Software development, as well as the rest of the IT industry for that matter, is a career surrounded by seemingly implicit stereotypes. Many, if not most, of these broad, negatively charged generalizations are largely unfounded, and reflect poorly upon us, IT professionals, who choose to pursue a very powerful, creative, and constructive career path.

So, we've asked our dear Ingeneers on what specific stereotypes about IT professionals they are tired of hearing. Here's what they've got to say. 

"Can you fix my PC?"

Fixing PCs is not really a thing for software developers, but almost all people think that we are service center guy of some sorts. Just because programmers and computers always go together doesn’t mean we can just go around fixing or reformatting them (though we can probably do that too).

- PAUL, Web Developer

"Do you know how to retrieve/hack my *insert social media or email account*, since I cannot access it anymore due to *insert reason*?"

I find it mildly annoying that finding the word "computer" in our degree makes it an automatic criteria that one is a computer expert, which is not necessarily true at all instances. Also, modern online applications have complex security systems which makes it much more difficult to infiltrate than how it appears to be. Also, have you ever noticed that tiny clickable text somewhere that says "Forgot Password?". You're welcome.

- JIHAD, Web Developer

"You must be boring and antisocial."

Some people think that we don't know how to have fun; that we are only into activities that are boring or don't really involve social interaction. But, sorry, they couldn't be more wrong. Our lives do not just revolve around sitting in front of the computer all day and not giving a care in the world. Even though they find some of the activities that we usually do as "boring", at least WE are having fun.

 - ATHENA, Quality Assurance Specialist

"Can you help me with my phone/tablet?"

Don't get me wrong, we are very willing to help. But just because we know how to make apps for them doesn't mean we understand what's wrong with them once they break.

- EDGAR, Mobile Applications Developer

"You're a software developer? So you know *insert technical jargon here*?"

This just proves that our line of work is still emerging and foreign to people born before 1980. Most people are not aware of the differences and specializations of each type of software developer, thus assume that we know everything technology related. This makes them believe that being a software developer is a vocation. However, being successful in our career takes years of learning, effort, and practice, to master. 

- KEVYN, Game Developer 

"Will this project be finished on time?"

This is mostly addressed by naive (more like insensitive) clients. A developer is never late, nor early, he finishes the project precisely when he means to. It's ironic that they ask the question if the project will be finished on time when they know they'll be adding more features to be implemented in the middle of the development. 

- RENE, Technical Lead for Web and Mobile

"Most of the Software Devs I know are either fat or malnourished. Do you even know how to take care of your body?" 

I have seen many programmers who have muscles and have toned bodies in our office. These people take care of themselves by going to the gym, since they know that they only sit in front of the computer while working. Now, who says we're just a bunch of nerds? 

- KYLE, Software Development Intern

"So, you're working in a call center?"

Though working in a call center is a noble career, I find it annoying that whenever I tell people I work in an IT firm, they always assume it’s a "call center", maybe because some of them handle technical inquiries. It's not that I discriminate their profession, but I somehow take pride in my work and I think that our responsibilities are far from being alike.

 - REGIE, Web Developer

"Can you reformat my laptop? Can you set up CCTVs? Can you organize our Internet Cafe?"

Maybe because knowing that our field is inclined to computers, they'd assume that we'd know all things related to it. Information Technology is a very broad territory, and, sorry to burst your bubble, familiarizing one's self in a specific path is more than just a walk in the park.

- JASON, Mobile Applications Developer

"Isn't Software Development a man's job?"

For those people who think that programming is for men, let me introduce you to these badass women in our history.

Ada Lovelace, who published an algorithm that was used to run the first modern computer; Jade Raymond, the founder of Electronic Arts' Movie Studios and Ubisoft Toronto, and also the programmer of very popular games such as Assassin’s Creed, The Sims Online, and many more; and Margaret Hamilton, the brain behind the first successful venture of humans to the moon, writing an in-flight software for Apollo and Skylab, all in paper.

Now, can you still say that Software Development is just for men?

- QUEENIE, Software Development Intern