Walking 850km to Escape Programming: Michał’s Story of Burnout & Renewal

Michał once tried to step away from software development, but he soon realized it was his true calling. Learn about his holistic approach to software, how he overcame job burnout, and what he looks for in candidates as a tech recruiter at Bright Inventions.

Without giving it any thought, what’s closer to your heart: backend or frontend?

It's hard to say, but if I had to choose, I’d go with the backend. But right now, I mostly work on frontend in my current project, so my focus shifts from time to time. I believe my responsibilities in backend will continue to grow.

Nevertheless, I see software development as a whole – a holistic solution. I believe you can make better decisions on the frontend when you understand the backend.

Can you provide an example of that?

For instance, let's say we're working on software that stores a large amount of data in a very specific way. By understanding the acceptable response time for users to access this data, we can determine during the design phase whether a certain feature is feasible or not.

If you're focused only on the frontend, adding advanced filters might seem like no issue. However, if you understand the data layers behind those filters, you can suggest a better solution for displaying filtered results in a way that minimizes frustration for users. These suggestions can be made as early as the design phase, helping us avoid major issues later in the development process.

You recently became one of Bright Inventions' tech recruiters. What are your first impressions?

My first impression is that I need to optimize my time slots because it’s difficult not to go over schedule. Since we are now recruiting fullstack developers, there is a lot to cover with each candidate.

I planned around seven sections to discuss, and on paper, it made sense – I thought I would manage within the established time. However, the reality was different. Even though I have specific questions, it’s easy to dive into discussions that go beyond the main points. I have to control myself and ensure that I don’t extend the interview unnecessarily.

What do you take into account while assessing a candidate?

The first thing I assess is whether a candidate truly understands a given topic or is simply repeating memorized definitions. This is easy to verify by the way they describe it – whether they explain it naturally or just recite predefined phrases. I also like to discuss specific scenarios and ask when they would use certain abstractions to see if they can truly engage with the concept.

Another crucial aspect for me is whether a candidate can admit when they don’t know something. Often, this is followed by a strong deduction process, where they actually work their way to the right answer. This is in contrast to someone who claims to know but then just talks without providing meaningful insight.

I also appreciate when candidates refer to their own experience and provide real-life examples from their work. If they have a different opinion on a subject, that’s even better – it shows that they are capable of questioning things, which often comes from deeper experience and a broader perspective on the topic.

How do you find yourself at Bright Inventions?

I’m glad to be surrounded by a large number of specialists. Compared to my previous workplaces, where there was a wider variety of team members with different levels of experience and knowledge, here the average level of experience is really high. This gives me plenty of opportunities to learn from others and develop innovative ideas.

I also appreciate that we are trusted with a lot of freedom, but it comes with responsibility. I think that’s the ultimate combination.

I heard that you had a solo pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. How did this experience affect you?

I had taken part in Camino the Santiago pilgrimage before, but always in a larger group with my family and friends. This time, I decided to do it alone. Naturally, I met many people along the way, giving me multiple opportunities to interact with others, hear their stories, and understand their perspectives and values.

I think that’s the best part of this experience – the chance to connect with people from all over the world and see how they perceive life. It allows you to gain a much-needed fresh perspective.

Why did you decide to take this solo walk?

I had just left my job at the time, so I finally had the opportunity to do it. When I left, I was exhausted – I needed space and time to breathe, to gain some distance. I had been working too much and giving a lot, but I realized that there are more important things in life and that I couldn’t continue like that.

In the end, this pilgrimage showed me that I actually missed my work. Even though my initial goal was to escape from it, the further I walked, the more I realized how much I missed it. I just needed to come back in a different way – establishing boundaries for myself to maintain a healthy balance between work and life.

What do you like to do after work?

Sports. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved racket sports – tennis is my number one. I’m also passionate about cooking, which used to feel like a curse to me, but now I truly enjoy it. I play the guitar, and honestly, it’s something I can’t imagine my life without.