Choosing a career I have questions for Software Developers

Harasrailltub

Hi ,

I am seriously thinking of going to college to study programming . I have been making my way through some of the courses on Code academy(Java/python) and I have a feeling that it is something I will enjoy and have some knack for . I like the logical thinking and the idea of having such a useful concrete skill.

I just have some broad questions about the job that I want to ask here .Please answer some if you have time .

1. Do you find being in a sitting position for long hours at a computer has negatively affected your health ? This is something I am conscious of as I feel the need to get up and stretch/move every half hour or so . Do some of you use standing desks ?

2 Similarly eyesight , has your eyesight suffered from looking at a monitor for years.

3 Is there a lot of variation in work culture in the companies that hire ? Call me lazy/ a millenial / a snowflake or whatever you want but I would like to work in a place that doesn't expect me to stay on much longer than contracted hours . I have a cousin that is a lawyer and a brother an accountant and they go to work at 8 and are finished at 8 as they are starting out and want to impress/climb the ladder . I do not want to do that . I am happy to work hard 40 or so hours a week but after that it impacts too much on my well being and balance in life.

4 Are there typical stereotypes of people who get into software development or is that nonsense ? Is it more suitable for more introverted people who are happy to work with a computer all day ?Would a sociable person who likes interacting with people feel isolated in this work ?

5 What are the things that you like most about being a software developer and give most satisfaction ? Which things do you like least and would you change ? are you happy with your career choice overall?

6 can you recommend any more aptitude tests/courses so that I can figure out if I have what it takes to make it in this field

7 It seems from articles and documentaries that I have seen that a lot of people who work in tech in the US are using prescription ADHD drugs to help them focus better on coding and improve their performance . Has this trend made it to Ireland also ? I'm just curious about this its not so much a question about the career.

Thanks to anyone who can help ,

H

km991148

1. Sitting in any job all day is not good - go to the gym/ run at lunch, look after your back. Abd yes some offices have standing desks.
3. Depends on companies - your first job you will prob end up working more than contracted, but thats fine when you get experience.
4 - A mix, but it is a largely male dominated profession which isnt so good. not being social wont make a good developer - you need to be able to communicate effectively and mix with other stakeholders.

BrokenArrows

1. Obviously sitting down for long periods of time is not good. Its the nature of the job. I dont have any negative effects from it but i know people who do.
My whole office has desks that can raise up so you can stand, but i dont like standing while working.

There is nothing preventing you from standing up every 30 minutes and taking a minute or two to stretch or a quick walk.

2. Ive always had poor eyesight regardless of my computer activity.

3. If you can get the work done in the time given in a 9-5 then usually there isnt a problem. But it depends on the culture of the work environment and you wont really find that out until you start working. Id say 95% of my days i leave on time but i have no problem working late (and i do occasionally work until midnight when i **** something up)

4. Ive never worked with a steriotypical nerd who doesnt talk to anyone. Obviously almost everyone is into computers and gaming but ive never been in an unsocialiable group.

5. I like the autonomy to a point. I get given a task and am left alone to accomplish it.

7. The ADHD drugs thing all comes out of top software places like google and facebook where the graduates are put under huge pressure. In the normal job you will never encounter that.

14ned

Harasrailltub wrote: »

1. Do you find being in a sitting position for long hours at a computer has negatively affected your health ? This is something I am conscious of as I feel the need to get up and stretch/move every half hour or so . Do some of you use standing desks ?

2 Similarly eyesight , has your eyesight suffered from looking at a monitor for years.

Most "professional" roles nowadays involve spending most of the day in front of a computer. So it's much of a muchness, all roles are as bad. Programming, at least, involves little typing, though a lot of reading and scrolling, so RSI is less of a problem here than in other roles like technical document writing or being an admin.

Eyesight is mostly affected by age, but in any case LCD screens are vastly less tiring than cathode ray tubes are. Just remember to get your eyes retested every two years.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

3 Is there a lot of variation in work culture in the companies that hire ? Call me lazy/ a millenial / a snowflake or whatever you want but I would like to work in a place that doesn't expect me to stay on much longer than contracted hours . I have a cousin that is a lawyer and a brother an accountant and they go to work at 8 and are finished at 8 as they are starting out and want to impress/climb the ladder . I do not want to do that . I am happy to work hard 40 or so hours a week but after that it impacts too much on my well being and balance in life.

It varies from org to org and project to project, but in general the only way you'll get a cast iron guarantee of not working extra hours for free is to be a contractor, and that becomes available only after many years of experience.

Again it's no different in other "professional" roles. Some lawyers or accountants regularly work seven day weeks. Some barely work three. There is usually, but not always, an inverse correlation between seniority and time worked. But ultimately it comes down to timetable, product, and culture. Different teams in the same company can have very different culture on work life balance.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

4 Are there typical stereotypes of people who get into software development or is that nonsense ? Is it more suitable for more introverted people who are happy to work with a computer all day ?Would a sociable person who likes interacting with people feel isolated in this work ?

It's a job. It pays money and keeps you alive.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

5 What are the things that you like most about being a software developer and give most satisfaction ? Which things do you like least and would you change ? are you happy with your career choice overall?

It's a job. It pays money and keeps you alive.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

6 can you recommend any more aptitude tests/courses so that I can figure out if I have what it takes to make it in this field

Aptitude is overrated. As with all professions, it mostly comes down to time invested and work ethic.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

7 It seems from articles and documentaries that I have seen that a lot of people who work in tech in the US are using prescription ADHD drugs to help them focus better on coding and improve their performance . Has this trend made it to Ireland also ? I'm just curious about this its not so much a question about the career.

Heh. As with most "professions", in your twenties you may be doing lines of coke in the bathroom at work, or mixing methamphetamines into your work coffee before heading out at the weekend to bosh a few pills. But that's an artifact of youth and dare I say it, immaturity, rather than profession chosen.

I am unaware of software being any different than say teaching, medicine or electricians in that regard. Young people be young, and the university educated are often emotionally stunted compared to their non-academic peers and feel a need to let loose in their twenties. Almost everybody grows out of it by their thirties, and if not they start to suffer bad health problems by their forties.

Niall

Talisman

Harasrailltub wrote: »

1. Do you find being in a sitting position for long hours at a computer has negatively affected your health ? This is something I am conscious of as I feel the need to get up and stretch/move every half hour or so . Do some of you use standing desks ?

Some places have standing desks. I've been using a saddle chair for the past 4/5 years which has really helped my back and neck. Using ergonomic keyboards and a trackball instead of a mouse also helps.

2 Similarly eyesight , has your eyesight suffered from looking at a monitor for years.

If you're concerned about the effect of using a screen all day you can wear protective eye wear.

bpmurray

1. Yes - I ended up with a herniated disc and the surgeon pointed the finger at my work & position at the desk. The suggestions about getting up & walking around are good, but sometimes when your "in the zone" it's difficult to stand up and leave the problem you're working on.
2. I wear glasses but I have no idea if that's because of the screen.
3. The reality is that when you're deep in a task, typically a developer will continue until (s)he reaches a logical break point which might be dead on at 5PM, but equally might be a couple of hours later.
4. Nonsense - most I know are extraverted and gregarious although there are some more introverted.
5. It's like doing crossword puzzles all day - stimulating and challenging. I get frustrated with the number of meetings, although these tend to multiply as you move forward in your career. A really positive thing about the industry is the willingness of people to share their knowledge and experience, evidenced by the number of meetups.
6. Don't know of any tests, but if you're interested in codecademy and the like, that's a reasonably good indicator.
7. Never noticed it - my guess is that that's a Daily Mail kind of report with only a tenuous connection to reality.

rgodard80a

Q1. Do you find being in a sitting position for long hours at a computer has negatively affected your health ?

A1. I'm 25+ years in the industry.
No back problems and I slouch and sit all sorts of ways I shouldn't.
Granted it doesn't help your waistline if you don't do sports/gym outside of work. Only directly related issue a few years ago was the odd twinge of repetitive strain injury in the hands/fingers from typing all day & night, nothing major and disappeared since.

Q2. Similarly eyesight , has your eyesight suffered from looking at a monitor for years.

A2. Not that I can directly correlate to computer screens.
20+ years ago I got my driving license and can legally drive without glasses, but definitely benefit from wearing them. Can still do the same, but they probably got worse with age rather than computer screens.

Q3. Is there a lot of variation in work culture in the companies that hire ?
A3. Yes. As much to do with company size, finances and company maturity.
A small startup company will push you to do a lot and perform many roles, but you'll get the most valuable experience. A large established profitable company with a mature product may pigeon hole you in a specific role and you'll have more predictable working hours. My perception is that American companies work you harder. Native Irish companies will have more control over the company and product, while multinationals will call the shots more.
Also, companies floating on the stock exchange will be tighter with money.

Q4 Are there typical stereotypes of people who get into software development or is that nonsense ?
A4. It really is a team mentality.
After a few years the nerdy/introverted people tend to gravitate to the technical side of things and may take the architecture career path. The extroverts tend to go to management, business analysts, client facing work, solution architect positions etc. There's room for all sorts of people with a good attitude, but someone negative and anti-social is toxic in a team.
Someone with good technical skills and people skills, able to network and talk to all people in the company will thrive.

Q5. What are the things that you like most about being a software developer and give most satisfaction ?
A5. Software development is both a positive intellectual challenge and a creative outlet. It also pays very well when you get into it where it's an employees market when you've a few years experience. It also helps to be able to work from home a day or two a week when you've a family.

Q6. can you recommend any more aptitude tests/courses so that I can figure out if I have what it takes to make it in this field
A6. Plenty of people can program, without natural aptitude.
If you have an "engineers" personality, like knowing how things work, have taken apart stuff,
are logical in nature, like science and technology etc it's a good start. It would help to like maths, but you can get away with it. I struggled with 3rd level maths.

Q7. It seems from articles and documentaries that I have seen that a lot of people who work in tech in the US are using prescription ADHD drugs
A7. God no... I hope not, unless it's at the higher ends of serious companies like Google which have a reputation for serious competition as they hire so many good people. Most commerical software development is fairly repetitive stuff, databases and web sites. Advanced R&D work into artificial intelligence, block chains, stock market fast trading, telecoms etc tends to be specialist work.
It's a struggle to recruit software developers with a couple of years experience at the moment, where we have to import developers from other EU and non-EU companies. So no need to resort to drugs.

MillField

1. No really so far, but for sure it's not good for you. I think standing desks are beneficial and I'm seeing more and more of them pop up around my office. As with any job where you sit down all day, it should be mixed with exercise in the evenings or at lunch. Nothing stopping you from getting up every half hour for a quick stretch of the legs.

2. As above. No issue so far...fingers crossed none in the future.

3. Depends on the company I suppose. In the 3.5 years I've been working in the industry I havent had to stay late often at all. Sometimes a project can turn into a headache and you might have to bring the laptop home but luckily that has only happened maybe three times for me.

4. A mixture of both in my experience. There's a few people happy to stay working away at their computers all day and speak very little. Others will be talking all day. If working in an Agile way (which seems to be the norm now in software development) you would have plenty of interactions with people on a daily basis.

5. Building stuff that you can see working is satisfying. It's a great feeling when the penny drops and you understand how something works and implement a solution. On the flip side, it can be extremely frustrating when something doesn't work and a project deadline is looming. As a career choice it's definitely a good one. There are plenty of software development jobs going all over the world, and those skills translate everywhere.

6. Just do programming tutorials and build some stuff. You'll find out fairly quickly if you like it or not.

7. Wasn't aware of that!

Cordell

1 and 2 - Probably this is one of the safest profession. I used to do field work in a harsher climate than here, constant danger of electrocution and working close to heavy traffic, I'll take the office chair thank you very much. You can always compensate with gym and so.

3 Normally not, but it depends. Overall, giving 110% during regular hours beats working 110% hours, anytime!

4 As in any other field, social people tend to fair better than the introverts. Networking and reaching out to other people from other teams will positively help your career.

5 Doing what I like and getting paid for it. Travel around the world on company moneys. Depending on the field of work and company type you may have different things that you like and just as many things you hate.

6 There is no such thing. If you like problem solving, if you are fairly good at maths and physics, then it's very likely that you have what it takes. Additionally, abstract reasoning and attention to details are some of the traits required, although you can get them in time.

7 Coffee is normally enough

rgodard80a

One extra thing with the likes of standing desks, special chairs, balancing balls and all sorts of non standard office furniture....

You potentially need a physiotherapist note for a company to invest in those specialist items.
They won't necessarily buy it because you fear sitting down on standard chairs for the next 40 years.

But if you have an existing condition, shouldn't be a problem.

GarIT

1. Yes, I've developed hip (from crossing my legs badly) and upper back problems (from leaning forwards while sitting). I'm now goint to the gum and doing yoga/pilates to compensate.
2. No. I find most issues to be with lighting. Your screen should be at the same level as your environment and you should be fine, using your phone is bed will do you much more harm.
3. There are plenty of places like that, there are plenty of places that are not like that.
4. There are jobs in demand for people that are specifically more social, e.g. liasing with customers and translating what the customer wants into a plan for development. In some roles you'll work on your own without talking to anyone all day in others you'll be glad when people stop talking to you for a few mins so you can get some of your own work done.
5. I like piles of money, I don't know what I'd change. Some of the business people I've had to deal with are c*nts and I'd rather not have to work for people that don't know anything about development and have unrealistic expectations.
6. Anything to do with logical or mechanical reasoning. If you want to be filthy rich an A in Maths. If you want to be reasonably well off determination and logical and mechanical reasoning. If you want a stable 9-5 you need enough logical reasoning skills that you could easily understand the components and layout of a car engine if you tried. Physics and to a lesser extent chemistry aren't exactly similar but can be a good indicator.
7. Yes. There are "superstar" engineers that take a lot of ****. It depends on your role. One thing I will say is that something that shocked me graduating is everyone takes drugs, half of the middle class take weed or coke recreationally or at least 90% of those that go drinking do.

Jim2007

First of all let me preface my response by pointing out that the majority of my 25+ years experience has been working in Switzerland. I moved from Dublin when I was 27 years old.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

1. Do you find being in a sitting position for long hours at a computer has negatively affected your health ? This is something I am conscious of as I feel the need to get up and stretch/move every half hour or so . Do some of you use standing desks ?

If you spend long period sitting at a computer it is your own fault. There are standing desks, balls etc.. And no one objects to you going for a swim, jog or whatever when you feel like it.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

2 Similarly eyesight , has your eyesight suffered from looking at a monitor for years.

Hard for me to say really it was the computer or just natural wear and tear so to speak... I got glasses when I was 38 and the prescription has changed twice or three times over the last 20 years. But most of my family wears glasses at this stage in live anyways. Here if you work in computing the health insurance automatically pay for prescription eyewear that is supposed to be optimized for computer use, perhaps that has helped.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

3 Is there a lot of variation in work culture in the companies that hire ? Call me lazy/ a millenial / a snowflake or whatever you want but I would like to work in a place that doesn't expect me to stay on much longer than contracted hours . I have a cousin that is a lawyer and a brother an accountant and they go to work at 8 and are finished at 8 as they are starting out and want to impress/climb the ladder . I do not want to do that . I am happy to work hard 40 or so hours a week but after that it impacts too much on my well being and balance in life.

Here is Switzerland, work-life balance is a big thing. I'd say we work a lot harder than the UK/US/IRE during the 42.5 hours that we do work - there is no going for long coffee breaks, hanging round the water cooler, late lunches or socialising - you are there to work and you get on with it. But come 17:30 or so the offices will be dead - the Swiss don't do overtime.

We have very little labour law here, but overtime is strictly regulated. Overtime up to 19:00 is paid at 120% and beyond that 150% as is the weekend and public holidays, in most cases this includes management as well. All overtime is considered to have been approved unless companies actively prevent employees from doing it. To have office staff work on Sundays requires a permit from the local government office, otherwise it is a no no, which can cost a company very dearly if caught without a permit.

The big fear companies here have is that an exiting employee will present them with a big bill for OT on the way out and there is very little they can do but pay up, unless they can show in court that they took every step possible to prevent it happening.

The other thing is that being seen to do regular OT is considered a negative for you and your manager during performance reviews. You are either not up to the job or your manager is not up to the job...

Over the years I worked on and managed various large projects here and I say on average if I worked 15 or 20 hours OT a year that would be it.

In my opinion, from what I have seen, if you want a good work-life balance then mainland Europe is the place to go.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

4 Are there typical stereotypes of people who get into software development or is that nonsense ? Is it more suitable for more introverted people who are happy to work with a computer all day ?Would a sociable person who likes interacting with people feel isolated in this work ?

Yes it is true that there tends to be an abundance of people in IT that lack the social skills for one reason or another. And it was fine for them in the past. But the world has changed, these days it is very hard to work on any project that does not require interaction with people and being a team player. And I know several of these types that are struggling these days.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

5 What are the things that you like most about being a software developer and give most satisfaction ? Which things do you like least and would you change ? are you happy with your career choice overall?

Imagine the outcome if a civil engineer was to start by building the roof, adding the walls and finally putting in the foundation... and yet is what we seem to do regularly in software engineering and some how the stuff works! The every changing environment and the endless possibilities that is what I enjoy - if a tool we need does not exist, we just make it for heavens sake!

Was it a good career choice? Absolutely, but it did take me a while to get there - I started life as a Chartered Accountant working for one of the big four.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

6 can you recommend any more aptitude tests/courses so that I can figure out if I have what it takes to make it in this field

No. I think if you are not already interested in this stuff - writing code, hacking around with the Raspberry PI or the Arduino etc. it is probably not for you. My son is a computer science degree and he is doing fine, but he will never get it the way my daughter does, who is a musician! If you look in his bedroom you'll find college books etc.. but no evidence of a genuine love for the subject. On the other hand, in my daughter's room in addition to the musical instruments etc... you'll books on coding, various electronic components, PCBs, a soldering iron etc....

Harasrailltub wrote: »

7 It seems from articles and documentaries that I have seen that a lot of people who work in tech in the US are using prescription ADHD drugs to help them focus better on coding and improve their performance . Has this trend made it to Ireland also ? I'm just curious about this its not so much a question about the career.

Never came across it over here, although smoking weed is not unusual especially going to work on Monday mornings by train can be interesting, but then again we work to live while the Americans live to work.

red_ice

Harasrailltub wrote: »

I am seriously thinking of going to college to study programming . I have been making my way through some of the courses on Code academy(Java/python) and I have a feeling that it is something I will enjoy and have some knack for . I like the logical thinking and the idea of having such a useful concrete skill.

That's what programming is. It's solving problems. More to the point, its finding the problems, tackling them individually, making them bend to your will, then using them for the task at hand. The stuff you're doing on Code academy would be a single part of a much bigger task when you work in the industry and being able to cope with that is what makes a good developer. If you like what you're doing now, you should warm to the bigger task quite well with the right support network and culture in a job.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

1. Do you find being in a sitting position for long hours at a computer has negatively affected your health ? This is something I am conscious of as I feel the need to get up and stretch/move every half hour or so . Do some of you use standing desks ?

Yes and no. I think I'm just lazy over all, that's why I would have a physical aliment such as back pain. There are health issues with almost every job, being a developer is no different. My last job offered standing desks that I could wind up or down. I would stand for 30-45 minutes at 10:30ish to wake my body up. This was also after our team standup, so everyone is sort of half working while we figure stuff out. Then I would sit to do my actual work. I found standing to be distracting.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

2 Similarly eyesight , has your eyesight suffered from looking at a monitor for years.

No. I've been developing since 1998, I have perfect eyesight and I work 8-5 then come home and play games at my PC from 9-1 (when the GF goes off to read and sleep).

Harasrailltub wrote: »

3 Is there a lot of variation in work culture in the companies that hire ? Call me lazy/ a millenial / a snowflake or whatever you want but I would like to work in a place that doesn't expect me to stay on much longer than contracted hours . I have a cousin that is a lawyer and a brother an accountant and they go to work at 8 and are finished at 8 as they are starting out and want to impress/climb the ladder . I do not want to do that . I am happy to work hard 40 or so hours a week but after that it impacts too much on my well being and balance in life.

As with any job, you are expected to get the work done. If there is a deadline and you're not finished for it, you need to find the time to do it. If it means staying on to do it, so be it. However we have certain tools that let you take the work home (git etc), but that's bad. There is a mindset that comes with seniority that took me some time to understand - if you say you're doing to get x/y/z done in a given time, you can eventually get into the habit of hitting that goal. What also comes with that seniority is understanding how to estimate a body of work. A good team will go by your estimate and give you that space. Saying you're a snowflake is nothing new. We're all snowflakes, I'm incredibly lazy, but I'm efficient. I wont work for a company that wont respect my work needs and culture expectations. The difference between me and you is, I've paid my dues so I can make that call. At the same time tho, I'm willing to put the work in so I can have that respect in a company. These are the battles you learn to pick in life. With a strong CV, job opportunities will bend to your will - but you cant be a prick about it, you're part of a team.

There is a need for balance in life, you're totally right. It's vital. But, what worries me about your post is that you're saying you're willing to work 40 hours, but after that you need your time. The developers who have it best in a company develop in their free time because they just cant get enough of it. I'm personally burnt out, I've done no dev in 3 months at all, not even professionally. I'm taking down time to recharge. Everyone copes in different ways I suppose.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

4 Are there typical stereotypes of people who get into software development or is that nonsense ? Is it more suitable for more introverted people who are happy to work with a computer all day ?Would a sociable person who likes interacting with people feel isolated in this work ?

Those stereotypes are usually set by people who aren't developers imo. Some of the most social and sound people I know are developers. There are introvert and extrovert developers and there are gay/straight/trans developers too. I restore 60's/70's race cars in my free time, I want nothing to do with tech at all. I don't use my iPhone for anything but phone calls and testing apps (what a waste eh?). In short, not all developers are nerds.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

5 What are the things that you like most about being a software developer and give most satisfaction ? Which things do you like least and would you change ? are you happy with your career choice overall?

I love working on good tech with developers who want you to succeed. I love writing clean, organised code. I get satisfaction when people use my tech and say 'i like how this does blah blah'. I cant think of anything I would change. Maybe the bigger tech companies allowing remote work a few days a week, thats about it. Again, purely because I'm lazy and I can work from home. I worked from home a lot in my last job.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

6 can you recommend any more aptitude tests/courses so that I can figure out if I have what it takes to make it in this field

Try out Hacker rank. Tech companies seem to be gravitating towards this for whiteboarding candidates. I've sat 2 hacker rank tests in the last month - nailed them both, turned down the work in the end. I found them to be OK representations of real life problems.

Harasrailltub wrote: »

7 It seems from articles and documentaries that I have seen that a lot of people who work in tech in the US are using prescription ADHD drugs to help them focus better on coding and improve their performance . Has this trend made it to Ireland also ? I'm just curious about this its not so much a question about the career.

Ignore that bullshit. Yes, they do it in America etc - if you feel you need to do that stuff for work, you're in the wrong company, get the hell out of there and find new work.