HANGED IN THE MIDDLE 🤣

Hey guys, I am an arts graduate from 2019. I have successfully wasted 4 years since now doing govt exams and other competitive exams. Now since the last 1.5 years I have been doing, front-end development, mainly self taught. Made some projects as well. The complexity of those projects are not super basic either. But now when I started applying for a job, things are getting clearer, that this market doesn't have a job for me. I came into this field, because when I am still figuring out what to do, this field feels really really good and interesting. I still have the passion for it and will continue to have it. Even if not in the shape of a job, I will continue learning and build an actual product. But now it's the peak age, to EARN. So, I need suggestions from you guys, that if I have any chance in this field or I should quit this field and started applying for any jobs I get to start earning asap.

We’ve all read the software engineer turned PM story. And although very commendable, and kudos to them for doing what needs to be done, I’d love to hear people who’ve gone down the not so traditional career path or have had weird career trajectories. Are you happy about the decisions you’ve made? Are you content? Is there something you would do differently?

Has anyone here, moved away from Software Development to something else. Maybe in a completely different direction, like became a graphics designer, or Game developer etc. or in a similar direction, like went towards Product Management or something similar. If yes, then I want to know your experience with the switch, and the steps you took to make it happen. I got into Software engineering 2-3 years ago (attracted by the salaries) but now I just don’t feel like doing it anymore at all. I asked a friend who’s a PM, and his take on this was, if i wanted to keep earning how much I currently do (20-30 LPA), and want to go even further than that, then SDE is the only option, PMs do not get paid that much amount, when compared to SDEs in the longer run. What’s your take on this?

I have been doing designs for the past 5-6 years and stuck both professionally and financially. In my current job(2 year completed) I am not seeing any growth at all, no proper design process in place, no growth for the designer cause there is no ladder on how someone will reach the top in your organization, moreover they still use sketch as a tool, so i don't even know how to use components, libraries, styles vgerg vgerh. This is the first requirement for nowdays to choose any company that you know figma. Feeling a bit sad today that my juniors that I have guided in the past are now in good product companies and doing good both professionally, financially and life wise, I started applying for a job 1 year back and the first thing they asked was do you have a figma file, second this is a very simple work you are doing, i am depressed. Choose company wisely i think , i am getting only 7 LPA

I am currently working as a senior engineer at a startup (yoe 6+). Initially things were good , but from the last few months The workplace turned toxic and all the nasty things started happening around me. The burn out was deteriorating mental and physical health, so i lost my patience and resigned. Making this ama , so that I can help someone who is going through the same situation.

Hey guys, I'm a recent engineering graduate from a Tier-1 University with decent skills and cgpa. As I graduated, I got placed in a MNC as a consultant. But I haven't heard any updates from them yet. Worried about my future, I've started applying to companies for internships and jobs too. But not only am I not getting selected, I'm not getting any kind of updates from these companies too. Not even as much as a rejection mail. I've recently hit three digits in the number of applications and it's worrying me to see no responses. So this is my humble request to the community to help me find a job. I'm a skilled data analyst with proficiency in SQL, Excel, Power BI and Python. I also did many projects on data science and machine learning but my primary interest lies in analytics. Even anything as small as a suggestion/tip on what to do or how to proceed would be helpful !!! Thanks in advance.

It seems unfair to me and others like me who are trying to get into the industry. People who are in the industry very well know that they didn't get an entry because they did some Jony Ive-level work. The majority of them simply got lucky in 2021. Now everyone wants superheroes in the name of product design. I wish I was doing the same job search in 2021, things would have been different.

I feel I'll be jobless forever. 1 yoe. Laid off.

Context- I’m 30 YO. Have 4.5 years of overall experience and 3.5 years in User Experience Design. Ive got a background in physical product design & I landed in UX due to non availability of 3D projects in TCS. My leaning in UX since 3.5 years has been hands-on. I’ve worked for a client for almost 3.5 years as a user experience designer. I used to work in silo 95% of the time and hence didn’t know the right YX methodology to use during the UX research process, didn’t know the rights questions that I need to ask to both the stakeholders and users as I didn’t educate myself through any online courses regarding the same. Before I graduated, I was told be a few friends that ‘UX is doable and it’s very easy up learn. If you can pursue physical product design, you can easily do UX. Fast forward 4 years, I’m compiling all the work I’ve done for the client and I’ve realised a lot of loopholes and lack of depth both in the design process and in the designs. Neither I asked the right questions during the User interview nor my design fully solves the user’s problems completely. I have to add these 2 projects I d worked for the client as I need to showcase real world projects in my portfolio. I want to switch not just due to bad pay. I want to switch for better exposure, for growth and to learn to work in a team. I can’t go to the client and gain more clarity on the needs and requirements of the project as I no longer work with them. I will re-educate myself regarding the user research methodologies, best UX practices , UI design principles etc. But how do I showcase these projects which are flawed and has a lot of loopholes?