Messages Managers get about devs
I have various contract roles in organizations of different sizes. I want to make it clear to developers the kind of messaging that floods my inboxes and advertising. There are people targeting your leadership very closely and carefully to make them doubt that you are the best talent they can get and also to make them feel regret for how much they are paying you.
Every day, my inbox receives similar messages, with teams from places such as Vietnam, Argentina, Poland, India, Pakistan, and more that promise impressive results for a fraction of a price.
They often list big companies in their portfolio and are very persuasive in asserting that they can do the same work as the local teams.
Keep this in mind when they are negotiating with you or squeezing you over something.
They want someone to do what you do at a fraction of the cost. And many organizations are being convinced that this is now possible
Many employers like having workers on visa programs (such as H1-b) that are tied to them. It ensures that those workers feel obligated to work in conditions that normal workers would reject. For me, it was easy to strike a balance with past bosses, but if your status in the country and your family’s stability is tied to not saying no, that is a different dynamic. HR departments don’t want to acknowledge it, but it is something everyone sees and notices.
When looking at roles these days, think carefully about the kind of engagement that is being offered. Before making big changes to your life for a new employer, really think hard about the dynamics and long term trajectory of team where you are interviewing.
Before, a developer would occasionally have to chat with a team out on the other side of the world. They would typically make a point to be online during your hours, and they would take pains to be available at any time.
Nowadays, more developers are finding themselves in situations where they are forced to directly work with their potential replacements, and some of the dynamics I mentioned above make it harder than ever to refuse. I was on one such team where all the American developers were suddenly replaced by people in North Africa and Eastern Europe who were paid around 35% of what the Americans were making.
My advice to developers, if your manager starts insisting that you jump on calls at 10 PM to talk so some “geniuses” on the other side of the world and you struggle to follow their barely comprehensible English, that is a sign that these are not people who value you and you shouldn’t invest your energy long term there.