Hi guys. Im looking for a bit of reality check because im feeling stuck.
I’ve got a CS degree and spent about 5yrs in industry as a software engineer (mostly fullstack). Then i took a break. At first it was just to reset, but that break turned into 2 years, honestly 2 years is more than enougj. I’m actually so ready to jump back into the corporate world now. I miss the hustle, but i’ve realized I want to comeback differently.
Well during my time off, I found out that I’m way more into the CREATIVE side. I’ve spent a lot of time design diving deep into ui/ux and graphic design. I even done some design work for people on the side and guess what? They love my works so much! Made me realized that, with skills and experience that I have, I want to bridge the gap between technical engineering and design.
Now that I’m trying to get back into the industry, that
2-year gap is starting to feel like a huge weight. There’s this constant anxiety that while I was away finding my creative edge, the tech world moved on without me. I’m worried recruiters will just see a 2-year hole in my resume and assume my skills are rusty, or that my interest in design means I’m not hardcore enough for engineering anymore.
When I look at job postings for SWE or related, its all about stack. Its hard finding role that focuses on just frontend side even tho the title ‘Frontend’. When I talk to recruiters, they seem to want a “coding machine”. I’m worried that by showing my passion for psychology and design, I’m actually making myself look less competent as a engineer like I’m not hardcore enough because my head isn’t 100% in the terminal.
I really feel like my understanding of UI/UX and design is a massive added value. I don’t just want to build things. I want to build things that look amazing and actually make sense for the user. But I’m struggling with how to frame this.
Is it actually an "added value" in the current market for SWE, or should I just hide the creative stuff and focus on proving my technical skills haven't faded? How can I frame my passion in this?
I’d love to hear from hiring managers or anyone who has made a comeback after a break. How do I bridge the gap between being a seasoned dev and a creative designer without looking like a risky hire?
Thanks for reading.