Ask HN: What should I do when I'm bored with my career? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What should I do when I'm bored with my career?

#81

Post by mancerayder » Thu, Dec 27, 2018, 4:30 PM UTC

fecak wrote: post #15

mancerayder wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's hard to find freelance work - the contract roles are guarded jealously by recruiters and agencies (who take 30-40% of the revenue prior to giving it to you), and anything else is extreme luck or extremely good networking. If the latter (networking), remote is very very hard for someone who isn't already well-known.

Based on my knowledge of the market for freelance software gigs, I think you are grossly overestimating the difficulty of finding good work. "Extreme luck" is not necessary, nor is "extremely good networking". 30-40% is also probably a bit of a stretch for the recruiter's take (former recruiter here). Those numbers and higher are certainly possible, but 20% is a bit more likely. Also, if you are getting a competitive…

Also, if you are getting a competitive rate for your work, it really doesn't matter what the recruiter is taking, does it? If they are able to negotiate a huge finder's fee on top of your competitive rate, that's their skill being rewarded.

Hold on - I'm not talking about "finder's fee," I'm talking about agencies that seek consultants (W2 or C2C) that take a cut of 30-50% or more in perpetuity. For example, a job advertised as "$80/hr" to the consultant, is billed to the client as maybe $130/hr or more. That keeps consultant pay suppressed. The way around that is to a) know people in companies, like CTO's; or b) have a reputation that lets you not have to go through the consulting agency (or recruiter, same thing in NYC) bidding process (or at least that's what I call it).

Re: Ask HN: What should I do when I'm bored with my career?

#82

Post by mancerayder » Thu, Dec 27, 2018, 4:32 PM UTC

fecak wrote: post #58

excitednumber wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

how would you recommend finding work?

There are probably too many ways to respond to this question without making a full post, but a few examples: 1 - Reach out to other freelancers - many freelancers actually have too much work and will refer some leads along to others they trust. 2 - Recruiters - find an agency recruiter who you can trust and tell them to keep an eye out for you. Recruiters love placing contractors, as it is basically an annuity revenu…

I have a LinkedIn presence with solid skills and I'm absolutely bombarded with full time roles. Even though I have consultant plastered all over the title and profile, and even though I'm currently in a consulting gig, and even though I'm freelancing under my own company, I get almost no consulting gig (that don't pay lower than full-time) recruiters reaching.

I'll actually pay a finder's fee to those who find me consulting gigs (ones that pay senior rates). LinkedIn isn't working for me, here.

edit: source: I was a hiring manager in a past role and I learned the real take-home pay of the consulting agencies when they farm out consultants.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do when I'm bored with my career?

#83

Post by bytematic » Thu, Dec 27, 2018, 4:41 PM UTC

barry0079 wrote: post #36

mapcars wrote: post #19

Boredom is caused by a lack of attention. You can change your activity as much as you want but after some time it will become boring again. The only solution is to realize the scale of this Grand Happening which we call as life or existence. That every day comes fresh and new, not a single atom is the same as it was a moment ago. But if you don't have this much attention it feels "the same", "boring". And it's not ab…

I'd love it if you could share some more information or materials on this. It's something I've been trying to comprehend and understand in my own way.

Alan Watts

Re: Ask HN: What should I do when I'm bored with my career?

#84

Post by bytematic » Thu, Dec 27, 2018, 4:43 PM UTC

bumby wrote: post #59

mapcars wrote: post #19

Boredom is caused by a lack of attention. You can change your activity as much as you want but after some time it will become boring again. The only solution is to realize the scale of this Grand Happening which we call as life or existence. That every day comes fresh and new, not a single atom is the same as it was a moment ago. But if you don't have this much attention it feels "the same", "boring". And it's not ab…

In your opinion, does mindfulness meditation help in regards to developing attention sufficiently to alleviate the problems mentioned by OP?

Meditation isn't meant to do anything for anyone, this is a very Western idea. It's play. I think reading on the topic would be more helpful

Re: Ask HN: What should I do when I'm bored with my career?

#85

Post by ido » Thu, Dec 27, 2018, 4:52 PM UTC

InGodsName wrote: post #71

fecak wrote: post #14

I do career consulting (and resume writing) mostly for clients from tech. I think some arrangement where you had multiple forms of income (or potential income) might be a good solution for you. What might that look like? - Freelance software development - This would give you some control over what types of projects you work on, and you could focus on areas that really interest you. Maybe it would be projects that ena…

My core advise is top stop chasing whatever big dream. Backpack and move to Chiangmai. Look at life from different angle, you'll see people who are barely getting by and still happy. Start freelancing and getting contract work. It's not really difficult if you a) can skype interview b) work with git/GitHub Then find like minded people and make a team. US in not the only place on Earth. I've moved to Mumbai from NYC a…

Is Chiangmai in particular especially desirable?

I would hesitate moving to a “3rd world” (I know not all developing countries are the same) long-term as I got the impression once you start caring about schools/healthcare (serious stuff, not getting some routine dental work) they become a lot less attractive.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do when I'm bored with my career?

#86

Post by InGodsName » Thu, Dec 27, 2018, 5:02 PM UTC

ido wrote: post #85

InGodsName wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My core advise is top stop chasing whatever big dream. Backpack and move to Chiangmai. Look at life from different angle, you'll see people who are barely getting by and still happy. Start freelancing and getting contract work. It's not really difficult if you a) can skype interview b) work with git/GitHub Then find like minded people and make a team. US in not the only place on Earth. I've moved to Mumbai from NYC a…

Is Chiangmai in particular especially desirable? I would hesitate moving to a “3rd world” (I know not all developing countries are the same) long-term as I got the impression once you start caring about schools/healthcare (serious stuff, not getting some routine dental work) they become a lot less attractive.

I assumed he's single. Asia in particular is lot of fun.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do when I'm bored with my career?

#87

Post by rboyd » Thu, Dec 27, 2018, 5:07 PM UTC

bgdam wrote: post #13

I found myself in a similar situation about a year ago. Started developing https://mocktastic.com (REST API mocking electron app, with team collaboration) on the side. It's kept me going through periods of mind numbing boredom in office, even though the user growth has been rather slow (but steady). I'd say find an area of interest – one that doesn't have anything to do with programming. Then learn as much as you can…

great name!

Re: Ask HN: What should I do when I'm bored with my career?

#88

Post by wwwater » Thu, Dec 27, 2018, 5:35 PM UTC

mapcars wrote: post #19

Boredom is caused by a lack of attention. You can change your activity as much as you want but after some time it will become boring again. The only solution is to realize the scale of this Grand Happening which we call as life or existence. That every day comes fresh and new, not a single atom is the same as it was a moment ago. But if you don't have this much attention it feels "the same", "boring". And it's not ab…

Hey, great answer, totally on the same page with you. But at times the boredom voice is just so loud, that even understanding that this voice is also just a part of grand happening does not help.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do when I'm bored with my career?

#89

Post by davidscolgan » Thu, Dec 27, 2018, 5:41 PM UTC

In short, part time remote freelance web development. Do it for 10-20 hours a week depending on how much money you need/want. Do whatever you want with the rest of your time.

I've been doing this for 8 years (the entirety of my professional career).

I've had times when I worked about 10 hours a week and nomaded around Europe.

I've had times when I wanted to build a thing, so I spent 30 hours a week working on the project and 10 hours a week on freelance. The thing didn't work out but it didn't matter because I had "safer" money coming in from freelancing.

I've had times when I wanted more money, so I worked about 30 hours a week on freelance to build up some savings.

I absolutely love this lifestyle and have basically complete control of my time now other than the time I put into freelance. I currently work about 3-4 hours in the morning in my home office and then do whatever in the afternoons. Currently my afternoon project is a website for helping other developers switch from full time employment to this part time lifestyle (www.lessboring.com).

If you can succeed at full time development employment, you can succeed in freelance, you just have to learn some social skills and some business skills depending on how much you know about those areas. The people I see who are struggling as freelancers seem to basically think they can operate exactly as an employee and succeed independently.

OP, I'd be happy to talk with you specifically over email or the phone about your situation. My email's in my profile. I've basically determined that my life goal is to help people get better jobs they actually enjoy, and as a developer you have way more options than most people since development is such a valuable skill right now.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do when I'm bored with my career?

#90

Post by gumby » Thu, Dec 27, 2018, 5:58 PM UTC

barry0079 wrote: post #36

mapcars wrote: post #19

Boredom is caused by a lack of attention. You can change your activity as much as you want but after some time it will become boring again. The only solution is to realize the scale of this Grand Happening which we call as life or existence. That every day comes fresh and new, not a single atom is the same as it was a moment ago. But if you don't have this much attention it feels "the same", "boring". And it's not ab…

I'd love it if you could share some more information or materials on this. It's something I've been trying to comprehend and understand in my own way.

Another way to look at is is to channel William Blake:

    To see a World in a Grain of Sand
    And a Heaven in a Wild Flower 
    Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand 
    And Eternity in an hour

Almost anything turns out to have interesting hidden depths that normally only specialists have access to. The world is super amazing.