Ask HN: Have you been laid off? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#161

Post by rabidrat » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:37 PM UTC

syllableai wrote: post #116

Peretus wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Andrew, thanks for commenting and I'll definitely be getting in touch. Can you post a few lines about what kinds of skillsets you folks might be looking for, or what your tech stack is?

Senior full stack engineer, data scientist, Dev ops. All on-site in Sunnyvale CA or Seattle WA. AWS, Python, Postgres, machine learning and large data pipelines, real time natural language classifier running in production. See an example of our product at www.syllable.ai/covid19-coronavirus

on-site even right now? Isn't everyone in CA or WA supposed to be WFH and shelter-in-place?

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#162

Post by Peretus » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:38 PM UTC

bdcravens wrote: post #110

Peretus wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had a decent amount of contracting work going before accepting the position that I had most recently, so I will probably start offering that again, depending on what kind of response I get from the applications I submit. This most recent job I got from posting in the monthly `Who's Hiring` thread back in 2018: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17205867 As far as frameworks, I'm quite familiar with React and Reac…

We're not hiring, but I would encourage you to add at least one backend language to your repetoire, and some ops (like basic AWS, Docker, etc). Flexibility is what will make you valuable, and tbh, in a downturn I think front-ends will be deprioritized.

That's great advice. I don't usually choose it to show off in interviews as it's not my strongest skill, but I currently work full-stack across an app with Rails backend and Angular/React front-end. I also have experience with Express, but haven't worked with it for a couple of years.

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#163

Post by ykevinator » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:38 PM UTC

lynnetye wrote: post #25

I'm the founder of Key Values, which helps software engineers find teams that share their values. Not only do I live in the Bay Area and have many founder friends, but it is also my full-time job to connect tech startups that are hiring w/ devs looking for new roles, so I think I have a good view on this. I'm still gathering information on how coronavirus is impacting the job market, but what I know now is that many…

Why are you hijacking his thing?

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#164

Post by marcosdumay » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:38 PM UTC

isbvhodnvemrwvn wrote: post #88

throwaway5752 wrote: post #9

Take whatever you can get, if you are lucky enough to get an offer. Look for contract work. Reduce your expenses. The gaining market share idea is too optimistic. Consider cashflow and sector and aim for stability over upside. Consider headhunters/recruiters. Really consider your expense and have a plan if you cannot find computer work when you will look outside of that. The general employment picture is a disaster,…

> Read up on COBRA I first read it as "read up on CORBA", but I think we aren't that desperate yet.

I would integrate systems by CORBA over the web technologies on any day if I could.

Too bad newer languages won't even support it...

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#165

Post by ody4242 » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:39 PM UTC

isbvhodnvemrwvn wrote: post #88

throwaway5752 wrote: post #9

Take whatever you can get, if you are lucky enough to get an offer. Look for contract work. Reduce your expenses. The gaining market share idea is too optimistic. Consider cashflow and sector and aim for stability over upside. Consider headhunters/recruiters. Really consider your expense and have a plan if you cannot find computer work when you will look outside of that. The general employment picture is a disaster,…

> Read up on COBRA I first read it as "read up on CORBA", but I think we aren't that desperate yet.

LOL

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#166

Post by logifail » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:40 PM UTC

tathougies wrote: post #106

bryanrasmussen wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

not if everyone loses their jobs in the interim.

It is highly unlikely that this will happen. Temporary layoffs are extremely likely, and extremely good, because they result in high unemployment claims (which the federal gov't is now funding even more), and will mean the businesses survive to rehire them. Nothing fundamental has changed about what people would like to do. These measures are temporary. That's my opinon.

> Nothing fundamental has changed about what people would like to do. These measures are temporary.

My wife's a PhD microbiologist, and works at a $bigPharma, and she's not convinced that we will be back to normal any time soon.

I'm currently in an area where we are essentially in total lockdown. All non-essential shops are shut. Businesses are laying off staff everywhere. Hotels and restaurants are all closed. Borders to neighbouring countries are closed. Schools and kindergartens are closed. Even the local playgrounds are closed and taped up - try explaining that last one to your 4 year-old.

Recovery in six months' time? I'm struggling to see it.

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#167

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:40 PM UTC

lynnetye wrote: post #25

I'm the founder of Key Values, which helps software engineers find teams that share their values. Not only do I live in the Bay Area and have many founder friends, but it is also my full-time job to connect tech startups that are hiring w/ devs looking for new roles, so I think I have a good view on this. I'm still gathering information on how coronavirus is impacting the job market, but what I know now is that many…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#168

Post by Loughla » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:40 PM UTC

I'm betting the best places to target for individuals who have been laid off, for the next 6-12 months at least, will be organizations who serve higher education.

When the economy hits the shit, higher education booms. This is absolutely true for tech programs and community/junior colleges, less so for 4-year colleges/universities.

Source: My experience with the 2001 bust and immediate higher ed boom, 2008 bust and immediate higher ed boom.

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#169

Post by adtac » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:40 PM UTC

viral007 wrote: post #126

mywittyname wrote: post #20

Our leadership announced the possibility of paycuts in the near future. The company I work for had some pretty aggressive hiring targets for Q1 and I'm one of those hired, so naturally I expect that, should things get worse, they will follow a FILO staff-reduction strategy.

Probably FIFO :(

Finally, being bang average pays off

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#170

Post by worstestes » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:41 PM UTC

I'm a fully remote software developer based out of Chicago, IL working on a mobile app built with Typescript/React Native/Redux/Firebase. Just found out our small startup is shuttering at the end of the week "until the markets stabilize". We're in the events and community management realm, and mainly work with co-working space communities.

Been spending the last few days really wrapping things up with the project getting it into a more stable place before payroll stops at the end of the week. Getting my resume/portfolio up-to-date has been a priority since Monday. It's overwhelming starting up the job search abruptly and in such a turbulent time. Keeping my fingers crossed and my eyes open for opportunities, in the meantime I'll be working on a few personal projects.