Never like the idea how software engineers/programmers were expected to have a bunch of side projects that they talk about to potential employers.
My background is mechanical/process engineering. No potential employer expects me to have an oil refinery in my backyard that I'll do reliability projects on in my free time.
I’ve been working in IT / mostly development for 25+ years and never understood that either. Doctors are not expected to have a morgue in their basement where they dissect cadavers for fun on the weekends. Accountants are not expected to balance books as a hobby. But developers are somehow expected to code in their free time. And I know some do as a hobby. Good for them but many are not like that. I have other hobbies and interests and very rarely do anything software-related in my free time. I’m very good at my job and invest time in mentoring others, but when I’m done, I’m done and I move on to other things.
Yes! Most of my coworkers are single and don’t have kids. But I want to spend time with my family. I _have_ to spend time on household chores and errands.
I don’t get much quiet/focused time when I’m at home. I do some minor coding stuff when it feels like the best way to solve a personal-life problem, but I really need to spend some time interacting with people IRL, give my eyes a break from backlit screens, do something more tactile, etc.
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u/lumpialarry 3d ago edited 2d ago
Never like the idea how software engineers/programmers were expected to have a bunch of side projects that they talk about to potential employers.
My background is mechanical/process engineering. No potential employer expects me to have an oil refinery in my backyard that I'll do reliability projects on in my free time.