It doesn't have to be like that. I'm not saying everyone is going to find their dream job, but it is definitely possible. If you're in love with software development, as I am, there are just so many different sub-fields and niches with so many different kinds of work.
There's scientific computing, embedded work, game development, tool development, industrial stuff, robotics, UAVs, software work in any number of tech-heavy industries that might themselves be interesting - just to speak of things I personally might find of interest. There's even Web development and enterprise software. And a zillion other kinds. All of which will have their own differing mix of problem type and day-to-day work and just "look and feel".
My current work means solving complex issues with a high degree of autonomy, new projects arriving at a comfortable pace, never the same thing twice (but enough similarity in projects not to be starting from zero all the time), a decent pace of new technologies to learn but without pointless hamsterwheeling, and so forth. We have genuinely good folks on the team with a good mix of experience levels, and great management who view their job as clearing obstacles from our path so we can do our thing. In short, I love where I'm at and what I do. Which has not always been the case in my career.
For a different person, my life at work would probably be an agonizing slog into burnout, or maybe just pure sheer boredom. I dunno. But the point is there are just so many different work situations available out there - many of them nothing like the ones you hear about on tech sites - and it's possible to find a different work situation that's a lot closer to what you need to thrive.
There's scientific computing, embedded work, game development, tool development, industrial stuff, robotics, UAVs, software work in any number of tech-heavy industries that might themselves be interesting - just to speak of things I personally might find of interest. There's even Web development and enterprise software. And a zillion other kinds. All of which will have their own differing mix of problem type and day-to-day work and just "look and feel".
My current work means solving complex issues with a high degree of autonomy, new projects arriving at a comfortable pace, never the same thing twice (but enough similarity in projects not to be starting from zero all the time), a decent pace of new technologies to learn but without pointless hamsterwheeling, and so forth. We have genuinely good folks on the team with a good mix of experience levels, and great management who view their job as clearing obstacles from our path so we can do our thing. In short, I love where I'm at and what I do. Which has not always been the case in my career.
For a different person, my life at work would probably be an agonizing slog into burnout, or maybe just pure sheer boredom. I dunno. But the point is there are just so many different work situations available out there - many of them nothing like the ones you hear about on tech sites - and it's possible to find a different work situation that's a lot closer to what you need to thrive.