Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

#281

Post by nikau » Tue, Nov 02, 2021, 11:02 AM UTC

throwawayboise wrote: post #266

bpiche wrote: post #261

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US is going this way, with the normalization of contract work for very technical roles. I think it bled over from software-adjacent roles like graphic design and IT support. Regardless, you're going to see more 6 month 'try before you buy' contracts for PhDs with 10 years of engineering experience, than full time roles today. It makes sense for less mission critical roles I suppose, but I don't understand why org…

Going this way? It's been this way for decades. Every job I've ever had began with a probationary period, generally 30 - 90 days, maybe one or two were longer.

I've had managers not want to terminate during probation period because it makes them look bad as they hired the wrong person, so they prefer contracts that they can just not renew.

Re: Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

#282

Post by itistricky » Tue, Nov 02, 2021, 1:18 PM UTC

zbuf wrote: post #221

What's your own level of experience? I think the answer may differ depending on this. Also to get a barometer on just how dysfunctional the company is versus realistic expectations.

Senior dev (>10 yoe). Not the type that looks down on people and not a fanboy or an evangelist of any sort. But I regard developer experience highly. I.e. I hate to have to spend days to fix a dev sandbox before I even start doing my job.

Re: Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

#283

Post by throwaway123x2 » Tue, Nov 02, 2021, 2:30 PM UTC

henvic wrote: post #277

throwaway123x2 wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh God that sounds like a special kind of nightmare. Did you see any hints re:this during the interview?

Mostly just a bit of 'bro culture'. I also was told they were worried I'd 'rob their code' as I was using my personal computer instead of a company-provided one. This guy told me the owners were worried because I could just take the code home (of course, I wouldn't delete/create the repo when arriving/leaving each day lol). I don't know if it was really the startup founders' concerns or his paranoia, though. After I…

You have to be careful with that sort of thing, especially when you're new and don't have the vibe of the place... I think you did the right thing by not saying anything at first. I'm glad you were able to get out early though.

Re: Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

#284

Post by lambdatronics » Wed, Nov 03, 2021, 5:55 AM UTC

javajosh wrote: post #141

"Unprofessional" is saying, "You guys suck, I quit." Professional is saying, "Well guys, it's been 6mo and it looks like it's not a good fit, and I'll be moving on. This is my 2 weeks notice." (But be prepared to be let go immediately.) The thing is, no-one really cares about professionalism though. What they care about is working code, good commits, and if you don't feel like you can get there in this org then leavi…

“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

― Leo Tolstoy , Anna Karenina

Re: Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

#285

Post by giantg2 » Wed, Nov 03, 2021, 11:06 AM UTC

"Almost every attempt of mine to change anything was met with either "yeah we know but we have to live with it for now" or a straight denial to hear me out - brushed aside as a newcomer (I'm senior and was hired as such)."

F them. I would have started looking to jump ship after just a month or two of that.

Re: Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

#286

Post by sloaken » Wed, Nov 03, 2021, 1:18 PM UTC

Leave but line up your next job first. Write a letter explaining your perception of the problem. Email it to your boss, boss' boss etc.

This is a lesson learned in vetting the work environment before accepting an offer.

Re: Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

#287

Post by henvic » Thu, Nov 04, 2021, 9:50 PM UTC

henvic wrote: post #277

throwaway123x2 wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh God that sounds like a special kind of nightmare. Did you see any hints re:this during the interview?

Mostly just a bit of 'bro culture'. I also was told they were worried I'd 'rob their code' as I was using my personal computer instead of a company-provided one. This guy told me the owners were worried because I could just take the code home (of course, I wouldn't delete/create the repo when arriving/leaving each day lol). I don't know if it was really the startup founders' concerns or his paranoia, though. After I…

s/fired me/fired him lol

Re: Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

#288

Post by conductr » Fri, Nov 05, 2021, 5:15 PM UTC

> In short a huge draining mess where I felt burnt out just a few months after I joined and where I honestly don't want to spent another minute.

Who cares if it's professional or not, anything that makes you feel this way needs to be managed out of your life