Lack of expertise killing me
I am 30 now and started my first job when I was 21. Over the years i have worked in different areas of technology. For the first 1 year I spent time writing manual tests in an excel file. The next 2 years I spent writing automation tests using Selenium in Java. After that I went on to work for a non profit where I used Google App Scripts to improve some operational efficiency. Post that I went to pursue my masters here in the US where I worked on mini projects like working on an operating system in C, working on RPC on AWS in Java, working on some iOS development using swift and then worked on writing reviews for some research papers as part of my masters degree. I also worked on some Javascript using D3 to build some visualizations. Post that started working as a full stack engineer where I worked on PHP, javascript, Redis, Memcached, Influx, Kibana, SQL. Post that I started working on Java again and started working with AWS such as lambda, dynamo, kinesis etc. Over time I also solved 230 leetcode problems which gave me an entry in one of the FAANGs. I feel completely lost after 9 years of randomness. Feel like I dont have a handle on any one technology and the feeling of not knowing anything is killing me. I know bits and pieces of the tech and tools, but deep expertise is lacking due to which a farm has been built where animals seem to be running in 1000 different directions. I think I am not happy with what I am doing with my life and I think I would like to gain expertise in one project or area and always be working on that. Feels like starting over again everytime. Want to do something meaningful rather than dabbling. Is this normal? Any advice? TC 200
Most people hit 30 and think they know everything. Seems like you’re the opposite which is actually good! I don’t think I understood anything until I hit my late 30s or so. You’ll be fine!
Sounds like impostor syndrome to me.. however I feel the same way as you.. but I haven’t make it to FAANG (which is something I aspire at my 32 years).. I’ve been rejected 3 times.. which makes me think I’m just not good enough..
Same boat. Been rejected by all of FAANG. I’m 34.
Trust me getting into FAANG is not happiness. I can tell you this because I am at that stage now and I feel I am not pursuing my passion. I only did this to vet my ego, but now its biting me back. I think I will be more happier to work only on one project my whole life and gain expertise in that. Something like linux or chromium open source.
If your TC is 200 you’re doing amazing by any measurable scale. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.
Hiutfveht you’re a piece of shit
Your passion for learning and working on your varied interests was what got you to Amazon, was it not? No better opportunity to learn. Maybe you just don't enjoy being judged against your peers. The pressure is on, but instead of embracing it and running with it you think you would be happier working on the same thing for the rest of your life, at 30. Totally normal. It's called imposter syndrome and there might be a broadcast video on it 😂
Not really, it was the LC that got him into Amazon. They don't give af about your "passion for learning" even though it's one of the LPs
You wont even get sufficient amount of time for doing clean work and reducing tech debt. Let alone learning and specialization.
Youre doing fine with your tc. It sounds like you jumped all over the place which works when youre young but now you gotta focus and specialize
I say you are doing more than just fine. This kinda feeling is normal. What helped me is, trying to find happiness outside of work
There is way too much to learn out there. The only way to find out what you like the most is to slowly keep trying different technologies. Sooner or later you will find something you would want to spend the rest of your life with. Wait, what are we talking about?
Thank u
I'm 34 and I feel the same as you. Know some but of various fields but none super well and work in software. I'm realizing how to connect the dots and don't fret it anymore.
What level at Amazon?
Sde 1
How did you get SDE1 with 9 yoe?