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Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

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Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#291

Post by whitehouse3 »

badfrog wrote: post #231
nvarsj wrote: post #149

These kind of posts keep making me think I should go work for a FAANG so I can actually retire one day. Anyways, as someone on the other side, who has never worked for or applied to FAANG, I have a few reactions. First, your salary is absolutely ridiculous. I know hard working people who have built their own businesses with blood and sweat, and they still don't make as much as a slacker engineer at FAANG. So I'd say…

> these engineers, while they all tend to be very smart, tend to be borderline junior engineers in the real world Define "real world"?

Small-medium sized businesses without dedicated devops people. I'm working with an ex-Googler who struggles with basic dev stuff like

* How to make a Python environment for a brand new project

* Source control basics like commits and merging

* Reading documentation or using SO

* Basic command-line debugging or even using print() statements!

I've asked a few times: "How did you get anything done before?". And (S)He responds that they never had to worry about this at Google.

[Edit]: I don't think all or even many Googlers are this way. But that this person made $10k/month for a year and a half gives me pause. I don't thing FAANG's are touchy about firing people. At this rate (S)He likely won't make it through our ninety-day review.

Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#292

Post by dfalfndfk »

rbavocadotree wrote: post #288
o-__-o wrote: post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can buy a home for $50k in Pittsburgh, I would argue that doesn’t make you rich. You can keep a very easy job (think Starbucks) and your health insurance is taken care of. If you live a modest life your expenses are manageable. Maybe your definition of rich is incorrect?

Maybe you forget how many hours are in a day? After 40h a week at starbucks you can't consult, teach, sit on multiple boards, and program everyday. Also, I've worked as a barista. My high paying tech job is waaaay easier.

Tech jobs are the easiest job bar being rich and watching investments make money for you. Crazy that people think being a barista is easier.

Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#293

Post by donkeyd »

C1sc0cat wrote: post #197
donkeyd wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wrote 'big consulting', because there are many large consultancy firms that would be happy to hire anyone with FAANG experience. Capgemini, Accenture, Deloitte, PWC, etc. Many of them work with companies that are being disrupted and are trying to stay relevant. This creates interesting opportunities.

From what I hear from someone who works at a big 4 it sounds soul destroying.

I work currently at one of the firms in my comment and it's not bad at all. Currently working on a really fun project too. It really depends on the firm and even the team within the firm.

Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#294

Post by bonniemuffin »

o-__-o wrote: post #265
realitychecker9 wrote: post #239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Once you own a home outright, and health insurance is taken care of, the other expenses are completely manageable. I don't need to earn a lot to lead a rich life." That is the checklist of a rich person, own home outright, health insurance taken care of, and manageable other expenses. If you were the same age, but had no home ownership, no health insurance, and dependants how would that change your perspective?

You can buy a home for $50k in Pittsburgh, I would argue that doesn’t make you rich. You can keep a very easy job (think Starbucks) and your health insurance is taken care of. If you live a modest life your expenses are manageable. Maybe your definition of rich is incorrect?

I've worked both in a coffee shop and in a FANGish tech role. The coffee shop was much more brutal and physically demanding with long shifts on my feet and unpredictable scheduling -- I don't think I could keep that up as I age. I'd much rather stay in a tech job if my goal is just to keep health insurance.

Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#295

Post by mav3rick »

whitehouse3 wrote: post #291
badfrog wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> these engineers, while they all tend to be very smart, tend to be borderline junior engineers in the real world Define "real world"?

Small-medium sized businesses without dedicated devops people. I'm working with an ex-Googler who struggles with basic dev stuff like * How to make a Python environment for a brand new project * Source control basics like commits and merging * Reading documentation or using SO * Basic command-line debugging or even using print() statements! I've asked a few times: "How did you get anything done before?". And (S)He re…

Wtf ? This is not true. 99% of devs at Google would go above and beyond this.

Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#296

Post by tuan »

whitehouse3 wrote: post #291
badfrog wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> these engineers, while they all tend to be very smart, tend to be borderline junior engineers in the real world Define "real world"?

Small-medium sized businesses without dedicated devops people. I'm working with an ex-Googler who struggles with basic dev stuff like * How to make a Python environment for a brand new project * Source control basics like commits and merging * Reading documentation or using SO * Basic command-line debugging or even using print() statements! I've asked a few times: "How did you get anything done before?". And (S)He re…

hmm I didn't have to do #1 in the list when I was at Google, but I did 2,3,4 pretty much everyday. I guess this really depends on which team your coworker was in.

Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#297

Post by phendrenad2 »

klunger wrote: post #176

I have never worked or applied for FANG. But, I have worked with several ex-FANGers. So, my only advice is: Just don't be that person that wears your Google (or whatever) jacket for the next 5 years. It sends strange signals to your coworkers.

How so?

Re: Ask HN: Quitting Big Tech, what is it like?

#299

Post by Will_Parker »

C1sc0cat wrote: post #195
ma2rten wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I once had to spend 6 months reverse engineering a video output [...] this is the sort of shit you will do at an actual hard-tech startup I don't know about hard-tech, but it seems to me that most startups can't afford to have a person work on one project for 6 months.

Not all start-ups are simple crud web apps

Some of them are complicated crud web apps.
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