Wow, I've noticed lately the huge number of Black engineers posting on TH-cam about being a software engineer. I've been a software engineer for over 20+ years now and for a while, there didn't seem to be many of us. Great to see you representing. Keep up the good work educating people the same way I do
I black as well, and i have a natural nack for tech, and i want to enter the tech industry. What should i look for, and what certifications should i persue?
Stress levels can be kept to a minimum if you maintain your boundaries. Please don't do crazy overnight hackathons every time your manager gets jumpy because of a deadline. Every time you sacrifice your sleep, fitness and health in general the deadlines will come for more. This beast is always hungry, stay safe
@Alexey Pyzhianov Could you give me advices for tolerating¿, the stress led me to suffer from fibromyalgia and I stopped working. I've come back part time but I'm still scared. I've even thought about studying something else, I'm a systems engineer(woman 😕)
@@alexinflux Thank you, my psychologist told me that a career change is probably better, because I can't stop and say no. But my body currently says no and I have to stop it is very sad because I like to program (back), but I think it is health first. I will like be other person that living day on day 😕
I worked at Child Welfare in NYC after college and have been at a commuter railroad. People hit the workers, vomit on themselves, crap on the floor and jump in front of and onto moving trains. I also wake up at 3am. I suppose coding has a "different" stress.
It's not a social job on lower levels. It can get VERY social once you get up the ladder to senior levels. You'll be in meetings every day discussing, giving presentations and shuffling papers for a few hours.
I've been avoiding these types of videos from other youtubers. What i tell myself is that whatever we decide to do is going to take hard work. That's life and if we let it scare us we'll never get to accomplish anything.
It helps to prepare though. I would say her commentary on diversity is a little overblown though, not to say she didn't come across ridiculous stuff. I've worked in mostly white firms and they honestly were fine with good coworkers. I've also worked in largely Asian firms and again, mostly fine. Everyone just wants work to be done and for everyone to at least try.
I've been am SE for 15 yrs now and she is right. Hard work is there in many jobs. However hard MENTAL work is not there in a lot of jobs. Her warning is a fair and valid one.
@@rheechashaipu1927 So I respectfully disagree with you on this one. I have worked at several of the Fortune 100 and at startups and diversity is definitely still an issue in Tech. Companies like to claim they are diverse by hiring the diversity into supporting/ admin roles. However, when you look at who is writing the code you see there is a LARGE lack of diversity.
100% agree. We'll find the same sort of issues in whatever field, so we mustn't allow ourselves to be discouraged. There won't be anywhere left to go if we do!
Sorry to be so offtopic but does anyone know a trick to log back into an Instagram account..? I stupidly forgot the account password. I love any assistance you can offer me.
@Davis Matthias Thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
You need to stick it through for at least 10+ yrs. Coding is like doing Martial Arts. You become good at one. You then learn another. Then mix them together. Then learn another. Then you are unstoppable. Then you learn another...:) Very very good talk.
Hi guys, I have a very important question. I will learn Python but I also got a free course for learning C language. Do you think learning C is useful now? I want to be a computational linguist.
beg to differ, depends what field you took as a swe, full stack for example doesnot require 10 years, you can be a damn good engineer in about 3 yrs of time.
Unlike learning specific martial arts, learning particular dev skills may not be as useful in the long term. Many languages and operating systems go out of fashion or are superseded by newer tech. Once you know Aikido, you can always be effective in hand to hand combat - its not suddenly going be completely useless. Contrast with languages & environments in development - knowledge of old ones can be pretty much useless in getting a job. Your development education & training can lose value over time, unlike most real world skills.
@@Lucasukx To some degree this is true, but just like with learning a martial art, some knowledge carries over into the newer systems/languages. Once you have a firm grasp on the concepts in software development, the learning of new languages and tools becomes easier I think. It's because the changes often build upon previous iterations, so the past knowledge is still valuable from an applied standpoint. It makes it easier to transition as you can relate new things to past skills and experiences. That's why people with 10 + years of continual/progressive experience don't have these problems as much and are in relative demand. However, formal education and training definitely loses value and there you have a point as it relates to resumes/CV and job hunting. But that is a very limited aspect of one's education and skills - it's perceived representation of what you know rather than what you actually know. Someone capable of developing amazing things does not need to worry about this as much because they are able to create and deliver, whether they work for Google or for themselves. In other words, results matter over resume qualifications in the long run.
Very true - I would say to college students, if you want to know if it is something you want to do, do a software engineering internship before graduating so you get a taste of what it is like. Doing it on the job from 9-5 is definitely different than just doing programming assignments during school - and there are also multiple jobs in tech. Try and explore them, not all CS majors have to become SWEs! You can also do software engineering at non-tech / FANG companies in an industry that you are more passionate about - music, health, retail, entertainment, finance, etc.
@@irule10338 you have a lot of options! for example being a PM, UI/UX ... on the business side doing Biz Operations, Tech Sales work or even being a Technical Writer and a bunch of other jobs
Thanks for making this video, it's important for us to know both sides of the coin. Most TH-camrs only talk about how fantastic it is to be a software developer, which is unrealistic surely cons must exist. Thanks
This is kind of related to a few points you made, but coding for a living is not good health wise so you really need to make sure to get exercise in and eat well, especially if you already have mental or physical health issues to deal with. It may seem like a small deal but once you get a few years in it can really add up.
I've seen a lot of software programmers and devs on TH-cam subtley mentioning ways to be healthier- showing regular exercise in their vlogs, healthy eating, standing desks, ergonomic chairs and comluter mice, changing your screen position so you're not straining any muscles, etc.
try fitting flooring for a job. neck ache, back ache, sore knees and severe lack of brain usage. I'm looking at software engineering to stop being a floor layer.
I think you touched the most important thing of being a SE, that is .. learning never stops. Be ahead of the rest, even if the company you work for isn't progressing towards new technology. Keep your eyes open for what is happening around you, be in the front seat of the fast moving train ... and not be in the empty wagon at the end of the line. Also you are right about writing code, that is maybe the most easy part .. debugging and optimizing your code is going to take a multiple factor of that time. From me, keep up the good information.
Thanks for making this video! I'm starting my tech journey now and I'm reluctant to keeping going because, like you said, you will always be learning something. I don't mind learning things, but I would like to be able to reach a point where I feel like I've mastered my job. I don't want to always be chasing something. THE CHASE IS EXHAUSTING.
Hi guys, I have a very important question. I will learn Python but I also got a free course for learning C language. Do you think learning C is useful now? I want to be a computational linguist.
worldwide handsome learning c will teach you a lot about computer science. You might not use it but, it will teach you to make your own stuff instead of using libraries. You’re gonna be learning the low level
Francisco Leon The government is unavoidably bureaucratic. Its standards adapt to change at a dramatically slower pace than the commercial world. You wind up working with older tech over longer deadlines.
On the topic of constantly learning - that is one aspect of tech that I feel most people do not really grasp until later in their careers. One addition to that I would add would be this: while a person may not have the time to sit and put in an hour worth of coding, taking the time to read industry news and updates from people you respect and admire in the industry (much like your channel!) are perfectly fine ways to continue learning or even start learning about tech topics. These sources can provide even the smallest spark to light a fire in someone to learn something new. Great video!
I’m going into software engineering at uni and I’ve been looking at pros and cons and I’m really thankful for this video. The video isn’t just saying don’t go into tech but it’s saying clear things that suck about the field and discussing whether or not your suited to put up with these challenges. I’m thankful for the nice way this was discussed. All I hear is people saying nice things about tech but we all know it isn’t entirely true
Sarah if tech is your passion then you should definitely go for it! Passion will get you through when the difficult and bad parts of the job arise. People think the money will but sadly it won't after a short while. If it's what you love then you will enjoy it and blossom wonderfully in it. 😀
Don't mind me, I'm just a random software developer passing by :) That said... Everyone has their unique perspective and experience in ... just about everything, including being a programmer. And I hope I don't overstep anything if I write how my experience is different from yours. 1. Debugging is stressful. Erm, not really? Or rather not unless I'm on a very tight schedule with a psychotic product manager breathing down my neck. It's a question of attitude more than anything tbh. Nothing is perfect, and no code works from the first try (or _almost_ no code). That's a given. So the choice is to either see debugging as a problem (I didn't do it right -> I'm not good enough), in which case, yeah, it can feel frustrating and stressful as heck. Or you can see debugging as a necessary step to your goal (make the code work), it which case it's just... part of the process. 2. Being on the call isn't as popular as it might seem. I don't doubt that it's the reality of your life but it's not like that for everyone. It's far more prevalent for system administrators, because if something breaks, they have to fix it right away. But software? The only cases I can think of when our kind has to go to work at some ungodly hours is either right before a deadline when someone seriously f-ed up the planning, or when someone deployed buggy code to prod. 3. Learning constantly. Is it really a problem when it's the same in literally every other field? Nothing stays the same. Literally nothing. I'm originally from language/pedagogics background, and even in that field 5 years away from new information would make you more or less unfit to do your job. The only difference is that an 'unfit' teacher would still do their job, if poorly, while a programmer with an outdated skillset would have trouble finding a new job, which doesn't necessarily mean they would lose their existing job if they have one, especially if they have 'reputation' in the company. 4. Lack of diversity. Oh, yes. Here I agree 100%, and I'm not even on the same continent. I'm a gay agender afab autistic person, and an ethnic minority where I live, and getting a job in this field is HELL, even being in the closet about my orientation, gender identity, and neurological status. 5. Not a social job. Erm... It's not part of my experience at all. I chose this field exactly because, being a naive and socially awkward Aspie, I believed that programming was a solitary job where I wouldn't have to deal with the social BS. Spoiler alert: didn't happen. Sure, you don't talk to people 24/7 like in, say, sales. But the social part is far, far lager than one might think. And far trickier than a socially structured field like, say, academic. You still have to greet your colleagues every day, and Powers forbid you forget to say hi to Becky from HR -- you'll find yourself target of a metric sh*tton of micro aggressions. You still have to play nice in a break room, attend team building and corporate parties, etc. And if you work in an open plan office.... Oh, my. There's no getting away from other people. Literally.
Oh, shoot... I'm a 33 year old teacher from Germany (another ethnic background, hypersensitive and apparantly "too soft") and wanted to switch to IT because I'm just too introverted, intellectuell and free-spirited for this outdated, traditional, narrow-minded system full of primitive, sexist, racist, ignorant and arrogant fossils with a snitch-mentality. AAAargh, I hate it!
Thank you for keeping it real with me in this video. It’s really important for anybody looking to dive into the tech industry to keep these things in mind. Keeps people grounded.
I've been in the tech industry for 30 years and the Information Security field for 16 of those 30. I've worked very closely with many SWE's and I can tell you that you are spot on! It has gotten WAY better in the last decade, but I agree, we still have a long way to go. As you've said though, nobody who is interested in this field should let the downsides discourage them. Every job has its troubles, and if you are an SWE at heart, go for it! You can do it!
I got a bachelors in CS and started at Microsoft, but after 6 years I haven't figured out how to enjoy this career yet. Thank you for giving my struggles a name. Hopefully now I can figure out how to push past them.
I’d love to see a day in quarantine as a software engineer!! Also if you could talk about how you manage your money once you get paid. I’m guessing you have everything in automatic mode but it would be helpful if you talk in detail where your money goes!
She touches on how she spends and manages her money in her "Millenial Money" video. www.cnbc.com/video/2020/03/12/210k-a-year-in-nyc-millennial-money-bukola-ayodele.html
im a filipino and i just started cs50 three weeks ago. your channel inspires me to push through even tho there are moments where i feel like quitting. keep up the good work!
I am working in software even though my degree is in Chemistry. You can make it, too. If you think you might quit, find something in your day in, day out life, or another problem you have wanted to solve, that would be best accomplished by an algorithm and code it up. The most fun programming projects can be the ones done in free time. Number theory and gaming stuff have been the main ones for me.
Just keep on learning there is times you get stuck by spending a long time on something and maybe feel like you should do someting else those days is not the majority but yea learn alot of stuff and think logical when coding.
Hi guys, I have a very important question. I will learn Python but I also got a free course for learning C language. Do you think learning C is useful now? I want to be a computational linguist.
TechLead's video on diversity REALLY bothered me, especially seeing how much support he had for it. It's incredible that people don't think diversity is important when we've had problems like Snapchat filters not recognizing black people's faces and even more recently Zoom glitching out when a curly-haired person tries to use a custom background. We shouldn't have those issues in 2020. Ridiculous.
Same girl, I watched it and was extremely disappointed! What you said and so many other things bothered me! Like when he discussed "meritocracy" but no mention of how wealth, race ect. can influence your access to tech. When he said "original programmers were nerdy men", but not mentioning that in the 40s-60s most programmers were women and how they were pushed out I could go on for DAYS and DAYS lol
Well.... It aint surprising coming from the guy who has been involved in multiple controversies 😂 something not so related to softwares, some hand dryers & soap dispensers in toilets cant even detect black skin lol
@@hanklenham7627 The understanding and grace should've been given by you as well. You lent none, while asking others to do so. Discrimination in this form absolutely does exist, as well as in others ways when it comes to the tech industry. You saying what you don't think happens doesn't change what the reality is for others.
Diversity is important. However, I agree with TeachLead that we should solve this problem differently. It's simply wrong to attempt to increase diversity by easing requirements for underrepresented minorities or to have certain races as a requirement for a job posting. This can seriously do more harm than good. We have to tackle to roots of the problem instead, such as increasing CS exposure to students at title 1 schools, challenging toxic social expectations like females should not do CS, etc. This solution will not yield the results we want immediately, but it will solve the problem more effectively than what a lot of tech companies are doing in the long run.
I agree with everything you said. I'd like to add just one thing. You talked exclusively about big companies, but there's definitely a less competitive, and a little less lucrative too, niche to be explored for individual developers, specially in the gaming development industry.
You gotta do what you gotta do. Learning never ends. If you love learning you will thrive. Oh and there are days when all you hear is keyboards clacking....
Valid points. I'll say from experience; you can avoid most of the issues above if you opt to start your own thing rather than attempt to be part of big tech. That has it's own set of challenges however.
Thank you so much for making this video! Your knowledge about the industry is really invaluable to all of us looking to potentially get into it. Much love
Great video! You mentioned great points but still very excited to join the tech industry as woman and as a minority. I am also 34, getting my degree in computer science coming from a 13 year career in the legal field. Let’s be the change we want to be in this industry! Best of luck with your career and wish you success always!
Great! Thank you for bringing this up! Consistency is the best way to keep it up when you are SWE or SWD or WBD. I like your video, and your inspiring history. Thanks.
I've been in the industry for 33 years. From my experience other issues to be concerned about are: * Outsourcing. Your job could disappear at any time because the company finds someone cheaper. * Ageism. There is a real issue with older programmers struggling to get work. Younger programmers are seen as more likely to be persuaded to work additional hours and more likely to be up to date on newer trends. So intend to getr out of the industry by your 40's. * "Positive" discrimitaion in larger companies is likely to result in a more favoured group being promoted over you. I still think it's a fantastic industry to work in. It has given me a great lifestyle and I have been able to survive the above so far. But they are increasingly problematic and for those reasons, along with the vast working hours and on-call mentioned in the video, I struggle to recommend it as a career to my own children.
@@RamMohammadJosephKaur Positive discrimination means choosing one person over another person because of an unchangeable characteristic (such as race or gender). The word "positive" is used because it is intended to correct a previous under-representation of some groups of people. It is still discrimination but is meant to be "good" discrimination. Specifically in this industry (at least in the UK) it is not uncommon to aim to employ, or promote, a black or asian person over a white person. It's also quite common for women to be preferred over men for the same reason. This is because the number of each demographic in larger companies is now tracked and reported on. Where there is an under-representation from one group of people then companies are expected to correct that gap. I don't know whether it is the same in the US or other countries, but that does seem to be the case in the UK. I have witnessed it myself in emails and company meetings where this preference was stated. It is difficult for companies because in the UK it is *illegal* to discriminate against anyone based on age, gender, race or disability. But there is also a drive to correct under-representation of women and non-white people. So on one hand they are not allowed to consider those factors, but on the other hand they are expected to fix the gap. There is no perfect solution. So although they don't intend to discriminate against someone, that has been the outcome in some cases. After-all when you favour one person over another, based on gender or skin colour then that is exactly the definition of discrimination. My preferred approach is to not consider colour or gender at all (or disability for that matter). I would prefer to remove any information from a job application which could identify a persons race or gender. Let their application be looked at only on the basis of experience, skill and merit. Race and gender should not matter at all. However I don't have a solution to any bias when it comes to an interview. There are arguments for, and arguments against "positive" discrimination. I'm not saying it is right or wrong. Neither option is perfect. But it is certainly discrimination and I am simply highlighting the issue for those choosing to go into that career. Some people may be advantaged by it and some will be disadvantaged by it. Also the approach may change in the future and some other method may be used to address under-representation. It is not unique to this industry but I have witnessed it. However, the bigger issue is ageism. We all get older. An older person can find it harder to get a job in this industry. Again this is illegal in the UK. But it happens.
@@tnetroP Thank you for the detailed reply. Wow this is exactly the sort of thing that is going on in India. My brother experienced it first hand in MBA college, where some of the top companies that came for recruitment had a Quota. A certain no. of girls and a certain number of boys. My brother worked really hard to prepare for this dream company, similarly many among his friends did, but in the end in their words, they said even girls who had lower GPA or less stellar experience/CVs than them were chosen over them , because of the said above "Quota" system. This is really unfair, and like you rightly mentioned "discrimination ", where a candidate is being chosen for unchangeable characteristics of themselves over meritocracy.
I guess it's just not meant for me to understand what the dislikes are about, but you have had a tremendous impact on my thinking by keeping it real. Not discouraging at all. You confirmed what some of my suspicions were for years. Thank you so much!
please make a video about the lack of diversity in tech!! i’d love that. im a latina going into tech and honestly sometimes i feel like maybe i shouldn’t go into tech because i get a bit intimidated lol
You will forgive me if i comment your comment. I'm not an American born and raised but i know USA well and i often travel to your country. I follow everyday your internal politics too and something more. One of the most important woman in USA is a Latina from the Bronx in New York, a politician, Ocasio Cortez. She is an outsider in a Parlament full of white guys. She had to be strong to step in and create some space around her. Do you think your situation is very different? You are American not Latina. You are smart and a woman. To categorize the ethnicities inside the population, in an advanced country, is one example of great weakness for the country and the government/politics. Show how good you are. Good work.
Giuseppe Nativo I like your mindset and I understand that you’re coming from a place of encouragement. However, as she stated, she is Latina. She can be American and Latina. Whether she acknowledges the fact that she’s Latina or doesn’t, it would not make any difference. The fact that she is a woman of color in tech, she at some point will likely face some adversity. & I agree with you, she should not allow the fear of underrepresentation deter her. And to the original commenter, you must realize you’re opening doors for the other little girls that look like you. 💜 I hope you both have a beautiful day!
Just have it at the back of your mind.... If everyone was scared no one will do it for some reason. There are always plenty reasons not to do something.✌️
This comment section is the best. I am 30 year old black dude getting into tech myself. My mind is set in accomplishing my goals no matter what. So, to the initial comment. Believe in yourself and stay focused. We've got this. 🤗
I just discovered your channel from the millenial money video and I'm so glad I did! I've been playing with the thought of doing my master's in business analytics but I'm a bit scared because I only have a tiny bit of experience from two R classes in my current degree but you definitely encouraged me to give the idea a serious thought!
Pleased that you brought up the diversity microaggressions. You MUST have SUPER thick skin working as a Software Engineer in tech. The #MeToo movement would be shocked by the things we girl Software Engineers hear DAILY at work.
seems like its worst in game industry. which i can see because the incel gamers are the worst lol. and now more and more companies are being bought by chinese companies, i can see policies being very one sided.
I can only imagine how competitive it can be if someone works at a company that ranks their employees. That doesn't exactly lead to a collaborative atmosphere.
Thank you for the honest talk and the heads up concerning real issues. To all minorities who are interested in tech, please GO FOR IT! If you want changes in the industry and feel that the industry needs to see that minorities can be great at tech, don't allow lack of diversity stop you. Also, realize that things are not always what they seem-many schools with only minorities lack even proper basic supplies due to low funding (such as textboooks) so often, being able to give students unrestricted access to things like computers and instructional training involving coding is out of the question. As such, many minorities aren't exposed to many things, such as tech, in a manner that will interest them enough to start a career in it and that translate to lack of presence in the field. Lack of presence isn't because minorities aren't capable or smart enough. There's plenty of research proving that when minorities are given the same educational opportunities as the majority, they excel. Don't wait for everyone else to be the person who creates change. If our ancestors just waited for others to fight because they were too afraid due to the lack of diversity, many of us would still have little to no rights.
This is a great video, I’m an older worker and looking to change careers. It’s daunting but I’m pretty determined. It’s good to hear all the issues. These definitely are not discouraging as I’m coming from another field, all the things you mentioned are everywhere. So it’s good to see some things are consistent (being sarcastic of course on that last note).
This is a great topic. I've been in the industry for 20 years. I can cosign everything mentioned in this video. It's a rewarding career but it also challenging and stressful.
Please make a video on how you budget your money!!! I just saw your video on CNBC & would love to hear how you break it down & what categories you have for short term & long term! Ik it’s different for everyone but to be able to see how you break down your money atleast maybe percentage wise would help me out so much!
Having worked in the tech industry for over 15 years and being a black man, you pretty much nailed the pros/cons. I enjoyed watching your video. I would say, maybe I've been lucky as I live in the United Kingdon or just found some good firms, but I don't see the kind of discrimination in the companies I've worked in that you describe. Don't get me wrong the number of people of colour or women is too low for my liking. But once you're through the door and you're smart and can deliver, people don't mind. There''s always an initial presumption that you're not clever until you floor them with your knowledge. I love that moment they realise that you're different from what they pictured in their head. I've mostly worked in the top investment banks including JP Morgan, Lehman Bros, etc. And I've worked up the ladder from a developer, senior developer lead programmer, Development Manager, and now I'm doing DevOps as I got bored after 12 years. So I'll echo your point of developing a habit of continuous learning as the industry is always changing. I've unfortunately also had to rank my direct reports based on company policy in one of the top 2 banks in the world, which I felt was the worst thing I was asked to do - I did that for 3 years before I left. It makes team members compete with each other instead of collaborating. Whose bright idea was that :) Anyway, I enjoyed watching this. Keep it going.
Thats why I am glad I am transitioning into analyst/technical support engineering because the position allows to keep my technical skills up to date but I also enjoy interacting with customers and helping them solve their problems. But you are right girl, some of these SWEs have very poor emotional and social intelligence.
Thank you so much for your honesty and wisdom! I didn't find the video discouraging, but actually encouraging because of the realness of what you mention and seeing someone who has persevered through the challenges.
thanks sis for revealing that reality to us am about to take a career in software engineering,this video has prepared me for the future,that means i need to work very had to make it
Great video and insights! When I originally started by website and internet marketing company in 2000 basic coding was all that we needed, now that I'm personally updating my skills, the amount of new code and languages is crazy and constantly updating. You hit some very solid and real points that people really need to take into consideration going into the workforce vs working for themselves. I had a contract job on the sales side at G and I could see the behind the scenes stress and competition of the engineers. It's a great career, just be prepared. Good insights.
The social part is exactly why I’m trying to switch from UX Design to front end development, I’m an introvert and I’ve been diagnosed with social anxiety in the past so it’s extremely hard for me to keep up with design work when everyone expects you to be outgoing, have amazing communication skills, conduct workshops and so on. I got to the point I hate my job because it’s all about talking to others, and I’m working hard to become a developer so I can have my alone time lol.
How much time do you have to spend interacting with people as a UX designer? I'm an introvert too currently considering retraining in IT. I have done training in another non IT related design field and I love designing. But I don't want too much social interaction. I'd prob like a balance where I have both quiet solo working time and maybe about 1-2 hours social interaction each day.
When we were schooled as programmers we learned the true basics of the science and one of these disciplines is structured programming. When we became developers then the science was removed(structured programming is lost). In other words anyone can code and be a developer but not many can be a programmer. I have over 35 years in the business and worked in most sectors and what makes this career rewarding are the wins of the hard work you and your team mates have accomplished. The feeling when your work is published is very rewarding and addictive. I started when there were no minorities usually one which was me. I had to work harder and smarter but it pays off. I knew we were in trouble while working at Microsoft Bill Gates said "All software must work on the web".
Everything you've said is true! you've nailed it! as a black female software engineer working in a top tier company... i'm telling you the pressure is real. having to prove you are as good as everyone else constantly, and still not getting proper recognition for your work lol. Too many people think being a developer is easy, and yet this is definitely the hardest job i've ever had!... You have to be a person that enjoys challenges and solving issues that may seem impossible. The stress is real, but the reward comes when you are actually making improvements and getting things done :)
All these factors are already at play at my school. I am going into this with eyes wide open - thanks to you, because you spelled out what was just a feeling I had!
A million thanks for this clarifying video. I love your perspective and clarity about the industry. I’m an older woman, I’m 43 and I want to change careers. I’m a translator with no background in computer science. But I think I have to look elsewhere, I don’t want to bring more stress than what I have. Thank you 😊
Thanks for sharing this! I try not to perpetuate the 'everything is fun and cute in tech' narrative that can sometimes make people take a leap they aren't prepared for. You did a great job breaking these down.
I work in supply chain logistics and I’m going into tech ASAP. It’s funny how we deal with similar issues. These industries are definitely not for everyone but I feel like it’s a pretty good fit for me. Hopefully next year I will be working in tech 😃
Im 29, former english teacher and been doing an undergrad Business Admin degree with minor in informatics, on the side; in my final semester. Been unemployed for over a year, health reasons. Covid had me thinking of a career in tech. I knew it wasnt going to be easy, but im starting to think ppl really understate the fact that its not just anyone that can go into software development.
I really appreciate the point that you made about lack of diversity in the field and dealing with mircoaggressions. It's one of my biggest concerns about going into IT as a field. And I'm not going to let it stop me in any way but it's awesome for someone to actually address it do thanks very much for that. P. S. The grey shirt looks really pretty on you
How many diversity hiring initiatives have you noticed? How legitimate do they sound, as opposed to a company just looking to put a stamp on its record?
All you said make sense. You're a great ambassador 👌. I'm not sure about the competitiveness in my case, I'm flooded with recruiters on LinkedIn. I guess it's more competitive if you want to work for a well-known business
Hi. You stated you didn't go the traditional route of CS. What did you do (schooling) and what program did you enroll into in order to get certifications or diploma to become a software engineer?
Good video. Just want to add on that if you really want to be a coder but you also like spending time interacting with people, going into Systems Engineering or Test Engineering is a fabulous way to land yourself in meetings all day or complain while finding bugs and getting information about how the software is supposed to work.
If debugging your own code is stressful, you need to learn how to structure your code strategically. Sadly there isn't really good resource aside from gimmicky high-level philosophies that actually complicates architectures and make it worse. Best advice I'd give is to write your code thinking of other people trying to read/understand your code and reduce the risk of them making a mistake. When you do that, you actually prevent your own self from screwing up. Also, practice the KISS method and respect Murphy's law. That's done so well for me that I've been called "lucky" several times in the past decade that I almost never get major production issues.
This way great! Thank you so much! Seeing your 210K p.a. Video was what made me look into tech ☺️ I honestly wasn’t expecting to be something I could see myself doing, but I’ve since taken 3 mini coding courses and felt so hungry to learn more, I almost signed up to a general assembly course that was like, over 3K but looked into my options, and found going to Uni in my birth country would actually be cheaper starting with a diploma and going up to a bachelor agree. If I end up earning even half of what you do, I’d be earning over 4x what I do now working full time.
I wouldn't say some of these are negatives imo but you do have some valid points some of them. Regarding always learning: I think this is a good thing, as humans we should always learn and develop our selves and not be stagnant. I was like this for a long time but when I started to enjoy learning again I really started to enjoy my life a lot more, that's just me personally. I find the challenge of having to learn something as well quite encouraging as I can be quite competitive. That goes for not just learning about languages to improve yourself but also about debugging your code that you currently have issues with, you have to learn and understand why it failed, whether it was a simple human error or something deeper that you can then think you could improve.
For me, this is going to be an extra income sideline that I can slide into, so I'm not too worried about interviews or big company problems. Plus I'm naturally OCD. I love picky problem solving.
I agree with most of the points, but tbh on the social aspect that requires effort from you as well. I like to connect with people on the team and even talk about anything really even with people outside of tech. I feel like engineers in general have this stigma of being anti social when making connections and being social is better for our careers. Being a good Engineer requires you to be a good communicator.
life is stressfull. No easy road to success anywhere. I enjoy the challenges programming brings. The stress and frustration happens most often when beginning. But when you become more proficient it is reduced drastically.
Gurl I just got laid off my a year programming job because of covid19 pandemic and I'm starting to realize that I hate programming especially the frustrating DEBUGGING part... 😳
About diversity: It is not the programming industry’s fault, just because some children prefer to play with other things rather than technology. Programming industry offers full anonymity and supplying thousands of dollars’ worth of tools for free (community and developer editions of software). People should choose programming because they like programming as a hobby, not because of other people in it or because how much it pays. If someone likes something because of people, then they must choose area where social factor is the key. Trying to change programming industry itself will result in leading more non-thirsty horses to the water. Basically, if you want to be happy with your job then take advice from Confucius (551-479 BCE) who said "Choose a job you love and you will never work a day in your life".
Great video. Just started pursuing my CS degree and had some second thoughts but your video was motivating and thank you for being honest about your experiences.
I was wondering if the information you were going to cover was going to be overly negative but I think you helped level set me and have really insightful reasons and things to be aware of. This presentation was very honest and well grounded. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this! I really needed it lol I’m currently a black woman software engineer as well and those rough days are ROUGH! I love what I do but at times I still question myself on whether I should even be in this industry. 👩🏾💻
I've been in the industry 25+ years. It's very diverse in the sense that you meet people from many different cultures. If you mean, there's not a lot of blacks, that much is true. As far as learning goes, yes, the learning never ends. Be prepared for a lifetime of learning unless you are ok with being in a narrow market or move to a managerial position.
True about minorities and is true worldwide (I'm not in US), most of devs are men. Great video and everything in general is true, even about stress and keeping constantly updated with the skills, that's why Senior SWE once in their 30s they start pushing for being Tech Lead or enter into Management, or even some people plans to retire in their 40s or to run a startup or any other company. Stress anyway depends a lot by company and market, where I work luckily there's not much stress, everyone always work less than 8 hours and have minimum 25 days of paid vacation a year, and for Bay Area net salaries; but it changes heavily based on the company, the more the company is "tech" the more the work-life balance is good, being a SWE in fintech and ops firms is way more stressful.
'Not very social' that's a pro
Are you a software engineer 👀
@@nonameavailableatm yes
Right
sid roy I’m wondering if we can get a software engineer job without degree from North America 🤔
ジェロじゃねーよ you don’t need a degree
Wow, I've noticed lately the huge number of Black engineers posting on TH-cam about being a software engineer. I've been a software engineer for over 20+ years now and for a while, there didn't seem to be many of us. Great to see you representing. Keep up the good work educating people the same way I do
Noticing the same thing too. It's great to see.
Ya thought it was just me hope to see more! ✊✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿
I black as well, and i have a natural nack for tech, and i want to enter the tech industry. What should i look for, and what certifications should i persue?
This is such a breath of fresh air to see people who look like you doing what you aspire to do.
We're here!
Stress levels can be kept to a minimum if you maintain your boundaries. Please don't do crazy overnight hackathons every time your manager gets jumpy because of a deadline. Every time you sacrifice your sleep, fitness and health in general the deadlines will come for more. This beast is always hungry, stay safe
"The beat is always hungry" -- No joke!
@Alexey Pyzhianov Could you give me advices for tolerating¿, the stress led me to suffer from fibromyalgia and I stopped working. I've come back part time but I'm still scared. I've even thought about studying something else, I'm a systems engineer(woman 😕)
@@Playitaaa You should probably talk to a qualified therapist about this, it's kinda serious and goes beyond a casual internet advice :) Get well!
@@alexinflux Thank you, my psychologist told me that a career change is probably better, because I can't stop and say no. But my body currently says no and I have to stop it is very sad because I like to program (back), but I think it is health first. I will like be other person that living day on day 😕
I worked at Child Welfare in NYC after college and have been at a commuter railroad. People hit the workers, vomit on themselves, crap on the floor and jump in front of and onto moving trains. I also wake up at 3am. I suppose coding has a "different" stress.
"This is not a social job"- I don't see that as a problem
Sucks for extroverts though
Exactly why it sucks for others
That's why I like this career hahaha
wrong , it is a social job, she does not have the exp to see it yet...
It's not a social job on lower levels.
It can get VERY social once you get up the ladder to senior levels.
You'll be in meetings every day discussing, giving presentations and shuffling papers for a few hours.
Girl grey is 100% your color
thank you!!
@P. G. here it is! www.abercrombie.com/shop/us/p/short-sleeve-smocked-tie-front-top-40075320
Wow! My teeth are grey
I thought it was gold.😉
Right? She looks lovely!
I've been avoiding these types of videos from other youtubers. What i tell myself is that whatever we decide to do is going to take hard work. That's life and if we let it scare us we'll never get to accomplish anything.
It helps to prepare though. I would say her commentary on diversity is a little overblown though, not to say she didn't come across ridiculous stuff.
I've worked in mostly white firms and they honestly were fine with good coworkers. I've also worked in largely Asian firms and again, mostly fine. Everyone just wants work to be done and for everyone to at least try.
Agreed. Everything has cons. Even sitting at home and doing nothing for the rest of your life has cons. Even being an IG model has cons.
I've been am SE for 15 yrs now and she is right. Hard work is there in many jobs. However hard MENTAL work is not there in a lot of jobs. Her warning is a fair and valid one.
@@rheechashaipu1927 So I respectfully disagree with you on this one. I have worked at several of the Fortune 100 and at startups and diversity is definitely still an issue in Tech.
Companies like to claim they are diverse by hiring the diversity into supporting/ admin roles. However, when you look at who is writing the code you see there is a LARGE lack of diversity.
100% agree. We'll find the same sort of issues in whatever field, so we mustn't allow ourselves to be discouraged. There won't be anywhere left to go if we do!
I love the slow jazz while hearing something that can burst someone's bubble. lol
Cause you a capital G
😂
Sorry to be so offtopic but does anyone know a trick to log back into an Instagram account..?
I stupidly forgot the account password. I love any assistance you can offer me.
@Paxton Hunter instablaster =)
@Davis Matthias Thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now.
I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
You need to stick it through for at least 10+ yrs. Coding is like doing Martial Arts. You become good at one. You then learn another. Then mix them together. Then learn another. Then you are unstoppable. Then you learn another...:)
Very very good talk.
Hi guys, I have a very important question. I will learn Python but I also got a free course for learning C language. Do you think learning C is useful now? I want to be a computational linguist.
beg to differ, depends what field you took as a swe, full stack for example doesnot require 10 years, you can be a damn good engineer in about 3 yrs of time.
Unlike learning specific martial arts, learning particular dev skills may not be as useful in the long term. Many languages and operating systems go out of fashion or are superseded by newer tech. Once you know Aikido, you can always be effective in hand to hand combat - its not suddenly going be completely useless. Contrast with languages & environments in development - knowledge of old ones can be pretty much useless in getting a job. Your development education & training can lose value over time, unlike most real world skills.
@@Lucasukx yep, but you still can get paid while you become a black belt. Plus anything worth while take that long anyway.
@@Lucasukx To some degree this is true, but just like with learning a martial art, some knowledge carries over into the newer systems/languages. Once you have a firm grasp on the concepts in software development, the learning of new languages and tools becomes easier I think. It's because the changes often build upon previous iterations, so the past knowledge is still valuable from an applied standpoint. It makes it easier to transition as you can relate new things to past skills and experiences. That's why people with 10 + years of continual/progressive experience don't have these problems as much and are in relative demand.
However, formal education and training definitely loses value and there you have a point as it relates to resumes/CV and job hunting. But that is a very limited aspect of one's education and skills - it's perceived representation of what you know rather than what you actually know. Someone capable of developing amazing things does not need to worry about this as much because they are able to create and deliver, whether they work for Google or for themselves. In other words, results matter over resume qualifications in the long run.
The 5 points are summarised at 9:41
:)
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thanks!
Thanks
Very true - I would say to college students, if you want to know if it is something you want to do, do a software engineering internship before graduating so you get a taste of what it is like. Doing it on the job from 9-5 is definitely different than just doing programming assignments during school - and there are also multiple jobs in tech. Try and explore them, not all CS majors have to become SWEs! You can also do software engineering at non-tech / FANG companies in an industry that you are more passionate about - music, health, retail, entertainment, finance, etc.
Thanks for you comment! This very true!
what other jobs in tech are there for people with CS majors?
irule10338 look into product management
I also get the feeling that a 9-5 is a lot different than programming for FRC as well
@@irule10338 you have a lot of options! for example being a PM, UI/UX ... on the business side doing Biz Operations, Tech Sales work or even being a Technical Writer and a bunch of other jobs
I'm anti-social so I enjoy being a software engineer and yes the diversity is unfortunately limited
Anti-social is NOT the same as A-social.
If I only had a dollar every time I mentioned this on the Internet.
Thanks for making this video, it's important for us to know both sides of the coin. Most TH-camrs only talk about how fantastic it is to be a software developer, which is unrealistic surely cons must exist. Thanks
This is kind of related to a few points you made, but coding for a living is not good health wise so you really need to make sure to get exercise in and eat well, especially if you already have mental or physical health issues to deal with. It may seem like a small deal but once you get a few years in it can really add up.
I've seen a lot of software programmers and devs on TH-cam subtley mentioning ways to be healthier- showing regular exercise in their vlogs, healthy eating, standing desks, ergonomic chairs and comluter mice, changing your screen position so you're not straining any muscles, etc.
That’s why a lot of places with software engineers have gyms
Yes it is a frustrating job 😭
She works out regularly I saw it on another video
try fitting flooring for a job. neck ache, back ache, sore knees and severe lack of brain usage. I'm looking at software engineering to stop being a floor layer.
I think you touched the most important thing of being a SE, that is .. learning never stops. Be ahead of the rest, even if the company you work for isn't progressing towards new technology. Keep your eyes open for what is happening around you, be in the front seat of the fast moving train ... and not be in the empty wagon at the end of the line. Also you are right about writing code, that is maybe the most easy part .. debugging and optimizing your code is going to take a multiple factor of that time. From me, keep up the good information.
exactly! glad you liked the video!
Ikr...we programmers always need to learn everything. It's annoying.
Yes! I think it’s ideal to make friends with other engineers.
I think that’s why I love it though. You never stop learning. I love learning and coding so it makes it that much better
Thanks for making this video! I'm starting my tech journey now and I'm reluctant to keeping going because, like you said, you will always be learning something. I don't mind learning things, but I would like to be able to reach a point where I feel like I've mastered my job. I don't want to always be chasing something. THE CHASE IS EXHAUSTING.
Thats exactly what I was thinking but It might be every few years like she said and we would need to stay ahead of the game.
I work for the government as a programmer. Less stress, less headache, and more time to myself
Luke av really but how it’s it less stress you work for the government I’m guessing one wrong code can throw you in jail.
Hi guys, I have a very important question. I will learn Python but I also got a free course for learning C language. Do you think learning C is useful now? I want to be a computational linguist.
worldwide handsome learning c will teach you a lot about computer science. You might not use it but, it will teach you to make your own stuff instead of using libraries. You’re gonna be learning the low level
Francisco Leon The government is unavoidably bureaucratic. Its standards adapt to change at a dramatically slower pace than the commercial world. You wind up working with older tech over longer deadlines.
On the topic of constantly learning - that is one aspect of tech that I feel most people do not really grasp until later in their careers. One addition to that I would add would be this: while a person may not have the time to sit and put in an hour worth of coding, taking the time to read industry news and updates from people you respect and admire in the industry (much like your channel!) are perfectly fine ways to continue learning or even start learning about tech topics. These sources can provide even the smallest spark to light a fire in someone to learn something new.
Great video!
I’m going into software engineering at uni and I’ve been looking at pros and cons and I’m really thankful for this video. The video isn’t just saying don’t go into tech but it’s saying clear things that suck about the field and discussing whether or not your suited to put up with these challenges. I’m thankful for the nice way this was discussed. All I hear is people saying nice things about tech but we all know it isn’t entirely true
Sarah if tech is your passion then you should definitely go for it! Passion will get you through when the difficult and bad parts of the job arise. People think the money will but sadly it won't after a short while. If it's what you love then you will enjoy it and blossom wonderfully in it. 😀
100% of what she said is true. After being a programmer for a year (laravel, vue.js and sql) I can say it is a frustrating job (the debugging part). 😂
TheKayleeanna thank you for the nice response!!
"this is not a social job". Right up my alley. Definitely a pro for me.
Don't mind me, I'm just a random software developer passing by :) That said...
Everyone has their unique perspective and experience in ... just about everything, including being a programmer. And I hope I don't overstep anything if I write how my experience is different from yours.
1. Debugging is stressful. Erm, not really? Or rather not unless I'm on a very tight schedule with a psychotic product manager breathing down my neck.
It's a question of attitude more than anything tbh. Nothing is perfect, and no code works from the first try (or _almost_ no code). That's a given. So the choice is to either see debugging as a problem (I didn't do it right -> I'm not good enough), in which case, yeah, it can feel frustrating and stressful as heck. Or you can see debugging as a necessary step to your goal (make the code work), it which case it's just... part of the process.
2. Being on the call isn't as popular as it might seem. I don't doubt that it's the reality of your life but it's not like that for everyone. It's far more prevalent for system administrators, because if something breaks, they have to fix it right away. But software? The only cases I can think of when our kind has to go to work at some ungodly hours is either right before a deadline when someone seriously f-ed up the planning, or when someone deployed buggy code to prod.
3. Learning constantly. Is it really a problem when it's the same in literally every other field? Nothing stays the same. Literally nothing. I'm originally from language/pedagogics background, and even in that field 5 years away from new information would make you more or less unfit to do your job. The only difference is that an 'unfit' teacher would still do their job, if poorly, while a programmer with an outdated skillset would have trouble finding a new job, which doesn't necessarily mean they would lose their existing job if they have one, especially if they have 'reputation' in the company.
4. Lack of diversity. Oh, yes. Here I agree 100%, and I'm not even on the same continent. I'm a gay agender afab autistic person, and an ethnic minority where I live, and getting a job in this field is HELL, even being in the closet about my orientation, gender identity, and neurological status.
5. Not a social job. Erm... It's not part of my experience at all. I chose this field exactly because, being a naive and socially awkward Aspie, I believed that programming was a solitary job where I wouldn't have to deal with the social BS. Spoiler alert: didn't happen. Sure, you don't talk to people 24/7 like in, say, sales. But the social part is far, far lager than one might think. And far trickier than a socially structured field like, say, academic. You still have to greet your colleagues every day, and Powers forbid you forget to say hi to Becky from HR -- you'll find yourself target of a metric sh*tton of micro aggressions. You still have to play nice in a break room, attend team building and corporate parties, etc. And if you work in an open plan office.... Oh, my. There's no getting away from other people. Literally.
Oh, shoot... I'm a 33 year old teacher from Germany (another ethnic background, hypersensitive and apparantly "too soft") and wanted to switch to IT because I'm just too introverted, intellectuell and free-spirited for this outdated, traditional, narrow-minded system full of primitive, sexist, racist, ignorant and arrogant fossils with a snitch-mentality. AAAargh, I hate it!
Thank you for keeping it real with me in this video. It’s really important for anybody looking to dive into the tech industry to keep these things in mind. Keeps people grounded.
I've been in the tech industry for 30 years and the Information Security field for 16 of those 30. I've worked very closely with many SWE's and I can tell you that you are spot on! It has gotten WAY better in the last decade, but I agree, we still have a long way to go. As you've said though, nobody who is interested in this field should let the downsides discourage them. Every job has its troubles, and if you are an SWE at heart, go for it! You can do it!
I got a bachelors in CS and started at Microsoft, but after 6 years I haven't figured out how to enjoy this career yet. Thank you for giving my struggles a name. Hopefully now I can figure out how to push past them.
Can you make a video about working with co workers in the tech field? How did you handle conflicts and problem solving when it came to the job?
I’d love to see a day in quarantine as a software engineer!!
Also if you could talk about how you manage your money once you get paid. I’m guessing you have everything in automatic mode but it would be helpful if you talk in detail where your money goes!
She touches on how she spends and manages her money in her "Millenial Money" video. www.cnbc.com/video/2020/03/12/210k-a-year-in-nyc-millennial-money-bukola-ayodele.html
She has a video on the CNBC Make It channel on how she spends and budgets her income
it's like every other day. zero difference.
im a filipino and i just started cs50 three weeks ago. your channel inspires me to push through even tho there are moments where i feel like quitting. keep up the good work!
Hi bryle. Do we register on the site. I went on the site and it does not say anything about registering
I am working in software even though my degree is in Chemistry. You can make it, too.
If you think you might quit, find something in your day in, day out life, or another problem you have wanted to solve, that would be best accomplished by an algorithm and code it up. The most fun programming projects can be the ones done in free time. Number theory and gaming stuff have been the main ones for me.
Just keep on learning there is times you get stuck by spending a long time on something and maybe feel like you should do someting else those days is not the majority but yea learn alot of stuff and think logical when coding.
Hi guys, I have a very important question. I will learn Python but I also got a free course for learning C language. Do you think learning C is useful now? I want to be a computational linguist.
TechLead's video on diversity REALLY bothered me, especially seeing how much support he had for it. It's incredible that people don't think diversity is important when we've had problems like Snapchat filters not recognizing black people's faces and even more recently Zoom glitching out when a curly-haired person tries to use a custom background. We shouldn't have those issues in 2020. Ridiculous.
Same girl, I watched it and was extremely disappointed! What you said and so many other things bothered me! Like when he discussed "meritocracy" but no mention of how wealth, race ect. can influence your access to tech. When he said "original programmers were nerdy men", but not mentioning that in the 40s-60s most programmers were women and how they were pushed out
I could go on for DAYS and DAYS lol
Well.... It aint surprising coming from the guy who has been involved in multiple controversies 😂 something not so related to softwares, some hand dryers & soap dispensers in toilets cant even detect black skin lol
@@hanklenham7627 The understanding and grace should've been given by you as well. You lent none, while asking others to do so. Discrimination in this form absolutely does exist, as well as in others ways when it comes to the tech industry. You saying what you don't think happens doesn't change what the reality is for others.
Diversity is important. However, I agree with TeachLead that we should solve this problem differently. It's simply wrong to attempt to increase diversity by easing requirements for underrepresented minorities or to have certain races as a requirement for a job posting. This can seriously do more harm than good. We have to tackle to roots of the problem instead, such as increasing CS exposure to students at title 1 schools, challenging toxic social expectations like females should not do CS, etc. This solution will not yield the results we want immediately, but it will solve the problem more effectively than what a lot of tech companies are doing in the long run.
@@Bukola1 They were deliberately erased as well as pushed out.
Has he not heard of Ada Lovelace?
When I get there I'll determine whether or not it's for me. Until then I'm putting in the time and keeping my head up!
I agree with everything you said. I'd like to add just one thing. You talked exclusively about big companies, but there's definitely a less competitive, and a little less lucrative too, niche to be explored for individual developers, specially in the gaming development industry.
Pros still outweigh the cons. By far.
At least for me......
Same for me!
Empirical facts...
Especially most software engineers have job still and can do their work remotely
@@denwaxr Wrong, there have been plenty of layoffs of software engineers
You gotta do what you gotta do. Learning never ends. If you love learning you will thrive.
Oh and there are days when all you hear is keyboards clacking....
Valid points. I'll say from experience; you can avoid most of the issues above if you opt to start your own thing rather than attempt to be part of big tech. That has it's own set of challenges however.
working for myself would be my dream
Thank you for keeping it 100% real with us as usual! This is so valued
Thank you so much for making this video! Your knowledge about the industry is really invaluable to all of us looking to potentially get into it. Much love
Great video! You mentioned great points but still very excited to join the tech industry as woman and as a minority. I am also 34, getting my degree in computer science coming from a 13 year career in the legal field. Let’s be the change we want to be in this industry! Best of luck with your career and wish you success always!
Rooting for you! I’m getting my law degree but I want to venture into tech too!💃🏾💃🏾
Great!
Thank you for bringing this up!
Consistency is the best way to keep it up when you are SWE or SWD or WBD.
I like your video, and your inspiring history.
Thanks.
I've been in the industry for 33 years. From my experience other issues to be concerned about are:
* Outsourcing. Your job could disappear at any time because the company finds someone cheaper.
* Ageism. There is a real issue with older programmers struggling to get work. Younger programmers are seen as more likely to be persuaded to work additional hours and more likely to be up to date on newer trends. So intend to getr out of the industry by your 40's.
* "Positive" discrimitaion in larger companies is likely to result in a more favoured group being promoted over you.
I still think it's a fantastic industry to work in. It has given me a great lifestyle and I have been able to survive the above so far. But they are increasingly problematic and for those reasons, along with the vast working hours and on-call mentioned in the video, I struggle to recommend it as a career to my own children.
What do you mean by a more favoured group?
tnetroP Thank you for sharing your experience with the industry 🙏🏽! I've the same question as user zucchinigreen, whats positive discrimination?
@@RamMohammadJosephKaur Positive discrimination means choosing one person over another person because of an unchangeable characteristic (such as race or gender). The word "positive" is used because it is intended to correct a previous under-representation of some groups of people. It is still discrimination but is meant to be "good" discrimination.
Specifically in this industry (at least in the UK) it is not uncommon to aim to employ, or promote, a black or asian person over a white person. It's also quite common for women to be preferred over men for the same reason. This is because the number of each demographic in larger companies is now tracked and reported on. Where there is an under-representation from one group of people then companies are expected to correct that gap. I don't know whether it is the same in the US or other countries, but that does seem to be the case in the UK. I have witnessed it myself in emails and company meetings where this preference was stated.
It is difficult for companies because in the UK it is *illegal* to discriminate against anyone based on age, gender, race or disability. But there is also a drive to correct under-representation of women and non-white people. So on one hand they are not allowed to consider those factors, but on the other hand they are expected to fix the gap. There is no perfect solution. So although they don't intend to discriminate against someone, that has been the outcome in some cases. After-all when you favour one person over another, based on gender or skin colour then that is exactly the definition of discrimination.
My preferred approach is to not consider colour or gender at all (or disability for that matter). I would prefer to remove any information from a job application which could identify a persons race or gender. Let their application be looked at only on the basis of experience, skill and merit. Race and gender should not matter at all. However I don't have a solution to any bias when it comes to an interview.
There are arguments for, and arguments against "positive" discrimination. I'm not saying it is right or wrong. Neither option is perfect. But it is certainly discrimination and I am simply highlighting the issue for those choosing to go into that career. Some people may be advantaged by it and some will be disadvantaged by it. Also the approach may change in the future and some other method may be used to address under-representation. It is not unique to this industry but I have witnessed it.
However, the bigger issue is ageism. We all get older. An older person can find it harder to get a job in this industry. Again this is illegal in the UK. But it happens.
@@tnetroP Thank you for the detailed reply. Wow this is exactly the sort of thing that is going on in India. My brother experienced it first hand in MBA college, where some of the top companies that came for recruitment had a Quota. A certain no. of girls and a certain number of boys. My brother worked really hard to prepare for this dream company, similarly many among his friends did, but in the end in their words, they said even girls who had lower GPA or less stellar experience/CVs than them were chosen over them , because of the said above "Quota" system.
This is really unfair, and like you rightly mentioned "discrimination ", where a candidate is being chosen for unchangeable characteristics of themselves over meritocracy.
Just curious, do you have others careers in mind that you are recommending to your children?
I guess it's just not meant for me to understand what the dislikes are about, but you have had a tremendous impact on my thinking by keeping it real. Not discouraging at all. You confirmed what some of my suspicions were for years. Thank you so much!
the learning constantly and not a social job are a pro for me ~ tysm for this video.
please make a video about the lack of diversity in tech!! i’d love that. im a latina going into tech and honestly sometimes i feel like maybe i shouldn’t go into tech because i get a bit intimidated lol
You will forgive me if i comment your comment. I'm not an American born and raised but i know USA well and i often travel to your country. I follow everyday your internal politics too and something more.
One of the most important woman in USA is a Latina from the Bronx in New York, a politician, Ocasio Cortez.
She is an outsider in a Parlament full of white guys. She had to be strong to step in and create some space around her. Do you think your situation is very different?
You are American not Latina. You are smart and a woman.
To categorize the ethnicities inside the population, in an advanced country, is one example of great weakness for the country and the government/politics.
Show how good you are.
Good work.
Giuseppe Nativo I like your mindset and I understand that you’re coming from a place of encouragement. However, as she stated, she is Latina. She can be American and Latina. Whether she acknowledges the fact that she’s Latina or doesn’t, it would not make any difference. The fact that she is a woman of color in tech, she at some point will likely face some adversity. & I agree with you, she should not allow the fear of underrepresentation deter her. And to the original commenter, you must realize you’re opening doors for the other little girls that look like you. 💜 I hope you both have a beautiful day!
Just have it at the back of your mind.... If everyone was scared no one will do it for some reason. There are always plenty reasons not to do something.✌️
This comment section is the best. I am 30 year old black dude getting into tech myself. My mind is set in accomplishing my goals no matter what. So, to the initial comment. Believe in yourself and stay focused. We've got this. 🤗
@@plasmakool190 you're not really helping with what she's asking but appreciate the encouragement.
Thank you, Bukola for sharing this. Oshey! I am venturing into Tech gradually.
Can you give me Some resources for being updated on tech like has tech news.. etc?
Hey! So for tech news I usually browse reddit, teamblind, Hacker News/Y combinator and tech crunch!
The Come Up thank you so much ❤️..and your channel is AMAZING keep going 🔥
Congrats on 100k. Been here since 2k 😎
I just discovered your channel from the millenial money video and I'm so glad I did! I've been playing with the thought of doing my master's in business analytics but I'm a bit scared because I only have a tiny bit of experience from two R classes in my current degree but you definitely encouraged me to give the idea a serious thought!
Pleased that you brought up the diversity microaggressions. You MUST have SUPER thick skin working as a Software Engineer in tech.
The #MeToo movement would be shocked by the things we girl Software Engineers hear DAILY at work.
I am in bootcamp right now. I would like to know your experiences what is like in the industry. It would be great to hear from another female. Thanks.
You should tell about your experiences, make a video of it or something.
🍵🍵🍵
seems like its worst in game industry. which i can see because the incel gamers are the worst lol. and now more and more companies are being bought by chinese companies, i can see policies being very one sided.
Haha yeah this kind of vid could get lots of views/interest ;)
I can only imagine how competitive it can be if someone works at a company that ranks their employees. That doesn't exactly lead to a collaborative atmosphere.
Thank you for the honest talk and the heads up concerning real issues.
To all minorities who are interested in tech, please GO FOR IT! If you want changes in the industry and feel that the industry needs to see that minorities can be great at tech, don't allow lack of diversity stop you.
Also, realize that things are not always what they seem-many schools with only minorities lack even proper basic supplies due to low funding (such as textboooks) so often, being able to give students unrestricted access to things like computers and instructional training involving coding is out of the question. As such, many minorities aren't exposed to many things, such as tech, in a manner that will interest them enough to start a career in it and that translate to lack of presence in the field. Lack of presence isn't because minorities aren't capable or smart enough. There's plenty of research proving that when minorities are given the same educational opportunities as the majority, they excel.
Don't wait for everyone else to be the person who creates change. If our ancestors just waited for others to fight because they were too afraid due to the lack of diversity, many of us would still have little to no rights.
The issue is nepotism. In the tech industry to hire RIGHT is to hire WHITE.
This is an issue in many industries but tech is overwhelmingly racist.
This is a great video, I’m an older worker and looking to change careers. It’s daunting but I’m pretty determined. It’s good to hear all the issues. These definitely are not discouraging as I’m coming from another field, all the things you mentioned are everywhere. So it’s good to see some things are consistent (being sarcastic of course on that last note).
This is a great topic. I've been in the industry for 20 years. I can cosign everything mentioned in this video. It's a rewarding career but it also challenging and stressful.
Please make a video on how you budget your money!!! I just saw your video on CNBC & would love to hear how you break it down & what categories you have for short term & long term! Ik it’s different for everyone but to be able to see how you break down your money atleast maybe percentage wise would help me out so much!
Ok will do!
Yay!! I’m literally watching All your videos rn!😭
Having worked in the tech industry for over 15 years and being a black man, you pretty much nailed the pros/cons.
I enjoyed watching your video. I would say, maybe I've been lucky as I live in the United Kingdon or just found some good firms, but I don't see the kind of discrimination in the companies I've worked in that you describe. Don't get me wrong the number of people of colour or women is too low for my liking. But once you're through the door and you're smart and can deliver, people don't mind. There''s always an initial presumption that you're not clever until you floor them with your knowledge. I love that moment they realise that you're different from what they pictured in their head.
I've mostly worked in the top investment banks including JP Morgan, Lehman Bros, etc. And I've worked up the ladder from a developer, senior developer lead programmer, Development Manager, and now I'm doing DevOps as I got bored after 12 years. So I'll echo your point of developing a habit of continuous learning as the industry is always changing. I've unfortunately also had to rank my direct reports based on company policy in one of the top 2 banks in the world, which I felt was the worst thing I was asked to do - I did that for 3 years before I left. It makes team members compete with each other instead of collaborating. Whose bright idea was that :)
Anyway, I enjoyed watching this. Keep it going.
Thats why I am glad I am transitioning into analyst/technical support engineering because the position allows to keep my technical skills up to date but I also enjoy interacting with customers and helping them solve their problems. But you are right girl, some of these SWEs have very poor emotional and social intelligence.
Thank you so much for your honesty and wisdom! I didn't find the video discouraging, but actually encouraging because of the realness of what you mention and seeing someone who has persevered through the challenges.
Your transparency is admirable! Just found your channel and happy to see you sharing as you have been. Thank you!!
Thanks for mentioning the family aspect! That was actually the hardest change in my life in this industry.
thanks sis for revealing that reality to us am about to take a career in software engineering,this video has prepared me for the future,that means i need to work very had to make it
Bottom line: If you like it, you will be successful at it no matter how hard it is.
Great video and insights! When I originally started by website and internet marketing company in 2000 basic coding was all that we needed, now that I'm personally updating my skills, the amount of new code and languages is crazy and constantly updating. You hit some very solid and real points that people really need to take into consideration going into the workforce vs working for themselves. I had a contract job on the sales side at G and I could see the behind the scenes stress and competition of the engineers. It's a great career, just be prepared. Good insights.
The social part is exactly why I’m trying to switch from UX Design to front end development, I’m an introvert and I’ve been diagnosed with social anxiety in the past so it’s extremely hard for me to keep up with design work when everyone expects you to be outgoing, have amazing communication skills, conduct workshops and so on. I got to the point I hate my job because it’s all about talking to others, and I’m working hard to become a developer so I can have my alone time lol.
How much time do you have to spend interacting with people as a UX designer? I'm an introvert too currently considering retraining in IT. I have done training in another non IT related design field and I love designing. But I don't want too much social interaction. I'd prob like a balance where I have both quiet solo working time and maybe about 1-2 hours social interaction each day.
When we were schooled as programmers we learned the true basics of the science and one of these disciplines is structured programming. When we became developers then the science was removed(structured programming is lost). In other words anyone can code and be a developer but not many can be a programmer. I have over 35 years in the business and worked in most sectors and what makes this career rewarding are the wins of the hard work you and your team mates have accomplished. The feeling when your work is published is very rewarding and addictive. I started when there were no minorities usually one which was me. I had to work harder and smarter but it pays off. I knew we were in trouble while working at Microsoft Bill Gates said "All software must work on the web".
Really good video. I love how articulate you are and it's really obivious you're being as geniune as you can. Thank you!
Everything you've said is true! you've nailed it! as a black female software engineer working in a top tier company... i'm telling you the pressure is real. having to prove you are as good as everyone else constantly, and still not getting proper recognition for your work lol. Too many people think being a developer is easy, and yet this is definitely the hardest job i've ever had!... You have to be a person that enjoys challenges and solving issues that may seem impossible. The stress is real, but the reward comes when you are actually making improvements and getting things done :)
As an aspiring Software Developer/Engineer, this is a useful video, it also lines up with what my Dev friends have told me.
If anything this inspires me to get into software engineering even more, thank you for your honest perspective!
Awesome perspective. Thank you.
Thank you for helping diversify this industry. You are appreciated.
All these factors are already at play at my school. I am going into this with eyes wide open - thanks to you, because you spelled out what was just a feeling I had!
A million thanks for this clarifying video. I love your perspective and clarity about the industry. I’m an older woman, I’m 43 and I want to change careers. I’m a translator with no background in computer science. But I think I have to look elsewhere, I don’t want to bring more stress than what I have. Thank you 😊
Thanks for sharing this! I try not to perpetuate the 'everything is fun and cute in tech' narrative that can sometimes make people take a leap they aren't prepared for. You did a great job breaking these down.
I work in supply chain logistics and I’m going into tech ASAP. It’s funny how we deal with similar issues. These industries are definitely not for everyone but I feel like it’s a pretty good fit for me. Hopefully next year I will be working in tech 😃
You are a pioneer in this industry and I enjoy your informational videos. Thank you for sharing !!
What, exactly, is she pioneering????
This explains why I'm still in helpdesk cause I need a life outside tech
On point with everything I face daily! You do a great job detailing the soft skills needed to be a software engineer
Love that you are highlighting the difficult parts too. I think I will do a similar video based on my experiences. Thanks!
Im 29, former english teacher and been doing an undergrad Business Admin degree with minor in informatics, on the side; in my final semester.
Been unemployed for over a year, health reasons. Covid had me thinking of a career in tech.
I knew it wasnt going to be easy, but im starting to think ppl really understate the fact that its not just anyone that can go into software development.
Awesome post!!! Dig the honesty
I really appreciate the point that you made about lack of diversity in the field and dealing with mircoaggressions. It's one of my biggest concerns about going into IT as a field. And I'm not going to let it stop me in any way but it's awesome for someone to actually address it do thanks very much for that.
P. S. The grey shirt looks really pretty on you
How many diversity hiring initiatives have you noticed? How legitimate do they sound, as opposed to a company just looking to put a stamp on its record?
All you said make sense. You're a great ambassador 👌. I'm not sure about the competitiveness in my case, I'm flooded with recruiters on LinkedIn. I guess it's more competitive if you want to work for a well-known business
Hi. You stated you didn't go the traditional route of CS. What did you do (schooling) and what program did you enroll into in order to get certifications or diploma to become a software engineer?
She has 2 videos on the topic. Search through her channel here on TH-cam.
Wow. 100k already. Congratulations girl.
Thank you! 🤗
Good video. Just want to add on that if you really want to be a coder but you also like spending time interacting with people, going into Systems Engineering or Test Engineering is a fabulous way to land yourself in meetings all day or complain while finding bugs and getting information about how the software is supposed to work.
This is such an informative video. I'd love to see a video about your thoughts and findings on diversity in tech! 💖
If debugging your own code is stressful, you need to learn how to structure your code strategically. Sadly there isn't really good resource aside from gimmicky high-level philosophies that actually complicates architectures and make it worse. Best advice I'd give is to write your code thinking of other people trying to read/understand your code and reduce the risk of them making a mistake. When you do that, you actually prevent your own self from screwing up. Also, practice the KISS method and respect Murphy's law. That's done so well for me that I've been called "lucky" several times in the past decade that I almost never get major production issues.
This way great! Thank you so much! Seeing your 210K p.a. Video was what made me look into tech ☺️ I honestly wasn’t expecting to be something I could see myself doing, but I’ve since taken 3 mini coding courses and felt so hungry to learn more, I almost signed up to a general assembly course that was like, over 3K but looked into my options, and found going to Uni in my birth country would actually be cheaper starting with a diploma and going up to a bachelor agree. If I end up earning even half of what you do, I’d be earning over 4x what I do now working full time.
you did an amazing job describing the roles! thanks for bringing diversity to the area!
I wouldn't say some of these are negatives imo but you do have some valid points some of them.
Regarding always learning: I think this is a good thing, as humans we should always learn and develop our selves and not be stagnant. I was like this for a long time but when I started to enjoy learning again I really started to enjoy my life a lot more, that's just me personally. I find the challenge of having to learn something as well quite encouraging as I can be quite competitive. That goes for not just learning about languages to improve yourself but also about debugging your code that you currently have issues with, you have to learn and understand why it failed, whether it was a simple human error or something deeper that you can then think you could improve.
Thank you for doing this! As much as we want people in tech we need the reality which is sometimes lost with the excitement/hype
Assalamualaikum sis Sawda
For me, this is going to be an extra income sideline that I can slide into, so I'm not too worried about interviews or big company problems. Plus I'm naturally OCD. I love picky problem solving.
I agree with most of the points, but tbh on the social aspect that requires effort from you as well. I like to connect with people on the team and even talk about anything really even with people outside of tech. I feel like engineers in general have this stigma of being anti social when making connections and being social is better for our careers. Being a good Engineer requires you to be a good communicator.
life is stressfull. No easy road to success anywhere. I enjoy the challenges programming brings. The stress and frustration happens most often when beginning. But when you become more proficient it is reduced drastically.
I would love to see another video focusing on diversity in tech!
Gurl I just got laid off my a year programming job because of covid19 pandemic and I'm starting to realize that I hate programming especially the frustrating DEBUGGING part... 😳
Bukola, you give me confidence in your every video. Love you xoxo
About diversity: It is not the programming industry’s fault, just because some children prefer to play with other things rather than technology. Programming industry offers full anonymity and supplying thousands of dollars’ worth of tools for free (community and developer editions of software). People should choose programming because they like programming as a hobby, not because of other people in it or because how much it pays. If someone likes something because of people, then they must choose area where social factor is the key. Trying to change programming industry itself will result in leading more non-thirsty horses to the water. Basically, if you want to be happy with your job then take advice from Confucius (551-479 BCE) who said "Choose a job you love and you will never work a day in your life".
Great video. Just started pursuing my CS degree and had some second thoughts but your video was motivating and thank you for being honest about your experiences.
I was wondering if the information you were going to cover was going to be overly negative but I think you helped level set me and have really insightful reasons and things to be aware of. This presentation was very honest and well grounded. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this! I really needed it lol I’m currently a black woman software engineer as well and those rough days are ROUGH! I love what I do but at times I still question myself on whether I should even be in this industry. 👩🏾💻
So great you shared this ! You are awesome to listen to
I've been in the industry 25+ years. It's very diverse in the sense that you meet people from many different cultures. If you mean, there's not a lot of blacks, that much is true. As far as learning goes, yes, the learning never ends. Be prepared for a lifetime of learning unless you are ok with being in a narrow market or move to a managerial position.
True about minorities and is true worldwide (I'm not in US), most of devs are men.
Great video and everything in general is true, even about stress and keeping constantly updated with the skills, that's why Senior SWE once in their 30s they start pushing for being Tech Lead or enter into Management, or even some people plans to retire in their 40s or to run a startup or any other company.
Stress anyway depends a lot by company and market, where I work luckily there's not much stress, everyone always work less than 8 hours and have minimum 25 days of paid vacation a year, and for Bay Area net salaries; but it changes heavily based on the company, the more the company is "tech" the more the work-life balance is good, being a SWE in fintech and ops firms is way more stressful.
Another excellent informative video; very realistic & accurate! Well done!