Ask HN: What strategy if planning to exit Software Engineering?

3 megamix 6 7/21/2025, 8:12:26 AM

Let's call it SWExit, software engineering exit.

I've lost a lot of the motivation to work as Software Engineer (15+ yrs). All the talk, news (nonsense) about the future of Software Engineering, LLMs, AI and related technologies is far from what I hoped my work to be. If I'm just reduced to an advanced administrator through LLMs, then I'll might as well be a chef or something else that is fulfilling.

What strategies do you suggest for someone struggling to find motivation at this stage?

a) Sabbatical year b) Move up the ladder c) Change career path d) get over it, accept it and do the minimum

To each alternative there's more to comment, e.g. option b) requires interest in the product to be a good leader - I refuse to do meaningless work.

Comments (6)

mmarian · 1d ago

> I refuse to do meaningless work

You'll probably do meaninglessness in whatever job you end up picking.

> What strategies do you suggest for someone struggling to find motivation at this stage?

Be realistic about alternatives - what you like/dislike, how much runway (financial/mental) you have to explore, whereabouts you're based etc.

megamix · 1d ago

Yeah I think what I meant was work that appear to be useful while it only looks good on paper but doesn't provide real value.

Regarding your second comment, I agree about realistic alternatives. I think these are options that could be anywhere. Even if it's for a short period of time to try something different. Maybe it'll widen perspective and opportunities

mmarian · 1d ago

> work that appear to be useful while it only looks good on paper but doesn't provide real value

Don't know how much experience you have with other fields, but what I've seen is that there's waste everywhere. Even healthcare - think of how much we could save if we focused on prevention rather than treatment.

> I think these are options that could be anywhere. Even if it's for a short period of time to try something different.

Speaking from experience, there really aren't as many options as the online world suggests. Just try applying to be a labourer on a construction site, or a bookkeeper in an accounting firm, or a recruiter, and you'll see. You're better off asking yourself first, and looking at the world around you, instead of getting recommendations from ChatGPT or people on the internet.

megamix · 1d ago

Hah I think times are changing for some fields. But I wouldn't enter any other field without qualifications. ChatGPT? Never heard of him.

Jugurtha · 1d ago

I don't think the obvious choice at a terrible swimming pool would be to give up on swimming; there may be other beautiful beaches out there.

You're experienced and you seem to already have identified what you don't like. Software is practically everywhere, and it doesn't engineer itself. The aspects you talk about relate to noise that has become intolerable and there are many sectors, especially when the stakes are real, that eschew this "nonsense".

Have you considered working at places that don't "identify" as "tech companies/software companies" but where software is very present? Industry/Manufacturing, construction, automotive, aerospace, energy, logistics/supply chain, etc... In other words, places where software is a leverage to something. This may help "root" what you do in the "real world".

All these need software and they need actual, tangible, results.

megamix · 1d ago

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I think moving into companies where IT as cost function would be detrimental. Or do these have strong engineering culture? Reason I say that is because I used to have experience with online retail within - that was a pain! Always someone in a hurry to deliver the next feature.