Just quit Google this year after 5 years to start a startup. Never going back. The network of people built over 5 years is incredibly useful.
Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?
101–110 of 418 posts
Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?
#102I’ve worked in both big tech and startups. Startups are nothing like big tech companies. The work and needs of a small company are completely different than somewhere like Google. And here’s the bad news: going to a small startup or mission-driven company probably won’t make you happy. You often have all of the same problems, with none of the support or validation from a big company. I’ve hired and worked with many w…
I don't think the only two options are big tech and chaotic startup. There are non-tech places that just want someone to add some tech to their business, for example.
There's also big consultancy, which allows you to see all kinds of companies, work on different types of projects and still have a bit of consistency at your firm. It's not for everyone, but if you value some consistency, decent pay and working for different types of projects and companies, it's definitely worth checking it out.
It's not the type of job to find a 'mission' though, usually.
Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?
#103I believe you are mentioned in this excellent article I saw on HN just today: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21635896 If your compensation is ridiculous, and you've been at it 10 years, then hopefully you've saved enough money that your every day of work is completely voluntary. If not, you did it wrong. Live on way less than you make; save up enough that the interest pays that amount; you could now retire, but…
Their version of ridiculous might be another's "okay". I think most people would consider $500k/yr to be ridiculous but it ain't enough to retire in the bay - even if you saved all $2.8m you netted over 10 years. It's not enough - you will pay off your mortgage and maybe afford the property tax for the rest of your life but it won't pay for anything else...
Or you move to a more reasonable place where that money sets you for a long time.
Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?
#104Maybe try consultancy at a large or medium firm? Gives you the opportunity to work on different projects to find out what you want, while also paying decently and giving you a stable basis.
Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?
#105Earlier quoted context omitted.
Their version of ridiculous might be another's "okay". I think most people would consider $500k/yr to be ridiculous but it ain't enough to retire in the bay - even if you saved all $2.8m you netted over 10 years. It's not enough - you will pay off your mortgage and maybe afford the property tax for the rest of your life but it won't pay for anything else...
Or you move to a more reasonable place where that money sets you for a long time.
OP is likely completely invested in the region. It's easy to say "move somewhere else" but I've done enough traveling and investigations in the rest of the USA to know that moving somewhere else would mean a huge setback in terms of career. (Which, go figure, many people here prioritize)
Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?
#106What exactly is boring about it? Not /s, I'm interested to know.
I can't speak for the author, but in my own case it's being so far removed from the actual end user that the problems being solved start to look less like problems and more like glorified yak shaving. The size of the company also starts to affect the size of the feedback loop - the sheer amount of people involved drastically increases the time to market, so to speak, for a given feature or 'deliverable', which can cause frustration. Over time this frustration builds up into a sort of 'death by a thousand paper cuts' situation.
I will soon be going down the route of leaving a rather large company in favor of a start-up and I am largely driven by wanting to feel that what I am doing matters to someone other than my manager or manager's manager. Here's a quote that I haven't seen in this post so far:
"Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor; in short, for a sort of life rather than a Monday through Friday sort of dying." ― Studs Terkel
Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?
#107Much depends on how much you saved from than ridiculous comp.
Do you have enough to retire and live out the rest of your days comfortable?
If so, then here's my advice : Do it. Today. Don't delay for a single second.
And go start working on that bucket list.
I did this 8 years ago. I have had exactly zero regrets, spending my time between my family and a very long list of side projects I never had the time to before.
It's been an absolute blast, and as a fringe benefit, both my health and psychological well-being have improved tremendously.
[edit]: one thing I forgot to mention: life is finite. That's a very obvious thing to say, but for most people this is not a fact they've accepted at the gut level. ONce you do, your perspective on life and work will change. Just force yourself to do the actual Math: how many years do you objectively think you have left to live? And out of those, how many will you still be physically / mentally able to do all the stuff you've always wanted to? How much money will you need each of those remaining years?
Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?
#108Earlier quoted context omitted.
For a few years? What kind of lifestyle do you have that a few millions only last a few years? I really doubt with that math you would have been able to save a few millions in the first place, unless you won a lottery.
Typical cash plus equity for an experienced engineer is going to top $300k/yr at the low end. Million s might be an exaggeration, but it's certainly trivial to save well north of $1M in a decade on that salary, barring misfortune like a health incident.
The argument was that if you're capable of saving that much, you're going to have a hard time spending it in only a few years, especially if you're not working.
Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?
#109Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't think the only two options are big tech and chaotic startup. There are non-tech places that just want someone to add some tech to their business, for example.
There's also big consultancy, which allows you to see all kinds of companies, work on different types of projects and still have a bit of consistency at your firm. It's not for everyone, but if you value some consistency, decent pay and working for different types of projects and companies, it's definitely worth checking it out. It's not the type of job to find a 'mission' though, usually.
I've seen consulting being suggested freq as a viable gig to support yourself when you run out of money to pay the bills. How does this work? Register on Upwork or fiverr? What if your capabilities as a consultant are inadequate? What if you struggle more than you actually did at a full time job? How do you position yourself for the gig?
Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?
#110Yes, please stop selling out your neighbors' data for a few bags of silver.