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Ask HN: So I'm being let go
41–50 of 83 posts
Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go
#42you won't last 10 minutes in the modern web job market unless you're willing to take $15/hour.
pump gas.
Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go
#43We've got a number of PHP/Drupal roles open at NBCUniversal. http://www.nbcunicareers.com/search-results?search_type=crit... I've been here for just over a year and it's awesome. Highly recommend applying if you see a job that fits your skillset.
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Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go
#44The one thing I always tell anyone on the job hunt, which few ever seem to take me up on: Informational Interviews. These are informal "can I take you out to coffee?" talks with people in your industry to see what they are working on, what is happening with them, what is going on in the industry. Every job I have ever gotten is through informal meetings with people I have met through my network (whether its the curre…
(I've had really good luck with LinkedIn.)
Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go
#45I'm a jack of all trades master of none. I've always taken that as an insult rather than a compliment. I hear it as "your mediocre at a bunch of things...not really good at anything.
Take it as a compliment that you've been the undisputed master at One Very Important Thing: understanding your employer's needs and priorities, and doing whatever it takes to make them happy. All that other stuff -- HTML, JS, etc -- is but a means to this end. (And despite all the rantings and ravings by people on this and other sites about the various pros and cons of these tools, most of them are basically expedient hacks, here today, gone tomorrow).
Somewhat excited because it will force me out of my comfort zone.
As you should be. Being forced out of our comfort zones is one of the best ways to start learning new things. Sometimes it's the only way.
I'm sure that years hence, you'll look back at this as a golden opportunity -- that finally gave you the time and space to think about what you really want to do, travel, get that degree, meet that right person, or whatever. And for every employer that sees you as "limiting" yourself by staying at the same gig for 10 years, others will take it as hard evidence of your capacity for loyalty, dedication, and grit -- scarce qualities indeed, in any talent market.
Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go
#46> Scared because I don't have a degree and at 30 I'm competing with younger, new grads. 10 years work experience > fresh grad with a degree that has no idea what lies ahead. You know the ins and outs of companies, the kind of people you deal with, you don't throw tantrums, deadlines are deadlines. > I've built banner ads for advertisers, booked online campaigns in various platforms Google DFP, Yahoo APT. Yep, experie…
I wouldn't be so optimistic about the "jack of all trades" point. The problem there is that, as a generalist, that's one less leg up you'll have on new grads (who are also usually interviewing for generalist positions).
I had two "jack of all of all trades, master of none" for a cumulative of 5 years out of college.
Life got considerably better as I started specializing towards a track of Front End Development. There's a huge gulf between being the guy who can write spaghetti JS and CSS to developer but its doable, although it was much easier 6 years ago when left the Jack-Of-All-Trades. I'd suggest picking a part of your skill set if you have extended downtime and trying to level up. Having a broad skillset won't hurt you, but not having anything technical will.
Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go
#47> Scared because I don't have a degree and at 30 I'm competing with younger, new grads. The degree piece is almost ALWAYS an issue with flunky HR functionaries. Not so much for the Hiring Executive, he's interested in how you can help him move his agenda forward. Target your job search on reaching out directly to senior executives WHO you know how to help. Incidentally, suggest reading Gitomer's Little Red Book- unco…
Not true. Any number of positions that I am looking for management (i.e. the candidate has 5+ years of sw dev experience) specify a BS as a requirement . I read this as the filtering software filters out non-degreed professionals.
Its the "flunky HR functionaries" that apply those filters. As recommended by many others, network and bypass them.
Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go
#48Given the shift in your responsibilities over the years it may be worthwhile to take the effort to put together three or four slightly different resumes, each highlighting a different aspect of one of your prior roles. When submitting a resume select the one that most closely matches the responsibilities outlined in the description. Even if you feel like you're master of none, doesn't mean your resume can't have focus.
Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go
#49Serious Advice:
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Freelance (for short term money) & Start talking to media industry specific recruitment consultants(they might charge a fee but with your experience in tech & industry, you might be wanted in a similar outfit)
Current-World-With-Weird-Valuations Advice a.k.a. Just kidding:
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STEP 1 -> Get a iOS Dev book.
STEP 2 -> Start a cool spin on a news app.
STEP 3 -> Raise some money at some ridiculous valuation
STEP 4 -> Buy the local newspaper where you got let-go from citing the reason as "strategic acquisition" to the investor.
STEP 5 -> Order a "F U" t-shirt.
STEP 6 -> Buy a paintball gun.
STEP 7 -> Do what Ari Gold did in Entourage when he bought the Agency he was fired from.
Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go
#50> I've spend the last decade working with HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP and a suite of other tools.
I think this is all we need to know. You have 10 years experience in web development. That makes you a Senior Software Developer at pretty much every company I've ever worked. I don't think you have anything to worry about skills-wise. PHP is still in high-demand. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
Relax. You are in a fantastic position. You will hopefully even get a salary increase with your next job. The local paper couldn't have been paying much. : )
The only concern might be your location. "Local newspaper" makes me think "rural" or "suburban." If you don't live in a city, that might not be a problem (teleworking jobs abound), but where I live (Northern Virginia) I can quit my job today and have recruiters begging me to start somewhere else tomorrow. So just keep that in mind.
Otherwise, I hope you will find yourself very happy this time next year in a new career and all this worry will just be a fading memory.