Ask HN: Ex-FAANG developers, where are you now and why?

Post by mywittyname » Thu, Oct 11, 2018, 4:36 PM UTC

oblio wrote: post #125

tinktank wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the net worth of an L6 for 8 years at Google?

Since from what I hear a fresh grad in the Bay Area gets $100k+ just in cash, we could extrapolate. I'm guessing that's at least $150k (probably more like $200k+ in today's market) in total compensation for year. Add about $20k+ in cash and probably the close to the same in Google shares per level, that would make it easily $400k per year. So he would have gotten $3.2 million, I can't imagine his expenses being highe…

Post by romed » Thu, Oct 11, 2018, 4:46 PM UTC

thrwthrwthrwy wrote: post #146

romed wrote: post #32

Retired after 8 years as a Staff SWE at Google. Do I really need a why for retired?

What advice do you have for junior developers trying to make it? Is there a niched area you specialized in or were you a generalist?

Post by fermienrico » Thu, Oct 11, 2018, 4:48 PM UTC

nlowell wrote: post #135

fermienrico wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I strongly and passionately disagree. I’ve read many many startup books. They are all completely and utterly useless in my opinion. If you want to know something specific say accounting, read a book about that specific area. If you want to know more about the “general” aspects of startups - listen to interviews of founders about which unique chellenges they faced. I strongly discourage anyone starting a business to n…

I disagree. Many people doing startups for the first time have no experience running a business and no idea what the actual building blocks are. I think YC's library of advice are a goldmine for them, because of the simple lessons like "validate the market" or "get feedback from people who are not friends or family". It doesn't seem like they're hearing that anywhere else.

Post by thrwthrwthrwy » Thu, Oct 11, 2018, 4:50 PM UTC

romed wrote: post #163

thrwthrwthrwy wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What advice do you have for junior developers trying to make it? Is there a niched area you specialized in or were you a generalist?

How about: don't believe in yourself because luck is everything? I walked into Google with 15 years of industry experience. I lucked out being in the early days of the web, lucked out in the dot-com boom, lucked out with a referral to Google, lucked out with real estate appreciation.

Post by throwaway5250 » Thu, Oct 11, 2018, 4:59 PM UTC

romed wrote: post #114

drewg123 wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm guessing "because he could". 8 years of L6 at Google should set you up for life if you move to a moderate cost area of the country.

Exactly. Now some other slob with a job has to pay to feed my family just because I can afford to buy a house and he can’t. The American way. The only practical problem with this scheme is the cost of private medical insurance is astronomical for someone who retires before Medicare age. So I might get some kind of token job just to get group health plan.