The term "996" was coined by major internet companies. A few years ago, being a programmer wasn't a very desirable job option.
Staying up late shortens your lifespan; you'll have a full head of white hair before you're thirty; you'll earn money but won't live to enjoy it; all the money you earn will go to your wife and her new husband.
Such stereotypes abound, but who knew that programmers would later become so sought-after?
There's no other reason than money. Everyone's risking their lives to make money. Housing prices are plummeting, making the real estate and civil engineering industries very difficult.
If you look at TV dramas, they used to be based on civil engineering and real estate projects, but in recent years, many have been based on programmers. Times are changing.
Around 2020, the term "switching code" became popular. People from all walks of life switched to coding. Those who could switch to backend went to backend, those who couldn't switch to backend went to frontend, and there were also directions like algorithms, cloud computing, big data, and app development.
A few years ago, the starting salary for fresh graduates was 6,000-8,000 RMB in third-tier cities, around 12,000 RMB in second-tier cities, and around 18,000 RMB in first-tier cities. That was roughly the starting price.
Back then, SP offers were between $25,000 and $27,000. Offers of $30,000 or more had much higher requirements and were quite rare.
Back then, there were 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and even 18th-month bonuses. It was very difficult for workers in traditional industries to receive such year-end bonuses. In the internet industry, especially in development, it was indeed one of the fastest-paying jobs compared to other sectors.
Back then, it was a popular path for programmers to move into finance. The consensus among my coding colleagues was that they probably wouldn't be able to keep coding until they were 30; it was impossible to keep coding forever. They would either go to a small company for management, stay in a state-owned enterprise and retire, or use their savings to switch to finance.
It just depends on which path you choose. Many programmers invest in stocks, mostly A-shares and funds. US stocks and Bitcoin, on the other hand, have a higher barrier to entry.
Over the years, some of my programmer friends have done well: some left big companies to become partners in startups, some have jumped ship several times and are now earning nearly a million a year. There are also programmers like me who are all-in on the crypto.
Some graduates aim for stability by working in small factories, state-owned enterprises, or government agencies in research and development. It is indeed stable – stable overtime, stable low wages. But whenever I meet with them, they always look haggard, like they have no money and no future.
In short, life is a constant flow, and everyone has their own path. Everyone's circumstances and choices are different; ultimately, everyone's life is their own. I think going all-in on crypto is a good path, but I regret going all-in too late. If I were five years younger, I could be working in an industry I love, and 177 wouldn't be a big deal.
