I used to be a project manager and a software engineer within software development. I’ve designed and developed frameworks and lead greenfield development projects and large refactoring projects.
My last assignment ended about one year ago. I’ve burned out twice and got let go thrice since moving to Stockholm nine years ago. While I had my first job out of university for 17 years. There is something about working in IT where trust and culture are super important and I haven’t found a good match here in Stockholm.
AI in the IT job market
I keep an occasional eye on the job market but I’m not super excited about what I see. I have the financial freedom that I don’t need to rush into a new job but if the right job comes along I will take it.
AI has made the deal worse. It feels like that if you do something smart and it works, it’s because of AI. If it doesn’t work it’s because you need to work on your prompt engineering. And if you don’t use AI and do something smart, then just imagine how smart it would have been if you used AI. It’s a lose-lose proposition.
Here are three examples from this week on how AI is used in the IT job market in Stockholm.
"As AI Solutions Lead, you drive execution within [company]. You embed in teams across the business, identify where AI can create the most value, and ship working solutions - fast.
This is a hands-on strategic role. "
What exactly is a hands-on strategic role? A one man army?
"You’ll play a key role in shaping how AI becomes part of our everyday work. That means moving from experimentation to something more structured, scalable and impactful. Integrate AI into our creative workflows and ways of working..."
What do managers do when their manager asks them to do something they can’t? Ask for a headcount of course. Recruit and delegate.
"We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Sr. AI Program Manager to lead the successful integration and rollout of [AI]."
If it’s already successful why do you need someone to lead it?
It’s not that machine learning algorithms and large language models and what is underneath the AI buzzword aren’t useful tools. They are. They do solve real problems. It’s just that there is so much hype about what they are that and what they can do that you can’t have an honest conversation with a c-level manager about them. I believe we are many that hope that day will come soon. But it is not here yet.
The alternative is better
So I fill my day with meaningful activities that I enjoy. I drive my kids to school and activities, join their school excursions and go see their end of season shows. I pick up books at the local library and read science fiction classics and study history. I walk the dog twice per day. This is where I get my best ideas.
I work on my own projects in the pace I want. When I am inspired I am on fire. I created Petroglyph from ideation to first sale in less than a month. I can pivot and follow an idea without asking anyone for permission. Like when I decided to create a new logo for Thoughtful Dane, it took me two hours then it was live. No committees.
Creating games that also sell is a nice challenge. I’ve designed and played games for thirty years. Now I’m thinking about not only what makes a game fun to play but also what makes it a great product. What makes people pick it up, pay me money, and walk away happy?
Games with physical components
I so much enjoy creating games with physical components. There is so much more going on when you play a game in a room with another person than when you interact via a screen. I do play games on the phone and I have played a ton of computer games when I was younger. The games I play now are like 5-10 minute waiting games. Chess puzzles. That sort of thing.
Amazing things can be achieved with computer games today. Evocative fictive worlds, complex story lines with dramatic moments and character development. It just doesn’t interest me much. I don’t want to immerse myself fully into a virtual space. I want to be in a room with another human being. Get to know them and feel them and understand who they are and what makes them tick. I have sat in so many endless video conferences that I now avoid them at all cost.
One thing I miss
The only thing I’m missing is a regular paycheque. But I’m not sacrificing my health for it. So I’m betting that one of the many ideas I am pursuing pays off. That I can get a little income by doing things I truly enjoy doing. I celebrate the small successes I get. I keep pursuing the most promising ideas and keep improving how I execute on them. One day something will work out.
Thanks for reading. You can buy my latest game Petroglyph in my web shop or when you see me. My next game Draw Stranger will be available shortly. I also offer guided tours of Stockholm during the summer.