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Ask HN: Am I committing career suicide?

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Re: Ask HN: Am I committing career suicide?

#71

Post by eru »

skurry wrote: post #51
eru wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The constant sitting? Try to get a standing desk. It worked wonders for me.

I've been talking to my manager about this. The problem is, after moving to an open floor plan, paradoxically we don't have room anymore. I'm trying to work standing up for a bit. It does help, but of course is far from ergonomic at a regular desk. It probably also looks ridiculous, me doing a semi-split to get low enough to reach the keyboard and mouse.

Try using a few reams of copy paper (or books and boxes etc) to prop up monitors and input devices. I had such a makeshift setup at first.

Also, have you tried working from home? Orthogonally, negotiating a four day work week 4x8h (at 80% pay) might help you enjoy yourself more. Managment might not be too happy, but if you insist and tell them that the alternative is 0 day work week at 0% pay (i.e. you leave), they might see the light.

Re: Ask HN: Am I committing career suicide?

#72

Post by lifeisstillgood »

rwg wrote: post #58

After a decade at the same employer, I was completely burned out -- I had worked 60+ hour weeks for many years, with nothing resembling a "real" vacation since ~2004. I didn't enjoy the bulk of the work. I wasn't learning anything applicable outside of my employer's niche. I was being given projects that I was completely unqualified to work on (but I was the least unqualified person, so they fell to me). After one pa…

Ok, I remember at least two of your HN posts, the zsh and university hacking. That makes you stand out if only in this little world

Trust me, your problem is not a three month or 11 month hole in your cv. I am guessing its the wrong marketing. A cv is not a way to find a job, it's a piece of paper used to fiddle with during an interview

Try (and this is really wild guesses based on your posts)

- there are hundreds of (tenured) academics who would love to setup "institutes" or other vehicles for their favoured area

- you have years if academic, IT experience so you talk the safe language and also know arse from elbow.

- co-run / co-start these institutes - one conference, with the professors network attending, you supply IT and find sponsors. I am guessing they will eat your hand off.

Maybe I am way off base, but honestly it does sound like you are looking for another replacement job - if there is one thing I have learnt here, anyone on HN does not have the "right attitude" for employment

Re: Ask HN: Am I committing career suicide?

#73

Post by mehrdad »

I'd suggest quitting your job and traveling around the world for a couple of months. Go to unfamiliar countries such as India, China, Japan, Korea, Peru,....

It will open your mind and give you life changing experiences. Stop working on some app...Go for something big. it will come to you

Re: Ask HN: Am I committing career suicide?

#74

Post by mehrdad »

stitchintime wrote: post #5

Not sure if this is a popular sentiment, but the Bay Area is expensive. I would probably move to a cheaper area for a while if I wanted to work on cool stuff on my own for a while without taking a nice salary.

If you are smart you can live in Bay area with under than $800 per month everything included (rent+food+bills+gas+insurance). That's what I am doing right now and working on my start-up at the same time.

Re: Ask HN: Am I committing career suicide?

#75

Post by taproot »

rwg wrote: post #58

After a decade at the same employer, I was completely burned out -- I had worked 60+ hour weeks for many years, with nothing resembling a "real" vacation since ~2004. I didn't enjoy the bulk of the work. I wasn't learning anything applicable outside of my employer's niche. I was being given projects that I was completely unqualified to work on (but I was the least unqualified person, so they fell to me). After one pa…

That really sucks. I can weigh in and say it has a lot to do with the 10 at one. The gap just adds to it significantly by confirming their suspicions. Start starting your own business. See if you can pick up contract work at the old place. Anything to show the world your still employeable.

Re: Ask HN: Am I committing career suicide?

#76

Post by mping »

richerd wrote: post #47
kinkora wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have to agree with Cheng. Malaysia is probably your best bet for somewhere in between if you are looking for a balance between the developed world and stretching your savings. KL is a pretty laid back place to be with awesome food! And with AirAsia being based in Malaysia, you could pretty much travel anywhere in Asia for cheaps. And if you ever decide you are running out of money or are bored, there are a multitud…

I occasionally did some consulting jobs. Put it this way, some people make about $500 a month in Malaysia (which is more than enough to survive comfortably on). When you charge $100+ an hour you can make more in a day than the locals make in a month.

100+ hour? How do you get these gigs? I wouldn't mind repeating your experience :)

Re: Ask HN: Am I committing career suicide?

#77

Post by tuantruong »

Lets me tell you my story, I was in UK working for a small consulting company as .Net developer, then I decided to come back to Vietnam and started my own company , outsourcing back to the company that I have worked for. The company has started ok with 4 people, but over the last year or so, besides doing outsource, we stated several projects but none of them has gone well so far. Further, the company has been hit by the economic crisis as many other companies, so its finance hasn't been in a good state. Due to my personal financial need since my marriage, I have once again got a corporate company working as PM/Developer with an high pay ( in Vietnam), but at the same time try to keep my business alive. It has been one year since I started working here, and even though I don't think I have done a bad job with the salary increase, but I honestly never have been enjoyed a single day of it. I am determined to quit the job and get back to my business as it has started to pick up again, we also preparing to launch a mobile product shortly.

All in all, I think the stories that you guys have put here is such a good inspiration for me to get back to start up world, enjoying every day of coding and hacking. Hopefully, one day my product will make to the top of hackernews.

Re: Ask HN: Am I committing career suicide?

#79

Post by toumhi »

TeeWEE wrote: post #29

I only have 4 years of experience in the field. ~3 years at a big social network in europe. We got beaten by Facebook. Then I switched to Consultancy work, yes the J2EE weblogic corporate mangers-all-over-the-place kind of work. But after a year I stopped and joined a startup in the mobile industry. I coudn't be more pleased. To you: - Do it! - The gap doesnt matter, if you can explain properly - Dont start working f…

Did you work at Hyves and are you now working for Bliep? I know a few people who did :-)

Re: Ask HN: Am I committing career suicide?

#80

Post by covertgeek »

I don't think you're committing career suicide. Sticking around indefinitely while you're miserable will not only suck the life out of you, but your drive to do well at work.

Might I recommend a book called Quitter by Jon Acuff? He's done a couple of books about making the leap from the corporate world to a more fulfilling "dream" job. It was a good, quick read.

If you've got the savings and a decent plan, I'd say go for it.

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