Inside Look Into Software Engineering

[GHO57Y]

Are there any informational videos on what it's like to be a software engineer? Preferably something that gives first hand accounts of projects and tasks.

[Syntaxvgm]

Three things to remember: 

Score creep

It's always your fault 

Everyone speaks English but no one seems to speak the same language. 

[madknight3]

Aardvark'd: 12 Weeks with Geeks might be of interest to you. Never seen it myself though so I can't tell you if it's good or bad.

[Guest]

Same concept

[GoodBytes]

Are there any informational videos on what it's like to be a software engineer? Preferably something that gives first hand accounts of projects and tasks.

@GHO57Y

Software engineering / Computer Science (usually called: Software Developer in the field), role and tasks is very broad. It all depends on where you work which will affect your environment. For example: in gaming, you have to meet deadline set in advance, and have 0 flexibility in moving that release date, as usually, if it is pushed by a month, it could fall with the release of another bug title and hurt the game you develop on success.

So while it is fun developing games, it can be quiet challenging and be stressful towards the end of the project, all nighters would be more common and overtime not paid. However, if you work in general software in a small/medium size company, then you have a more relaxed environment. I mean sometimes you do have deadlines, but say the company doesn't have a required delivery date that is stuck, then yea it is more relaxed, and don't have all nighters and stuff like that. You may even have a pool tables, and all sorts of fun things a side to let "refresh your eyes/brain" for a moment to help you see better a bug that you are trouble finding and such.

Some companies have open concept work space, where you have no walls, and everyone, even the boss have their own desk. Others have cubicles everywhere, some gives everyone their own unique office. Some companies that your wear a suit, others polo/decent short, and others whatever the heck you want (if you want to come in your P.Js then so be it).

Some companies work more in teams, others more single, others a mix depending on the project or specific parts of the project. So again, you have choices there as well.

So, the cool thing being a software developer, is that you can pick and choose the environment that best fit your lifestyle and taste. I know a few people like wearing a full suit and work in a cubicle, they are able to focus a lot more and do their job better, then being super relax. It is all psychological. Others, it is the contrary. So this is what is is cooling in the computer fields (This includes even IT).

There isn't much video content, mostly PR form the big companies showing how amazing their company work environment is, but if you want to know more, you have to ask a more specific question. So please do ask.

Welcome to the forum by the way! I recommend to follow your thread, always follow your thread (personally I set it automatic in the profile setting, so that on all thread I participate it I get notify of replies). Following your thread allows you to not need to check all the time for changes, and while a solution might be given, and you might think it is the end of it, better solution can later come saving you time and money possibly. Also, you can forget about questions asked, especially if you create multiple threads. So to not miss anything, follow your thread