with todays insanely bad job market, how bad do you wait it out in a job that is increasingly soul sucking?
Ask HN: How long do you wait it out in a job you hate
1–10 of 15 posts
Re: Ask HN: How long do you wait it out in a job you hate
#2You wait until you line up something better. Or until you save enough to support your lifestyle for a year. Or until you decide to say "screw it" and live in a shack on a mountain near a stream until society smartens up.
Re: Ask HN: How long do you wait it out in a job you hate
#3I started a new job in February. Was due to pass probation in May. Handed in my notice the week before, because passing probation would increase my notice period from two weeks to twelve weeks.
Why hadn’t I left before? Because I lived in hope that the developer experience there would click with me, and I wasn’t keen on going through the job hunt wringer again.
I started my current job in August. It’s way better. I will keep this one.
Re: Ask HN: How long do you wait it out in a job you hate
#4[flagged]
Re: Ask HN: How long do you wait it out in a job you hate
#5It all depends on everything else in your life - can you afford to live without work for a while? If you are in the USA, do you need health coverage through your work, or do you have other options? Do you have any discussion going on with people to make a move or are you starting from scratch seeking work and having to send in resumes?
In general, I stay only as long as my circumstances force me to stay. At the same time, there are ways to make a soul sucking job suck less - mostly by figuring out how to do the job without caring about the job. Be that burned out cynical co-worker who just scrapes by and doesn't truly care. It is a bad attitude for building a career with a company, but a life-saving attitude if your current employer will never take care of your needs anyway.
Re: Ask HN: How long do you wait it out in a job you hate
#6I started a new job in February. Was due to pass probation in May. Handed in my notice the week before, because passing probation would increase my notice period from two weeks to twelve weeks. Why hadn’t I left before? Because I lived in hope that the developer experience there would click with me, and I wasn’t keen on going through the job hunt wringer again. I started my current job in August. It’s way better. I w…
> Handed in my notice the week before, because passing probation would increase my notice period from two weeks to twelve weeks.
Is this the notice that you're required to give them? How can they enforce a notice period (genuine question)? Or is it just them trying to tell you that you need to let them know _three entire months_ in advance but without any real way to enforce it?
I never thought this was enforceable.
Re: Ask HN: How long do you wait it out in a job you hate
#7[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: How long do you wait it out in a job you hate
#8You wait until you line up something better. Or until you save enough to support your lifestyle for a year. Or until you decide to say "screw it" and live in a shack on a mountain near a stream until society smartens up.
> Or until you decide to say "screw it" and live in a shack on a mountain near a stream until society smartens up.
Gotta be pretty rich to do that these days.
Re: Ask HN: How long do you wait it out in a job you hate
#9I started a new job in February. Was due to pass probation in May. Handed in my notice the week before, because passing probation would increase my notice period from two weeks to twelve weeks. Why hadn’t I left before? Because I lived in hope that the developer experience there would click with me, and I wasn’t keen on going through the job hunt wringer again. I started my current job in August. It’s way better. I w…
> Handed in my notice the week before, because passing probation would increase my notice period from two weeks to twelve weeks. Is this the notice that you're required to give them? How can they enforce a notice period (genuine question)? Or is it just them trying to tell you that you need to let them know _three entire months_ in advance but without any real way to enforce it? I never thought this was enforceable.
Pretty sure they can sue in theory. Don’t think most employers bother. But would rather not burn my bridges.
(I’m in the UK, laws may be different in your jurisdiction, etc.)
Edit: https://uk.adp.com/resources/adp-articles-and-insights/artic... says that
> Employers can take legal action if an employee breaches their notice period by leaving without providing the required notice period. They might pursue a claim for breach of contract, seeking damages for the cost of hiring temporary contractor replacements or loss incurred by a sudden departure.
Re: Ask HN: How long do you wait it out in a job you hate
#10You wait until you line up something better. Or until you save enough to support your lifestyle for a year. Or until you decide to say "screw it" and live in a shack on a mountain near a stream until society smartens up.
> Or until you decide to say "screw it" and live in a shack on a mountain near a stream until society smartens up. Gotta be pretty rich to do that these days.
Not if you're willing to build the shack yourself, and the mountain is optional.
With a couple minutes of looking, here is 34 acres with a fishing pond, near a river, and it's $40k. Less than most people pay for a car. It is by some railroad tracks. I'm not sure if they are still active, but I'm sure some more looking could find something without that compromise. There were a lot of options, some in the mountains as well.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/S-Pickensville-Rd-Columbu...
Titus seems to make it work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir3eJ1t13fk