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How is the work-life balance for professionals working in the field of computer science or software and is it worth it to pursue a career in these fields?
I am in 12th grade and I'm interested in mathematics and science overall. I want to pursue a career in computer science and explore technology and someday do research and invent and discover things that will be useful for the development of society and help save nature.
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James’s Answer
Great question! It mostly depends on the company's culture but also on your ability to hold boundaries. This is a great interview question when you are applying for a job to find out what your potential employer considers a "good work-life balance". Once you know what the expectation are at a company, and you have agreed to it by working there, some managers may still try to get extra work out of you. The reality is that good managers will respect the policy and your boundaries, but not all managers are good. Kinda like how some teachers are better than others.
When interviewing have a list of 4-5 questions you want to know about the company you are applying to, one of which should include "What do you consider a healthy work/life balance?".
James recommends the following next steps:
I'm very grateful for the advice, I will put it into good use^^ Thank you.
Grace
Dan Wolf
Retired Electrical/Software Engineer and part-time College Professor (BSEET and MS Engineering Management)
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Dan’s Answer
Achieving a good Work-Life Balance is indeed a vital aspect to consider for any job, and it is essential to remember that it is possible to find balance in both professional and non-professional careers. While it might be more challenging in certain professional fields, keep in mind that you have the power to make choices that suit your needs best.
Some managers and companies might expect longer work hours, but don't forget that you have the option to leave these firms or departments and seek a more accommodating environment. I want to share a personal experience - I once (unknowingly) accepted a job that required 60-70 hours per week in an uncontrolled environment when my wife was facing significant health issues. I then decided to make a change and transferred to another department, working fewer hours for the same pay, which tremendously improved my work-life balance.
The key is to set your own boundaries and adhere to your limits. You can choose when to go home at the end of a regular workday and leave some work unfinished – I've seen employees do this successfully, and they continue to be valued by their employers. Some managers may encourage longer hours, but they don't aggressively force it upon their employees. Always remember that you can ask for more help, fewer assignments, or even consider a transfer or quitting if the environment doesn't improve.
Although long work hours can be a primary cause of stress, other factors can impact your work-life balance as well. Learning to manage stress is a necessary skill, and some ways to do this include switching off from work when you're at home, taking vacations, embracing hobbies, spending time with family, and exercising regularly.
Engineering and computer science careers can be incredibly exciting and rewarding, offering excellent benefits, especially when you're having fun in your role. These fields are in high demand, and that's a strength you can capitalize on. Embrace your power to achieve and maintain a good work-life balance – you can always find a way!
Some managers and companies might expect longer work hours, but don't forget that you have the option to leave these firms or departments and seek a more accommodating environment. I want to share a personal experience - I once (unknowingly) accepted a job that required 60-70 hours per week in an uncontrolled environment when my wife was facing significant health issues. I then decided to make a change and transferred to another department, working fewer hours for the same pay, which tremendously improved my work-life balance.
The key is to set your own boundaries and adhere to your limits. You can choose when to go home at the end of a regular workday and leave some work unfinished – I've seen employees do this successfully, and they continue to be valued by their employers. Some managers may encourage longer hours, but they don't aggressively force it upon their employees. Always remember that you can ask for more help, fewer assignments, or even consider a transfer or quitting if the environment doesn't improve.
Although long work hours can be a primary cause of stress, other factors can impact your work-life balance as well. Learning to manage stress is a necessary skill, and some ways to do this include switching off from work when you're at home, taking vacations, embracing hobbies, spending time with family, and exercising regularly.
Engineering and computer science careers can be incredibly exciting and rewarding, offering excellent benefits, especially when you're having fun in your role. These fields are in high demand, and that's a strength you can capitalize on. Embrace your power to achieve and maintain a good work-life balance – you can always find a way!
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Grace
Updated
Kelsey’s Answer
I love my job coding! The company I work for allows us to take unlimited time off, I work remotely from anywhere I'd like, and I have a flexible schedule. It allows me to accommodate for my own changes in energy and devoting time to my personal life.
Eric Liszt
AVP Product Management, Product Development, Customer Support
11
Answers
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Eric’s Answer
I'd like to add on to what James and Dan have stated, but they are spot on. It's a combo of the company culture and your desire and ability to negotiate appropriate boundaries and stick to them. Remember, if you do excellent work, you'll be in a better position to negotiate with your employer or to simply leave and find a better one if that's what you choose. Do your best, be optimistic, be helpful, and doors will open.
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Elizabeth’s Answer
You are in charge of your time, whether it's your meeting calendar or your outside-of-work-fun-time calendar. You have to guard it. As others have said, managers or teams may want more of your time, but you have to set your boundaries.
I work 730am-4pm central. I've made it clear to my team that this is my schedule and if anything is scheduled after 4pm, then the chances of me making the meeting drastically drop. I will make exceptions, but I have to decide whether it is worth my time to be there. Am I needed? Can someone else cover the meeting? Can I just get updates afterwards?
My team is very flexible, so if we have appointments or things that need to taken care of during work hours, it's not usually a problem. But this isn't necessarily the case everywhere. You want to ask about their flexibility, in-office requirements, and even culture/team building events.
Hope that helps!
I work 730am-4pm central. I've made it clear to my team that this is my schedule and if anything is scheduled after 4pm, then the chances of me making the meeting drastically drop. I will make exceptions, but I have to decide whether it is worth my time to be there. Am I needed? Can someone else cover the meeting? Can I just get updates afterwards?
My team is very flexible, so if we have appointments or things that need to taken care of during work hours, it's not usually a problem. But this isn't necessarily the case everywhere. You want to ask about their flexibility, in-office requirements, and even culture/team building events.
Hope that helps!
Updated
Lotan’s Answer
It is related to your workplace culture, to the boundaries that you will put on your boss, and how much you want to succeed... When you are starting a new job you usually spend more time. But when you are experienced it decreases..
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Leah’s Answer
All the suggestions shared earlier are fantastic. I'd like to emphasize that the company's actions and offerings to clients are crucial too. If you desire to be involved in projects that make a difference, you must figure out if that's the company's main focus. When your goals align with the company's strategy and mission, you'll find a more suitable match.
Research/ask about the company's sustainability goals.
Understand the company mission and if that is in alignment with the impact you want to make.
Leah recommends the following next steps:
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Darrell’s Answer
The work-life balance can differ across companies and depends on your skill level. If you're highly proficient and knowledgeable, even a large project can be completed relatively quickly. However, if you're new to a software development kit (SDK), you may need some time to familiarize yourself with it. It's beneficial to prioritize the company you work for, as some organizations require programmers to be available at any given moment to address operational issues. Additionally, maintaining effective time management skills is crucial. Recognizing and communicating when a project will be significant and time-consuming is essential.
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ALi’s Answer
Great job on asking this question, Grace! Let's tackle your first inquiry about work-life balance and then move on to the second part concerning a career in computer science or software. Keep in mind that you're always in control of your time, and you have the ability to say "No" (there's a book called The Art Of Saying NO by Damon Zahariades). In a fast-paced work environment, it's essential to effectively prioritize your tasks. However, I must be honest with you, Grace, and mention that occasionally, you might need to put in extra hours due to urgent situations, especially if you're part of a Support Team. Returning to the topic of work-life balance, I usually complete my work at the office and avoid bringing it home. In short, every field in Information Technology demands various skills that I'm confident you can easily acquire. And remember, you're in charge of your time!
As for Computer Science, guess what? I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Science in Computing Information! Why did I choose this field? Well, Grace, I'm the kind of person who loves understanding how things work, why they function that way, and even discovering better ways to make them work. Another reason is that I grew up in a family where computers were the main attraction, so naturally, I developed a passion for them.
In conclusion, remember that you are in control of your time and have the power to say NO. Moreover, if you're fascinated by technology and eager to learn how things work, give it a try and see how you feel. The world is your oyster!
As for Computer Science, guess what? I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Science in Computing Information! Why did I choose this field? Well, Grace, I'm the kind of person who loves understanding how things work, why they function that way, and even discovering better ways to make them work. Another reason is that I grew up in a family where computers were the main attraction, so naturally, I developed a passion for them.
In conclusion, remember that you are in control of your time and have the power to say NO. Moreover, if you're fascinated by technology and eager to learn how things work, give it a try and see how you feel. The world is your oyster!
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Taryn’s Answer
Computer science is a great field!! When Covid shut the world down and people were losing jobs, tech field and medical were growing and thriving.
Work life balance is the same as any job, it is what you make it. Typically these jobs are only 40 hours a week. Personally I have 3 kids and work as a Program Manager. I went to college for computer science.
Find the area within computer science that you love, own that skill, and work toward a career at the company you love.
Work life balance is the same as any job, it is what you make it. Typically these jobs are only 40 hours a week. Personally I have 3 kids and work as a Program Manager. I went to college for computer science.
Find the area within computer science that you love, own that skill, and work toward a career at the company you love.
Updated
Josh-Daniel’s Answer
Computer Science is everywhere, so your goals sound very compatible. Work-life balance varies by company. Many of the service provider or entry level jobs have infinite workload, so the important thing is to feel empowered to set personal boundaries. Maybe you only have X number of hours to put in, or maybe you're happy to work extra some weeks as long as you get compensatory time off, or extra pay, or etc. Not every company supports every option, but anything you can think of is an option somewhere in Comp Sci / Info Tech.
The most important thing in any job, but especially technology, is to work on breaking problems into smaller pieces. It's very common for people to memorize tasks and processes. People who can perform these pre-made processes rapidly can make a big impact, which translates to making more money, being able to influence decisions for the better, etc. However, the most valuable thing you can do is to solve problems that people did not already have a process for. This means trying things your own way, and spending the time to dig into things deeply.
A company that encourages you to figure things out, and solve problems, can be very rewarding in this regard. Learning to problem solve translates to almost every other task you might need to do, including having the confidence to stand up for what you want or need for work-life balance, or the types of problems you can solve to further your personal goals such as improving environmental conservation, connect dots between things that no one noticed, improve efficiencies, create new products that are more resource efficient, etc. etc. etc.
Look for companies that align with your values. You can always find a technical problem to solve anywhere.
Ask questions of companies when you interview. You're finding if they have what YOU need.
Feel empowered to set boundaries, and stick to them without feeling guilty.
If you compromise on boundaries, make sure you are compensated justly. Extra time off, extra pay, extra cool people to work with, etc.
Even when you find a good fit, re-assess your needs and contentment every 6 months or so. Work with your manager to meet any new needs, or use new skills.
The most important thing in any job, but especially technology, is to work on breaking problems into smaller pieces. It's very common for people to memorize tasks and processes. People who can perform these pre-made processes rapidly can make a big impact, which translates to making more money, being able to influence decisions for the better, etc. However, the most valuable thing you can do is to solve problems that people did not already have a process for. This means trying things your own way, and spending the time to dig into things deeply.
A company that encourages you to figure things out, and solve problems, can be very rewarding in this regard. Learning to problem solve translates to almost every other task you might need to do, including having the confidence to stand up for what you want or need for work-life balance, or the types of problems you can solve to further your personal goals such as improving environmental conservation, connect dots between things that no one noticed, improve efficiencies, create new products that are more resource efficient, etc. etc. etc.
Josh-Daniel recommends the following next steps: