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Ask HN: How did you like your job in 2017?

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Re: Ask HN: How did you like your job in 2017?

#11

Post by ryanchants »

I went from a huge bank with excellent engineering that never shipped anything to a small startup that is constantly on fire and a product that needs a lot of work.

I love it. I'm excited about the company, there's a lot of room for me to grow, and it's small enough that I can have a lasting impact as we solidify our engineering culture. I report directly to the CTO, though I believe we'll be getting a director soon that will sit between us. It's still better than the 7+ layers of management at Giant Bank.

Re: Ask HN: How did you like your job in 2017?

#12

Post by csnewb »

1/10. Constant mass layoffs, most subject matter experts have quit, the code is a legacy pile of bugs and where changing one line of code is incredibly painful. Also new college grads are making 20k+ higher than my current salary despite having 2 years of experience in the bay area. I've been trying to find a new job but I'm so exhausted and stressed out at the end of the day that I don't have the energy to grind leetcode/algorithms problems to prepare for technical interviews, and those whiteboarding/system design interviews are brutal.

Re: Ask HN: How did you like your job in 2017?

#13

Post by aennyta »

ryanchants wrote: post #11

I went from a huge bank with excellent engineering that never shipped anything to a small startup that is constantly on fire and a product that needs a lot of work. I love it. I'm excited about the company, there's a lot of room for me to grow, and it's small enough that I can have a lasting impact as we solidify our engineering culture. I report directly to the CTO, though I believe we'll be getting a director soon…

Cool! What do you find is the best advantage and what is the biggest downside working in a small startup as opposed to a big corporate?

Re: Ask HN: How did you like your job in 2017?

#14

Post by mod »

6/10

It's not the job's fault. Good atmosphere, coworkers, and immediate management. I just want to be doing my own thing.

We have had a lot of turnover, though. Perhaps it's not as good for others.

Edit: I think the job deserves 8 or 9/10, it's my own attitude affecting how I answer the question as-posed.

Re: Ask HN: How did you like your job in 2017?

#15

Post by aennyta »

csnewb wrote: post #12

1/10. Constant mass layoffs, most subject matter experts have quit, the code is a legacy pile of bugs and where changing one line of code is incredibly painful. Also new college grads are making 20k+ higher than my current salary despite having 2 years of experience in the bay area. I've been trying to find a new job but I'm so exhausted and stressed out at the end of the day that I don't have the energy to grind lee…

Sorry to hear that! Couldn't agree more tech interviews are long and difficult and require lots of preparations. I had some that lasted 4 -6 hours, man that is long! I also find that you get to speak about the company and the role only at the very end, when you already spent a fair bit of yours and theirs time. Wish you best of luck in job hunt this year!

Re: Ask HN: How did you like your job in 2017?

#16

Post by Adamantcheese »

3/10, of the 10 months working here I did maybe 2 months of actual work. And then about 2 months ago the company brought in a developer from the company we get part of our software from to basically do my job, so I don't know why I'm here anymore besides some sort of political puppet. Did I mention I'm a temp still by the way?

Re: Ask HN: How did you like your job in 2017?

#17

Post by HeyLaughingBoy »

mod wrote: post #14

6/10 It's not the job's fault. Good atmosphere, coworkers, and immediate management. I just want to be doing my own thing. We have had a lot of turnover, though. Perhaps it's not as good for others. Edit: I think the job deserves 8 or 9/10, it's my own attitude affecting how I answer the question as-posed.

Yeah, I know that feeling. I've concluded that I'm simply not a very good employee.

Don't get me wrong, I perform! And they've let me make a lot of changes that fix many of the problems they've had.

But my mind's always on my side jobs and how fast I can grow them into a business that can support us full-time. The inefficiencies at a mature business just bug me so much.

Re: Ask HN: How did you like your job in 2017?

#18

Post by ryanchants »

aennyta wrote: post #13
ryanchants wrote: post #11

I went from a huge bank with excellent engineering that never shipped anything to a small startup that is constantly on fire and a product that needs a lot of work. I love it. I'm excited about the company, there's a lot of room for me to grow, and it's small enough that I can have a lasting impact as we solidify our engineering culture. I report directly to the CTO, though I believe we'll be getting a director soon…

Cool! What do you find is the best advantage and what is the biggest downside working in a small startup as opposed to a big corporate?

Biggest downside: a lack of established process. Big corporate had too much process at times, but there was normally decent enough tooling around everything. And there were teams to do everything, which really allowed you to focus.

Advantage: More control over what tools I use. Always something interesting happening, and knowing that the growth of the company is directly influenced by your work.

I am also terrified that being able to impact the company/culture means that I will lead us down the wrong path.

Re: Ask HN: How did you like your job in 2017?

#19

Post by wolco »

Adamantcheese wrote: post #16

3/10, of the 10 months working here I did maybe 2 months of actual work. And then about 2 months ago the company brought in a developer from the company we get part of our software from to basically do my job, so I don't know why I'm here anymore besides some sort of political puppet. Did I mention I'm a temp still by the way?

You are in a strong position just keep doing what you are doing.

Re: Ask HN: How did you like your job in 2017?

#20

Post by aennyta »

ryanchants wrote: post #18
aennyta wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cool! What do you find is the best advantage and what is the biggest downside working in a small startup as opposed to a big corporate?

Biggest downside: a lack of established process. Big corporate had too much process at times, but there was normally decent enough tooling around everything. And there were teams to do everything, which really allowed you to focus. Advantage: More control over what tools I use. Always something interesting happening, and knowing that the growth of the company is directly influenced by your work. I am also terrified t…

That's an interesting worry to have! Sounds like fun, you definitely won't be bored at work.
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