Pros & Cons of Being a Software Engineer

[@KeepOnCoding]

instagram.com/keep_on_coding

[@michaelsemper1044]

If you work for yourself you can open a solo 401k and put up to 56k in there

[@devontaechatman1713]

@@michaelsemper1044 is doing okey

[@zarp9319]

Pros 0:24 - #1 - Salary 3:16 - #2 - Benefits 4:44 - #3 - Smart Coworkers 5:45 - #4 - Job Security 6:25 - #6 - Meaningful Work 6:59 - #7 - Ability to Work for Yourself Cons 7:48 - #1 - Salary (when working for yourself) 9:15 - #2 - Competition 10:02 - #3 - Unnecessary Commute 10:31 - #4 - Sit All Day 11:18 - #5 - Old Tech 12:01 - #6 (or Pro #8) - Always Learning

[@_saintoj]

Damn man these cons don’t seem that bad honestly. Things could always be worse. But I do understand it would get tiring overtime

[@freshswagga100]

Sit all day and always learning doesnt seem like cons to me

[@everythingnature2281]

prod. Saint OJ !p

[@ukaszmokrzecki6816]

Kung-Fu Kenny sitting all day will get u spine, hormonal and circulatory problems before you reach 45. This lifestyle is actually hazardous imo. Id never wanna earn the SD salary if it meant sacrificing my health and pretty nuch licing in seclusion

[@jaybeebartolome4395]

Additional cons: no social life

[@EngineVSEngine]

I have been doing this for close to 20 years and I don't make anywhere near 200K. BUT, I have also chosen to work for small local companies that don't sell software. I find that the jobs where I am the only developer\database engineer to be so much more relaxing and stress free because nobody else can argue with me on how I am doing things. I have been given project assignments where they expect me to get it done in 4 weeks but I can get it done in just a couple of days. There have been times when I contacted my boss while working from home and telling him I have nothing to do and he was perfectly fine with it. I was salaried and still got paid. I sat there and just monitored my work email for weeks while at the same time playing video games. I absolutely love it..

[@sorvex9]

The 200k is also for the big companies, for some reason people only think about those. I would much rather have a lower salary and be one of the smartest guys in the room, than be in a company full of geniuses that makes me feel dumb.

[@PopaRobertFlorian]

@@sorvex9 that s not a good mindset. If you re the smartest in the room you re blocked to a certain level. If you re surrounded by people smarter than you you will continue to learn and advance.

[@IceDragon-fj4vx]

@@PopaRobertFlorian Wrong, surrounding yourself with people that are basically better than you in large corporations is horrible, there's always people that can replace you, and always people that are doing your job way better

[@IceDragon-fj4vx]

@Tee You get fired, that's what's wrong with it. Never go into a job where every single other person is better than you, you might like being challenged but you want be challenged every single day for the rest of the time you're working there?

[@Av3rag3jo3zzz]

how did you find these companies, and how many do you work for?

[@rollipolli642]

Seriously man I lowkey don't know what to do in life

[@fatimasaleem5315]

Same🥺

[@rollipolli642]

@@fatimasaleem5315 : (

[@fatimasaleem5315]

Rolli Polli I’m thinking bein a software engineer

[@rollipolli642]

@@fatimasaleem5315 me too but people make it look like its a trash job

[@ao8271]

Rolli Polli same man. So do my parents. They tell me how shit it could be.

[@kennykinder6577]

A cool visual effect for this video would have been changing your background lighting from green when discussing pros to red when discussing cons

[@KeepOnCoding]

Yeah that would have been cool!

[@engineermyworld]

Genius!

[@jujhar.]

Yess

[@tyler5246]

the missing a semicolon is so accurate

[@alexdev6036]

ikr

[@isXanderDev]

I don't think I have ever got that error

[@jonast9726]

It definitely triggered some PTSD

[@heisdivuzki]

I swr

[@TofuCate]

@WhiteHatHacking It's so easy to catch though if you're using an IDE and not a notepad to code. The worst bugs are logic bugs buried within loads of different classes and functions. I only see first year students complain about semicolons.

[@Angel-Azrael]

I always loved computers and still love. Computer science is not for everyone, I spent years at university trying to make excuses not to quit. The moment I quit I felt free. It's not about whether you can or can't do it. You need to love it otherwise is a pain that keeps growing on you. Good videos you're a nice guy. Remember people follow your heart not money.

[@excorific7514]

@Lorenzo Stewart FACTS

[@HouseFromSmartCity]

Lorenzo Stewart Yeah, following your heart doesn’t pay the bills and doesn’t give you ownership over your time. Do things you and everyone else hates = you’ll get paid $$

[@MP-im7un]

@How To unless someone automates website creation and upkeep then... yeah. Although is it as valuable as software dev ? No, as there are more people with knowledge on web dev.

[@SmokieJay]

What if you love money ?

[@MP-im7un]

@@SmokieJay thats exactly what I started coding for, im slowly starting to get interested bc you start to notice the ingenuity behind our daily items. Like whenever i use my phone or pc or swipe a card im thinking about how it was coded and realize that what im learning basically runs the world.

[@evanhughes9576]

Great content. I like how you get right into it without lingering on for a minute or two like so many other channels.

[@KeepOnCoding]

Thanks man! I try to avoid adding too much fluff in my videos.

[@kensei4237]

Keep On Coding much appreciated!

[@jinouji6025]

Honestly that's every single video on KZbin lol people like to ramble first but yes this gentlemen gets to the point!

[@Kyogen.]

@@jinouji6025 not all of them tbh

[@נועםסיידה]

yes that's a Short and sweet video 📸

[@quintinbowman7993]

Always learning is a pro for me and is one of the main reason i want to become a software engineer. I have an insatiable appetite for learning and have a job that challenges me and allows me to continue learning is perfect for me.

[@maedre9330]

Same dude, exactly the same

[@galaxygkm4696]

Same but I’m also scared about possibly losing interests or it being too difficult for me

[@wavez4224]

@@galaxygkm4696 same that’s my biggest fear, I don’t want to go to university and then realize I actually don’t like it as much as I thought I would. It’s scary

[@matttondr9282]

Same same. I would die repeating the same exact task every day for the rest of my life…. I know the pressure of always having to learn is a hassle but in the end it’s so worth it!

[@faizahfaiqah6996]

These are so accurate! Love that you're being honest with it. My biggest insecurity is the competition, especially if i want to apply for job at other companies. im not really good with programming interviews. Like, i can code on my own, but when people are watching, i got so anxious lolll

[@owlon225]

i am gonna try to become a software engineer because: I can do something and in the end i created something Its logic and imma work with PC, I like that Job Security Pay is very good, its so good that you really can get wealthy. I want that. but sitting all the time and looking at a screen may annoy me after many years of work.

[@PigGoMeow]

self discipline will help stay in shape. and i recommend looking into blue glasses lens if looking at a screen bothers you.

[@JiroAzuma]

If you become a software engineer and manage money even somewhat well you won’t have to work for long lol

[@justjoshingaround]

My biggest complaint as a software engineer is actually the legacy code bit. The issue is that most teams have the mentality "don't fix what isn't broken", then 5 years later when competitors are bigger/faster, then folks decide to dust off their spiderweb code. My advice to young engineers is to take small wins where possible and push for innovation when you see great value.

[@cw3482]

I have been in tech for 15 years and have spent time at a help desk, coding, as a network engineer, and systems admin/engineer and this list is the same across the field. Those salaries come with something, no one is going to pay you well and not expect excellence. Depending on the role that could mean traveling or being on call. Traveling while it sounds fun it becomes overwhelming at some point. Even working as a tech lead or other management position the business side is just as taxing. I say all of that to say do not take your personal time for granted. Having personal time is far more important than an inflated salary. It may sound easy for me to say that having been in the industry a long time. Although you need money to live don't neglect your personal well being.

[@LordKimani]

Thank you for this comment

[@kingduffi9999]

i think it's funny how "having insurance", "parental leave", "paid holidays" is something special for these jobs .... It's just something im too unamerican to understand....

[@ellander2382]

It's really weird that insurance, parental leave or holidays can be unpaid. And we are talking about a country that is considered to be highly developed.

[@SCNewbCaster]

If my company stops covering these things for me, I can always look for another company. It's not so easy to look for another country.

[@patgraeme775]

America believes in personal choices, its not an employers responsibility to pay for you to have children nor to take care of you when you get sick. I guess I'm too american to understand socialism

[@kingduffi9999]

@@patgraeme775 where i come from the employer is not responsible either

[@Uncle_Yam]

I'd imagine you get taxed less/paid more to compensate

[@msh104utube]

almost everytime i watch one of your vids, i find some new resource. this time is was levels.fyi. good job man. i see your backgrounds changing up too (more depth, colors, etc.). keep it up, and stay healthy!

[@KeepOnCoding]

That’s awesome Michael! I’m glad I’m able to provide value!

[@metrixstudios7853]

I became a software developer to help my family, many of us want to help our families and software developing is been really stress heavy. But I would do anything for my family

[@codevev]

I think it really varies from company to company and the exact thing you're working on, as well as the "domain" your company is in.

[@ehsanhadid1260]

You forgot to mention the opportunity to work remotely. I love to work while traveling to new countries. it may be fewer jobs like that, but even thinking about this is making me feel I am in the right way.

[@maxxpellowski2916]

Thanks for being real. Your honesty is greatly appreciated.

[@hopecynn]

with seven good seasons of GOT, comes season eight. i died 🤣🤣🤣

[@AzamKhan-tt7lk]

rip

[@momogentilezza1974]

@Ali Malik 🤨well, that says a lot about you as a person( and in a very bad way)

[@marshalljoseph8582]

lol I heard it and went straight to comments

[@SpaceTacos60316]

This was great, THANK YOU!! I love the chill vibe you give, very calming especially to those of us new to the industry.

[@paraslohani7924]

You explain users the things they want to hear. Great content. Be motivated and never leave making videos. Kudos to you!!!

[@KeepOnCoding]

Thanks! I’m glad I’m providing value to you all!

[@ionitaa]

CONS: 1. You'll have to grow a beard 2. You'll have to dress like a teenager even in your late 30s 3. You'll have to interact with narcisissts all day 4. In interviews you'll have to pretend like you don't wish for the sweet release of death.

[@xavierkane37]

well fuck

[@alestorprime7962]

Is there something you need to get off your chest I would be glad to talk about it

[@hisholiness4537]

Let it all out

[@justyourfriendlypal]

Sper ca ai numai parte de bine in viata frate

[@JKBelle]

🤣

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

My friend was an editor for a NBC in Los Angeles. He got paid a lot of money and he called it the golden handcuffs, because he felt trapped in that job.

[@RoninX33]

@Blazing Comet More than likely no one pays as much and maybe his lifestyle was dependent on that.

[@losttale1]

it's a self induced problem.

[@alanjupes811]

He could easily cut down on expenses, save, and invest if he was serious about leaving the job. These companies also keep their employees due to consumerism. Once people make above $100k, they want the fanciest lifestyle. Definitely a self induced problem he could get out of if he wanted to

[@jameswagner4067]

Your cons are way better than my current jobs pros lol

[@KeepOnCoding]

😂😭

[@iaplayz77]

How the hell don't you have MORE subscribers. Your videos are amazing.

[@KeepOnCoding]

Ah I don't know! Hopefully one day! Thanks for watching!

[@newfoundland1956]

i did security for 12 yrs and now starting college for software development from scratch at age 63 by the time i finish

[@deanstars4905]

this was a great video, i’m currently a software engineering major!!

[@charlesjohnson5979]

I was going to start school for software developer but was also wanting to be a engineer but they didn’t have that course at my community college. Are they the same thing kind of or would I have to get 2 separate degrees

[@dwnsouth11]

Watched this and your other video (5 things i wish i knew...) and it helped understand it more. I've always loved technology and software engineering has always stood out to me. I didnt know what I wanted to major in a while back, but I'm gonna jump into Software Engineering. I already have my gen ed courses complete!

[@justaverage1271]

How you liking it did you complete it ?

[@rgpbando]

*But moral of the story is, be what you want don’t listen to the internet, continue your journey* Love the video btw ♥️

[@AaronandAsh]

Pretty solid advise!

[@Hatemx1]

Listen to what pays well.

[@gloriaarpon557]

Super helpful and i like how you delivered it. I felt like you're a friend.. thanks!!

[@KeepOnCoding]

😁😁

[@tahaimrankhan]

I sit all say on my computer doing something, and this seems the perfect career to choose. I am a beginner and just started some python and its not easy but for me its not hard either. I could do this 12 hours a day and not get bored. The best part i love doing this and i probably will.

[@TheGrimravager]

Pro - I get to sit behind a computer all day, on my favorite operating system implementing my favorite kernel doing what I love to do :D

[@matthew11092]

Always learning something new from your videos. I really enjoy just learning about computers and programming.

[@AaronandAsh]

This guy is a Legend

[@deepfornoreasonx]

For anyone wondering, the song that's playing between 2:55 - 8:00 is "Dreary Summer" Streambeats by Harris Heller

[@bradreed4414]

My first dev job was one of the hardest things I’ve done(switching from policing career) but once inside it 6 months I was getting assaulted by recruiter messages lol

[@VictorEmmanuelVillagomez]

Great video. Love your channel. Agree with all the pros and cons! One additional con I would add is that being a software engineer means you have put up a lot of time polishing your technical skills at the detriment of your social skills. Its a tradeoff since time is limited. You won't have as many friends, social activities, dating pool non existent etc. So I recommend that once you are happy with your technical skills, do spend some time building the social skills as well. Get a part time job in sales, attend meetups, pick up hobbies that require human interaction. In the end, having functional social skills will let you advance your tech career as well.

[@CristalCody]

Salary will depend on country, heavily and in some countries software engineer doesn't have this insane salary/year. e.g you can land in jobs with less than 10k a year and they might even have probation periods... Don't trust the inflated salaries that are usually posted on inet. That's for people that will watch this vid from other country other than America.

[@ThekillingGoku]

Even for the US the major players are outliers. Many software DEV positions giving you waaaaay less than the Googles, Facebooks & Microsofts of the world. It even varies by living area, with Silicon Valley taking center stage in both wages AND living costs. And of course, as ya said ... international wages for software development wouldn't necessarily be that high ... but that's cause there's no Google in France or Germany for example. :-) MS's head office here for instance doesn't necessarily have any core development going on. It's mostly a sales office, so nobody here gets 200K/Year. Not even close!

[@marcw6875]

People should also keep in mind that 5 times the salary isn't quite as good if it involves moving somewhere that costs 4 times as much to live. :)

[@davidshipman5964]

@@marcw6875 True! But, it is worth noting that a frugal developer in the bay area can walk away each year with more invested savings than a developer in a low cost of living area. But it may be hard to be frugal in the Bay Area because everything costs so much (:

[@walidzein1]

I got a high blood pressure by being a software engineer 😂

[@bitehunter122]

Wolf Stop consuming so much salt. 💁🏻‍♂️

[@ivanoliver8465]

Can i ask! How much is the packing salary @being SE?

[@frankiecarrrierivg03]

How pressuring it is being a software engineer

[@keepercool98]

Francisco Leon 1.5 bar

[@peacelover5729]

or switch to red salt/ sea salt?

[@drewcummings2453]

I have absolutely no interest in starting my own business, so the first con isnt even a concern for me lol

[@domonicdaniels7458]

@yeekers exactly that confused me

[@choalon2381]

​@yeekers nope 250,000 is what a company gives u but that's not what u receive u forgot about taxes and other stuff u need to pay

[@TheChaosNeo]

@@choalon2381 for example EINSTEIN?! WE ARE NOT A SOCIALIST CHILDSUPPORTCARE COUNTRY, THANK YOU.

[@MrWesUnknown]

Reppin Cal Poly CS class of '22 here!

[@wowwow5637]

Pro: work from home

[@erikibarra4530]

What inspires me the most as a software engineer is the amount of people that will be looking at the feature I am working on. That was spot on!

[@AparnaJain1]

Loved the golden handcuffs analogy. You smashed the cons section. I say it all the time! I did retire though, saved and invested much of it ;)

[@imranfauzi7752]

I love your content very much. Thanks. Man

[@lolouh1902]

Thank you so much. Your video was super helpful with my career journey.

[@mazinalmaskari6899]

Congarts to you, the best programmer to have ever lived just subscribed!!

[@synovialpith]

i knew from the moment i was digging through my dog's poop looking for my car keys i wanted to be a software engineer

[@petellouisvanpolanen7516]

Thanks alot for the key details! I'm starting a software development course and I'm absolutely loving every minute of it. Now I can face on this career w/ pride 😁

[@samiabamia]

Curious what course did you sign up for? How is it going now, have you started a job as a software engineer

[@ponylucifel]

Man you nailed it! Pretty much sum up all pros and cons of our industry! Good job!

[@lofiwithshamique]

great advice, thanks for being so blunt.

[@rusticagenerica]

OK I'm gonna tell you what's going on. . . I just discovered your channel. And it is awesome. So I subscribed !!!!

[@fuckedyoomama]

Thanks for the insights dude! it's hard to come across with genuine honesty on this videos, but nup, you've naturally got it made.

[@andre-barrett]

You have summed this up nicely. I've been a software engineer for over 20+ years and coached and mentored numerous software developers. I now make similar videos helping the community

[@txzebra]

Just found your channel. I’m working for a FAANG now in a non-SWE technical role (can write advanced SQL in my sleep) and exploring making the switch to software engineering. Really appreciate the content you have here. BTW, nice hat! Ride high, Mustangs!

[@powerademonke]

Lots of people try to get into SWE purely for the money which isn't a terrible plan but if you don't truly love what you're getting into then it's never going to work out. Kind of a Golden rule to finding something you wanna do - you gotta love doing it lol.

[@SnakeErw98]

My company also has 10 levels. I started in the 3rd level, because I had a bachelors degree. There exists level 1 and 2 in my company, but are pretty uncommon. They are the starting points for people that have a lower degree that just done their internships and trainings. I guess that's the same for Google, etc. and the reason they aren't listed, as a college degree is usually required.

[@kimj2250]

Bro your i.g i have doubt n

[@CutiePi]

I’m graduating this year. Personally compared to other fields (my friends are in) cs seems like easy mode for job hunt. I’m constantly spammed on my linkedin and I’m not even done with school

[@Ali-wc9lf]

You just earned my respect... I love it!

[@pewnit]

I'm the kind of person that gets working by being in that environment, so having to go to a workplace is actually what I prefer and having my first job be stay at home (covid) actually sucks for me, especially since I have to do uni work, work work and play at the same desk.

[@jitpunkia]

Really good video, super clean. Edits are simple, very very informative.

[@eberronbruce1328]

Cons - Being overworked and expect to work 80+ hours a week. - Crunch time that holds for 3 weeks at a time. - When looking for a job or not looking, being called/emailed/text by every so called recruiter in India. Essentially ruining those means of communication - Burn out before getting a job by studying all the time, and burn out at the job by work 80+ hours a week. - Lost of sanity trying to deal with managers/clients that do not understand software development that want everything done last year but just telling you now. - Jobs requiring you to know every piece of tech that exist and for you to have at least 5+ years in tech that has only been existing for like 2 years.

[@dragonore2009]

The meaningful work part. I work for a fintech company as a software developer and yeah it's cool knowing banks and other financial institutions are going to use the software products I had a hand in.

[@KGcodes]

Another bonus is that many big tech companies are going remote permanently now; so you can reap the high pay and still live wherever.

[@v0id_d3m0n]

I swear I'm actually fucking in love with computer science.

[@Jassoon10]

Always learning is a huge pro for me

[@arlitamusa3619]

Thank you for all the information, very helpful.

[@rafidelahi7751]

Pros 1) Salary - A lot. 2) Benefits - insurance, medical etc. 3) Free food, filming your own coding videos. 4) Smart co-workers 5) Job security 6) Your influence on others. 7) Work for yourself. 8) Free lance works Cons 1) Salary - 'If you work yourself' then this might be a problem 2) Competition - a lot. 3) Unnecessary commute 4) Sit all day 5) Working with old tech 6) Always learning (Pro and con)

[@murtajiz545]

Good lord I need that song at the end

[@ghostek7792]

i can see why you need to go in. if you're especially a huge company it's really important that your employees are comfortable with eachother and are able to connect with others. i've been doing online software engineering at my university and on top of just the general difficulty of some of the classes, i realized that staying on top of your schedule takes a TON of energy and planning within itself, on top of that it's very difficult to connect with others because it has to be INTENTIONAL. almost all of my college friends are just accidental as it should be, you just strive a convo with someone and it could turn into an awesome friendship/study partner but online you lose this natural feeling of connecting with others. anyways just my 2 cents

[@unknownplayer10k]

I subbed keep it up bro

[@KeepOnCoding]

💪🏼

[@stevencelaya5845]

Wow legit me I’m working as a bank teller and I want to get into computer science. Your videos have helped me understand more of the environment! Thank you.

[@AnilKumar-pp2yo]

Man you got me with GoT example 😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@bh3326]

I’m an outco alum. No wonder why this is my recommended video for today

[@herbalistanutricionista]

Small salaries is what is going on. 15 or 20 years ago Software Engineer were making at least 3 times more than now

[@iwandejong]

The quality of your audio is extensively good and enjoyable to listen! Definitely a Pro ;)

[@NB-ph6cv]

In my poor country, i finished law and started working as a lawyer but the salary is not close to a programmer, so better for something that's more paid.

[@velo1337]

i love maintaining old code and stuff, its like restauration of an old car :)

[@optimizeU]

Great Content! Thank you 🙏

[@ManuelFlores-ti2zr]

do full stack freelance web developers have to keep constantly learning new things as well or do they just refine their circle of skills while learning on a need to know basis?? hope that question makes sense . also besides work, how much do you devote to learning every week?

[@KeepOnCoding]

Usually free lance web devs stick to one technology. Like if you know .NET you can get away with just using that for all your apps. There is some learning as updates to framework come along. My weekly learning varies greatly from week to week so it's hard to say, but it's not too bad.

[@jordanmoore272]

I start school in January to become a software engineer. Super excited.

[@Gal5100]

You missed the most important cons: stress, responsability, lack of management.

[@shayan4417]

Yeah I guess those are some cons of EVERY JOB EVER

[@documentary4283]

Amazing Video, Great Info! Thank you

[@JeremyHansenblue2kid3]

Sad when I was in collage I worked construction and benefits that far exceeded and didn't even make nearly as much net worth as faang

[@labscience8271]

"So you wanna be a software engineer at Google" Me: No

[@mathematicsguru97]

Algo expert

[@erikibarra4530]

Also, I would never consider always learning a bad thing at all. Never even crossed my mind. I think it’s the best thing about being a software engineer 👌🏾

[@ghostek7792]

i want 1 of those standing desks. once i'm done with my education i'm definitely investing to get a nice one

[@paraslohani7924]

Can you do pros and cons of data scientist?

[@PWILLYBEAST52]

It's literally almost the same thing

[@oldlorenz9567]

Love this video. New subscriber !!

[@hurstilthymy4943]

Great video as always, Sam!

[@KeepOnCoding]

Thank you! 🙂

[@ttja_5428]

I always be missing them semi's

[@AaronandAsh]

Goddam!!!

[@kunalupadhyay7970]

This video is basically focused on the tech jobs in USA and not the tech jobs in other countries firstly i m from India and i have finished my degree for computer science just few months ago and i was fortunate enough to get a job from my college but now lets talk about the salary which they are going to pay me so it is 20000 rupees(Indian currency) per month and $1 = 70 Indian rupees hence they are paying me around $285 per month and now one more thing this company havent given me joining sine last 1 year and now they are calling me to join with a bond of 2 years which is really really bad but since i wasnt able to secure job with higher package than this , i m going to sign the bond too so guys do think before keeping a leg in this field

[@marshall2828]

Great and informative man. Thanks!

[@schawnettarobinson8584]

Great analysis!!!

[@ukaosim]

A con would be unpleasant co-workers 👌🏾😂

[@KeepOnCoding]

That would be a con in any job 😂

[@aamarkhan7448]

Agree - no substitute for experience!

[@huthayfaainqawi4348]

Most of the Pros are about money which you can make the same amount or more if you work in another profession! In conclusion, Cons win

[@shea5542]

This was super great. Thank you so much

[@johnnybrionespt]

Appreciate your video!

[@moraiseverton]

Hey Sam, thanks for the video. I agree with all the points you mentioned, specially the "always learning" definition, which is good and dangerous at the same time lol Keep doing your great job, buddy. Cheers 🤙🏽

[@KeepOnCoding]

Thanks Everton! I’m glad you agree 😄😄

[@sacgire1158]

Subscribed - Man is about to change careers