The Silent Killer Of Too Many Software Engineer Careers: Burnout

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Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:56 - Reason #1 - No boundaries
2:20 - Reason #2 - Arbitrary complexity
3:55 - Reason #3 - Unclear roles
5:42 - Reason #4 - Unclear communication
#TechCareerGrowth

[@Budulai89]

Here are a couple more reasons: - boring work - no autonomy - non supporting/toxic team - bad wlb + high expectations - unclear expectations/ no feedback until it's too late

[@mecanuktutorials6476]

Here’s another: you’ve already been burnt out and never recovered. Even work easy enough for a first year intern wears you out cause you’re low on fuel.

[@chimsgraphic]

You nailed it.

[@TheAlchemist1089]

I think SWE probably has the best WLB on this planet

[@EbonySeraphim]

@@TheAlchemist1089 troll much?

[@TheAlchemist1089]

@@EbonySeraphim how's that a troll Hourly dollar value wise, swe has the lowest work to money ratio

[@aakarshan4644]

100% agree on blind being very very toxic :(

[@mostpassiveuser8904]

Yup

[@TheAlchemist1089]

I got banned 3 times for trolling Getting additional jobs just to log on to blind smh Trolling is life 💀

[@BbB-vr9uh]

Occasionally the community can be good. But for the most part, yeah it’s pretty bad.

[@djcardwell]

3:20 I shared my vulnerability with my manager at Apple and then was fired shortly after.

[@qbit2342]

damn, sorry to hear that. I've also found it hard to share my vulnerabilities with my co-workers.

[@LukeAvedon]

LOL I had the exact same experience.

[@Kai-iq2ps]

I thought you just started working at Apple this year man.

[@djcardwell]

@@Kai-iq2ps lol that's right Kai. Four engineers on my team were fired with me. No bueno.

[@djcardwell]

@@Kai-iq2ps Still not as bad as Lendio

[@shantanushekharsjunerft9783]

I had a job between 2019 February and 2020 December. I was working 60 hours a week and still the manager would b1tch about more work could have been done. He was a manipulative psychopath, I learned an incredible amount of technology but it killed my joy of learning and any like for development. Thankfully the burnout was temporary and I found a better company to work for.

[@domthefounder]

I FEEL THIS! Space is the most valuable commodity! Removing social media from my life allowed me to slow down and not feel WATCHED! Also setting out time for different things like thinking, or artistic endeavors has been major! For me my optimal time for thinking is what I call "drive time" Nothing like a long drive going no where to get my brain finally working. When those design break through comes through, I turn the car around to head back and make the changes but by that time a good 20-45 minutes has gone of physically being away from my laptop which is enough head space! Also putting super micro time constraints for me has been key because I have the worst attention span. I am working on incorporating NOVELTY, and COMMUNITY.

[@yanhu2011]

Thx for sharing. I have experienced burnout at various point in my corp career in tech. And more so as an entrepreneur after I quitted my job. Establishing and keeping a clear boundary is very tricky. There is just unlimited amount of work that needs to be done and 99.5% of my work can be done anywhere , half of them can be done on my phone. It seems impossible to pull away from it. Sometimes it's very fun to be coding or running my biz and just wanted to get it done. But overdoing backfires. Without peers, the 'freedom' of dictating my time created new issue like I'm always working. What I am doing lately is taking up a hobby like swimming so it forces me to stop working at 4pm. It's been helpful so far.

[@djcardwell]

yeah I'm burnt out for sure. I was eventually fired and I'm too tired to go get a new job still.

[@Carramoz]

Feel the same brou, thing is I'm only 3 months into this job, feel like I've been escalating too quickly though... If you can afford it economically you should consider taking a break...

[@djcardwell]

@@Carramoz 100% agree and am doing that

[@RahulPandeyrkp]

sorry to hear that :/ hope you find some time to recover and recharge

[@wadecodez]

This video is spot on. The portion about large code bases is especially true. You can literally lose your mind trying to comprehend some of these monolithic applications. If nobody is setting boundaries for you, then you must do it for yourself for sanity's sake. How does it even get to this point? 1) mainly devs never refactor or remove dead code. 2) management keeps asking for more features. 3) new/blind team members throw gas on the fire. Unfortunately, if you see a dumpster fire like this, it is extremely difficult to make any progress let alone make improvements. That is why a if you see a bunch of simple work falling through the cracks, you should be weary. Often times, it's a sign of a much larger problem. That said, if you find yourself in a situation like this, do not put the world on your shoulders. Otherwise, you'll experience burnout much sooner. The best thing you can do is communicate your observations and frustration and take life one day at a time. If the job doesn't pan out, you tried your best and you move on. Good luck to anyone out there experiencing burnout. I know from experience how much it sucks.

[@RahulPandeyrkp]

great advice

[@mooingturtle]

Really like the suggestion about scheduling something with friends for after work! Something to look forward to AND good way to set a time to stop working 😄

[@Kirito098]

Very timely Video. Unclear roles for me is a sure way of getting burned out. Your enthusiasm on what you're doing slowly hindered by thoughts on what your supposed to do and who you should go to, you could either step-up (more responsibilities, would burn you out) or hope for your seniors/leaders in management to set the direction.

[@harshamohite1289]

I work in consulting and I don't touch any code in my current role but this video was still super useful for me. A lot of it is very applicable outside of engineering roles.

[@eberronbruce1328]

You forgot the biggest reason for burnout. High demand to perform miracle level results in an unrealistic timeframe. Some of the expectations that management has for software projects are unrealistic and they expect you to do it. Imagine being in crunch time working 80+/hrs a week and expect to perform miracle results within an hour. Then they significantly underpay to boot.

[@mackysig_ph]

True

[@thepulkitsood]

I resonated with each line . Amazing content & advice . Thanks Rahul

[@LukeAvedon]

super helpful. Very much needed this.

[@Live-hh6li]

The first thing on which I'm going to spend from my first salary as a Software engineer will be Taro Membership. I have been using your app for a while and I feel it's truly something which I can't find anywhere else on the internet. The notifications about the questions you send on the app are useful and insightful. As I'm interning as a Software engineer, I could somewhat related to the situation mentioned in the question. Thanks Alex and Rahul.

[@GrandTerr]

Agree on the notifications' usefulness: the first app i allowed to barrage me with notifications in a long time. >

[@RahulPandeyrkp]

thanks, really glad to hear that!!

[@beingcheercool]

Muchh need advice thank you 😊😊

[@Drety6]

I'm at the point where my days are rolling into the next and I face something else before I can be competent in what I'm focused on.

[@aryanpandey8563]

Rahul, Why Facebook have content moderation jobs (BPO), when they can simply filter their misleading ads by Ai.

[@shankhashubhrasarkar2519]

Hello Rahul, I am an upcoming undergrad in CSE and the problem that you addressed in this video would prove to be of great help in the following years to come In my career. I love your videos and your years of experience can be seen in your answer or the solution to the problem that you are addressing. If it is not too much it would be very helpful, if you make a video on HOW should we go about learning a new language (a detailed video). As,I am about embark on the journey of CSE it would mean a world to me! Some pointers regarding the video , please do touch upon whether we should a language from documentation or tutorial(courses) or a mix of both. Anything and everything that you want to address in the video please do so! PLEASE DO REPLY ME! AND, THANK YOU , I REALLY GOT TO LEARN SO MUCH FROM YOU SO FAR! BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR JOURNEY AHEAD.

[@sagarock1012]

Starting building your favourite websites or apps for example try building an Instagram clone or any popular site/app clone and to achieve these you would learn a lot , imo this way is better then tutorials

[@RahulPandeyrkp]

not a detailed video, but here's a starting point: kzbin.infomWCSSUo333g

[@shankhashubhrasarkar2519]

@@RahulPandeyrkp well it was all right! But a detailed video is much needed. No pressure on you, but the detailed video would be of great help to me and the students who are currently walking in my shoes and that is something you and both know of. Hoping for the video with my fingers crossed! Thank you Rahul.

[@MrAbhithepandey]

This is an excellent-genuine advertise for Taro.

[@RahulPandeyrkp]

thanks, I think?

[@dekubear9541]

When you named your company 'Taro' did you consider that maybe something impacting it's popularity is that it has to compete with the plant on search engines? Was trying to find it and had to go through different queries to find it. I wonder if this is something your team thinks about.

[@RahulPandeyrkp]

Yea, hoping it gets better over time. For now Taro Software should work

[@CoraLam]

As crazy as it sounds, I feel you about the waffles. Some days I felt the same about going in mainly for mpk’s bbq shack and biryani.

[@RahulPandeyrkp]

yesss biryani

[@thyagarajesh184]

Individual contributors underestimate the need for going to the office and benefits of socializing at workplace.

[@RahulPandeyrkp]

I love going to the office!

[@GrandTerr]

Hate confusing brain by relaxing and working at the same place.

[@Drety6]

I miss this from precovid, I would learn much faster then,

[@handsome_man69]

I totally agree! Remote work has give me burnout. The lack of boundaries between work and non-work has been terrible for my mental health. People rave about remote work, and sure its great for maybe a couple of days a week, but 100% remote coding has been terrible for me.

[@RahulPandeyrkp]

I much prefer in-person collaboration

[@eric-seastrand]

Anyone who says “trust the abstraction” hasn’t developed for Magento or Wordpress 😂 Seriously though, great advice all around. Love your content!

[@RahulPandeyrkp]

haha you're right I've never developed for Magento or Wordpress

[@Sanyu-Tumusiime]

isn't this guy like 30 years old? he talks like hes' 10,000 years of age.

[@Alex-kr7zr]

Jup, that's software engineering. You age quickly.

[@namanbhayani1016]

I also don't really know how my Manager / Director is adding Value..

[@gabrielfono844]

Absolutely true I feel like I am getting burned out each day trying to master the entire code base with million line written in Java. I can’t even have dinner with friends on weekends Gotta break this habit Thanks I appreciate this video

[@wadecodez]

Yeah you probably shouldn't do that, especially off the clock.

[@mohit4902]

Honestly I don't think this is true for most companies, maybe for the AA from FAANG, but haven't heard anything like this for others

[@puduhari1]

tip to reduce burnout: join a non tech company in an architect role - you can slowly learn and be considered an expert in your area as time passes by. These companies don't change much, so you get to become an expert.

[@shriyashmangaonkar8542]

Bro i am feel it

[@anlozselgin3066]

Once in a company I said I'm not motivated for that code migration/rewrite process. The way we work is wrong and not productive. Immediately PM and Team Lead blamed me for not being motivated. Depending on the company you work sharing your thoughts can bring terrible consequences. Good managers may try to understand and fix broken parts, bad managers just blame. These people are simply idiots.

[@RahulPandeyrkp]

That's true. Information sharing + feedback is predicated on having a safe, supportive work environment. There's some really good discussion about a poor manager here: link.jointaro.com/FLfbbuedGRPcDUq26

[@danyhermawan7654]

Working long hours is fulfilling, especially if you know what you could create, how it will impact society, and of course that you love your job. Nowadays, so many software engineers doing their work only for the salary or company's fame, not because they truly love what they're doing. I couldn't blame them, because they are creating something that their manager or business owner wants, not theirs. This condition worsen if the product or the expectation is unclear and unrealistic. Too many uncertainties, leading them to be unproductive and creating guilt. In my opinion, burnout is not solely about long working hours, but long hours with uncertainties.

[@neetha2447]

Trust the abstraction will make life easier-priceless Keep on digging code will be an endless pit. Just dig enough till your brain can process. I can say you are being smart and reasonable. Not everyone can be geeks.

[@thomasr22272]

Look I agree with most of your points but I can't help but feel like we SD are an over privileged bunch and I think we are out of touch with the job market nowadays. We get compensated very well for what is basically a comfy 9to5 job. I know it might upset some of you but that is the reality. When I compare what we do to any kind of manual job I just feel we have it easy.

[@chimsgraphic]

Software Development = Headache Career / Business

[@mrwho.7163]

its always 60L + CTC , PBC SWEs complaining "burnout" . why

[@rockpadstudios]

if kids are getting burnout wait until you are 60, I'm so bored

[@LegendarySkyHero]

I can't afford to have burnouts :( My family depends on me for income.

[@thorstenschmidt21]

Hey, I think you should talk to your family. They maybe got used a particular lifestyle. But they are also not aware about your current situation. Maybe earning less, consume less, but having a healthier life is more sustainable for your family than burning yourself out

[@beingcheercool]

Mastery Learning Is Big Mistake

[@beingcheercool]

Share your vulnerability

[@beingcheercool]

Yes I can not be perfect but I can Help myself to learn the new things 🙂

[@shawnmalik2077]

Brother take a healthy sleep regularly

[@shawnmalik2077]

I have nothing to invest

[@frozendoritos2316]

Burnout is a first world problem. As a person coming from a third world country who now gets paid 300k/year, I am 100% sure I'll never burnout. I treat myself, do a lot of sports, get out in nature a lot. I don't have time to feel burned out when there's so much stuff in life to enjoy.

[@krosskulture23]

Another possible killer could be automation as well.With rapid ML codes would be lengthy af soon ai would replace humans in this too.

[@krosskulture23]

@Ismet Bibic That's a valid point.Maybe near future, there's high possibility Google might have developed this coding tool too maybe this ain't the right time to release it

[@andrew5222]

"if you are remote or hybrid , you may not have an opportunity to go look forward to that free waffle on campus, and so, it is a real thing." LOL