Is Anyone here a computer programmer?

[Sitwon]

Vitzeke

In example, do they feel like their job's duties reflect the original job description or are there times that they do things beyond that.

I frequently do things above and beyond my job description. At my current place of employment, programming wasn't even part of my original job description. The main reason is that I tend to prefer working for smaller businesses. In a small business, there is less bureaucracy and individuals have more autonomy and responsibility. In addition to being a programmer I also handle support, systems administration, and network administration.

Vitzeke

Also, do they overwork?

No. In fact I'm probably under-worked. My office is pretty laid-back and I have lots of time for self-study and working on non-work projects.

Vitzeke

Are they satisfied?

Yes. I am, perhaps, too satisfied at my current job.

Vitzeke

How do they feel towards their managers? (if they were non-c.s majors vs c.s. majors).

Currently I like my manager and boss. I had worked with my manager outside of the IT field before and he brought me on board at this company. My boss doesn't have a CS background, but he's worked in the software industry for more than 20 years. My manager does have a CS background. They're both great to work with.

At other companies I've had manager who had no CS background and often seemed out-of-touch with technology in general. Managers who don't really understand programming can be a real problem because they have completely unrealistic expectations about timetables and deliverables.

Vitzeke

Lastly, what sort of incentives (granted the workplace create them) would motivate them or make them more satisfied in their jobs? (like, volunteering as a team in the workplace, having mini-fridges, pot-lucks, video game nights, etc.)

I already get tons of perks at my current job.

• Nearly unlimited budget for tech books.
  
• I can go for any training that is relevant to my job.
  
• Coffee machine in the office (I use if for hot cocoa and tea).
  
• Lot's of time for self-study.
  
• I can publish nearly all the code I write as open source.
  
• We have Nerf guns and other cube toys in the office.
  
• Get to travel for work at least once a year.
  
• I have flexible work hours.
  
• I can work remotely a few days a week.
  

[psychic stalker]

Vitzeke

In example, do they feel like their job's duties reflect the original job description or are there times that they do things beyond that. Also, do they overwork? Are they satisfied? How do they feel towards their managers? (if they were non-c.s majors vs c.s. majors).

These questions are a little bit loaded, and hard for me to answer.

Speaking for myself, I don't often get the opportunity to work on things beyond my job description. I'm woefully underworked, though I am fairly satisfied with my job. My manager is a bit bull-headed - once he gets an idea in his head, it's hard to change his mind until something crashes and burns.

Vitzeke

Lastly, what sort of incentives (granted the workplace create them) would motivate them or make them more satisfied in their jobs? (like, volunteering as a team in the workplace, having mini-fridges, pot-lucks, video game nights, etc.)

Some amount of independence.

We recently started doing "volunteer" project teams where three people from different parts of the company plan out a project - that management has already approved. It hasn't worked well, mainly because there wasn't much freedom given to the teams. None of the developers or the QA team liked it. Voluntary projects should have some degree of independence.

I'm not motivated much because I have little freedom in what I can work on and what I can do with it; I think because management doesn't want to "waste money." Cowards.

I don't care about "game nights" and I don't want social pot-lucks and I don't need a mini-fridge. All I care about is being able to work on things that I want to work on. ******** the rest.

[Vitzeke]

Sitwon

Vitzeke

In example, do they feel like their job's duties reflect the original job description or are there times that they do things beyond that.

I frequently do things above and beyond my job description. At my current place of employment, programming wasn't even part of my original job description. The main reason is that I tend to prefer working for smaller businesses. In a small business, there is less bureaucracy and individuals have more autonomy and responsibility. In addition to being a programmer I also handle support, systems administration, and network administration.

Vitzeke

Also, do they overwork?

No. In fact I'm probably under-worked. My office is pretty laid-back and I have lots of time for self-study and working on non-work projects.

Vitzeke

Are they satisfied?

Yes. I am, perhaps, too satisfied at my current job.

Vitzeke

How do they feel towards their managers? (if they were non-c.s majors vs c.s. majors).

Currently I like my manager and boss. I had worked with my manager outside of the IT field before and he brought me on board at this company. My boss doesn't have a CS background, but he's worked in the software industry for more than 20 years. My manager does have a CS background. They're both great to work with.

At other companies I've had manager who had no CS background and often seemed out-of-touch with technology in general. Managers who don't really understand programming can be a real problem because they have completely unrealistic expectations about timetables and deliverables.

Vitzeke

Lastly, what sort of incentives (granted the workplace create them) would motivate them or make them more satisfied in their jobs? (like, volunteering as a team in the workplace, having mini-fridges, pot-lucks, video game nights, etc.)

I already get tons of perks at my current job.

• Nearly unlimited budget for tech books.
  
• I can go for any training that is relevant to my job.
  
• Coffee machine in the office (I use if for hot cocoa and tea).
  
• Lot's of time for self-study.
  
• I can publish nearly all the code I write as open source.
  
• We have Nerf guns and other cube toys in the office.
  
• Get to travel for work at least once a year.
  
• I have flexible work hours.
  
• I can work remotely a few days a week.
  

Thank you very much sir for your great input!

[Vitzeke]

psychic stalker

Vitzeke

In example, do they feel like their job's duties reflect the original job description or are there times that they do things beyond that. Also, do they overwork? Are they satisfied? How do they feel towards their managers? (if they were non-c.s majors vs c.s. majors).

These questions are a little bit loaded, and hard for me to answer.

Speaking for myself, I don't often get the opportunity to work on things beyond my job description. I'm woefully underworked, though I am fairly satisfied with my job. My manager is a bit bull-headed - once he gets an idea in his head, it's hard to change his mind until something crashes and burns.

Vitzeke

Lastly, what sort of incentives (granted the workplace create them) would motivate them or make them more satisfied in their jobs? (like, volunteering as a team in the workplace, having mini-fridges, pot-lucks, video game nights, etc.)

Some amount of independence.

We recently started doing "volunteer" project teams where three people from different parts of the company plan out a project - that management has already approved. It hasn't worked well, mainly because there wasn't much freedom given to the teams. None of the developers or the QA team liked it. Voluntary projects should have some degree of independence.

I'm not motivated much because I have little freedom in what I can work on and what I can do with it; I think because management doesn't want to "waste money." Cowards.

I don't care about "game nights" and I don't want social pot-lucks and I don't need a mini-fridge. All I care about is being able to work on things that I want to work on. ******** the rest.

Thank you.

[Vitzeke]

Bump.

[psychic stalker]

Vitzeke

Bump.

Don't. C&T is extremely slow. It will take as much as two or three days for your thread to even get off the first page.

[Vitzeke]

psychic stalker

Vitzeke

Bump.

Don't. C&T is extremely slow. It will take as much as two or three days for your thread to even get off the first page.

Are you a computer programmer as well?

[psychic stalker]

Vitzeke

psychic stalker

Vitzeke

Bump.

Don't. C&T is extremely slow. It will take as much as two or three days for your thread to even get off the first page.

Are you a computer programmer as well?

Did I not already answer to that effect?

[Vitzeke]

psychic stalker

Vitzeke

psychic stalker

Vitzeke

Bump.

Don't. C&T is extremely slow. It will take as much as two or three days for your thread to even get off the first page.

Are you a computer programmer as well?

Did I not already answer to that effect?

No. You're attempting to flame however. (failing though)

[psychic stalker]

Vitzeke

psychic stalker

Vitzeke

psychic stalker

Vitzeke

Bump.

Don't. C&T is extremely slow. It will take as much as two or three days for your thread to even get off the first page.

Are you a computer programmer as well?

Did I not already answer to that effect?

No. You're attempting to flame however. (failing though)

If I'm "failing" to "flame," it's because that's not what I'm doing.

I was informing you that this forum is slow. Slow enough, in fact, that it can take days for threads to fall from view.

I also will point out that I've given you an answer wrt my profession. I'm a software engineer, and have been for most of my life. I've already given you my opinions about my job.

Is that not enough?

[Oculis]

Vitzeke

In example, do they feel like their job's duties reflect the original job description or are there times that they do things beyond that.

By all means yes, though I don't mind diving into different stuff that actually isn't involved into my job description since it actually allows me to try out new things and from time to time it leads to finding new things that I actually really like and start doing on my free time.

Vitzeke

Also, do they overwork?

Depends, on an average day I tend to under-work, but from time to times there's just no way out. If there's I big project with not rational deadlines, I can even end up working for 10 to 14 hours a day.

Vitzeke

Are they satisfied?

Absolutely, I wasn't at my previous job since I had a different attitude to project management then my employers and there was just nothing I could do, everything I said was left out without any reactions, but at my current job I like the way things are done and not to mention every final decision is made through discussions.

Vitzeke

How do they feel towards their managers? (if they were non-c.s majors vs c.s. majors).

In my previous job my manager was actually a major in ethnology and it was really hard if not impossible to come to an agreement with her on any thing we had to work on and that's most likely the major reason I actually quit. And now when it comes to my current job, the manager actually does have a degree in c.s. and is actually an expert in his field what makes really easy to communicate with him as we both speak the same language so to say.

Vitzeke

Lastly, what sort of incentives (granted the workplace create them) would motivate them or make them more satisfied in their jobs? (like, volunteering as a team in the workplace, having mini-fridges, pot-lucks, video game nights, etc.)

Actually, the main incentives for me is:
1) The ability to do any task I want. (I.E.: I get to do AI algorithm development which is actually not what I am supposed to do, but I do love this study field and as long as I show that I want to do that work, I get to do it)
2) Loose working schedule, what means I actually don't need to stress about situations when I just overestimated how long I can stay up and now got up like hour or more (worst case scenario was going to work like around 4 hours latter then I'm supposed to) as long as the work is done and the numbers are good
3) Pretty much anything I want for my workspace (within common sense of course), I can just ask and get it. (I.E.: Any computer upgrades like keyboards, additional monitors, hardware; any software or literature that I need for work)