Recently, some colleagues who have been developing iOS apps reached out to me, expressing concerns about the current poor performance of their companies, with many facing layoffs. They feel that pure software development in iOS is becoming increasingly difficult, leading many programmers to experience mid-career anxiety and crisis.
They are considering transitioning to embedded systems, which seems more stable. Is this a feasible shift?
In response to this question, my first thought is that transitioning from app development to embedded development is not merely a technical issue; it is a strategic one.
Getting the strategy wrong will likely lead to futile efforts. The biggest fear when changing careers is diving in without a clear direction and later realizing that the path was incorrect.
The correct approach, in my opinion, is to leverage your past experience to create a competitive advantage.
For pure software programmers looking to transition to embedded systems, there are two critical points. I will illustrate these with the example of an app development engineer:
First: Analyze your core strengths.
Your greatest asset is your ability to develop iOS apps!
This skill is a rare commodity among embedded engineers.
Currently, 99% of IoT products require an app or a mini-program for interaction. A hardware-only engineer needs to outsource app development, while an app-only developer who lacks hardware knowledge faces significant challenges.
However, you can bridge the device side and mobile app side on your own, which is a tremendous advantage.
Second: Combine your strengths to create unique offerings.
Many people tend to focus on technical skills, such as learning popular microcontrollers or operating systems. These are merely technical tools and do not provide a significant advantage in job hunting, as even fresh graduates are familiar with them.
My suggestion is to start from the product perspective. Work on several IoT projects that integrate your past experience, bridging the entire software and hardware chain. This way, you can maximize the value of your previous experience and create a unique advantage.
end
