3 ms·

I’ve been doing this for almost 10 years and I disagree with everything but the first and last point. (It’s true — I don’t have all the answers, and yes, I can

I’ve been doing this for almost 10 years and I disagree with everything but the first and last point. (It’s true — I don’t have all the answers, and yes, I can be laid off, but so can the company disappear tomorrow.)

hk__2 3y ago
Could you expand on why you disagree?
- treflop 3y ago
  > Expectation: As a senior, I'll get to play with the latest tech and build amazing projects! > Reality: This legacy code isn't going anywhere, and neither am I. Let's fix some bug that happens once every full moon. I still get to play with the latest tech to evaluate them — do I adopt them? Usually no, but that’s my choice. Sorry man, I tried building real projects with new tech as a junior and the tech always went to shit then too. Except for the occasional unicorn, new tech has never been fun. Plus I don’t know about anyone else, but I sure worked on legacy code too as a junior… I’m talking fucking ColdFusion at one point. > Expectation: Being senior means I can avoid all the boring tasks. > Reality: Endless meetings, documentation, and code reviews… Oh, and did I mention debugging legacy systems on Friday at 6 PM? I love meetings. That’s where I set everyone straight and tell them that they should consider this second option and it may save them (and me) a ton of money and time. There are the occasional overly-long meetings but I speak up and nip the problem in the bud. There are some boring ass meetings that have to be done like standup but I’m not even lifting a finger. It’s like being paid to do nothing. I also enjoy documentation personally. Code reviews are kinda boring, no cap. But whatever, it’s not that bad. I could be cleaning a kitchen at a restaurant or fixing a stripped screw. I’ve had to debug systems at inopportune times before but it’s happened like 5 times tops in my career. But overall, I get way fewer shitty tasks as senior. > Expectation: Has a million ideas on how to change this company 180 degrees! Let’s improve everything! > Reality: Knows that nothing will change without management approval and the necessary budget. I guess I don’t disagree with this one that much, but I never had much friction as a junior dev either. Honestly, the problem is that most people barely have a handle on what’s going on the company and they might suggest building a bridge when we’ve been breaking ground on a tunnel for four years — no shit your idea is not going to get any traction. Maybe read the room first? > Expectation: Once I become a senior, I will have more time to relax. > Reality: It’s fine, I’ll finish the work on Saturday. Can’t say anything other than I’ve never had to work weekends in my life at a software company. > Expectation: Once I become a senior, I will lead big projects, have a big impact, and tell others what to do! > Reality: I miss the times when people told me what to do. Sorry I just can’t relate to this one at all. I just love engineering, all my past projects have always worked out very well. Right now I’m building a DIY pressure-activated water pump system in my garage and I just bought all the parts while sitting in a Target parking lot, put it together in 15 minutes, and it just worked. I have all this knowledge and experience from doing this for 10 years and I’m still learning new things all the time and challenging myself, and when I put shit together, it works.
  - hk__2 3y ago
    Thanks!

hk__2 3y ago

Could you expand on why you disagree?

treflop 3y ago
> Expectation: As a senior, I'll get to play with the latest tech and build amazing projects! > Reality: This legacy code isn't going anywhere, and neither am I. Let's fix some bug that happens once every full moon. I still get to play with the latest tech to evaluate them — do I adopt them? Usually no, but that’s my choice. Sorry man, I tried building real projects with new tech as a junior and the tech always went to shit then too. Except for the occasional unicorn, new tech has never been fun. Plus I don’t know about anyone else, but I sure worked on legacy code too as a junior… I’m talking fucking ColdFusion at one point. > Expectation: Being senior means I can avoid all the boring tasks. > Reality: Endless meetings, documentation, and code reviews… Oh, and did I mention debugging legacy systems on Friday at 6 PM? I love meetings. That’s where I set everyone straight and tell them that they should consider this second option and it may save them (and me) a ton of money and time. There are the occasional overly-long meetings but I speak up and nip the problem in the bud. There are some boring ass meetings that have to be done like standup but I’m not even lifting a finger. It’s like being paid to do nothing. I also enjoy documentation personally. Code reviews are kinda boring, no cap. But whatever, it’s not that bad. I could be cleaning a kitchen at a restaurant or fixing a stripped screw. I’ve had to debug systems at inopportune times before but it’s happened like 5 times tops in my career. But overall, I get way fewer shitty tasks as senior. > Expectation: Has a million ideas on how to change this company 180 degrees! Let’s improve everything! > Reality: Knows that nothing will change without management approval and the necessary budget. I guess I don’t disagree with this one that much, but I never had much friction as a junior dev either. Honestly, the problem is that most people barely have a handle on what’s going on the company and they might suggest building a bridge when we’ve been breaking ground on a tunnel for four years — no shit your idea is not going to get any traction. Maybe read the room first? > Expectation: Once I become a senior, I will have more time to relax. > Reality: It’s fine, I’ll finish the work on Saturday. Can’t say anything other than I’ve never had to work weekends in my life at a software company. > Expectation: Once I become a senior, I will lead big projects, have a big impact, and tell others what to do! > Reality: I miss the times when people told me what to do. Sorry I just can’t relate to this one at all. I just love engineering, all my past projects have always worked out very well. Right now I’m building a DIY pressure-activated water pump system in my garage and I just bought all the parts while sitting in a Target parking lot, put it together in 15 minutes, and it just worked. I have all this knowledge and experience from doing this for 10 years and I’m still learning new things all the time and challenging myself, and when I put shit together, it works.
- hk__2 3y ago
  Thanks!