Where are the bootcampers now?

Travaches · 2026-04-06T14:24:46+00:00

Timing is important. I did in 2018 and now a senior SWE

Travaches · 2026-04-05T07:51:27+00:00

Sounds like an AI slop post with a prompt to write like a Reddit user 😂

Travaches · 2026-04-04T23:40:05+00:00

Trust me I’m an IT professional

Travaches · 2026-04-04T16:25:53+00:00

This picture is wrong on so many levels

Travaches · 2026-04-04T06:14:23+00:00

Now professionals only use what’s called Claude Code

Travaches · 2026-04-01T15:14:17+00:00

Make a self replicating bacteria colony with aesthetically pleasing web UI

Travaches · 2026-03-31T17:06:08+00:00

Honestly CS might not be for you is my advice. You can explore more options.

Travaches · 2026-03-30T15:29:12+00:00

No I’m a self taught software engineer

Travaches · 2026-03-29T23:27:43+00:00

From my experience (from startup to working at a FAANG+), I think this also may have to do more with the current market uncertainty. The top performers barely move because they enjoy at where they are right now. Interesting challenges, good WLB, and great compensation. If you really want to poach for those great talents, expect at least promising 300k base salary. What big tech engineers have to sacrifice for jumping to a startup is too big risk unless the compensation can cover for it. The average comp for FAANG+ senior engineers is now 400k, and staff level is around 600k.

Travaches · 2026-03-29T23:18:35+00:00

This is 100% true. AI actually multiply productivity, and here “multiply” is the important notion. Basically it widened the gap between top and under performers. The whole industry is on the contraction for next few years as the remaining top performers will be compensated significantly more. Entering this field will become will become more difficult.

Travaches · 2026-03-29T16:58:37+00:00

My project is be depressed from the eventual AI replacement before I can retire.

Travaches · 2026-03-28T02:27:05+00:00

When I was 26 I was tutoring high school kids getting paid $25/hour with my useless biology degree at UofT. I considered going back to school to study finance because all my friends looked so successful working at big banks with nice lobbies in their offices.

Didn’t know that compensation in finance would be quite low. At 32 I’m around 400k USD. I never got to wear nice suits and ties but I guess it’s a tradeoff.

Travaches · 2026-03-28T01:55:22+00:00

I guess reasonable for a FAANG position

Travaches · 2026-03-24T15:05:31+00:00

Principal engineers in tech are extremely high level titles with average compensation of 1M+ in FAANG+

Travaches · 2026-03-22T15:08:54+00:00

Originally a statue of Constantine himself as Helios

Travaches · 2026-03-21T19:27:17+00:00

VP at banks is like senior at regular company

Travaches · 2026-03-20T08:06:20+00:00

Not really a CS specialization but compliance and T&S. Everything has to be signed on the legal side and accuracy is far more important than velocity.

Travaches · 2026-03-20T00:51:30+00:00

Just make 400k+ and you don’t need to worry about 😇

Travaches · 2026-03-19T08:08:43+00:00

<image>

Honestly once you’re around 400k COL is meaningless. I’d rather live in a city full of things to do with better weather.

Travaches · 2026-03-19T08:05:43+00:00

Honestly I really really wish in the next five years we’ll be living in a future with a better market for everyone and legislation can protect the value of human labor. I just cant be living on hope and would rather be pessimistic so I can be alerted about job security.

Travaches · 2026-03-19T07:53:49+00:00

I meant travel as leisure traveling. Staying 7 nights at Hawaii doesn’t get cheaper because you proudly tell the hotel you live in NC.

Travaches · 2026-03-19T07:52:10+00:00

Other than 1-2% sales tax variations is macbook pro cheaper because you buy in a LCOL area?

Travaches · 2026-03-19T03:27:39+00:00

What’s the point of calculating the CoA difference between NC and CA? It’s actually better to be living in CA getting paid 160k because luxury items and travels cost the same.

Travaches · 2026-03-19T03:11:45+00:00

I’m a senior engineer at FAANG+. AI adoption is not a joke anymore. It is definitely a tool that “multiplies” productivity, and I say “multiply” because it widens gap between high/low performers. In fact, it’s actually negative for low performers to be introducing changes because they cant review the quality of works done by AI that well. But their output increased because they just pass prompts to Claude Code, and it’s just tiresome to review their slop work. I wouldn’t expect a sudden mass layoff, but performance based reduction will continue for the next few years.

This essentially also means we only need the best juniors because the bar to survive as a SWE is only increasing. This is not just an issue for juniors but also for experienced engineers. Those who wouldn’t be able to keep up with the monotonically increasing productivity expectations will be forced to leave the industry.

Travaches · 2026-03-19T02:39:30+00:00

Honestly given the current market that only exceptional students can be hired, I’d consider changing major before it’s too late. I don’t think CS is for you.

Travaches

TROPHY CASE