33F - 11yoe. Sr. SDE Stuck in a toxic work culture, fed up of high pressure on SDEs. Unable to decide how to move out of this. Listing down some thoughts, can you help in identifying path?
I am working with a European Product based company, going through a very difficult time in my current team that's toxic as hell and has high level of politics. Manager is the biggest loser who sides with a gang of 2-3 male team members and together they decide the future for everyone else in team.
The team is male dominated with only 2 female developers including me.
The work hours are insane with 12-14 hrs per day and it's not an occasional thing, it has been like this since February and will continue this year due to a high priority delivery by year end. I won't divulge in the unfair practices that happen in my team as I have other deeper concerns.
I feel very frustrated everyday because this kind of work pressure and timings leave me no time for family. I am not 20 something or unmarried, I don't want to devote all my waking hours to work and only get paid average where my manager draws easily 80 lacs.
I am an average developer because coding was never my passion, doing it because it pays well. I only started realising the displeasure towards my role once I got into senior roles where I am supposed to mentor teams and do much more.
Senior Developers can relate with this where there is alot on plate to deal with, we not only have to code, it's a constant high pressure for quick delivery, bug fixing, designing architectures for complex system, doing devops work along with mentoring juniors.
And if you are not passionate about it, you'll struggle everyday to be afloat, need to constantly learn, brush up, put in longer times, and still be below the top performers as they have passion for this work. I don't see a point in dragging this further, being mediocre and worrying about managing my image as a Sr developer with constant fear of lay offs in this unstable times.
I am considering below options pls help.
- So I completely want to leave software development as I daily feel this is not what I want to continue, I feel anxious all the times, it has actually impacted me mentally, my peace is gone since last 2 years. It's a rat race I don't want to be a part of. I dread the technical preparation that's like 5-6 months of insane practice and learning again.
I still want to stay in corporate , so I explored some business related roles like Product Manager/ technical PM which will not be a huge deviation from my current role, rather my 10+ yoe will help me in these roles. I did a course in PM , I need to learn and practice more. Challenge here - I don't have any past experience as PM so no interview calls.
I am also thinking to explore some full time masters course in data science or PM or AI related in Ireland. Ireland because my brother lives there so I will save on housing cost. College fees ranges between 20-30 lacs which I think I can manage with my savings.
I feel corporate is rat race in every way. I always prefer peace over money, I would prefer a slow life wothblesser stress, where I can also do things I love to do apart from work, spend family time. So sometimes I also think to leave corporate completely and do a full time degree for complete role pivot. I am considering a master degree in psychology too from Ireland. I am good at behavioural analysis and I feel psychology intrigues me.
Please advice me on what best I can try. I am going crazy with my overthinking.
TLDR - SDE looking to change career paths due to toxic culture and work pressure as a software developer. Options are Product Manager, or doing masters from Ireland in either data science, or completely leaving IT and doing masters in psychology from Ireland.