I've been in the software development field for over 10 years, and while I've taken on various roles, my main focus has been on migrating legacy software to modern full-stack technologies. This has involved making significant architecture and infrastructure decisions, and I've made it a point to keep up with full-stack development trends.
Despite my efforts, I still feel like I'm just an average developer, and I struggle with feelings of inadequacy in my career. I often think about what it takes to get to the level of engineers at top companies like Google or Uber, and I can't help but doubt if I'm smart enough to even consider applying to those positions. My current role feels underwhelming, and I'm unsure how to truly feel like a 'real' engineer.
Is it realistic to aspire to work at a prestigious company like Google? What steps can I take to reach that level, especially in preparing for a Google-style interview? My ultimate goal is to become a skilled engineer, but I'm not sure how to get there.
5 Answers
If you’re actively delivering solutions that require technical knowledge and critical thinking, then congratulations! You are an engineer. The challenge is to keep developing your skills and confidence as you progress in your career.
Remember that big companies like Google also have their share of problems. Just recently, they had a glitch because of a null pointer exception from a new feature rollout! So don't pressure yourself to meet unreachable standards. It's essential to define your own success metrics instead.
I've been going to tech conferences lately and it's really helped me feel more like a part of the engineering community. Maybe you could try that!
Honestly, a lot of us feel like we're more technicians than engineers. If you've been delivering functional solutions for over a decade, you are technically an engineer. It's common to feel you're not at a world-class level, but what matters is your willingness to learn and grow. Have you ever heard of imposter syndrome? It's a pretty normal feeling in our field.
To land a job at companies like FAANG, it's all about preparing for their interview process. It's not that every person working there is a genius; many are just like you. Focus on practicing the types of questions they usually ask, particularly in system design and coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode. You got this!
Yeah, for sure! Getting your foot in the door requires a lot of practice, but once you know what they're looking for, you'll feel much more confident.
Could you break that down a bit? I don't really follow why that specific example matters.