Three Things Nobody Tells You About Programming
While programming is a rewarding career, it has its drawbacks.
When I was a college student, I dreamt of a great future as a web developer. All my classmates were equally excited about their journeys. We couldn't wait to finish college and get our first programming jobs. It was going to be a life-changing experience for us all. I imagined myself making a decent salary while enjoying my life — my future looked promising.
I never thought, however, how difficult life would be as a junior developer. It was not until after I graduated that I realized that programming has its drawbacks. These are three of the ones I think are the most important to discuss.
Programmers Are Sometimes Undervalued
Generally speaking, programming jobs are well paid. Junior developers can start making as much as 100k a year even without experience. However, depending on where you live, this might not always be the case.
I happen to live in a city that is fueled by tourism and IT professionals, in general, are not well paid. Many of my classmates left the city and some even the state because they could not find jobs that paid them decent wages.
It is becoming increasingly harder as more and more companies outsource services from other countries. Many local companies prefer to hire programmers from abroad than to pay locals the wages they deserve. This means many programmers in my hometown have to leave or start their own business to make enough money.
Programming Can Be Stressful
While programing is fun, it is also very stressful. Programmers often have to solve complex problems in a short period of time. As in other careers, programmers have deadlines to meet, and one small mistake can totally derail a project.
This creates a lot of stress for programmers, especially when updating or adding features to a project that has already launched. Asides from the mental stress, there is also physical stress because programmers spend most of their time sitting on a desk.
Programmers Are Overworked
The demand for programmers is really high, which means there is a lot of work. The one thing I looked forward to when graduating was making enough money to enjoy my family life a little more. However, programmers are sometimes overwhelmed with work. And some companies expect us to be available 24/7.
Moreover, depending on the number of developers in a company, you may have to put in some hours, even during vacations. Programmers under so much stress and work can easily burn out.
No job is easy, and all of them have some level of stress. Programming is not different and although building a career path is difficult, it is worthwhile. Junior developers have a hard time getting their foot in the door, but it’s an exciting journey once inside.
These drawbacks may sound terrible, but the more experience a developer gains, the more he/she will be able to secure jobs based on his/her needs. Companies really appreciate programmers with experience. The more you progress, the easier it becomes to negotiate your terms with possible employers.
Programming is a rewarding career, and if you can land a job in a well-established company, you will do well as you move up. Although starting in this field can be difficult, and most of the time, that’s how it is, there is no other field as exciting.
