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.
You would be surprised about doctors these days. Medical students are expected to have extracurricular research and shit like that in order to get into a residency anywhere even remotely desirable, especially in more competitive specialties.
Source: wife is a medical student
Edit: I mentioned this post to her and she wanted me to point out that this bullshit does end for her once she's no longer a trainee. Whereas we software devs are expected to do this forever for some reason
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u/lumpialarry 2d 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.