Biggest Challenges Faced By a Software Engineer at a Big Tech Company
Matthew's biggest challenge as a Software Engineer III at a Big Tech company is understanding where one fits in and navigating the evolving technological landscape to add the most value, as "knowing where to go" and "read[ing] the tea leaves" to identify important areas to focus on is difficult. This is compounded by a shifting perception of software engineering from a "dream job" to a field where being attentive to team fit and proactively seeking valuable contributions is crucial, requiring more confidence and strategic thinking about one's career trajectory.
Career Development, Industry Trends, Adaptability, Self-Advocacy, Workplace Dynamics
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Matthew Gagliardi
Software Engineer III
Big Tech Company
University of San Diego
U.C. Berekely . M.A. mathematics
Mathematics, Data Science, Statistics, Philosophy
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Understanding where you fit in and where you want to be in your career trajectory is a significant challenge, requiring constant evaluation of your path and goals.
2. The perception of software engineering and tech as a 'dream job' has shifted, necessitating attentiveness in choosing the right team and projects that align with your career aspirations.
3. Proactively identifying valuable contributions and communicating your interests to your boss is crucial, demanding confidence and the ability to 'read the tea leaves' of the technological landscape.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your role?
My biggest challenge right now is understanding where I fit in going forward. Every career path has a trajectory you should be following, or at least a sense of where you want to be in five years.
When people ask that question, knowing where to go can be the most challenging. I think understanding how the landscape shifts technologically is also difficult.
For a long time, software engineering and tech were seen as dream jobs. They were nurturing, creative spaces that paid well and offered job security.
Now, things have changed a bit. You have to be really attentive to which team is best for you and what you should be working on. It's the nature of capitalism; it's not a critique of individuals.
Knowing how to add the most value at your company is hugely important, and I find that the most angst-inducing aspect of my work. I want to focus on delivering quality work, but I can't just rely on my boss to tell me what to do.
I need to be alert and say, "Hey, I think this is important, and I want to work on that." Being able to do that requires confidence and a lot of thought.
It takes recognizing and reading the situation to understand what's important and what's not. That's probably the part I like least, but that's just me personally. Some people actually love the current climate.
It's a challenge, but for me, that's probably the biggest challenge right now: knowing where I'll be in five years.