OK I need to give a talk to highschool kids on "a day in the life" of a software engineer. Ideas?

[StageLeft]

I expect a lot of sarcastic comments, like "Point them to ATOT, nef!", but seriously, ideas? I was going to do a quick intro about my background with education and typically what I do at work. I was going to contrast my position to others in the same field and illustrate how varying this field is (Ie. we're not all code monkies).

 

[Sqube]

You're not a code monkey?

 

[MetalMat]

Tell them to make sure to learn how to fill out tps reports.

TPS report link

 

[shilala]

Originally posted by: MetalMat
Tell them to make sure to learn how to fill out tps reports.

I thought the same thing. MAybe we should get Skoorb another copy of the memo?

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I expect a lot of sarcastic comments, like "Point them to ATOT, nef!", but seriously, ideas? I was going to do a quick intro about my background with education and typically what I do at work. I was going to contrast my position to others in the same field and illustrate how varying this field is (Ie. we're not all code monkies).

you must at least mention ATOT

 

[pmoa]

Just print out a copy of OFFICE SPACE script and leave

 

[PingSpike]

Pop a copy of office space in the VCR, dim the lights, and take a nap.

 

[Nitemare]

Woah, you are going to India???

Don't drink the water, dude.

Umm, and don't shake hands with anybody you meet on the street

 

[DivideBYZero]

Something like this from a mate on MSN earlier to me:

Wake up, have a piss / dump.. bak to bed for a 5min hand shandy, drive to work, 5mins... call you a C*NT all day... drive home.. wank / sh!t / wank / bed.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: Nitemare
Woah, you are going to India???

Don't drink the water, dude.

Umm, and don't shake hands with anybody you meet on the street

And bring some TP.

 

[BigJ]

Honestly, a lot of HS kids don't know the different between a "code monkey", "programmer", and software engineer. So I'd get the difference between those out of the way right away.

 

[meltdown75]

As dug777 mentioned: "I nef on ATOT all day."

edit: ^^ this is one of those rare instances in which i responded before reading the OP

 

[ugopk]

remember to mention the 5 cups of coffee a day requirement

 

[se7en]

ok you could bore them with what you really do or spice it up a bit!! Most HS kids dont want to be listening to you they would rather be socializing or doing nothing in general.

If I were you I would cover the basics of what you do of course but include references to hot chics, cars and models in general. Yeah your background is of interest but keep it short and simple, ya know "this is how I started in school, this is what went for and this is where I am".

Contrast by saying that had you went into "x" field there would be no hot chics, no fast cars and no going out 4 nights a week and partying likes its 2012. Pics always help!!And no I am not being saracastic @ all.. .. you were in HS right? Did you ever sit and listen to some guy talk about how fantastic software is? Give examples of software THEY use.. ..like bearshare, GIS, games, how consoles relate, and how the film industry now uses such complex FX software yadda yadda.

If you could bring a hot chic as an assistant that would keep a % of them interested too. Thats what I would do.. maybe not say "im a SE I get all the women" but more along the lines of.. "we've developed software for companies such as Playboy, Wicked Studios, NextDoorNikki.com", or general references towards the female gender. Fast cars work just as well to so going over a few aspects of that industry might work well too.

 

[tami]

explain the software cycle and then explain what you'd do every step of the way.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: se7en


If I were you I would cover the basics of what you do of course but include references to hot chics, cars and models in general. Yeah your background is of interest but keep it short and simple, ya know "this is how I started in school, this is what went for and this is where I am".

Contrast by saying that had you went into "x" field there would be no hot chics, no fast cars and no going out 4 nights a week and partying likes its 2012. Pics always help!!And no I am not being saracastic @ all.. .. you were in HS right? Did you ever sit and listen to some guy talk about how fantastic software is? Give examples of software THEY use.. ..like bearshare, GIS, games, how consoles relate, and how the film industry now uses such complex FX software yadda yadda.

If you could bring a hot chic as an assistant that would keep a % of them interested too. Thats what I would do.. maybe not say "im a SE I get all the women" but more along the lines of.. "we've developed software for companies such as Playboy, Wicked Studios, NextDoorNikki.com", or general references towards the female gender. Fast cars work just as well to so going over a few aspects of that industry might work well too.

Are you on crack? Lying to HS students telling them that software engineering is about fast cars and hot chicks? LOL

 

[Drakkon]

Monday-Thurs
8 - 11 come in get coffee and turn on comp...browse internet for 2-3 hours, take nap, maybe attend a meeting as necessary
11-12 lunch
12-3 load up ide...nap
3-4 maybe a good hour of actual programming
4-5 shut down computer, check if what needs to be done is done

Friday
8 - ? Get done whatever was supposed to be done...then go home

 

[DaveSimmons]

Pretend those degree mill TV commercials are real:

(Cute girl in sweater) "I can't believe I get paid . . . for playing games!!"

(neglect to mention EA's labor law violations for unpaid overtime)

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
As dug777 mentioned: "I nef on ATOT all day."

edit: ^^ this is one of those rare instances in which i responded before reading the OP

 

[se7en]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: se7en


If I were you I would cover the basics of what you do of course but include references to hot chics, cars and models in general. Yeah your background is of interest but keep it short and simple, ya know "this is how I started in school, this is what went for and this is where I am".

Contrast by saying that had you went into "x" field there would be no hot chics, no fast cars and no going out 4 nights a week and partying likes its 2012. Pics always help!!And no I am not being saracastic @ all.. .. you were in HS right? Did you ever sit and listen to some guy talk about how fantastic software is? Give examples of software THEY use.. ..like bearshare, GIS, games, how consoles relate, and how the film industry now uses such complex FX software yadda yadda.

If you could bring a hot chic as an assistant that would keep a % of them interested too. Thats what I would do.. maybe not say "im a SE I get all the women" but more along the lines of.. "we've developed software for companies such as Playboy, Wicked Studios, NextDoorNikki.com", or general references towards the female gender. Fast cars work just as well to so going over a few aspects of that industry might work well too.

Are you on crack? Lying to HS students telling them that software engineering is about fast cars and hot chicks? LOL

lying.. ..nah.. we'll just say "stretching it a bit". And I wouldn't say its all about cars N' women just use examples that happen to correlate. Lying is such a harsh word.. ..i prefer .. ..entertain.. ..intrigue.. ..selective truth :beer:

 

[kaymin]

Make sure you talk about the negative things regarding your job. If you regret doing not somethign else. And what their future prospects are on looking for a job. etc.

 

[GoingUp]

I think you should bring me along for show and tell!

 

[EatSpam]

Tell them about how often you don't get laid?

 

[Leper Messiah]

you must wear a shirt that says "I write code, so you don't have to." Appeal to their sense of superiority, by telling them the number one maxim of coders "The user is stupid." That'll make them laugh...

 

[Parrotheader]

Can't you just write a program to explain it all to them?