I’ve mentored for years now and now more than ever I wish those in lead or higher dev roles would be more mindful when they insinuate to young devs there’s a possibility of job openings in the future.
Comments
Log in with your Bluesky account to leave a comment
A-fucking-men. One might think it is kind to not crush someone's hopes but it is very not. Be honest and transparent. Give them the information they need to make informed decisions for themselves.
In my 20 years as a leader or manager I have never expressed confidence that there will be jobs in the future . Instead I remind folks that thousands of new devs are graduating every year. US developers are too expensive, the rest of the world supplies devs. Depressing, but the whole truth.
We all know a thousand things could change to make that promise never happen. Yet that person trying to break in or get out of a desperately first project doesn’t know that. Often they’ll hold out hope for months waiting for what they believe is the only possibility of their dream coming true.
Jobs are scarce, economic insecurity is high, and people far more talented than myself are looking for work. We want to give hope to others. We don’t want to pull the ladder up behind us either.
However, getting a job in games when you’re starting at the bottom is 30% preparation, 30% chance, and 40% timing… and that timing isn’t controlled by a single person willing it into submission.
Now for those devs trying to break in or find themselves new-ish in their career sitting in less than ideal circumstances, I am begging you to remember the following:
You have done your homework. You’ve put in the work. You know this industry is precarious and fickle. Do not trick yourselves into thinking that a single job, project, or studio is perfect, the only way out, or the single thing that will provide the stability you seek.
If someone tells you in a meeting at a conference, dinner, chat, LinkedIn DM, etc. that they’ll be opening roles in the future, thank them for the information and keep it as just that—information!
Comments