My job title is I work as a Senior Software Developer. Most of the work is the main work of the profession, planning, documentation and problem solving.

I work in Technology.

This is year 9 for me.

Most of it is the main work of the profession, planning, documentation and problem solving.

The purpose depends on the project, but generally I'm there to make sure my part is accurate and useful.

It contributes pretty directly. If my part is late or wrong, somebody else usually gets held up. The exact mix changes from week to week.

I check what needs attention first, then spend most of the day on the main work of the profession, planning, documentation and problem solving. I usually have a couple meetings mixed in.

There are weekly things I could almost do in my sleep now, plus longer projects that change every few months.

Deadlines are just part of it. The stressful ones usually happen when several things land at once.

My current job is hybrid.

Most days I have standard industry software and equipment open or nearby.

More independent than group work, although I check in with people throughout the day. I didn't really understand that until I started working.

The common path is relevant education or training plus experience.

There are some depending on the exact job. I would check local requirements before paying for a certification.

Attention to detail is probably the skill I use most. Communication is a close second. It depends on the project, though.

Normal business hours for me, with occasional longer days.

Fairly flexible unless there's a meeting, appointment or deadline I have to be there for.

I think it's decent. I rarely work weekends.

Clients and coworkers, pretty evenly.

There is room to grow, especially if you're willing to learn the less glamorous parts of the business. That's the part I notice most.

You usually start with smaller assignments, then get trusted with more complicated ones.

Project management is a common move. Consulting is another.

Entry-level can be crowded even when the overall profession is growing.

Getting good information on time is a constant problem.

I expect demand to stay decent, especially for people who keep learning.

Automation will take pieces of the job. The people who know the field well enough to check the automated work will still be needed. My last job handled it differently.

Entry-level pay and experienced pay are pretty different. Location also changes it a lot. That's how it works on my team.

Benefits are pretty standard where I work. Bonus depends on the year. The exact mix changes from week to week.

Try doing a beginner version of the main work of the profession, planning, documentation and problem solving. You'll find out quickly what you need to learn. At my workplace, at least.

Volunteer or take a part-time role where someone is actually relying on you.

I changed direction after college and ended up liking this more than my original plan.

I like diagnosing problems. The answer is not always obvious at the beginning.

Repetitive follow-up emails.

People think the job is more exciting day to day than it actually is.

You don't have to be the loudest person. You do need to communicate when something is wrong. That changed a little once I had more experience.

If you hate the normal daily tasks, the salary won't fix that. It can be different at other places.

How often plans change after work has already started.

I would've worked a summer job related to the field.

Career progress is slower than social media makes it look. My last job handled it differently.

There was a difficult deadline we met without cutting corners. I was proud of the whole team.

The biggest change is that people now come to me for answers I used to ask somebody else for.

Very little travel for me. A late evening happens once in a while.