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Ask HN: Why did you quit your last job?

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Re: Ask HN: Why did you quit your last job?

#31

Post by badbug »

mieseratte wrote: post #21
AgentOrange1234 wrote: post #17

My team lead was the least competent person on the team. This was constantly frustrating. When it finally bugged me enough to look around, much better pay was available. So that pretty much did it.

Currently dealing with that one myself. Wouldn't be bad if he'd just learn to delegate. What's a polite way of telling someone "Lead, follow, or get out of the effing way?"

Not sure there is an effective way to tell your boss he sucks at his job.

Saying it during the exit interview would probably have the most impact.

Re: Ask HN: Why did you quit your last job?

#32

Post by TipVFL »

They closed my offices and moved them from downtown to the far side of the suburbs.

I live near downtown, and specifically chose my job and house to be a nice bike commute. My nice 30 minutes by bike turned into 2 hours by bus and train. So I quit.

Re: Ask HN: Why did you quit your last job?

#33

Post by ConfusedDog »

clort wrote: post #27

I've just left my job, last week I left because the place was going downhill and morale was rock bottom. Weak management and funding shortfalls meant that non core departments were being starved of money. Staff were leaving or being made redundant and I was going to be the only one left in my department with little to do. I took the chance to apply elsewhere where they hopefully value the work I do and got in. I am t…

Honestly, I think you should have stayed and keep working hard. With fewer competition and obvious competency, it was more like an opportunity than an unfortunate situation...

Re: Ask HN: Why did you quit your last job?

#34

Post by desyncr »

AgentOrange1234 wrote: post #17

My team lead was the least competent person on the team. This was constantly frustrating. When it finally bugged me enough to look around, much better pay was available. So that pretty much did it.

Same exact situation. Bad team leads usually come with bad management, as these can't seem to notice how bad a climate they generate around them.

Key points to bad team leadership: bad or no communication at all with your team members, no clear vision/direction, lack of ability to delegate.

Re: Ask HN: Why did you quit your last job?

#35

Post by QualityReboot »

tl;dr: Management didn't want remote employees. I didn't want to keep paying for the privilege of living in the Bay Area.

I'm an app developer and I realized that I really want to work remotely.

Being in an office all day was extremely demoralizing for me. I would frequently "work from home" to be able to spend a full day focused and productive. That wasn't a great cycle though, because I'd have crunch days at home a couple times a week to get my work done, then hang out in the office and do very little for the rest of the week to get my paycheck. Management was mostly fine with this, but it was taxing on me because it felt like a stupid way to live.

I talked to my managers and let them know that I wanted to work entirely remotely. They weren't supportive of that, but I still don't understand why, other than a general not believing in remote work. I found a remote gig the following week and things have been great ever since.

Once I saw the remote job was working out, I moved across the country to a much cheaper area (well, what isn't, compared to SF). Now I don't pay state income tax, I pay 1/3rd the cost of living for 3x the space, and I'm happy to do my work for longer each day because I don't have a commute. I'm producing better quality software, with less effort, and I'm happier.

If this job eventually ends, I don't think it'll be difficult to find a new thing to do. But with greatly reduced expenses and no fear of needing a paycheck for SF rent, I'm also free to take risks like starting a company or doing consulting for multiple clients.

Re: Ask HN: Why did you quit your last job?

#37

Post by spaceotter »

toastercat wrote: post #22

Was not given any meaningful work and felt I was not growing as a developer. Been at my current job for 1.5 years, and feel the same way. I'm looking around, but after being a "Software Engineer" for 4 years, employers look for a particular set of skills and experience I simply have not gained during my track record. Feels like a catch-22.

I feel like I'm in the same boat. I'm not learning more valuable skills at my current place but it's hard to find something above junior with my skillset even though I have 4 years experience.

Re: Ask HN: Why did you quit your last job?

#38

Post by magduf »

Two reasons: 1) Better pay, tired of where I was living, wanted to move to more urban environment 2) Wanted to move closer to girlfriend of over 1.5 years

Then the girlfriend dumped me as I was moving. :-(

At least the job seems to be OK; I can't complain much about things like being overworked, the company doing poorly, bad morale, or anything like that. And luckily, the dating opportunities in my new location are far better than where I was, but it sucks moving to a new place with no friends and suddenly losing someone so close one by text message, without even the courtesy of a face-to-face meeting to talk about it. Between all the weight loss, lack of sleep, and inability to concentrate it's amazing I'm still employed.

Re: Ask HN: Why did you quit your last job?

#40

Post by ConfusedDog »

Last time I quit because my girlfriend broke up with me and I was in need of change. So, I went back to school and got a PhD - broke record time getting it because I worked like crazy. Because of school stress, I was working out really intensely and got into best shape of my life. Now life is good, I got fat again...
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