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Competent Software Developers Are Underpaid — Here is How to Fix It
I have been laid off twice. Both times it happened during my peak performance.
In both cases, it was due to office politics and poor sales strategies of my superiors. But at both times, layoffs ensured that I could not get my market value salary.
As a competent software dev, you are always expendable. And hence underpaid.
As a Competent Developer, Your Job is More at Risk than Others:
During my college days, I read and re-read Lee Iacocca’s autobiography. I was highly fascinated with his spirit of reinvigorating Chrysler, soon after being fired by Henri Ford II despite $2 Billion in sales in 1978.
In sales, your biggest achievement is the brand you build. Once that brand reaches millions, your value as a change-maker diminishes.
In software, you do not need adoption by millions to make yourself obsolete. All you need is a robust product with obvious execution.
When you are competent enough to run the show, it becomes quite easy for powers-that-be to put you out of the equation.
While layoffs in today’s world are triggered by losses (even though they may be temporary or limited to your department), what is of immense importance is this:
The compensation that you end up taking from your employer, layoffs or not, is inversely proportional to the value you contributed and the value they earned.
They keep paying you for newer and newer challenges. They keep paying you to keep their marbles together.
And they get rid of you by driving you out when they can’t fire you, as soon as they smell that you can step on someone’s else’s feet. Or seat.
