I've always had a difficult time explaining my jobs to my family. None of them work in tech or have ever developed, and almost none of them went to a university. So the context about what my job consists of (or that there are even jobs like mine) just doesn't exist for most of my family.
When I was fresh out of undergrad, it was easier. I could just tell them that I built software, but, if they probed deeper, like what software I build or what part of it I work on, the train came off the rails. It's gotten even more difficult as I've progressed in my career.
How do you describe your job to your family or your parents or, even better, your grandparents?
Cover photo by Nielson Caetano-Salmeron on Unsplash.
Latest comments (23)
I'm struggling with that, especially when I tell that I will work remote for a company in Europe!
When I tell them that I build website they reply: Could you build another Facebook?!
When I tell them that I build apps, they reply: Could you build a TikTok?
So, most of the time I took their daily apps and show them the teams behind them on Youtube to get a tangible definition of the job.
Computer fixing guy..... 😆
I explain to my parents with construction analogies.. like we're the "developers" and theirs an "architect".. and we "design" a software.. and then "build" it.. even "bugs" and "fixes".. It's easier and I think they get it too
I like this approach.
I just say that I build/maintain website(s) that serve some specific purpose. People generally understand the purpose/goal and the business/operational processes behind achieving that goal. I tend not to delve into the specifics of tech unless the audience has some relevant technical knowledge.
Heh, I just ran into this today, trying to describe to family what Tugboat is. "It's like carbon copies for websites."
When my day-to-day job was architecture consulting and devops, I would say things like, "I help build the internet," which at least seemed to avoid the, "oh, my friend wants to do The Blog™, can you help?"
I'm a "typist". That's all.
For me it really depends on the target audience.
if I don't want much conversation I just say
I get payed to hack stuff but no I won't help you hack your partner's facebookIf its more business targeted or a deeper convo about jobs then I would describe the various scopes, security, project management, company scale up and more.
I love sharing about what I do… When I have the chance. Most people don’t really want to know, but when I am able to share I compare it to building a house or a building.
I tell my family that I develop the internet. Shape its existence such that their lives are made easier and more convenient.
Although it does backfire sometimes in a "smartphones make people dumb" kinda way, but this has been the most relevant way for me to tell my family what makes my employer provide my paycheque.
I actually tell them pretty accurately what I do. Rather surprisingly, most people, even those who have almost no technological background whatsoever, understand the concept of ‘performance monitoring software’ with very minimal explanation, and the concept of my being responsible for managing the installation and release processes with no explanation whatsoever.
Such conversations were, ironically, a lot more difficult when my primary job was just being a sysadmin for a small manufacturing company. In that case, the extent of what I could get most people to understand was ‘I make sure the company network keeps working so everyone else can do their job.’.