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Ask HN: I've been slacking off at Google for 6 years. How can I stop this?

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Re: Ask HN: I've been slacking off at Google for 6 years. How can I stop this?

#51

Post by s0crates28 »

dash2 wrote: post #13

It's sad and revealing to see the other comments here. Many of them say, don't seek fulfillment in your job, just keep on cruising. What a change from the exciting atmosphere of the 2000s. Seems like software engineering has become a safe, dull career nowadays. Don't listen to them. Your 20s are the time to learn, push yourself and discover who you are. Autopilot is for middle age.

I agree with most of your statements. However, I don’t believe you should ever auto pilot. Life is about constantly, and consistently challenging yourself. Auto pilot, at any age, are for duds. Why auto pilot during middle age? I’d argue that you have acquired so much wisdom, leading into your middle age. Why stop the momentum. Use all your wisdom ALWAYS! :)

Re: Ask HN: I've been slacking off at Google for 6 years. How can I stop this?

#52

Post by ThrowawayR2 »

meddlepal wrote: post #34
ThrowawayR2 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Terrible advice. The FAANGs are highly competitive and people are eventually going to notice that this individual is not at the average job level they should be at relative to their years at the company. That will eventually make internal transfers very difficult (yes, hiring managers do check for duds for internal transfers) and motivate their management chain to wash this person out of the company as good attrition…

Yea but that could take many months to years to happen. Keep milking it. They'll have a good financial cushion to find something else afterwards.

I won't say that's not a valid choice (I've seen it done) but if it comes down to that, the tarnished reputation is probably going to hurt them more than the money they get. This industry is not all that large at the FAANG level and the people who succeed or at least do moderately well at a FAANG tend to go on to senior positions at other companies. This person probably does not want a bunch of former co-workers around to say "Oh, that person; I remember them. A nice enough individual, I suppose, but no hire."

On top of that, the wash out process isn't likely to be all that pleasant, particularly if this person has depression problems already. Getting negative feedback and the cold shoulder from their colleagues for months/years is probably very demoralizing even if they are still drawing a big paycheck.

Re: Ask HN: I've been slacking off at Google for 6 years. How can I stop this?

#53

Post by temporalparts »

Have you figured out if it's Google or software engineering as a whole? I think the safer option, if it's available for you, is to change to a different team in a different part of Google.

Google is huge and if, for example, ads is boring to you, try Google Brain or any of their X projects (self driving cars?). That way you have more data points around what's causing you to slack. It's not necessarily the case that when you do find personal alignment that you won't regress to slacking off.

Re: Ask HN: I've been slacking off at Google for 6 years. How can I stop this?

#54

Post by eerrt »

sfblah wrote: post #12

I’m in the same boat as you. I’ve been working at the same tech company for 6.5 years making around 500 (used to be 1.2 but my stock grant ran out). I only show up one day a week to have lunch with friends and do nothing. My advice is to keep the money flowing and do something else on the side.

is it a FAANG/unicorn?

Re: Ask HN: I've been slacking off at Google for 6 years. How can I stop this?

#55

Post by hacker_newz »

sfblah wrote: post #12

I’m in the same boat as you. I’ve been working at the same tech company for 6.5 years making around 500 (used to be 1.2 but my stock grant ran out). I only show up one day a week to have lunch with friends and do nothing. My advice is to keep the money flowing and do something else on the side.

What is your actual base salary?

Re: Ask HN: I've been slacking off at Google for 6 years. How can I stop this?

#57

Post by munmaek »

dash2 wrote: post #13

It's sad and revealing to see the other comments here. Many of them say, don't seek fulfillment in your job, just keep on cruising. What a change from the exciting atmosphere of the 2000s. Seems like software engineering has become a safe, dull career nowadays. Don't listen to them. Your 20s are the time to learn, push yourself and discover who you are. Autopilot is for middle age.

No, most comments say to find fulfillment through personal projects/hobbies.

Work is work; it doesn't necessarily have to be the most satisfying or fulfilling experience ever. That's always going to be the case if you're working for someone else. Earning a boatload of money (and saving it) to retire early isn't anything to scoff at.

This also assumes one can find a more fulfilling job elsewhere (with ideal compensation). Which is just that, an assumption. If, and only if, such a job were lined up, then it might be time to move on.

Re: Ask HN: I've been slacking off at Google for 6 years. How can I stop this?

#58

Post by Mikeb85 »

Honestly, start a side project or get a hobby. Take a vacation. Go for long walks on the beach.

I really doubt any other tech company that pays as well as Google will be any more interesting. And most people eventually get bored with their jobs. There is no job that isn't repetitive to some degree.

Also, you seem to be downplaying your experience and what you've learned but I highly doubt you'd have kept your job if you were truly slacking. Odds are you just got efficient at doing your job and are getting bored.

Anyhow, there is something to be said for a stable, well-paying job, so go figure things out in your personal life before you shake up your professional life.

Re: Ask HN: I've been slacking off at Google for 6 years. How can I stop this?

#59

Post by cmsonger »

It's hard to know how to answer without knowing more. I slack off when I don't love the work. Whereas when I am building something that I think is really cool, you can't keep me away from the keyboard. When I'm a cog in the machine, I struggle to do more than the 10% you are doing.

First question I'd ask myself would be: "Why do I think this would be better elsewhere?" Is the issue Google, or is the issue you/the profession?

Depending on the answer it seems like there are a few reasonable landing zones: 1) find a new job at google that addresses the perceived issues at google. 2) jump to a new job at a new company that addresses the perceived issues at google. 3) approach your current job with a new attitude to work harder and do more. maybe set your sights on next promo. 4) embrace your slacking, saving money to prepare for a career change.

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