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

Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

221–230 of 320 posts

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#221

Post by walktheplank »

I quit my job at a FAANG back in the fall of 2020 without anything else lined up. I had been suffering from burnout and an existential crisis for over a year. I initially expected to take 3 months off before looking for a new job, but ended up taking over 12 months off. I received an offer for a new job after looking in a fairly niche space and being very picky after searching for 2-3 months.

I didn't set any goals for myself. I just woke up and did what made me happy every day, which was exactly what I needed. After 6 months off, I also put nearly all of my belongings in a storage unit and traveled around the US in my car.

Had a blast. Would do again.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#222

Post by badtension »

andi999 wrote: post #179
badtension wrote: post #113

I quit in December 2019 (best time for that kind of thing). I had some money put aside and decided to put my time and effort into getting a deeper understanding of ML to find a more meaningful job (my old one was draining me so much). After a few months it looked like the job perspectives weren't as good during the pandemic so I decided to finish my side project - get some more experience, maybe even earn some side i…

Not speaking from experience, but I believe you should start every day with sales. Demo doesn't need to be ready, get potential customers, feedback etc. Even the big ones start sales before the product is ready. Also if you see there is interest it will help you to finish. You cannot skip the sales part, so instead of after finishing put it in front (it is also the hardest part for developers).

I have talked to a few people (yes, friends) that said it would solve some of their problems but nothing like selling up front or contacting random people.

I am a programmer and have a hard time "inverting" the process. This feels like a fraud or maybe is just a part of the imposter syndrome. I want to start with something that is at least a bit "interactive" to see how people behave using it. I think this may show a truer response, especially that this is directed to normal people (mostly nontechnical).

I read a lot about getting sales first but I really struggle with that concept especially when there's nothing to show other than screenshots and diagrams.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#223

Post by ayoubElk »

serjester wrote: post #216
ayoubElk wrote: post #204

I quit my job in 2018 without any other opportunity lined up. I used all of my savings to go on an extended trip to Asia, the idea being that I'll travel around, work on my own projects, and do some freelancing to cover my expenses. Things didn't go as planned though, I got robbed in the hostel I was staying at and lost my macbook. Eventually I decided to cut my trip short and go back home where I started freelancing…

I think this is every traveller's worst nightmare. Looking back was there anything you could have done to prevent it?

Agreed, the worst part was the fact that I had actually just purchased that macbook a few days before getting on the plane and I moved all my data to it without having it backed anywhere (Rookie mistake).

I could have:

- Picked a better hostel to stay at

- Backed up my data properly to minimize damage if it eventually happens

- Been more wary of other guests (99% of them were cool people but you still need to be aware of who's there with you)

- I used filevault, but forgot to enable find my device

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#224

Post by jrumbut »

taliesinb wrote: post #191
mlac wrote: post #87

After skimming half the thread and only seeing one view (DO IT! It’s GREAT!), I’m going to throw this out there: - You will have heavy selection bias here (people who did not succeed might be working at a crappier job and unable to comment at this moment) - You will also have confirmation bias among those who willingly quit (“of course it was the right move”) - You are asking a very unique set of people with very val…

> It also looks like you should have a strong plan to do something (hobby, hike, or work in another capacity). If you don’t, you may just stagnate and waste some of your prime years for growth and development. Having been on this journey too, I provide this reassurance for those on the edge of quitting: trust in your superego. Your superego is always there, always watching, always asking: "is this what you should be…

Being in a situation where you only have yourself to blame, when you can't say "oh if only I didn't have these coworkers and that boss and my family and everything else holding me back (holding you up, really)," it's a different kind of fear. It's probably healthy, but surprisingly intense.

You're totally exposed and get to see exactly what you're capable of accomplishing. It's like that machine in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy that shows you exactly how insignificant you are in the universe.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#225

Post by badtension »

mritchie712 wrote: post #141
badtension wrote: post #113

I quit in December 2019 (best time for that kind of thing). I had some money put aside and decided to put my time and effort into getting a deeper understanding of ML to find a more meaningful job (my old one was draining me so much). After a few months it looked like the job perspectives weren't as good during the pandemic so I decided to finish my side project - get some more experience, maybe even earn some side i…

One thing that helps with not having a boss is getting customers paying for your product as quickly as possible. They become a type of "boss", but one you can easily "fire" if needed. This means scoping down your grand vision to what's essential for someone to pay. It's hard, but it's worth it.

I've never had a customer so I'll take your word for it, it makes sense.

I am trying to get the scope down to the very core value. Then build on that if there is any traction with the basic service.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#226

Post by walktheplank »

ridaj wrote: post #67
popotamonga wrote: post #2

I quit just last week. Saved up 10 years worth of salaries. Currently on the doing nothing stage. Doing more sports, running/cycling everyday, taking my time to cook, more time for kids, so far so good, i have no plans for the future, whatever happens happens. Previously i was working 15 hours a day, i did like my job but was impacting my health severely.

Practical question: if you're in the US, how do you deal with health insurance?

In my situation, I used COBRA.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#227

Post by Ken_Adler »

ridaj wrote: post #67
popotamonga wrote: post #2

I quit just last week. Saved up 10 years worth of salaries. Currently on the doing nothing stage. Doing more sports, running/cycling everyday, taking my time to cook, more time for kids, so far so good, i have no plans for the future, whatever happens happens. Previously i was working 15 hours a day, i did like my job but was impacting my health severely.

Practical question: if you're in the US, how do you deal with health insurance?

ACA (ObamaCare) is available. Your monthly cost for top tier coverage can be as low as ~$5 a month for a family of 4.

The qualifying income cap is based on you anticipated "Modified Adjusted Gross Income". They don't count assets. This means that if you may have losses that bring your income for the year down to the income limits, then you can honestly say that and get subsidies. If you currently don't have any income, but you can imagine yourself earning the minimum income in the calendar year, then you can claim that. (If you are lower than the minimum for ACA, you will get MediCal for free)

For example, in California, for a family of 4, if you can honestly estimate that after potential losses and potential earnings, your modified adjusted gross income would be between $39,750 - $53,000, you can get top tier coverage for ~ $5 a month, no co-pay, very low prescription costs.

If your situation changes (you start working again) you just notify the state and either pay a higher rate or cancel and use your new company's plan.

Search for "2022 ACA Income limits [your state]"

Here is the 2022 chart for California: https://www.coveredca.com/pdfs/FPL-chart.pdf

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#228

Post by minimaxir »

Years ago, I YOLO quit Apple after my professional development stalled (HN discussion then: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14270897) and I felt I had enough in my personal data science portfolio that I could leverage it to get a job in the industry. I had overestimated my hireability but I eventually did get a DS job after four months, and am still at that company.

In retrospect, it was correct from a career standpoint, but I will not quit a job again without having another job lined up, especially since for data science in particular the industry is competitive and would result in another prolonged job search.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#229

Post by JSavageOne »

secondcoming wrote: post #122
JSavageOne wrote: post #99

Traveled the world for a year and a half, then started contracting remotely while remaining abroad, making more money than I was before in NYC (I wasn't working at a FAANG type company though). Zero regrets, life is too short to be miserable, and people severely overestimate the repercussions of quitting one's job and difficult of finding employment again. Although NYC is fun to visit from time to time, I don't miss…

Are you a US citizen? Don't you get double-taxed on foreign earnings?

I haven't stayed anywhere long enough to warrant it

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#230

Post by throwaway743 »

brianrice wrote: post #138
Damogran6 wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OP is also asking people their experiences, but those experiences are informed by their local set of pros and cons. What I've encountered: 1. I've never had bigger improvements in my financial outcomes than when I said 'f-it' and pulled the ripcord 2. Doing so dropped my into a stresspit that was grinding me into a red paste, resulting eventually in being Riffed 3. Which let me find a job that, while not great, has g…

what's the reasoning to never quit on a Friday?

Good points mentioned by others at this level of the thread.

I'd also assume that it may be that having the weekend could put one in the mindset of relaxation and cause procrastination at the start of what could be an intense process that requires drive (depending on individual's circumstances).

Or maybe it's kinda the opposite where if one were to quit on say a Monday instead, there's a good chance that the work week mindset holds, kicks the individual into being productive (maybe more productive than usual out of necessity), and then that weekend would be very much needed to wind down/refresh and reflect on the progress that was made.

Again, just my assumptions, but seem like likely scenarios that could play out

Edit: spelling

Post reply on HN