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Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

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Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#261

Post by auiya »

debreuil wrote: post #60

Just left Google after ~4 years, and couldn't be happier (always been more comfortable independent though). I liked everyone I worked with, but the work was incremental at best, and most often about perf optics. You'll probably be surprised how hard people work outside those companies, and how good they are (even if you already knew -- it's easy to forget in there). I'd say if you don't have something you really want…

> most often about perf optics

I've found once most companies reach a certain size, from an employee perspective they become less results-driven and more perf optics driven.

Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#262

Post by ignoramous »

jefftk wrote: post #209

I quit Google in 2017 to go work on something I thought would have a large positive effect on the world: https://www.jefftk.com/p/leaving-google-joining-wave I liked the startup work similarly to my work at Google, though it was very different. I needed to be much more focused on "what's the number one thing I need to be doing for the company now" and not "how can I design and build in a way that will work for the lo…

Thanks for sharing the write-ups: It was as much interesting as inspiring. Earning to give is such a noble way to live.

Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#263

Post by wil421 »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #240
wil421 wrote: post #228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The $25k for someone making $50k is a completely bogus number. It’s likely a little less than half that for a family of 4 on a Kasiser healthcare plan according to google.

Not bogus in NJ: https://www.state.nj.us/dobi/division_insurance/ihcseh/ihcra... Kaiser is an exception and is only available on the West coast. And maybe a little bit in VA. Either way, the point about needing a ton of money for healthcare is valid. It’s a race to get to Medicare age before you get hit with a medical problem. Edit: Here's the data for nationwide for a 40 year old. Based on the NJ pdf above, you can…

I’m in Georgia and Kaiser’s website says there are 26 locations throughout Metro Atlanta.

Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#264

Post by wil421 »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #234
wil421 wrote: post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

$25k is a bogus number. I know several self employed people. The highest earner is paying $900 a month and the other is paying $800 for 2 people. Another person I know who is 1099 and makes less than $30k is paying about $75 a month. Personally I paid about $30 per month working part time as a waiter in college making about $20k a year.

My parents just purchased a silver HSA plan on healthcare.gov for $2,000 or so per month, with a $13k oop max. Here’s the source: https://www.state.nj.us/dobi/division_insurance/ihcseh/ihcra... A young person’s data points about healthcare costs are useless. It’s the 50s and 60s that get you, and when you actually need healthcare.

That’s unfortunate for NJ, the $900 person just turned 60 last Friday and the couple paying $800 are 63 and 64.

My brother in law is a low income 1099 earner and gets a special insurance for his kid that’s about $30, called PeachCare and it maxes out at $70 for 2 kids. Depending on income it’s $10-$35 dollar max per child.

Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#265

Post by o-__-o »

realitychecker9 wrote: post #239
sriram_malhar wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I consult, I teach (distributed systems) at a university, I sit on a few technical advisory boards for a few companies. I don't really go out of my way to find clients; word gets around and I get referrals. If the problem interests me, I'm happy to sit with the potential client and give pointers and advice (for no charge) even if I don't want to take that project (cf. rule 1 -- never pack my calendar). It is a win-wi…

"Once you own a home outright, and health insurance is taken care of, the other expenses are completely manageable. I don't need to earn a lot to lead a rich life." That is the checklist of a rich person, own home outright, health insurance taken care of, and manageable other expenses. If you were the same age, but had no home ownership, no health insurance, and dependants how would that change your perspective?

You can buy a home for $50k in Pittsburgh, I would argue that doesn’t make you rich. You can keep a very easy job (think Starbucks) and your health insurance is taken care of. If you live a modest life your expenses are manageable.

Maybe your definition of rich is incorrect?

Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#266

Post by mepiethree »

jlevers wrote: post #259
mepiethree wrote: post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have had exactly two hard deadlines in the two years I've worked at my current startup. One of those was brutal but the other was very fair. I don't know if I have a trick for finding a position like this other than to pay close attention to who your manager will be and what _they_ value. My manager believes strongly in the mission of the company (decarbonize the electric grid) but also has young kids that he cares…

If you don't mind me asking, who do you work for?

I sent you an email

Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#267

Post by o-__-o »

blablabla123 wrote: post #196
nvarsj wrote: post #149

These kind of posts keep making me think I should go work for a FAANG so I can actually retire one day. Anyways, as someone on the other side, who has never worked for or applied to FAANG, I have a few reactions. First, your salary is absolutely ridiculous. I know hard working people who have built their own businesses with blood and sweat, and they still don't make as much as a slacker engineer at FAANG. So I'd say…

> mature tooling that exists at FAANG I never worked at FAANG but even after more than 10 years working in tech, it still surprises me how undervalued well working tooling is. I'm not talking about 100% automation with infinite possibilities. Just really basic stuff, like deployment or setting up a development environment. That should always be a no-brainer.

Pro tip: Building repeatable and distributable tooling patterns is a great way to break into client sites as a consultant

Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#268

Post by mratzloff »

C1sc0cat wrote: post #175
alert0 wrote: post #29

I only made it a year. It was incredibly boring. I was the same way, enjoying side projects at home so I knew I wasn't over programming. I realized that I was not engaged with the work and prioritized that in my next (current) role. Now I'm doing hard technical work in my domain for a small shop. I'm working 50% time so I have tons of time off. The pay is less than FAANG but I'm not dreading my life everyday. I'm als…

I am assuming this was your first job out of Uni? It takes at least your first year to get comfortable and to start being a useful employee even more so for a first job. And you do need to realise that work is work and you need to approach it in a professional manner and not bail after9 months.

If it takes a year to become a useful employee, something has gone horribly wrong.

Although I do agree that "work is work" and the search for self-actualization through work leads to a lot of unhappiness.

Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#269

Post by lotsofpulp »

wil421 wrote: post #264
lotsofpulp wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My parents just purchased a silver HSA plan on healthcare.gov for $2,000 or so per month, with a $13k oop max. Here’s the source: https://www.state.nj.us/dobi/division_insurance/ihcseh/ihcra... A young person’s data points about healthcare costs are useless. It’s the 50s and 60s that get you, and when you actually need healthcare.

That’s unfortunate for NJ, the $900 person just turned 60 last Friday and the couple paying $800 are 63 and 64. My brother in law is a low income 1099 earner and gets a special insurance for his kid that’s about $30, called PeachCare and it maxes out at $70 for 2 kids. Depending on income it’s $10-$35 dollar max per child.

$900 per month is $10,800 per year for 1 person, which is $21,600 per year for a couple, and I wrote $25,000.

My point is that there are significant healthcare costs, well into the tens of thousands of dollars, in one's 50s and 60s, and the data supports it. I don't know what the situation is if you earn $50k from investments every year, as I'm not familiar with the subsidy rules, but it would seem strange to me if the US government offered subsidies to someone drawing investment income from $3M.

Edit: It seems that you can get subsidies even if you are deriving your income from investments, so I guess you are correct that someone earning $50k doesn't pay the full premium price.

https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/individuals-and-fami...

Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#270

Post by lotsofpulp »

wil421 wrote: post #263
lotsofpulp wrote: post #240

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not bogus in NJ: https://www.state.nj.us/dobi/division_insurance/ihcseh/ihcra... Kaiser is an exception and is only available on the West coast. And maybe a little bit in VA. Either way, the point about needing a ton of money for healthcare is valid. It’s a race to get to Medicare age before you get hit with a medical problem. Edit: Here's the data for nationwide for a 40 year old. Based on the NJ pdf above, you can…

I’m in Georgia and Kaiser’s website says there are 26 locations throughout Metro Atlanta.

Here's a list of all the places Kaiser offers healthcare, and it doesn't apply to most people in the US, so I don't consider it relevant for a discussion about healthcare costs for people in the US as a whole.

https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/doctors-locations

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