The typical cliche about being software developer is that “Being DEV is easy”.

That’s something every developer heard at least once. Usually, it refers to five main “it is easy for you” announcements:

1. It is easy for you to find a job
2. It is easy for you to build that website/software/hack, you are developer after all
3. It is easy for you to work remotely
4. It is easy for you to get a lot of money for little work
5. It is easy for you to change a job

It is easy for you to find a job

Why do people think like that?

This is cliche which coming with the fact that one who observe job markets anywhere in the world, can come to the conclusion that there is a huge deficit of software developers and other IT-related workers.

Is this true?

Well, numbers do not lie, there is a high demand for programmers, database admins, operational persons, designers, etc. But, as always, there is a catch. If there is just matter of a number of people, one can easily come to the conclusion that you can convert/educate already existing working power from other sectors and let them fill the gap in IT. In reality, it is not that easy. IT education needs time + practice and not everyone has a desire to dive into programming.

It is easy for you to build software

Why do people think like that?

What people see on the website is a bunch of images and text, on desktop apps they see buttons, similar to mobile apps. All the details, CSS transitions, tricks and behavior for each button, resizing of images for website, loading scripts and fonts, they don’t see it, or they get it as common sense. They totally expect that links on webpage change when they hover, they don’t know that someone has to define that.

Is this true?

I really don’t have to deep dive into this one. Anyone who ever tried to write a piece of software knows it is not easy, it is fun, but not easy like just say to the computer what you want in your native language. The problem comes when this has to be explained to the customer, who denies accepting complex background of something he considers so easy

It is easy for you to work remotely

Why do people think like that?

It is not uncommon to see a developer in a cafe or hotel with the laptop while they actually fulfill daily tasks. Many people connect home/hotel/cafe with relaxation and office/factory with stress, so they assume that, if you can move your work to home/hotel/cafe it can be more relaxing and fun.

Is this true?

A lot of people see only fun there, which is not far away from true. On the other hand, the disadvantage of working remotely is that agile teams are very hard to manage remotely, there is nothing as efficient as face to face conversation. The second problem there is a distraction. In office can be a lot of distraction but for sure not as much as in beach bar or some fun city you currently staying in. The third one is the lack of procedures, being in the office keep you always sharp, it means you have to dress, you have to behave, you have to interact with other people and respect their needs. None of this applies to the home office, for example, you can stay in your underwear, you can sing loud, fart, and eat the whole bowl of chips, you don’t have to excuse to anyone in the privacy of your own room.

It is easy for you to be well paid for no work

Why do people think like that?

If you go back to the second point, you might already experience that people do not perceive programming as something hard, rather than something geeks do, for fun. On the other hand, people see that average software developer salary is higher than most of the other professions (plus with benefits from point 3).

Is this true?

Partially yes. Programmers are well paid due to the high demand for IT professionals. On the other hand, it is very hard to believe that someone pays developers for nothing. Off course they have to deliver, of course, they work to get the job done. Just because it is not easily visible to other people does not mean they not working hard.

It is easy for you to change a job

Why do people think like that?

This is quite similar to the first topic. When you see how programmers are generally relaxed with job changing, you might come up with this conclusion that is really easy for them to jump from one job to another.

Is this true?

Not entirely. If you only search for a new job, and you have week requirement then yes, it is true and it applies to you. But as you grow as a programmer, you start to search for the specific profile of the company and that’s narrow down your possible choices.