The Software Engineer’s Epic Career Adventure

This is the career talk I often give to teammates — how we grow, prepare, and level up like in an MMORPG.

My girl

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In my previous article, Why So Few Qualified Architects, I talked about how success often hinges more on luck than on hard work. But I also argued that effort still matters — because when luck does arrive, we need to be ready to catch it.

This new post is something I often share with my team at the end of a project cycle. It’s about how we, as software engineers, can grow and prepare ourselves for those rare moments — those windows when the opportunity to get promoted actually opens.

I recently created a slide deck around this topic, which is available here:

Software Engineer Career Presentation

Now let’s talk through it with a bit more fun — imagine your career as a classic MMORPG.

Novice

When we first enter the industry — fresh from school, or after a career change — we become…