay well at places that aren't profit oriented.
airbreather 5y ago
did you really do something you loved, or something that seemed like a good option if it is something you loved, then it won't matter to change jobs (not job type) to something that more aligns with your values, even if it pays less
zepto 5y ago
No, only 90% of it.
MattGaiser 5y ago
If you are willing to take a pay cut, the non-profit sector often has trouble hiring engineers. Same with the government. Pay is again low, but if you are against capitalism, you will likely find projects you view to be of value there.
- sockpuppettime 5y ago
  I am fine with a pay cut, that's not a problem. The non-profit sector is pretty absurd about degree requirements, especially considering the pay difference, however. And there are all of, like, 12 jobs out there it seems.
pj6174_ 5y ago
I'll say save/invest enough so that your capital can work for you, then switch over to a job that you find more meaningful. For me right now I'm also working at a job that makes me wonder "is this the most meaningful thing I can be doing right now?". So I plan to leave after I've spent a year at my current company to work on my own startup.
- wsc981 5y ago
  This is my approach. I save money now and hopefully in a few years I can just work full time on stuff that interests me without worrying about income. In my case, that would be working full-time on my own personal projects.
rektide 5y ago
Curate a sense of what value computing might have, experimemt independently, and encourage & collaborate with others showing radicalost tendencies. Start weird shit, join others starting weird shit. A better future awaits, merely needing those ready to begin it.
throwaway05112 5y ago
it's just a job and it's way easier and pays much better than many many others. optimize for [free time * money] product, then do what you want in your free time.
andymoe 5y ago
For these kinds of questions your age and at least country/state would help us orient and provide better help if that’s what you’re looking for. But no, it’s not all a nightmare. But some jobs/managers/products certainly are. Never had a job in this industry I regretted moving on from.
cratermoon 5y ago
You might find this motivating: https://techworkerhandbook.org/ https://techworkerhandbook.org/
GianFabien 5y ago
Agree: the majority of businesses are about making lots of money for the investors. The product, the consumers and the staff are all just a means to that end. It's not just in software development. But there are domains that actually are focused on creating things of value and solving real problems. For example, I have worked on steel mill automation, materials handling and warehouse logistics. Basically there is software in everything so there are lots of opportunities. Perhaps you could look at what domain appeals to your values and interests.
gregjor 5y ago
Taco Bell is hiring. Seriously, complaining about a job that pays way more than most people make because (surprise!) companies exist to make money and most products are dumb comes off as naive or whining. Use your money and free time to do something useful and gratifying. Don’t “be” a software engineer. Be a person who can make a living writing software. A job isn’t an identity.
beardyw 5y ago
If you are unhappy, I would first consider if is your job that is at fault. Most commenters here have expressed an opinion which I think I would characterise as - don't expect your job to make you happy. This is valid. I know people who have worked in organisations which do highly socially conscious work, but still experience the same disappointment and frustration. So first just check it really is the job. But I too have found myself in jobs where the job itself was making me seriously unhappy. On reflection it was in every case because I was being badly managed. Having finally worked that out, I successfully got myself moved internally on a few occasions, without ever revealing the real reason (sad, but you are looking to improve your lot, not become a whistleblower). I found that had the advantage of knowing what to expect to an extent not often available in a job interview. YMMV.

MathCodeLove 5y ago

As someone else said, you'll likely have to take a pay cut if you want to find something you consider meaningful. It's difficult to find jobs that pay well at places that aren't profit oriented.

airbreather 5y ago

did you really do something you loved, or something that seemed like a good option if it is something you loved, then it won't matter to change jobs (not job type) to something that more aligns with your values, even if it pays less

zepto 5y ago

No, only 90% of it.

MattGaiser 5y ago

If you are willing to take a pay cut, the non-profit sector often has trouble hiring engineers. Same with the government. Pay is again low, but if you are against capitalism, you will likely find projects you view to be of value there.

sockpuppettime 5y ago
I am fine with a pay cut, that's not a problem. The non-profit sector is pretty absurd about degree requirements, especially considering the pay difference, however. And there are all of, like, 12 jobs out there it seems.

pj6174_ 5y ago

I'll say save/invest enough so that your capital can work for you, then switch over to a job that you find more meaningful. For me right now I'm also working at a job that makes me wonder "is this the most meaningful thing I can be doing right now?". So I plan to leave after I've spent a year at my current company to work on my own startup.

wsc981 5y ago
This is my approach. I save money now and hopefully in a few years I can just work full time on stuff that interests me without worrying about income. In my case, that would be working full-time on my own personal projects.

rektide 5y ago

Curate a sense of what value computing might have, experimemt independently, and encourage & collaborate with others showing radicalost tendencies. Start weird shit, join others starting weird shit. A better future awaits, merely needing those ready to begin it.

throwaway05112 5y ago

it's just a job and it's way easier and pays much better than many many others. optimize for [free time * money] product, then do what you want in your free time.

andymoe 5y ago

For these kinds of questions your age and at least country/state would help us orient and provide better help if that’s what you’re looking for. But no, it’s not all a nightmare. But some jobs/managers/products certainly are. Never had a job in this industry I regretted moving on from.

cratermoon 5y ago

You might find this motivating: https://techworkerhandbook.org/ https://techworkerhandbook.org/

GianFabien 5y ago

Agree: the majority of businesses are about making lots of money for the investors. The product, the consumers and the staff are all just a means to that end. It's not just in software development. But there are domains that actually are focused on creating things of value and solving real problems. For example, I have worked on steel mill automation, materials handling and warehouse logistics. Basically there is software in everything so there are lots of opportunities. Perhaps you could look at what domain appeals to your values and interests.

gregjor 5y ago

Taco Bell is hiring. Seriously, complaining about a job that pays way more than most people make because (surprise!) companies exist to make money and most products are dumb comes off as naive or whining. Use your money and free time to do something useful and gratifying. Don’t “be” a software engineer. Be a person who can make a living writing software. A job isn’t an identity.

beardyw 5y ago

If you are unhappy, I would first consider if is your job that is at fault. Most commenters here have expressed an opinion which I think I would characterise as - don't expect your job to make you happy. This is valid. I know people who have worked in organisations which do highly socially conscious work, but still experience the same disappointment and frustration. So first just check it really is the job. But I too have found myself in jobs where the job itself was making me seriously unhappy. On reflection it was in every case because I was being badly managed. Having finally worked that out, I successfully got myself moved internally on a few occasions, without ever revealing the real reason (sad, but you are looking to improve your lot, not become a whistleblower). I found that had the advantage of knowing what to expect to an extent not often available in a job interview. YMMV.