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Ask HN: How do I get out of my unhappy coding job?

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Re: Ask HN: How do I get out of my unhappy coding job?

#41

Post by kd5bjo »

jacquesm wrote: post #39
dannyr wrote: post #30

Quit. Having a choice (in this case a job) is sometimes bad. If your back is against the wall, you'll be more driven to go after what you want. I was working for a bank in the early part of my career. I was doing mainframe applications and I have always wanted to do web apps. So I quit my job and learned a web programming language (.Net). I learned it pretty fast and I built a small site to showcase my work. In two m…

That advice may or may not be good advice depending on your location. I can see how in the bay area it will work, the OP is in London, so for him it probably would work too (even though the market is not quite what it was a few years ago). But for some regions it is probably best to keep your old shoes on until you've bought some new ones.

Note: San Diego is not in the bay area. He quit his job and moved here without having an offer in hand.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get out of my unhappy coding job?

#42

Post by jacquesm »

dannyr wrote: post #40
jacquesm wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That advice may or may not be good advice depending on your location. I can see how in the bay area it will work, the OP is in London, so for him it probably would work too (even though the market is not quite what it was a few years ago). But for some regions it is probably best to keep your old shoes on until you've bought some new ones.

jacquesm, When I quit my job in 2008, it's when the recession hit. Bay Area was no exception. I cannot find any job and my skill (.Net) was not in demand.

Sure, but it is still a damn sight easier to find another job there compared to say rural Ontario, Northern Michigan or in smalltown Iowa.

Of course someone could move to a place where there is more employment, but that's a double risk, it means you also leave behind the social net that just might be able to catch you if things don't work out immediately.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get out of my unhappy coding job?

#43

Post by jacquesm »

kd5bjo wrote: post #41
jacquesm wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That advice may or may not be good advice depending on your location. I can see how in the bay area it will work, the OP is in London, so for him it probably would work too (even though the market is not quite what it was a few years ago). But for some regions it is probably best to keep your old shoes on until you've bought some new ones.

Note: San Diego is not in the bay area. He quit his job and moved here without having an offer in hand.

Yes, he wrote that, I got it. The point is, that the Bay area is just about one of the best places to be an out-of-work programmer on the planet.

Even during a recession it would probably still be easier for a qualified coder to find some work there than in most other places, the fact that he found a gig within a relatively short time seems to prove that.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get out of my unhappy coding job?

#44

Post by kd5bjo »

jacquesm wrote: post #43
kd5bjo wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Note: San Diego is not in the bay area. He quit his job and moved here without having an offer in hand.

Yes, he wrote that, I got it. The point is, that the Bay area is just about one of the best places to be an out-of-work programmer on the planet. Even during a recession it would probably still be easier for a qualified coder to find some work there than in most other places, the fact that he found a gig within a relatively short time seems to prove that.

Though it wasn't part of his explicit advice, your location is not constant, especially if you've quit your job. Thus, the limiting factor isn't where you are, it's where you could be.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get out of my unhappy coding job?

#45

Post by jacquesm »

kd5bjo wrote: post #44
jacquesm wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, he wrote that, I got it. The point is, that the Bay area is just about one of the best places to be an out-of-work programmer on the planet. Even during a recession it would probably still be easier for a qualified coder to find some work there than in most other places, the fact that he found a gig within a relatively short time seems to prove that.

Though it wasn't part of his explicit advice, your location is not constant, especially if you've quit your job. Thus, the limiting factor isn't where you are , it's where you could be .

That depends. If you have a family, kids in school, a mortgage, strong family ties, friends and so on that really counts for a lot to a large number of people, and that means that where they are is where they'll stay.

When you're young, unattached and without too many responsibilities this is a lot easier (and possibly even hard to imagine that one day it may not be that easy).

Re: Ask HN: How do I get out of my unhappy coding job?

#46

Post by dannyr »

jacquesm wrote: post #43
kd5bjo wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Note: San Diego is not in the bay area. He quit his job and moved here without having an offer in hand.

Yes, he wrote that, I got it. The point is, that the Bay area is just about one of the best places to be an out-of-work programmer on the planet. Even during a recession it would probably still be easier for a qualified coder to find some work there than in most other places, the fact that he found a gig within a relatively short time seems to prove that.

jacquesm,

I was unemployed a total of 6 months in the Bay Area last year.

If I chose to stick with .Net, I could. I got a job offer from a company I used to work for in San Diego and also a company in DC.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get out of my unhappy coding job?

#47

Post by jacquesm »

dannyr wrote: post #46
jacquesm wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, he wrote that, I got it. The point is, that the Bay area is just about one of the best places to be an out-of-work programmer on the planet. Even during a recession it would probably still be easier for a qualified coder to find some work there than in most other places, the fact that he found a gig within a relatively short time seems to prove that.

jacquesm, I was unemployed a total of 6 months in the Bay Area last year. If I chose to stick with .Net, I could. I got a job offer from a company I used to work for in San Diego and also a company in DC.

Yes, so it worked for you. Great. It worked for me too, 23 years ago, one idle day in July. But that does not mean it will work for everyone.

Now realize that you are telling someone to quit their job without a backup plan and without a lot of insight in to their personal situation.

I think that is somewhat irresponsible, just because it worked for you is not exactly a guarantee, and I highly doubt you'll be able to catch him if he follows your advice and it turns out that he can't find a replacement, for whatever reason.

Then there are the details such as unemployment not kicking in if you voluntarily leave your job and a whole pile of other, circumstantial factors.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get out of my unhappy coding job?

#48

Post by kd5bjo »

jacquesm wrote: post #45
kd5bjo wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Though it wasn't part of his explicit advice, your location is not constant, especially if you've quit your job. Thus, the limiting factor isn't where you are , it's where you could be .

That depends. If you have a family, kids in school, a mortgage, strong family ties, friends and so on that really counts for a lot to a large number of people, and that means that where they are is where they'll stay. When you're young, unattached and without too many responsibilities this is a lot easier (and possibly even hard to imagine that one day it may not be that easy).

Yes, all of those things affect your ability to move and where you can move to. Whenever you make a major change to your life, some parts will get better and others worse. It's important to recognize what's actually important to you, and act to make the things you actually care about as good as possible.

Given the question, I assume that the thing he most cares about is getting a more enjoyable job,

Re: Ask HN: How do I get out of my unhappy coding job?

#50

Post by waqf »

yacoder wrote: post #12
pcof wrote: post #9

I can't believe UK has only two companies (the Royal Non-Software Company and the Royal Software Company?). Apply for other positions in other software companies. Even non-software companies with strong IT departments have nice jobs, technically speaking. Specially the very large non-software companies, who also tend to look beyond your specific degree - a large company usually can afford a hiring process that will a…

I have definitely been reticent on the jobsearching front. I guess a combination of inertia/laziness and fear have got in the way; also I suppose I am worried that if I apply to jobs before I am 'ready' (well practised in the algo stuff typically asked at decent job interviews, etc.) I will end up blowing my chances at these places then later when I come to apply with more experience in this area they won't want to h…

I'm wondering if you're being too choosy about the jobs you're applying for? If you really think you'll blow your chances at job A which you really want, apply for job B. The experience of working job B might give you a more precise insight into what you want/don't want in a software job.
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