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Career Advice: Don't Call Yourself a Programmer

Posted by Soulskill on from the be-a-leveraged-syngeristic-cloud-solution-instead dept.

Ian Lamont writes "Patrick McKenzie has written about the do's and don't's of working as a software engineer, and some solid (and often amusing) advice on how to get ahead. One of the first pieces of advice: 'Don't call yourself a programmer: "Programmer" sounds like "anomalously high-cost peon who types some mumbo-jumbo into some other mumbo-jumbo." If you call yourself a programmer, someone is already working on a way to get you fired.' Although he runs his own company, he is a cold realist about the possibilities for new college grads in the startup world: 'The high-percentage outcome is you work really hard for the next couple of years, fail ingloriously, and then be jobless and looking to get into another startup.'"

9 of 422 comments (clear)

  1. But ... by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm self employed, and even though my boss is jerk he's not going to fire me because I call myself a programmer.

  2. Such sage advice... by The+Living+Fractal · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Because, you know, the 1000+ currently open job postings for keyword "programmer" on Monster.com are just a perfect example of situations where people are already looking to fire you. After all, that's why they created the posting, just so they could waste company resources and fire someone.

    /sarcasm

    --
    I do not respond to cowards. Especially anonymous ones.
    1. Re:Such sage advice... by snowgirl · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Because, you know, the 1000+ currently open job postings for keyword "programmer" on Monster.com are just a perfect example of situations where people are already looking to fire you. After all, that's why they created the posting, just so they could waste company resources and fire someone. /sarcasm

      Sarcasm and all, this is the rantings of a single person at a single company, about his own personal view of the topic. I could probably find someone who would tell you that using the Oxford comma is likely to get you fired, and due to some forms of projection (the assumption that you are "typical", and you model everyone in the world based on yourself) they will assume that it's the prevalent opinion.

      --
      WARNING! This girl exceeds the MAXIMUM SAFE standards established by the FDA for BRATTINESS
  3. Programmer != Engineer, idiot. by sichbo · · Score: 5, Informative

    In Canada, it's illegal to practice engineering, or call yourself one, without a engineers license. There's nothing worse than retards who get a college degree in programming and start calling themselves "engineers". It's an insult to every actual certified engineer in the world.

  4. Everybody is an engineer? by babblesaurus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    . . . and 'real' engineers everywhere weep. Obviously every case may be unique, but calling yourself one thing which has a set of implications does sort of slander professionals in the field whose titles you are trying to snag.

    1. Re:Everybody is an engineer? by FooAtWFU · · Score: 5, Insightful

      . . . and 'real' engineers everywhere weep. Obviously every case may be unique, but calling yourself one thing which has a set of implications does sort of slander professionals in the field whose titles you are trying to snag.

      I agree 100%! As we all know, real engineers drive trains.

      chugga chugga chugga chugga choo chooooo!

      --
      The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
  5. I knew AD&D would help! by Rinikusu · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's why I put "20th Level Code Rogue/Network Warlock" on my resume.

    --
    If you were me, you'd be good lookin'. - six string samurai
  6. Re:Makes sense by etymxris · · Score: 5, Informative

    Programming seems easy to you and me, but you would be surprised at how many people just cannot do it no matter how much training you give them. Anyone can clean, most people can do construction. Maybe 1 in 10 people could program if they really wanted to, and only 1 in 10 of those will actually want to.

  7. Re:Makes sense by Lemmy+Caution · · Score: 5, Funny

    Are you saying you are the 1%?