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Source: Embedded Linux
The questions are as follows:
I am currently 25 years old, graduated from a non-211 university. I work in Shenzhen, doing embedded development, and my salary is currently average. After reading many blogs written by seniors, I find them great. I have some questions.
1. Recently, there have been significant layoffs in the internet sector, coupled with the promotion of stable jobs, which makes me worried about the instability of working in private enterprises. I would like to ask seniors for advice on how to cope with the "35-year crisis".
2. Can one really continue working in the embedded industry? Since I am from Hubei, I will eventually return to Wuhan, and I have some doubts about the development prospects of embedded jobs outside of first-tier cities.
3. If I can continue in embedded development, should I choose RTOS and then Linux as my learning path? This is the learning route I found, but I am unsure if it is feasible.
4. I have recently learned that various banks, both large and small, have backend or app development businesses. Are there many stable positions in state-owned enterprises or those leaning towards stability in embedded development? Or should I consider pursuing a master's degree and starting over? Thank you for your answers, I am very grateful.
Response:
Your questions are very representative and direct. I cannot guarantee that my views are correct; I can only analyze these matters from my perspective, hoping to help you with your work and future choices.
1. Whether in the internet sector, private enterprises, or even in the past state-owned enterprises (and now state-owned enterprises), I don't know if you are aware that those who used to work in factories with "iron rice bowls" also faced the risk of layoffs. "The layoffs back then caused many people to lose their jobs, and many families lost their livelihood."
So, whether it is now in the internet sector, banks, or state-owned enterprises, I do not believe that people working there have no risks at all, nor do I think they can eat stable meals for a lifetime. We should look at the long term and not base our lives on one or two choices, nor should we think that one or two failures mean our lives will lack color.
In this matter, my advice is to make the most beneficial choice at present, choose a good industry, a good direction, a profitable job, and a job with development potential. For example, if it is a good time to make money in the past two years, then focus on making money. Do not choose comfort when you can make money, and do not make large expenditures when the market is not good.
As for the next 5, 10, or 20 years, I cannot say it will definitely be good or bad, but I can guarantee that there will still be some direction that will hit rock bottom, and some direction that will rise steadily.
What can be guaranteed is that if there are no major changes, the overall industry will definitely trend towards improvement.
The "35-year crisis"‼️— To forge iron, one must be strong oneself. Living well in the present is the best way to address the crisis after 35. Many times, our worries about the future stem from a sense of crisis about our current situation. If we can live well in the present, then the issues at 35 are just matters of the present, right?
2. The embedded industry is a very broad field. For example, smartphones—are they considered embedded? Certainly, they are typical embedded hardware and software that can be tailored. But is the smartphone industry competitive? Definitely, it is very competitive. Is the profit margin high? I don't think so; the current profit model for smartphones may not even be based on the hardware itself.
Then there are automobiles, drones, semiconductors, etc., all of which involve embedded fields. However, many areas within these fields are interconnected. Some people do not like to work on different things every day, so they choose a very narrow niche, such as only debugging cameras or only debugging a specific ADC chip. They are also engaged in the embedded field. Some prefer to work on products, so they go into driver development, application development, etc. All of these are fine.
But can one work in embedded development for a lifetime?
I don't think anyone can give a definite answer, but it can be assured that if the entire industry is still around, and if the overall environment is focused on stability and improving people's lives, then I believe the directions we are pursuing will continue to have good development and can definitely be sustained.
You might one day come back to find a housekeeping robot helping you clean, or a robot covering you with a blanket at night, helping you with massages, or picking up deliveries, etc. There are also cars and medical devices that require embedded technology.
And what I mentioned are just small product applications, which can require one or two years of product development and mass production.
From this perspective, you need not worry about the embedded industry failing. Just the other day, I saw an 80-year-old foreigner still programming.
3. RTOS, microcontrollers, Linux, and FPGA, etc., are all viable options. However, I think RTOS, microcontrollers, and Linux can be learned together. Learning them together does not mean you will master them all at once, but rather that when you work, you can look at these things and not be completely clueless when you need to use them. You should focus your energy on your work; doing your job well is the most important.
4. Banks can only be said to be auxiliary departments in the development of society. When there is a conflict, they are responsible for cooking for the army behind the scenes. Their positions are inherently limited. If you like it, keep an eye on it; there will definitely be opportunities, so there is no need to worry. If you really like it, you can also prepare the necessary technical skills according to their job requirements.
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