Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 80 posts

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#21

Post by manimino »

spadros wrote: post #6

Don’t just quit your job without another lined up. Milk the current company for everything you can while finding a new job. They’ll find a way to offer you the position and pay you deserved from the beginning when you put in your 2 weeks. Don’t accept their crap, find a better job, and move on. I do think you’d regret quitting without anything lined up. I’d just twiddle my fingers and do as little as possible at curr…

This depends heavily on how good you are at setting boundaries. How good are you at saying no to your boss and teammates? Depending on culture (yours and the company's) this can feel impossible.

Being unable to say "no" is also a great way to burn out in the first place. The advice of "just slack off" is often given in cases like these, but... if the person could do that, would they be burned out in the first place?

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#22

Post by floydian10 »

Companies hiring you at a lower lever and then making it very difficult to you to level up due to "processes" are a dime a dozen. Start by doing the bare minimum at your current job, including taking long(er) breaks during the days if you happen to work from home.

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#23

Post by John23832 »

> TL;DR I am probably burned out, looking for validation from anonymous people online to make a serious life decision, what could possibly go wrong.

This is it, on top of it being a crappy company.

Don't worry. Most of us that have been around long enough have been there. Just dig the ditches while trying to find a new job. While the job market is tighter, there are still plenty of senior level jobs out there. From the conversations that I've had with recruiters, there's really a glut of juniors, while there's a lot of space for seniors.

Don't stay and "work your way into a senior". That's a bait ands switch as old as time. They're trying to get senior level talent at mid level cost. Do the work of an average mid level if you're paid as a mid level.

In the mean while (while looking for other positions), find something that mentally stimulates you.

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#24

Post by throwaway160123 »

throwaway9191aa wrote: post #11

This sounds like AWS, but probably resembles most large companies. Hire great people down a level, and suddenly you are raising the bar. However, you are also grouping folks with 10+ years doing great work with folks who just got promo'd on their first job out of college. I have not quit. Instead I became a high achiever in other aspects of life. I listen to folks at work talking about programming podcasts and online…

Not AWS, but yes, sadly I expect my employer is not the first one to do this.

Sounds like you have a lot going on in the real life, and I have to admit I am a bit jealous now, I def should "get a life" outside of my work identity, something I have struggled to do successfully so far tbh.

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#25

Post by spadros »

canucklady wrote: post #19
spadros wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why can’t you do both? You can line up a new job and take a break in between. I regularly take a month or more between jobs. Most employers are fine waiting a bit longer for top talent.

When I went through something similar it would have taken way longer than a month to recover. I didn't know how long when I took the break. Also I was too burnt out to interview well.

The stress from not having a job lined up would have eaten me alive. I wouldn’t recommend that for anyone. I’m glad your case panned out but I would tell OP to line up a new job if they can.

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#26

Post by marvinblum »

throwaway160123 wrote: post #13
hunglee2 wrote: post #2

well there is no need to immediately resign the employers behaviour here is offensive to any persons sensibilities and I think everyone reading this would be of the same mind to moving on as soon as possible. The way to do this is of course start talking with other employers, there is no reason why you couldn't rustle up some more suitable opportunities whilst you continue in post with this employer. Go only when you…

That's sensible advice for sure. At the same time, I feel like I can't apply myself anymore, and I hate to half-ass the work I do (I'm sure a lot of folks here will understand this).

Find a head hunter to do it for you. They'll usually find a company for you and set everything up so that you won't have to go through too many hoops. I haven't tried this myself, but heard a few good stories about it.

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#27

Post by floydian10 »

manimino wrote: post #21
spadros wrote: post #6

Don’t just quit your job without another lined up. Milk the current company for everything you can while finding a new job. They’ll find a way to offer you the position and pay you deserved from the beginning when you put in your 2 weeks. Don’t accept their crap, find a better job, and move on. I do think you’d regret quitting without anything lined up. I’d just twiddle my fingers and do as little as possible at curr…

This depends heavily on how good you are at setting boundaries. How good are you at saying no to your boss and teammates? Depending on culture (yours and the company's) this can feel impossible. Being unable to say "no" is also a great way to burn out in the first place. The advice of "just slack off" is often given in cases like these, but... if the person could do that, would they be burned out in the first place?

You can easily burn out for a number of reasons

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#28

Post by blhblah12345 »

If you quit today, expect this to be your last technical position. You will not find another job this year.

I know incredible engineers with great experience, well known engineers, who have been unemployed 50% of the time or more during Covid.

It's no longer a seller's market, it's a buyer's market. If you do find a new job, it will take you a long time, and you will take a lower salary than you have now.

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#29

Post by lamacase »

I was in a similar situation a year and a half ago. I quit my job with nothing else lined up, despite advice to the contrary, and found a new one in a few months.

It worked out well for me, and I'd probably do it again without much hesitation if it felt necessary.

That's probably not enough to decide if it's worth it for you, but I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#30

Post by spadros »

manimino wrote: post #21
spadros wrote: post #6

Don’t just quit your job without another lined up. Milk the current company for everything you can while finding a new job. They’ll find a way to offer you the position and pay you deserved from the beginning when you put in your 2 weeks. Don’t accept their crap, find a better job, and move on. I do think you’d regret quitting without anything lined up. I’d just twiddle my fingers and do as little as possible at curr…

This depends heavily on how good you are at setting boundaries. How good are you at saying no to your boss and teammates? Depending on culture (yours and the company's) this can feel impossible. Being unable to say "no" is also a great way to burn out in the first place. The advice of "just slack off" is often given in cases like these, but... if the person could do that, would they be burned out in the first place?

What are they going to do if he says no? Fire him? Not give him the promotions they haven’t been?

If he’s been doing as well as he claims, he can sit on his hands for a few months and start slow rolling his work.

Post reply on HN