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> Tomorrow I have a second interview at a local retail store. I've been a web developer or software engineer for a decade... Do you mean to say you're giving u

> Tomorrow I have a second interview at a local retail store. I've been a web developer or software engineer for a decade... Do you mean to say you're giving up on dev due to failures to land a new dev job...or you are trying to transition out of dev and not able to find a job in a new industry? I guess either way, an anecdote from own personal experience, I was looking at other options myself...I was burnt out on dev, looking to do something related but I thought might take a burden off my shoulders (QA/support), that didn't work out...but long story short, I just decided to embrace who I was--I'm a dev, and I'd like to think a good one, not to say a bigger transition is out of the question, but I found that it was more realistic to adjust my "internal" dials rather than escape to an entirely new career. That may or may not describe you, but I guess I would say to bear in mind the solution isn't always an external change of circumstances.

freedomben 4y ago
I know a couple people who escaped to QA. Some QA departments are serious software engineers, but others aren't. One good friend of mine now works like a couple hours a day on real work, and the rest of the day on his personal android app. His supervisor has full knowledge of it, so he is not doing anything wrong. He basically does all the work they have for him, and after that there isn't anything to do. Rather than make up busy work, they let him work on his app where at least he's building technical skills. There are days when looking for a similar gig is tempting :-D
runnerup 4y ago
> Do you mean to say you're giving up on dev due to failures to land a new dev job...or you are trying to transition out of dev and not able to find a job in a new industry? Curious about this as well. I figured they were just trying to find anything to bring in money and thought they'd pick up a local hourly "unskilled labor" job until they landed another developer opportunity.I've tried this too but even though I have a lot of experience in restaurant work and "unskilled" manual labor, those who are hiring still only want to hire candidates which fit their expectation of who "fits" the role. And it's rare that a recently out-of-work software developer can adapt themselves to seem like they'd fit in. So generally it's easier to find another developer job rather than a temporary unskilled labor position. It can also take 3-9 months to find that next developer job. Good luck. Be kind to those around you and allow them to be kind to you.
- dirtybirdnj 4y ago
  > I figured they were just trying to find anything to bring in money and thought they'd pick up a local hourly "unskilled labor" job until they landed another developer opportunity. Kind of. Need to pay the bills. Genuinely so burned out / emotionally destroyed that I'm genuinely questioning whether I want to do software anymore. I find that when I can trick my mind into staying away from the negative I can engage in software and even enjoy it / have fun talking about it. I love programming. I fucking HATE the people I have to deal with to get to do that activity and be paid for it. If you're a PM or other manager reading this I'm sorry. Your kind have destroyed me mentally and emotionally because it was too hard to be kind.
dirtybirdnj 4y ago
> Do you mean to say you're giving up on dev due to failures to land a new dev job...or you are trying to transition out of dev and not able to find a job in a new industry? I genuinely don't know if I belong anymore. I want to say I'm still a software engineer but the impostor syndrome has overtaken me like a venom symbiote. Maybe in some subconscious way I'm punishing myself for my failures by getting a "lower class" job? I hope it doesn't last forever but I am just so PTSD haggard from trying to prove myself in tech interviews. It hurts so bad to keep putting myself out there and getting denied. I don't think it's a forever thing, but I also didn't expect to be in a multi-year career freefall. Overall it't not about what I want because I have no control over what happens. I can show up and try but ultimately success is not something I can dictate or manifest.

freedomben 4y ago

I know a couple people who escaped to QA. Some QA departments are serious software engineers, but others aren't. One good friend of mine now works like a couple hours a day on real work, and the rest of the day on his personal android app. His supervisor has full knowledge of it, so he is not doing anything wrong. He basically does all the work they have for him, and after that there isn't anything to do. Rather than make up busy work, they let him work on his app where at least he's building technical skills. There are days when looking for a similar gig is tempting :-D

runnerup 4y ago

> Do you mean to say you're giving up on dev due to failures to land a new dev job...or you are trying to transition out of dev and not able to find a job in a new industry? Curious about this as well. I figured they were just trying to find anything to bring in money and thought they'd pick up a local hourly "unskilled labor" job until they landed another developer opportunity.I've tried this too but even though I have a lot of experience in restaurant work and "unskilled" manual labor, those who are hiring still only want to hire candidates which fit their expectation of who "fits" the role. And it's rare that a recently out-of-work software developer can adapt themselves to seem like they'd fit in. So generally it's easier to find another developer job rather than a temporary unskilled labor position. It can also take 3-9 months to find that next developer job. Good luck. Be kind to those around you and allow them to be kind to you.

dirtybirdnj 4y ago
> I figured they were just trying to find anything to bring in money and thought they'd pick up a local hourly "unskilled labor" job until they landed another developer opportunity. Kind of. Need to pay the bills. Genuinely so burned out / emotionally destroyed that I'm genuinely questioning whether I want to do software anymore. I find that when I can trick my mind into staying away from the negative I can engage in software and even enjoy it / have fun talking about it. I love programming. I fucking HATE the people I have to deal with to get to do that activity and be paid for it. If you're a PM or other manager reading this I'm sorry. Your kind have destroyed me mentally and emotionally because it was too hard to be kind.

dirtybirdnj 4y ago

> Do you mean to say you're giving up on dev due to failures to land a new dev job...or you are trying to transition out of dev and not able to find a job in a new industry? I genuinely don't know if I belong anymore. I want to say I'm still a software engineer but the impostor syndrome has overtaken me like a venom symbiote. Maybe in some subconscious way I'm punishing myself for my failures by getting a "lower class" job? I hope it doesn't last forever but I am just so PTSD haggard from trying to prove myself in tech interviews. It hurts so bad to keep putting myself out there and getting denied. I don't think it's a forever thing, but I also didn't expect to be in a multi-year career freefall. Overall it't not about what I want because I have no control over what happens. I can show up and try but ultimately success is not something I can dictate or manifest.