Unhappy Developers: Why 68% of Engineers Aren't Satisfied and How to Change It

🚀 Another insight from this year's Stack Overflow report: When asked if they are happy at work, 68% of software engineers did not confirm that they are! It turns out beanbags, foosball tables, hybrid offices, flexible working hours, and even some of the highest average salaries are not the holy grail of happiness after all.

20% even explicitly say they are unhappy at work, while only 32% feel happy at work. 32%? Statistically, you might be happier playing roulette than finding a job in IT that makes you happy.

But what is happiness? The infamous Don Draper once said: "Happiness is the moment before you want more happiness." We could write an essay on the definition of happiness, but let's dive into Stack Overflow's report results instead.

The report states: "Technical debt is the top frustration at work for professional developers according to 63% of respondents, regardless of whether they are an individual contributor or a people manager."

Sure! The people who worked on the code before me were incapable. The client had WRONG requirements, and management set toxic deadlines and didn't invest in tests and reviews! Right?

Listen, there are always two sides to the same coin. Ask yourself:

• "What did I contribute to change this?"
• "How did I, as an expert, make my concerns heard regarding feasibility of requirements and deadlines?"
• "How did I fight for my craft to produce high-quality code?"

Other sources of frustration named in the report include lack of recognition, poor career growth, poor communication, isolation, toxic culture, and health issues. Again: It's easy to blame external circumstances and see yourself as a victim.

Instead, ask yourself:

• "What did I do to be seen?"
• "How and where did I place my contributions?"
• "How fast did I give up?"
• "What did I do to break isolation and silos?"
• "What is my contribution to culture and my efforts to improve the situation?"
• "Am I doing enough for my physical and mental health?"

People hugely underestimate their own influence on others, on the company, and on themselves. Look around you. You will see many people who are happier, healthier, more influential, and have better careers. Why is that? Because they keep winning the lottery of life? Please! If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done! You can change a lot more than you think.

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