Why You Shouldn't Become a Software Developer in 2021

Trying to become a software developer for the wrong reasons will often mean you have a high chance of failure. In this video I talk about those “wrong” reasons and why you shouldn’t become a software developer in 2021.
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[@AndySterkowitz]

After watching this video do you still want to become a software developer?

[@biggyx8349]

yes, thanks a lot.. but ever since I started learning how to code and look at my laptop more often, I fee pressure or pain on my neck.. is it a normal struggle or??

[@ahmedalfahham201]

Thank you for sharing. I work as teacher but still determined to involve in this. Do u think design is better or can make more money in the long range?. I really like your videos. You helped me a lot.

[@davidprock904]

YES!

[@willow4635]

@@biggyx8349 maybe because you don't rest as much, like you do projects or study none stop for 4 to 8 hours and maybe you just have 2 breaks. Its also important to keep your monitor aligned with your forehead, because you'll end up hurting your eyes and neck. If that pain is still there, search for neck exercises to relief the pain.

[@ademineshat]

@@biggyx8349 don't push to hard 😉

[@guilhermevoltolini]

My reasons would be: 1 - A better quality of life. that's it.

[@justincueva2294]

How far have you come? Did you get a job in the field yet?

[@nable0712]

yessir

[@ahmadfaisal6356]

i too

[@abhishekpatra7954]

Oh you can do that 10x from this by joining Italian Mafia 😂😁

[@ashlostbones]

Videos like these help me confirm that I’m wanting to become a programmer for the right reasons. My journey just started, but I’m genuinely interested in learning as much as I can so I can be a decent programmer and make a career of it. I’m tired of being in dead in positions and I want to be in a field that I’m actually interested in, the pay is secondary to me. To me, money isn’t worth it if you don’t enjoy the work. Thank you for this video 👏🏽

[@AndySterkowitz]

Cheers! Glad to hear :-)

[@jsonmac319]

Yes, for me too. I don't have plans to get rich programming, actually my salary goals are pretty much enough to live a nice life, nothing on rich level, far from it. What I want is to work in something I love and have the opportunity to get better each day and really feel inspired by what I'm doing. My current job is boring as hell and full of nonsense sales goals.

[@cx777o]

Thats so true, the work is what i want to enjoy, the money is just a bonus

[@user-Allahlovesyou]

@@cx777o I’m 16 wanting to do this and I’ve always been interested in software coding and programming I don’t really know a lot but I’m learning so I’m going to do the same as you guys work with something I enjoy if money makes it’s way during the process I’m fine with it as long as takes I’m going to learn as much as I can and hopefully succeed and also I hope you all do too.

[@cx777o]

@@user-Allahlovesyou you are incredibly young, use that time wisely! You have no distractions which keep you away from your goals! But be patient with yourself and kind to yourself when you learn, you cant expect to understand everything right away and dont pressure yourself. Take it at your own pace and make one step forward each time

[@peteryu4353]

I'm a beginner JavaScript developer and just wrote a small code where a random number will generate whether a player caught the ball or dropped the ball. When the code worked (to my knowledge) I got SO EXCITED! Now I am ready to hack some shit

[@madam497]

me me me! work remotely in a rural area away from the cities away from people. just me and my dog.

[@dnyaneshkawade5460]

exact goals

[@geemcdee]

@Mada M me too, me too. I'd have to take my husband with me though. Lol

[@4shadow4trance]

Totally feel you man/woman, I started studying computer science this year (because I always loved computers) and because I want to be able to get remote jobs and just hide away in a mountain area with a saint bernard. Most humans are shit.

[@Kaladin0622]

@@4shadow4trance I really hope I can achieve this goal this year I’m a strictly self taught developer and I hope I can secure a job

[@4shadow4trance]

@@Kaladin0622 Good luck with this mate. There are plenty of "tips" as to how to actually end up getting a job as a self taught developer.

[@ruleaus7664]

I'm pursuing web development because I tried a bunch of other, low-paying jobs for over a decade that didn't really make me happy or get me anywhere financially. Just recently I took a good, hard look at myself and my situation and came to the conclusion that web development is the most logical career path for me. It doesn't require a degree, pays well, and has the option to work remotely. There are more perks to it as well like fitting my personality type more than all my previous jobs. Although I imagined being happiest doing a job with some artistic aspect to it such as graphic design, the pros of coding ultimately outweighed the con of it not being artistic. This is actually a pro as well because the path of learning and getting better in coding is much more straightforward than any artistic endeavor, which has a degree of subjectivity to it. How do I measure or know how good I've become at graphic design? You can kind of know, but it's not as clear.

[@johncragg4817]

Fantastic friend. I've never seen the Andy Sterkowitz Course as a requirement on a job application though, but I have seen many that require a degree. The market is expanding and people are educating themselves. I know that courses are expensive but if you have the chance, I recommend obtaining a formal qualification part-time at the least.

[@catnior]

you can always find more artistic avenue through this. never give up on that dream. Let it be your motivation to push forward

[@severedghost]

I'm doing it because it's the most fun I've had programming in years, and i can always see places to improve. This is compared to coming from an infosec background.

[@AndySterkowitz]

Agree...that's what I love about it as well. Being able to create and constantly learn new things/improve is addictive.

[@billynovrando9383]

14 months since I started learning Web Development here, I still looking at my first course material sometimes to jog my memories to solve the problem I encountered on my project. So yeah, it's a long term journey, but I like it. It's not gonna be quick, but you'll realize you'll get better every single day when you really put a consistent works everyday (doesn't have to be extreme, 3-6 hrs a day is enough). Hope this help.

[@mytchelletienne3919]

How long is it to learn to become a software engineer.

[@midknightmiddleman5887]

I hope you exercise a bit 😂

[@thebedroomintellectual2460]

The 30 dislikes were people who wanted to get a google leader job after a 3 month bootcamp.

[@mightytgaming3]

I passed away reading this and will be buried next Saturday... Please prepare a speech.

[@mannyclav]

😂😂😂

[@MrIshumaru]

Those boot camps seem sketchy. The amount of stuff they're claiming they'll teach you and the amount of hours you actually get to see a teacher isn't realistic

[@haveagudday8068]

@@MrIshumaru Are you guys talking about offline bootcamp or the online one? Bcs I know some good online bootcamp if you want to learn.

[@patriciajackson6057]

Thank you so much Andy for your insight and honesty about this field. After working in Manufacturing for over 20+ years and long hours on my feet, I finally got the chance to do what I've always dreamed of doing. I've been learning programming for a year and a half now, and its has been quite the experience. So many ups, downs, and setbacks has made me wonder if I should even continue. Then, I remember the joy of actually writing code and seeing it work as it should. The excitement of the end process keeps me in the game and that's why I will not give up, no matter how long it takes. I love the feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment even with all the struggles that comes too. I cannot imagine doing anything else.

[@Roman-go6cl]

I’ve been in manufacturing for 25 years and I’m now learning to code for a better life. I’m so glad I’m not alone.

[@patriciajackson6057]

@@Roman-go6cl that's wonderful and you're not. Thank you for sharing and good luck to you on your coding journey! 👏🏿👏🏿

[@justincueva2294]

How far have you come? Did you get a job in the field yet?

[@JonahIsrael]

I would love to see how you got started. Is there a particular program that you recommend?

[@grovedwayne390]

@@JonahIsrael Coursera certifications is a good start

[@stapler942]

Honestly I considered a lot of factors in deciding I wanted to be involved with software: -Corporate culture that suits my personality type where I was horribly mismatched in previous work. -My health needs (cannot stand 8 hours in work shoes, it's hard on some injuries). -Code was a newfound passion in my later years alongside music and mathematics, and it seemed like I would get a lot out of problem-solving that I wouldn't in a restaurant or elsewhere. -Desire to be creative in some capacity.

[@AndySterkowitz]

Sounds similar to me :-)

[@ahmedt2758]

I started to learn coding when I was 21 because I could always see a version that big companies end up doing, in details and all, couldn’t even afford a decent laptop because the one I had wouldn’t even connect to the internet so I stopped. Now I’m 27 and I’m back learning LEARNING like full time. and I started focusing more on the original ideas that I get myself. I do see progress and I realize more and more the road is FUCKING LONG and that shit makes it so exciting. Like can you imagine? If I make it, I’ll look at these comments one day and be like hell yeah I made it. That’s some God, Legend shit. If I die trying, I’ll be remembered as such. LEGEND BOTH WAYS. These few reasons are enough for me to take the leap. I’m learning solely because I want to start startups. I see business in almost everything.

[@kingboji958]

I am 20 now. I want to become an entrepreneur. So i think this skill is really important for me.

[@justinlieb9805]

Good luck. Let me know how it goes!

[@haveagudday8068]

Nice spirit man! How are you doing in your journey?

[@ahmedt2758]

@@haveagudday8068 It’s going amazingly well, I am building a personal project now and I also picked up options trading to fund my life while I get to build out these ideas and get better at coding. The future’s bright.

[@tosexe2535]

@@ahmedt2758 How did u learn? did u go to a bootcamp or someting?

[@miyannaable]

That's just the thing - patience! It applies to so many things that are conducive to success. I'm such a novice with this stuff, but it's taken a couple of years just to get good with editing photos - be it for my boss's business or for my own online business. Anyway, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate this message. I love hearing people acknowledge patience and effort.

[@TranceJams]

Pretty spot on from my personal experience. It is a difficult road particularly in the beginning but ultimately it is worth the journey in my opinion just make sure you actually like to do development. I just recently reached one of my goals which is to work from home remotely and it is freeing for sure. You still have to grind and problem solve constantly but the challenges are always interesting and it’s so nice to just be able to take a nap for a bit without everyone’s eyes on you. Or having your own personal setup that works for you. Being in the office all 8 hours everyday never worked for me and just left me drained most days. Also btw don’t go into development if you think you can lone wolf it and work in isolation. Development doesn’t work like that and you do need to collaborate A LOT to build good software. So build those soft skills as well!

[@JaimeRosario884]

The nap thing would be so beneficial. Workplaces should allow 30 minutes for naps. I say 30 minutes because it takes a while some times to actually fall asleep. Its crazy how much more awake and productive I can be for the next few hours after just a 15 minute nap. Of course, you still need your good sleep at night for naps to work better. Also, get rid of caffeine and even decaf coffee. Coffee itself, even decaf, has other things in it that are bad for your body. Same with these new mushroom mixes coming out. Dont abuse tea either. And its not about some brands being organic or cleaner than others, I am talking about the drinks and plants themselves. Even the most organic and natural ones are bad for you.

[@solaropposite6112]

hey do you have an email or instagram that I can reach you at, I would really like to talk to you about getting started!

[@TranceJams]

​@@JaimeRosario884 It really is not gonna lie. Makes it very difficult for people to micromanage you too. But if you join a decent company, chances are they don't really care when or how you work so long as you get the work done on time with good quality. And I agree, I need to wean off my coffee habits for sure :p

[@vickysxvage]

I’m 22 and I graduated high school at 16. I’ve been trying to figure my life out since then. I’m a huge problem solver. I love getting my brain going to figure a problem out. I took a free intro coding class and I sat at my computer for hours trying to code a video game. My only worry is I’ll consistently do this and get lost in my career. I want a healthy work life balance.

[@calebbrininger7483]

I'm 27 and the 1 thing I can tell you is to just start something that interests you or you'll be my age still just wondering, you got this just pick something you believe you'll enjoy and go for it. You can work the rest out later bro.

[@strictnonconformist7369]

“Job security” as a developer greatly depends on what problem domain you enter and the details of what you learn for libraries, tools, languages, as many places don’t want to pay for training someone. There are some problem domains where software is cancelled (internal, or created for sale) because unless the problem has changed for requirements, software buyers find when money gets tight, they don’t have a need to update/upgrade software to the latest. After all, software doesn’t degrade over time. Some areas likely to remain strong regardless of economy revolve around security, changes in regulations, and anywhere you can show a very high ROI (as in, far more than the software cost in a short timeframe) where not buying the software is considered more expensive than buying it. Even then, no guarantees!

[@francis5518]

I have been following you for a couple of months. I have to say that you have a great psychological intuition. You know how the viewer might think and feel That's such a skill... you also know the field well. Valuable work sir!!

[@dolpaca6026]

Gonna leave this comment to hold myself accountable. I'm not sure I really even want to do this, but I really don't have any other plans for my future so I might as well dip my toe in. I will try to update this in the coming years!

[@nicholashale975]

I've been studying html, css, and javascript for the last year and a half. I'm just happy to now start working with react, the realization of everything you are talking about dawned on me a couple months into this journey. I just can't wait to get my first break.

[@justincueva2294]

How far have you come? Did you get a job in the field yet?

[@damm_coder4550]

@@justincueva2294 that was a good catch 😂

[@lulunana1519]

Me from a dental nurse who used to working with different patients everyday, smiling and good communication and required to show emphaty Now planning to become a software developer, so that I can be myself and don't have to smile when I get hurted

[@wyattbender13]

Have you thought about making your own “day in the life of a software developer” video? I curious about your work/life balance, and what you think about it haha

[@AndySterkowitz]

At some point yes...but it's not quite as glorious as most I've seen out there :-)

[@netskater4454]

@@AndySterkowitz I'll be more inclined to watch because it's not as glorious. I've already seen a lot of day the in life from people at huge tech companies. The smaller ones I feel are uncommon, so there should be others like me who want to see your personal day in the life.

[@robertbeisert3315]

Dilbert is a documentary.

[@Derwood801]

I have been a dev for 10 years and he is totally correct on all those points. A day in the life of a dev can look pretty boring, but I have a lot of fun doing it. Most of my day is spent pairing with another dev, debating on the best approach...and a whole lot of Googling things because it is impossible to keep all that code in your head.

[@hautecars5568]

I'm a car salesman right now! I spend my whole life at the dealership, I'm ready to become a part of something more meaningful and creative.

[@GPT-X938]

I’m currently working remotely near a beach. He’s right! I’m not as productive as I am with my home setup. Internet isn’t as fast and the time difference between my team has been a double edged sword

[@tinaa140]

🙁

[@kevingreen2626]

My reason for wanting to become a programmer are: 1)More fulfilling work life experience: I deeply romanticize being able to settle into a cozy corner of my favorite coffee shop and hammer out some code while also being present in my community. 2) Monetizing my creative output: The idea of getting paid for my creative pursuits and especially being rewarded for thinking differently in my approach to problem solving really excites me. 3) Elite membership of tech know how: Having been a fanboy myself of all things tech and those who have been visionaries in the field I find it deeply satisfying to more intuitively understand computers, electronics, and the like. 4) Unleashing my inventive nature: Being someone who is always full of ideas and loves to tinker and explore concepts through personal projects I find any skill and/or knowledge that opens me up to new ways of creating and tinkering absolutely enthralling.

[@OdennaTnL]

this is great i like all of your reasons i hope you achieve your goals

[@eviljigglypuff2329]

After watching this I can honestly say that I am willing and ready to put the time and effort into this. Thanks for the great content man.

[@justincueva2294]

How far have you come? Did you get a job in the field yet?

[@user-zf2eg7xe3h]

Me : *Wanna Become A Software Engineer* Andy : Imma End This Man's Whole Career

[@gman140]

I guess some good tips, I think the main thing in life is there is a lot of ways to achieve success. Software developer or software engineering is not always showcasing apps. Sometimes it's a lot of backend and complex services talking with each other(Where the actual money is). Yes you can be creative, but not as a job. Software engineering is a lot of applying a bunch of standards(Knowing the standards as well). Just note software engineering is a lot of reading and studying after hours, doesn't matter what level you are at. Also with cloud, you would need to learn cloud applications and networking(Do you know how the internet works?) Keep this in mind, gone are the days of knowing just about code. I would recommend anyone who wants to do this, start creating your ideas, start learning how to draw the components of your ideas roughly(Which can be hard). Start with a pen and paper and do planning. A path you can follow is by developing you ideas, you can start with very simple things to more complex things: - An html and CSS webpage(Maybe your simple blog). - Learn how to host this on a static provider(AWS S3 or some other provider) - An javascript app, that interacts with an API(JS) -Possibly something like node.js(So go learn a bit of node.js) -Once again learn how to host the apps. - Also make it secure via SSL - Start a backend(Python, kotlin, java) and front end app - Start learning more about architecture Continue to build apps and your knowledge, learning the full life cycle. Note not a lot of professional developers have this experience, but it does give you different perspectives of tech and understanding user needs as well. Also 1 important thing, nothing of this has to be perfect, through perfection out of the door, it does not fit in this world. - Some notes from a senior Software engineer

[@LongSleeveZA]

I saw the title and was like "but this goes against everything else you said" started watching and then was like "ooooooh ok!"

[@gh_oo]

Thank You Sir for the video! Fortunately im non of these that you mentioned. Im at the beginning of my programming career, been watching some beginner stuff for some time and I think Im ready to go full-potatoe on making my dream career become true!

[@YupStephDoesIt]

Yes! Thank you for this video! I’m a system admin and working remotely has its pros and cons. I enjoy the freedom working from anywhere but I there’s nothing like your whole set up when hands all in Tech. There are many moving parts in all tech areas and it’s endless learning, troubleshooting journey

[@kirwan1414]

I've just started seriously studying Web Dev in the last couple of months, I spent years of graft to become a decent drummer. What that taught me was a thing called "paying your dues" & "earning the right." I'm lucky as I'm not driven by $$ - I'm driven by curiosity. That for me is 1 of the most enduring virtues to have when undertaking an endeavour. It would be a difficult domain to get into and stay in if you're solely driven by the almighty dollar, I reckon.

[@razingcanez717]

What if I just wanted to learn software development, while tanning on the beach, at the same time formulating a billion dollar idea, and learning everything about computers in two weeks? Is that logical?

[@pedrom.3713]

It hilarious that each one of the reasons listed is why I originally started to code 😂 After some time of “trying to make it” finally I realized that I just LOVE to code! At every login now my goal is to becoming a better craftsman 😁

[@gnarfgnarf4004]

You have to love to code first. Money is incidental. There are going to be tough times. If you don't have the passion to write code for the sake of it, you are not going to last.

[@delaynomorejee]

Never think to be SD is the fast track to make a quick cash.3 yrs minimum is considered to try and error for persistent improvement.Tough work. Thanks

[@chriscruz429]

Once again Andy, you nailed it! This is great advice for people in general not just people who want to become software developers. I’d like to know your thoughts on machine learning, hopefully you’ll make a video on that.

[@apsodyeu3694]

For me, the minimum wage that i get right now is around 300-400 dollars a month, and i know for sure you can make more then that as a programmer, even in this country, i dont have any degree in anything and ive only worked in grocery stores. So i only want to make a change in my life, to have a stable long term job that takes care of me, i want to learn new things and this is the easiest way for me to progress in my life from minimum wage to making 1000 dollars a month or more.

[@Sahrokh]

Cough cough, I am a software developer working from home and my home is on a tropical island (Canary Islands). It's not *that* hard. I even got a 600 Mbps optic fiber connection.

[@AndySterkowitz]

Awesome!

[@Sahrokh]

@@AndySterkowitz I'll actually describe how it works: I have my "home-office" but on tropical islands 70% of the business happens at bars (!!!) and other public locations. Therefore, I code at home but meet customers, deliver material, talk about fixes etc. anywhere between a restaurant or bars near the beach. Most have a decent wi-fi, so I can show internet software as well. It's awesome!

[@BrightFuture67]

@Vahrokh Vain - yes mate, tell me about it, my gf is from Las Palmas and we go visit every year, you guys have a very good connection there, our plan is to move there at some point full time

[@OneTwoMark]

@@Sahrokh So you make software, and sell it to locals who meet you? Sorry I'm new to this so I associate software development usually as working for some big company, so I'm confused on your process lol.

[@Sahrokh]

@@OneTwoMark I do a lot more than just software. I founded my own hosting company, digital marketing company AND develop software on demand. Whoever needs software you can develop just for him (he will pay for the whole cost, which is usually a LOT) or for multiple customers, who split the cost. Ideally you create software that will sell to the millions, but many times it won't happen. Selling to locals? This happens and is easier to achieve.

[@georgemanley3755]

Due to physical concerns, I need to do most of my work from home. I can accept lower pay to be a "cog in the machine" kind of guy, if necessary. However, adding this to my bailiwick (I'm already A+CE certified and doctor anime scripts when I can get the work), I think, would also be one heck of a nice thing to offer, especially in the entertainment business - where gaming and website building is a big part of keeping brands alive (look at all the games and series Star Wars had between trilogies). But yeah, I'm still coming after this, HARD.

[@valoranthub9581]

Here is the thing: If you can push through beginner curve, you can do it for real. I always had problem because I didn't know what to learn and in which order. Once I just started, the knowledge grew more and more. Now that I know how much I don't yet know, just makes me more optimistic. If you stick long enough, you will see the pattern of constant exponential growth. Google is your best friend. Be sure to go over code though and even have open second IDE to just run parts of code, play with it and realise why it works... Be aware of voodo programming: it's not good. Also, focus on programming and algorithm making(overall the idea) rather then code itself. Code is an expression, idea is the one worth million dollars. Focusing on the smaller goals is much better then giving yourself big ones. Enjoy the journey and try to pick up as much knowledge as possible. If you work on idea/startup/business full-time, chance is, you will do certain features/elements enough time to memorize them(not geeking, and learning word to word, but rather realising what code does. When you realize it; it will stay somewhere in your mind and you will be able to use it)...

[@candlelitjams]

I want to spend the whole working day with my cat on my lap. Coding sounds like a sweet deal.

[@hannanhub1717]

very honest video without insulting anyone

[@northstarcode8675]

The focus should be on learning new skills and getting better at something (programming, gardening, whatever). You need to work and you need to work hard. The money will come sooner or later, as a result of that work.

[@DaveRaspberry]

I love this channel and always give thumbs up when content is useful. I just don’t like the clickbait titles that I see recently. Please don’t go on that road Andy!

[@Greatscott24]

You're literally asking him to make less money so you're less inconvenienced. Just saying.

[@ham472]

Thank you for the video. I am currently in accounting/finance but I am looking to make the switch to Software Development.

[@ray.gene.bowner]

I went for this path namely because of number 1 and 3. My job sucks, and I make crap money for someone who had to do four years of college (should’ve been two but didn’t have the prerequisites) and pass a license exam. Now that I have a few weeks left of work (I saw their ad on indeed, probably get fired lol), I have the free time to learn this new career.

[@daydrmrofficial1966]

Im 18 and dedicating the next years to building this career (with a degree) always had financial problems but im prepared to work hard to have a good life :)

[@itisejay]

Phew, I thought one of the reasons was gonna be "if you know nothing about computers". None of those reasons apply to me, I'm looking at a second career. As someone coming from sales as well, I'm glad this seems possible and the right fit for me.

[@placebo106]

I still need to work on the why. What makes me sit down to the computer every day and not give up up. Work from home tick, work as freelancer tick, use my brain tick, play an investigator when I debug, I think I love to debug, when you find your mistake it's such a great feeling, prove to everyone who looks down on me at the moment that I am more than they think tick. Although I have to add why I don't want to become one, office politics, sitting at a desk in an open plan office with 100 people around me.

[@jordanatkins8841]

I got into Computer science not only because I was interested in tech but because I wanted to learn how to think.

[@rami30]

I didn’t even watch the video! But I’m junior software developer and I enjoy it a lot . Don’t listen to these KZbinrs and do whatever you like guys 👍🏼

[@sanchoww1339]

I’m a 29 electrician, I am ready for this change made my first move this month and enrolled in a boot camp.

[@Kayne1b]

Totally realistic advice. Thank fuck. I saw the title and thought this was going to be a general warning to stay away from dev.

[@AndySterkowitz]

Only a warning for some people :-)

[@Mr_X-Pro]

I am the guy with the Billion Dollar idea, looking into learning to build it myself! Why? Because I have spent two years trying to find developers that you can trust, not piss-takers that listen to ideas then piss off, build them and take credit for them as their own! I am in need of developers NOW! it is a great concept with global scalability and huge potential, and although paid for work is available, those willing to work on sweat equity for a share interest in the final product will be far more favourable than paid skills.

[@anonymousunitedwestanddivi1615]

What's the difference between software development and software engineer?

[@cc__tv8283]

i’m so ready and pumped to put in the work i’ve always loved problem solving and building things seeing how they run work i the money is a plus but the main goal is to be able to create and learn every day

[@Emilylee303]

Hi!! Thank you for this video. I'm a career changer and I've been taking a few intro classes here and there to see if this is a career I want to pursue. So far it's really interesting to me and I plan to continue taking classes even if just for fun. I would definitely be willing to put in the work to make this a career, however, I really want a career that provides good work-life balance. Is software development that type of career? I'm sure it probably depends on where you work and many other factors, I'm just curious because I'm a mom and want something that will allow me to prioritize my kids and time with them. Is this possible in software development?

[@dynasty2295]

I'm in law enforcement and it's brutal. Mandatory overtime, 12 hour shifts, varying shifts, lots of time on your feet. My body is always sore and I'm drained. Looking for a change

[@malikwhit1532]

Thank you so much for this video. I just started learning to code about 2 weeks ago and really looking forward to a career change. Glad that I got reassurance that I am in this for the right reasons.

[@emiliohernandez7789]

enjoyed the vid, exploring different careers to go into after the Navy and tech seems like a good industry to get into as we get more advanced

[@gr3t485]

Thank you for this video! I started my journey in the IT industry because of wrong reasons. I believed I'm going to learn some coding, then get a job and then baaam - I'm making €70k/year without any worries. Reality? You need to get experience before applying, it takes years to master coding skills and sometime you even accept a huuuuuge paycut because you have no experience. I wanted to quit so many times, but I haven't stopped. Why? Because it makes me complete.

[@jginfographics]

Thank you for sharing your experiences. How does your experience apply to front end vs back end developer training. I am a designer who has working for 15 years in the agency environment specialising in corporate identity development with a proven eye for aesthetic style & effective communications development. I have thought about specialising in front end development, to take my design sensibilities to the next level, beyond content, media, UI/UX wireframes & mockups, to be able to directly build solutions myself. What would your thoughts be regarding this approach?

[@ishtiaksam9891]

omg! just saw your video but believe me i did the same without seeing your video.I had a couple of friends who were studying computer science and launched a software company with them.I take care of the business sides and they take care of the programming works. Wish us luck! And keep us in your prayers.

[@MayurPanghaal]

I think that its necessary for you to know how coding works/how difficult it is, as a business owner, so that you can negotiate and spot talent effectively. If you dont even know what it takes, how will you negotiate salaries or compensation for outsourcing ? Once you know how it works, you can hire the right talent for the right price. Otherwise you will be shooting in the dark forever. And thts no good right there cause its gonna cost you money and time. I have noticed that everytime I take my bike to my local mechanic or my car to the garage, and discuss technically with the mechanic, i am less likely to be ripped off. Just my 2 cents.

[@violentpixelation5486]

An honest view! Thank you. Your videos are so helpful to get rid of certain stereotype images of the coding life, some may have in their heads. Keep up the great work.

[@jazzcabbage9370]

As a software student....I can't imagine thinking it would take only a few months to get to working from home! I'm still an absolute scrub and I've been learning for about 2 and a half years with a split in between that (from highschool to college).

[@shapeeps]

I dropped out of nursing school to pursue my dream job in developing games, but I'm first learning software to save money as a software developer. It would be great practice and nice to have other people guide me in my field. Right now I'm learning python to help me in both fields. It's challenging but I'm so happy now, I didn't think I'd love problem solving in coding as much as I do.

[@Mega554321]

How has the transition from nursing to the computer field been? I’m in a somewhat similar boat and am debating about making the switch

[@TheCiderFish]

I'm just want to a career where I actually need to learn constantly and keep my salary at an okey level. I don't need a big fancy pay check at the end of every month, but I want me and my family under a roof and food on the table. I also love the creative side of things where you're able to create, remodel and fix stuff for other people. My dream would be to become an entreprenuer, but that's a secondary plan. First I want to become a staff member of some company and start to connect the threads in this world. Today I'm a first line manager and I'm just tiered of doing the same things over and over. Nothing changes, ever. I don't need to learn anything anymore, really, and going up isn't really my goal anymore. I just want higher quality of life.

[@jlprescott7243]

No thanks, I am going to cyber security, virtualization, and the cloud. Cheers!

[@Strawhatgani]

You right completely saved me so much time appreciate you watched till then end !!

[@BarrettCodes]

So I stumbled into programming after deciding id very much like to have my own custom discord bot to help me make my ark guild more engaging for my community! Never realised how much i'd actually enjoy it to the point where even now I have the bot built, I find myself continuing my studies and building other cool stuff all the time!

[@christophercoreano2787]

Hey Andy! How long have you been a software developer professionally? How many years has been since you left those old jobs behind? I recently got an offer here in NYC and your videos have been helping me.

[@darkwing25]

After having worked as a software developer for 25 years, I have very, very, very rarely been able to work remotely from a beach. Most employers demand you report to an office. Unless you are a self employed entrepreneur, it is not going to happen. In reality, unless you are a self employed entrepreneur building something for yourself to sell to others online, the only beach you will see is in vacations and retirement.

[@michaelmehaffy7367]

First video of yours that I’ve seen. But I’m subbing.

[@FierceAmbition263]

In response to the title - TOO LATE - I've already become a Software Developer & making tech videos as well loool

[@tngkuanas]

I noticed that his expression changes from a happy smile to a very serious face within a half second

[@monica102904e]

I know it's going to take time. Working through Javascript and slowly getting into react. Hopefully be decent by December or January to start some front end work

[@EricAlmaraz87]

For me, it's a personal journey more than it is a financial one. I suffer from minor depression and anxiety. Alot of it comes from being unhappy with the position I'm in with life and not really applying myself to making it better, and but it mainly stemmed from a loss of parent. This was a career I had pursued last year after losing my job at a TV station, I just couldn't afford the boot camps. Haha. I work part time but will be going self-taught (of course I will seek help from resources and platforms available to me). I know a software dev career may not sound like the best approach for anyone with mental health issues (due to the amount of work and patience it requires). I wanna apply myself to something with continuous learning and overcome those issues. I'm 33 with no children at the moment so I have to think about my future.

[@tocu9808]

Why not ? If the person has been coding for years, now wants to develop something interesting that can shake the world 😁

[@uv21]

I have a question about Computer science careers. Let's say I work at Google and my job is "Software engineer" or "Software developer" what would I do? If my job was "Android developer" I know I am making android apps. If I am a "Web developer" I know I am making websites and web apps, but Software engineering and developer seems vague because there are multiple types of software. Thanks in advance,

[@JamesQQuick]

Loved your take on this! Good stuff

[@blackdragonstory1122]

I dont really wanna get rich quick,but I do want more money. I want to work on a job that brings enough money that I dont have to care about safety,but also one that I can do from home and that I can actually enjoy. I basically wanna make code for games. I used to be more drawn into creating 3D models,drawing etc but that shit is just soo hard and I kept trying to act as a perfectionist which without skill to do things perfectly was quite stressful. It takes some imagination to code,but it's far less reliant on that than art. After seeing many videos from you I do hope if I pursue coding that it will eventually also improve my approach to art which I havent completely given out on yet. Currently unemployed and it's gonna be tough working a regular job and then try to learn how to code cuz I feel like our brains are sharpest and learn more in the morning rather than evening.

[@plw5522]

Haha. I love the part that you talk about the reality how difficult it is to work at the beach. I really thought it’d be cool to travel and work like that.

[@SeriesTube01]

Very interesting. I'm working on a mobile app for months. I feel touched by the second point. It's not a "milion dollar" idea, but still I prefer working on it and build it completely on my own. I don't want to bring people in and not "befriend" anyone, f*ck no. The best part of this is that I don't have to tolerate other people's shit. I want it to be a big full stack project to have in my portfolio, rather than a lot of small projects. I know it's long time process and I'm old for it (I'm 39 unlinke most devs that start when they're teenagers) but I enjoy it. 👍

[@zachnassiri2946]

why is web development called software development in coding bootcamps? I dont get it....

[@TheMATHEHOUSE]

I thought it was going to be a negative video,very good advice.I don't want to get rich quick but i would like a job in 8 months.I'm studying programing 8 hours a day with two courses FreeCodeCamp and TheOdinProject.Is it unrealistic?i don't mind studying code for decades,but i need to be employed.

[@CuddlyEdits]

Haha that last one hit home. Slowly learning to program day by day. The goal is for financial freedom and worldly freedom. To be able to work a project then live freely in-between the next project. It is a very slow and arduous skillset to learn and I have not even gotten to the stage of trying to find work in the competitive market.

[@sagewiseloner6355]

This is the content i love .....REALISTIC PRACTICAL NO BULLSHIT!!!!!

[@pperez1224]

Does not make sense if there are no better alternatives. But when i hear ' i was selling cars' and now i am coding , i had a smile. I am software engineer so i learnt maths and physics and started coding at 14 yo. There are different leagues of developpers. Top pay jobs implies a solid scientific background. Otherwise you will get a few thousands working like crazy. Excellent devs need high abstraction capabilities so that's for guys who have a knack for science. Also looking at my 2 27'' monitors , that's just not possible to make pro , highly paid software dev on the beach. I was working in Thailand as some point , in an appartment , with an office . When i go the the beach i want to stare at the girls , not at the screen. With the high luminosity , the heat and the laptop overheating , thats just ridiculous. Don't expect also you customer paying high salary when they see you are on visioconference on the beach. You will just look like a joker Whoever believe a job is easy is a fool , you need to invest before it pays back. like you buy a guitar and think you will sell records next year

[@garvincrosby4349]

What about this scenario? I want to be a software developer because it's the job of the future that I love the idea of the most and that I think I could more realistically do or want to. I don't think of it as a get rich quick thing, but I do want to get into the field at least within the year without spending a ton of money and time on school to do it. With all of that, what does that say about me and what can I do to achieve it?

[@JonathanSteadman2003]

Great video. I don't care about money but I wanna be a software developer because I wanna be programning all the time. I LOVE PROGRAMMING!

[@robertbutcher222]

Two questions: 1. How important is it to have two or more monitors when coding? I just use one right now, and feel like two, and definitely three, would be too much to handle. 2. How social is the coding/web developer job field? How much face to face interaction is there? I consider myself a social person, but still think I’m interested in front end web development.

[@USNSWE]

I’m 7 months deep into learning iOS development and I would say that having two or more monitors is extremely helpful. I have a laptop screen with a portable monitor and a 24in vertical monitor. I tried working with only my laptop screen and it became very annoying having to click through multiple screens. My vertical monitor hosts only my IDE and I have GitHub, stackoverflow, terminal, and documentation on the other two

[@RoninX33]

I currently work in the field, .Net. I generally use dual monitors at work and home. To me it makes things easier due to the fact I have SQL Server Management Studio, VS, and various other tools up. On your second question, it depends on where you are like any other job. Some people are more social than others.

[@trax_high]

I just want to live a comfortable life and learn more stuffs on coding other than just Software development

[@markleexpatadventures]

Great video! I am changing careers now to software development from direct sales. I love how you point out “reality”! I absolutely am doing this for your third reason which is to work remote but like you said sitting on a beach doing this kind of work “sounds great” but is not realistic. I’ve set a long term goal of working from my place in Costa Rica but I am under no illusion that I’ll have to work from my home office and then have that work/life balance. I hope I can do that really fast but if not at least it’s going to be an option at some point. I am very fortunate to have the background that I have with sales and marketing as well as negotiating. I feel I’ll hit my goal sooner than most but if not… so be it. Thanks for making this video. Unlike most people I like to know what negatives I’m going to encounter and be prepared for them rather then be disappointed when I set unrealistic goals. Who knows maybe we’ll work together someday on something. Thanks again.

[@ripcordace7258]

I wanna begin my journey too but not to get rich quick or anything, but just so I can also learn a skill that I think I'd enjoy and can make a career out of it. So that I'll stop feeling worthless whenever I see people I went to highschool with and even kids I completed high school with, get into tertiary education and I can't, purely because I have no funds. It's been almost a decade, trying to see if an opportunity would pop up and I'd get to also continue my education. I feel like this is probably my opportunity, I wouldn't need to go to school for it(although I'd have loved that too) and I can do that too as I do some low skilled jobs to take care of my basic needs. All I'd probably need is a computer and I've already began saving for one(for a while). These are my reasons and all I'm hoping for is that I succeed in learning the skill to a good enough level to make a career out of it. I don't mind how long it takes tbh and it's actually beginning to feel like the last opportunity lol. I'm praying I can finally have enough funds to get a computer soon. So yh these are my reasons. Idk if they're good enough lol

[@stevemalek2970]

I think getting in the field of software engineering just to make big money is a terrible idea. You have to have passion for it otherwise just doing to make top money is not going to cut it.

[@KhAnime]

Great video! In regards to the first reason, for me its not really a GRQS, but its moreso my living situation is pretty toxic, but i put in a ton of hours per week.

[@meferswift]

Been making data allocation and sorting for cashier job. I dont in fast need to have million dolars in earning. Just some liveable wages is enough. The kind of work it has is to my liking. Liking mainly my own and communicating to other practically. I can work in team, not an antisocial or anything.

[@martinmohammed4087]

A good entrepreneur is mostly a engineer -From zero to one

[@dylanthony1]

I want to make a million dollars working from a beach in Taiwan and I want to get started by tomorrow.

[@Alex-bc3xe]

Nobody can tell why or what you shouldn't do nobody if somebody wants it he got to do it in order to see if it s for him/her.