One Year as a Software Engineer
I completed a full circle around the Sun as a software engineer on 23rd July 2024. With the huge gap between industry and academia, I did not know how the industry worked before graduation. I did not know what a true software engineer was. Now, after 12 months, I am much better equipped to answer that question. I’ve thought about many things over these past few months. And here are some of those key takeaways that I found highly interesting.
A Better Metric for Software Engineers
We need a better metric and a better ranking system for software engineers. YOE (or Years of Experience) is not the right metric to define a software engineer’s capabilities. In most cases, a highly proactive fresh graduate might know much more than a laid-back SWE with one YOE. Similarly, a SWE and Senior SWE might work on the same task with the same capabilities despite a gap of at least 2 or 3 YOE. We need a global scale to assess the skills of SWEs. This way, we can standardize the worldwide software market and level the playing field for many people who are not getting what they deserve (and those who are getting what they don’t deserve).
More Builders, Not More Crammers
Our academic factories are pumping out crammers who only care about passing the (very horribly made) exam. They do not care about building an optimized software system that could be scaled up. That’s because they don’t even know how to do it. They’ve been only taught the most basic theory which will have no benefit to him or her when they enter the industry. No one encourages students to go out of their way to build something marvellous. No one organizes technical events that the students might partake in. The academic factories need a hard reset. They need to produce thinkers and doers and not boxed-up employees ready to affirm to their superiors every command.
No Risk, No Growth
If you are afraid of doing something new or if you are worried about failure, you will never progress in the industry (or in life). If you become happy in your comfort zone, you will never grow. You need to take calculated risks. You need to be able to handle the anxiety and fear that comes with exploring the unknown. When you know you’re at risk of being laid off, that is when you will push. When you know you’ve put everything you’ve got into building a product, you know there’s no going back. Learn to live on the edge so you can reap the rewards later.
Grind the Hell Out of Your 20s
Absolve yourself of all comfort and get on the grind. However, before we get into it, I’d like to state that when it comes to grind, you do not have to forego your own physical and mental well-being. When it comes to grind, the only thing you need to conquer is your procrastination and laziness. You must do all that you have to so that in the years to come you would not have any regrets about any missed opportunities because you were lazy. This is a promise for your future self. Get ready and get working. You’re already running out of time.
Be Ambitious, Never Settle
I’ve seen a lot of people with little to no ambition. I call these people survivors. They get each morning with nothing to look forward to. They work so they can earn and have enough money to eat so that they don’t die. You do not want to be this person. You need to know that there is no ceiling that you will touch but whatever you conjure up in your mind. You need to aim for the stars. You need to know that you were chosen for great things. Do not throw away your potential, and your life. Have goals, have ambitions. Wake up every morning ready to conquer the day!
This is what I’ve learned in my past year in the industry. Considering how dynamic the industry is, we’ll find more things to learn in the coming years. What’s most important is that you use your skills and power to accomplish something wonderful. Become a person who people look up to and a person who’s in very high demand. Build yourself as a saviour of the day. Remember that you will not get this time again. Make it count.
