12
MrPlow
8y

I'm buried in projects that I never get time to work on. My boss took the week off, and I'm getting emails from users asking about adding more projects to the board. I'm a single dev at my company. Normally, I have enough patience to get through the day, but today my CIO decided it would be a good time tell my coworker to let me know that the company dumped a third party we used for tons of report automation, and that I need to get these reports hand rolled in house asap. When I sent him a message asking for any kind of details on what this would involve, I found out he left early for the day.

I'm already stressed and putting in extra hours (salaried, so no extra pay) and am having trouble meeting deadlines for projects as it is because I'm constantly pulled away from my dev work to do non-dev work.

I just landed this dev position six months ago and haven't had a chance to build my resume. I'm getting "OK" money considering this is my first full-time dev job. Should I be looking to get out? Suck it up and get the experience? I know we all have crazy expectations on us and frustrating PMs, but after chats with other devs, I get the feeling that my situation is beyond fucked.

Comments
  • 7
    If the company has gotten itself into that state and you're the only developer, think carefully about whether the experience you get would be good.

    Jump ship and do it with a smile on your face. It isn't your place to bridge the gap of reality and their perception of reality. You're not a punching bag, you're a developer.
  • 2
    Nothing is worth your health and sanity. Remember that.
  • 1
    stay a year, so that you will taken serously if you tell at interviews that you couldnt prosper at your current job.
    And maybe outsource some of your jobs? www.upwork.com
  • 2
    you need to plan a meeting like this with your manager and CIO then schedule it: 1. Lay out the requirements they are currently giving you and explain how this is enough work for (guessing) 1lead with 2-3 developers and that this is a steady state load that will just grow (you have to support and upgrade what you build); then ask them for help. you know they don't have the budget to resource you appropriately, and that they won't get it in the near term. So you need them as managers to prioritize the things from what are now needs, what are needs, and what goes in the want wait list. if you get push back ask them what they expect your steady state hours for week should be? if they can't do that after 90 days give 30 days notice and quit.

    note. you gave to be able to be calm unemotional and factual to pull this off. practicing it with non-coworker friends and family helps a lot. the problem you are facing isn't a dev problem it is a management resourcrsing problem
  • 3
    FWIW: I was in a similar situation at my first job. I stuck it out for two years and got great experience out of the ordeal, but I also burnt out a little... In the end, I was able to almost double my salary in two years, so, for ME, it was worth it.

    if it's getting to you, as someone suggested, set boundaries (whether you decide to stay or not, having that conversation is good experience, too!)
  • 0
    I thought I was reading my own rant for a second.
  • 0
    Just saw you live in the same state as me. Haha. Which part? I'm between Akron and Cleveland.
  • 1
    @MadHatrix Suburb of Youngstown!
  • 4
    Plot twist: @MadHatrix and @MrPlow. Same person, multiple identities caused by stress of job.
  • 1
    @shittywebdev Coming from a guy in "NE Ohio" ... maybe this is all just my imagination!
  • 1
    Nice little NEO devrant sect going here.
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