Question to Software Engineers : Is this the life?

[Kenji4861]

I have the title called Software Analyst Level 1 and getting paid about $60k. I have been working for about 9 months now.

I want to know if I'm being overworked or not.

I am working on this 1 project by myself. We have a team, but I'm the only 1 assigned to this.
This project involves creating a whole system where users report to managers every month on their budget, task status, etc. The software manages everything in detail and even analyzes data.

First it was just for our company, but now the boss wants an installation CD (requires tons of recoding.. making everything dynamic) to sell to other groups.

I'm really stressing and working on it on my own.. Been sleepless many days.

Today I got home from work and I got a call asking me to create a webpage by tomorrow morning. Looks like I'll be working on it tonight. At one time, I got a call at 10:30pm from my boss.. I was asleep. Unaware of this, I came into work and I was yelled at for not answering the call.

Everyday feels like the day before an assignment's due at school.

Is this a typical programmer's life? If this is the way it is in other companies, I will think about changing my profession.

 

[z0mb13]

ouch that looks like you got a bad deal..

usually projects are done in a team, unless its something that is really simple.

That is to me not simple at all.

Do you also have an intensive deadline??

 

[Kenji4861]

There is no clear deadline for me, it's always an ASAP and I HATE it. I wish he just gives me a due date.. so I can work to it. I'm told to get something done.. and from there.. I'm bugged for status.

Another thing that bugs me is that.. the requirements are not clear. There are many times when I was asked to do something and when it was done, the boss tells me he doesn't want it. Co-workers tell me it's normal for a research project.

 

[johnjbruin]

I think you just have a really bad boss. Start looking for ne jobs. I make in the ballpark of what you make and my life is stressfull and the hours are long but its not as bad as you make yours sound.

edit: at least we have well defined deadlines and projects. yeah there is an occasional every once(sometimes twice) a week "this needs to be done by tomorrow morning" but not everyday at least.

 

[Kenji4861]

I apologize, I over emphasized, it's not everyday.. It happens about once/twice a week for me too.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

If you're just starting after college within a year or two after graudating, work your ass off for some time. This stuff is great for a nice resume IMO and can help you land a much better job in the not-so-far future

 

[NightTime003]

requirements are always not clear

I had the exaclty problem, doing stuff all night, the next day was told it's not what they want, well, might as well start looking before you can't take it any more

 

[johnjbruin]

Originally posted by: Kenji4861
I apologize, I over emphasized, it's not everyday.. It happens about once/twice a week for me too.

i guess then the answer might be a yes from my side.

they put you on salary... make you work your @ss off... and then give you work and just expect you to magically finish it by the next day. I am getting used to the once/twice a week thing but we get some weeks - like 1 in 5 weeks where stuff cools down... these are of course after the really stressful ones where the product release is due and everybody is working 50-60hrs a week

 

[Kenji4861]

Thanks guys, it seems like what I'm going through is normal. I'll get through it!

 

[atom]

Do you work at a small company? Most of my friends who also work in the field who work at smaller companies go through the same deal (me included). Other people I know who work at larger companies seem to have much less surprise phone calls.

The worst for me so far was getting called at 12:30 on a Friday night to help out. I was pretty buzzed at the time and didn't think I could make the drive, so a co-worker had to pick me up from the pool hall I was at and then drop me back off later in the day.

 

[screw3d]

I don't agree it's normal for your boss to yell at you for not picking up a phone calll at 10:30pm.. unless you are supposed to be there at that time and are informed that you are supposed to get work-related calls outside working hours?

 

[DT4K]

Definitely sounds like your boss is an asshole. Either that or he is trying to push you and see how you respond to the pressure. I'd put money on the first possibility though.

I'm a software engineer as well. We have a team of 4 developers here. We work together on some projects and not on others. Just depends on what the priorities are and what the scope of the project is. Sure, it can be stressful, and sometimes I have to work long hours to hit a deadline (I recently worked 2 80 hour weeks in a row), but I normally work 40 hours a week. And unless something really unusual comes up that we need a fix or workaround for immediately, our projects are usually planned pretty well in advance. I only get called if there is a problem with our software that our support staff cannot solve. My boss doesn't tell us when something has to be done, instead he asks us when we can have it done and what we can deliver. He understands that as developers, we have a much better understanding than our clients(internal managers generally) of how long certain apps and functionality will take to design and code.

Yes, requirements always change. That is why part of our development process involves formalizing a requirements document and getting signatures on it from all affected people/departments. We give them an estimated timeline and make it clear that if they want to change the requirements, that's fine, but it will also change the timeline.

All in all, I really enjoy my job and it is normally not overly stressful. Although I actually really like those times when I'm writing code until 2am to try to hit a deadline. I think it's exciting and I feel really good when we succesfully launch an app that we have worked really hard on. And I work with a really really great group of people.

Short answer: I don't know if I would say you are overworked. It just depends on where you work. But all software development jobs are NOT like the one you describe. If you are that stressed, it might be time to look elsewhere.

EDIT: I don't know if you meant your boss literally "yelled" at you. But if so, that is totally unprofessional. I can't even imagine my boss ever actually yelling at anyone no matter what the situation is. Civilized professionals simply do NOT act like that.

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Role and resource assignment will always differ from job to job, but the reality of the current technology market is such that departments will always try to do more with less. So your situation isn't unique, I wouldn't call it typical, either.

There's a mantra/joke among engineers which says "quality, deadline, budget: pick two". If your manager sets hard deadlines and won't allocate additional resources to your particular project, you need to communicate to him the risks in what you will be able to deliver (reduced features, reduced coverage in testing, etc.). Make him sign off on an acceptable level of delivery. If he won't do that, then it's pretty likely that you'll be looking at working in conditions like this for the foreseeable future with this current employer.

 

[Chadder007]

I know some Teamster members that would Gladly help out with this situation.

 

[kranky]

Your problem isn't your job, it's your boss. One way to help yourself out is to start managing your boss a little.

When you are given an assignment, start asking some questions of your own. This can be done very professionally without sounding like you are being difficult.

Try some of these...
From what you've told me, this will take me X days. When do you need it to be done?
Would you prefer I do this first, or continue with (some other assignment) and then come back to this?
I could get it done sooner, but I'll have to set (some other assignment) aside. Is that OK?
Just to make sure I understand what you want, how about if I mock up an interface first before doing all the coding? That way I won't have to do anything over if some of the details need to change.

And if you ever get yelled at again for not answering a call at home at 10:30, you need to just say, "I'm sorry, but there are many times that I'm not home in the evenings. I'm sorry you are disappointed, but I do work very hard here, and often take work home. But I don't think it's fair to be upset because you could not reach me at 10:30 at night." I have a feeling if you set the boundaries, that will work. Your boss may be the type of person who will abuse you until you draw the line, and then back off. I've had a few of those over the years.

 

[SunnyD]

Shut up and live with it. I would kill to have this job rather than living on minimum wage for the last 2 years since being laid off.

 

[Passions]

Get a job in a defense company. My co-workers play golf for 2 hrs on their lunch breaks!!!

 

[Descartes]

I can empathize, and I've been through quite a number of projects like that. People who can manage full project life-cycles are always in high demand, and as a result you have to wear many hats that might otherwise be worn by others. I can guarantee you that it will pay off in the end, so stick with it.

IMO.

 

[pukemon]

Originally posted by: Passions
Get a job in a defense company. My co-workers play golf for 2 hrs on their lunch breaks!!!

While noone around here plays golf during lunch breaks, depending on your contract, if you work on a military base, you generally cannot and will not charge more than 40 hours per work week. That can be a good or bad thing.

 

[Spamela]

Originally posted by: Kenji4861
I have the title called Software Analyst Level 1 and getting paid about $60k. I have been working for about 9 months now.

I want to know if I'm being overworked or not.

I am working on this 1 project by myself. We have a team, but I'm the only 1 assigned to this.
This project involves creating a whole system where users report to managers every month on their budget, task status, etc. The software manages everything in detail and even analyzes data.

First it was just for our company, but now the boss wants an installation CD (requires tons of recoding.. making everything dynamic) to sell to other groups.

I'm really stressing and working on it on my own.. Been sleepless many days.

Today I got home from work and I got a call asking me to create a webpage by tomorrow morning. Looks like I'll be working on it tonight. At one time, I got a call at 10:30pm from my boss.. I was asleep. Unaware of this, I came into work and I was yelled at for not answering the call.

Everyday feels like the day before an assignment's due at school.

Is this a typical programmer's life? If this is the way it is in other companies, I will think about changing my profession.

it happens, but shouldn't be SOP.

now is a good time to negotiate for whatever you need (budget, goodies,
other bodies) to make the project work.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Kenji4861
There is no clear deadline for me, it's always an ASAP and I HATE it. I wish he just gives me a due date.. so I can work to it. I'm told to get something done.. and from there.. I'm bugged for status.

Another thing that bugs me is that.. the requirements are not clear. There are many times when I was asked to do something and when it was done, the boss tells me he doesn't want it. Co-workers tell me it's normal for a research project.

Changing requirements are very normal. I work on application development (e-learning tools) and we often have to build and try out something before we know what works and what doesnt.

It's up to you to learn to say "OK boss, but this will take at least x days to add/change/do." You need to realize that they may want it "ASAP" but that doesn't mean you have to work through the night to do it. For just $60K you shouldn't be working more than 50 hours a week including lunch breaks.

The worst they can do is fire you. If you don't have any savings, you need to stop buying the toys and get at least 3 months of living expenses into an INGDirect.com savings account. Then the thought of having to find a new job should be a lot less stressful.

 

[Ranger X]

Sounds like a normal software engineer's life.