Most folks aren't the type to create companies.
That's fine. That makes them "normal."
Not everyone that can successfully (and success is actually rare, there) create and run a company is healthy.
Ask HN: If you can't find a job(in tech), why not create one
11–20 of 23 posts
Re: Ask HN: If you can't find a job(in tech), why not create one
#12I've been self-employed in IT for decades.
How I got here: The barrier to employment (in my market) was unnecessarily difficult (it still is).
I applied for jobs while seeking clients. For me, the latter was a less onerous & more productive process. I found clients to be more reasonable than employers.
Sometimes a client would eventually hire me, mostly in the same capacity. They were flexible and I still maintained my other customers.
Re: Ask HN: If you can't find a job(in tech), why not create one
#13A title is not enough to support a conclusion. Here’s another title for you: “If you need money, why not win the lottery”.
The answer to both is the same: “it’s not that simple”.
You can’t simply “create a job” and start earning money, especially if you want to do it ethically and don’t have a safety net or an established audience.
Re: Ask HN: If you can't find a job(in tech), why not create one
#14A friend once told me that if you are consulting, you are actually doing three jobs: * finding the work * doing the work * getting paid for the work Most folks in tech focus on "doing the work" but fail to realize that there is just as much nuance, skill, and specialization in steps 1 and 3. I have consulted/contracted for about 1/2 my career. Highly recommend it to anyone to appreciate what a stable job at an employ…
Having also had this adventure, note that #1 and #2 are both full time jobs, and #3 can be when #1 vets poorly or #2 fails to get the job done on time and on target (and sometimes effectively at random).
Still my favorite way to play, but you have to have time, talent, and interest in 2-3 disparate, full-time jobs.
Edit: having read parent's article, absolutely agreed on the last point: Sales is hard. Not because selling things to people is inherently hard, but because it requires a long-term commitment to relationship and network building to find the people (you don't sell to companies) who are willing and able to purchase your services. Fail to keep that funnel full, and #2 and #3 no longer have a job.
Re: Ask HN: If you can't find a job(in tech), why not create one
#15I think you should link the YouTune video!
Probably this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBxBhoaBc6I
Re: Ask HN: If you can't find a job(in tech), why not create one
#16Some general advice:
To be treated better, support biz that aren't in your field. My law/med/auto clients always treated me well. My tech-ish clients (geothermal/web retail) treat me well. An IT firm is more likely to see me as a cog.
I found local work thru local biz orgs like the Chamber of Commerce. I once joined BNI for a year (search it) and still have recurring business from that.
Re: Ask HN: If you can't find a job(in tech), why not create one
#17How do you create a job if you don't have a job?
Re: Ask HN: If you can't find a job(in tech), why not create one
#18A friend once told me that if you are consulting, you are actually doing three jobs: * finding the work * doing the work * getting paid for the work Most folks in tech focus on "doing the work" but fail to realize that there is just as much nuance, skill, and specialization in steps 1 and 3. I have consulted/contracted for about 1/2 my career. Highly recommend it to anyone to appreciate what a stable job at an employ…
Having also had this adventure, note that #1 and #2 are both full time jobs, and #3 can be when #1 vets poorly or #2 fails to get the job done on time and on target (and sometimes effectively at random). Still my favorite way to play, but you have to have time, talent, and interest in 2-3 disparate, full-time jobs. Edit: having read parent's article, absolutely agreed on the last point: Sales is hard. Not because sel…
> Still my favorite way to play, but you have to have time, talent, and interest in 2-3 disparate, full-time jobs.
Not sure they are full-time all the time, but definitely to be a one-person show you have to have or acquire skills in all of these.
One of my favorite things about my time consulting is how sharp it makes you. Sharp about tech, sharp about listening to customers, sharp about keeping your network alive, sharp about meeting and keeping in touch with new people.
So easy as an employee to dive into the company and not look around for years.
Re: Ask HN: If you can't find a job(in tech), why not create one
#19Not sure what "tech" would constitute here. I've never ran a company before, but I would assume creating a company has a massive barrier to entry compared to working in tech. There are employees, legal, payroll, HR, and other such hurdles before you can even think about starting a tech company, not to mention the personal toll it'll take.
You don't need employees to start a company
Re: Ask HN: If you can't find a job(in tech), why not create one
#20There was some good discussion about this topic earlier this week, in a different Ask HN thread: