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by: David Velez

Why I Won't Work For You

Tech companies love to brand themselves as innovative, inclusive, and the best places for top engineers to grow. But let’s be real—many of these environments are anything but. Toxic workplaces, unrealistic deadlines, and a culture of burnout have made the tech industry a breeding ground for dissatisfaction. So, why would I work for a company that doesn’t serve me when I have the skills to create something better for myself?

The Tech Industry’s Broken Culture

Over the years, tech companies have conditioned developers to accept grueling hours, poor work-life balance, and the constant pressure to over-deliver—all for the promise of stock options that may never materialize. Open office plans, endless Slack notifications, and micromanaging managers turn what should be an enjoyable and creative job into a daily grind. And let’s not even start on the hiring process, which often involves jumping through hoops, solving algorithm puzzles that don’t reflect real-world work, and negotiating salaries that often undervalue our expertise.

The reality? These companies aren’t built to serve engineers. They’re designed to extract value from us—pushing us to work harder so a select few at the top can get richer. If you’ve ever questioned whether your job truly benefits you beyond a paycheck, you’re not alone.

Why Build for Others When You Can Build for Yourself?

One of the best things about being a software engineer is that we have the power to create. We don’t have to sit around waiting for a company to give us an opportunity—we can create our own. The skills we’ve developed aren’t just valuable to a single employer; they’re valuable to the world. Instead of using our abilities to build products that make someone else wealthy, why not use them to enrich our own lives?

Think about it: some of the biggest tech entrepreneurs weren’t special—they just realized they didn’t need permission to create something. If you can build for a company, you can build for yourself. Whether it’s a SaaS product, a mobile app, or even a content-driven tech blog, there are countless ways to leverage your skills to create something that serves you.

Alternatives to the 9-to-5

One of the biggest misconceptions about software engineering is that working a job is the only way to make money. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Here are a few alternative paths to financial freedom:

  1. Freelancing – Many companies are willing to pay top dollar for specialized skills without the overhead of a full-time employee. Platforms like Upwork and Toptal make it easy to connect with clients worldwide.

  2. Product Development – Have an idea for a tool, app, or service? With low-cost cloud computing and open-source frameworks, it’s never been easier to launch your own product.

  3. Content Creation – Writing tech blogs, creating YouTube tutorials, or selling courses on platforms like Udemy can generate substantial passive income over time.

  4. Consulting – Businesses need expertise, and many are willing to pay well for guidance on software architecture, security, and performance optimization.

  5. Investing in Startups – If you understand the tech landscape, why not invest in promising startups or even start your own? With crowdfunding platforms, you don’t need millions to get started.

Taking Control of Your Future

The truth is, the traditional career path isn’t designed for engineers to win—it’s designed for corporations to extract maximum value from us while giving the illusion of stability. But we have a unique advantage: we can create, automate, and innovate in ways that most other professions can’t.

Choosing to work for yourself isn’t easy. It requires a mindset shift, discipline, and the willingness to take risks. But the reward is worth it—freedom, ownership, and the ability to create a career on your own terms.

In Closing

If you’re a software engineer stuck in a toxic work environment, know this: you have options. You don’t have to work a job that makes someone else rich while draining your energy and passion. You have the skills to create your own success, and there’s never been a better time to do it.

So, no—I won’t work for you. Because I’ve realized my value, and I’d rather build something that benefits me, rather than be another cog in a machine that doesn’t serve me.

The choice is yours: continue making someone else rich, or start building the life you actually want.

Until next time my friends,

-David