How do you explain your job to someone who is not technical?

#discuss #programming #career

So you work as a software engineer. You work with Node or Javascript or Python or Java or even Swift. I understand what you do but how do you explain it to someone that isn't technical? I really struggle, and I'm sure others do as well. I watch as people's eyes just glaze over. Please help.

Grandparents

First of all, let's start the maturer generation. They remember computers filling rooms. They have heard that they can talk to their friend on Zoom who moved out to Australia using their computer. It seems magical to them. Maybe mention you build websites like facebook. And just leave it as that. Change the conversation quickly I'd say.

Parents

Next let's tell our parents that think we just 'sit at a desk and play on your computer all day'.
We may sometimes be at our desk all day looking at text on a screen, but that is called reading code. And we now and again correct the code like we are editors for a newspaper or we add new content as if we are one of the journalists.

Perhaps you work for a well known company. Name drop that company. It makes Parents feel proud when they say they kid works for Google.

Kids

Next let's talk to the little dudes and dudettes. Don't go too complicated and maybe use a tiktok reference or 2. Tell them, that you could make their favourite apps and you have become the best uncle/ aunty or parent in the world.

Designer friends

Next the UI designer. Please remain calm and let's try be civil. We don't 'ruin their design' we implement their design. They know their way around colors, design and pretty looking designs. But we, as developers, need to build their designs. CSS isn't as easy as it looks. It really isn't 😭