>Have you ever noticed that some developers see the job market as a bleak and desperate place where jobs are scarce and exploitive, while others see this market and can't believe their amazing luck to have stumbled into such a fantastic career?
I'd consider myself to be in both camps simultaneously. I find that there are a ridiculous number of opportunities, but they're A) pretty bad ones or B) are unwilling to pay for what the talent they claim they want. I hate to sound so negative, but a lot of opportunities just aren't great. It isn't working for a startup, or working on some new infrastructure in a company that does something interesting. There's a lot of extending spaghetti code for a cost center within Cardboard BoxCo with enterprise software that's EOL'd by its vendor. More so if you live outside one of the big tech hubs.
I can have 8 finals in 4 weeks and get 4 offers, but after meeting with the organizations and finding the reality is the opposite of what they advertise, that I don't want any of those jobs. Especially at the levels of compensation they think they can get anyone, nevermind the top 5-10% of the candidate pool.
I've resorted to freelancing. Within the first 30-minute phone call we already know where things are going based on their reaction to my hourly rate. Additionally I figure if I hate the assignment, I know when it'll end. It also pays well enough that I only need to bill 7 to 8 months a year and can spend the rest of that time making video games.
I'd consider myself to be in both camps simultaneously. I find that there are a ridiculous number of opportunities, but they're A) pretty bad ones or B) are unwilling to pay for what the talent they claim they want. I hate to sound so negative, but a lot of opportunities just aren't great. It isn't working for a startup, or working on some new infrastructure in a company that does something interesting. There's a lot of extending spaghetti code for a cost center within Cardboard BoxCo with enterprise software that's EOL'd by its vendor. More so if you live outside one of the big tech hubs.
I can have 8 finals in 4 weeks and get 4 offers, but after meeting with the organizations and finding the reality is the opposite of what they advertise, that I don't want any of those jobs. Especially at the levels of compensation they think they can get anyone, nevermind the top 5-10% of the candidate pool.
I've resorted to freelancing. Within the first 30-minute phone call we already know where things are going based on their reaction to my hourly rate. Additionally I figure if I hate the assignment, I know when it'll end. It also pays well enough that I only need to bill 7 to 8 months a year and can spend the rest of that time making video games.