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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?

#231

Post by halfjoking »

ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #187
dhuyrv wrote: post #130

You remind me myself a few years ago: a talented, but bored slacker who didn't see any point in investing any energy into that project. Turns out I was right: the project didn't go anywhere after I left and investing any extra time would be a clueless thing to do. So what's changed since then? Have I found meaning in work? No! I've become a professional slacker who knows all these psychological tricks, knows what bod…

This blows my mind that in the US one can make such insane money in tech while still being a slacker and retire early with a dream house bought and paid for while in Europe devs are slaving away through SCRUM powered meat grinders burning themselves out for a 3% salary increase on a pitiful 40-80k/year, no stock options, without any hope of early retirement or owning a decent home without a 30 year loan or financial…

Most tech workers in the US aren't at Google or making Silicon Valley wages.

HN's description of what it's like to work in tech sounds likes a fantasy world to me.

Yes I make more than a European at $100k living in the US midwest... but I have to work hard every single day, in an open office, with my boss sitting in a desk right behind me. Most jobs are still a grind. This guy is probably a high-performer who wonders why everyone else is so incompetent because he doesn't try and still looks good. That's more winning the talent lottery than anything else.

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

#233

Post by angarg12 »

Humblebrag much?

I spent the first 7 years of my career in the public sector. Talk about a career killer.

If you are concerned about getting a job elsewhere, just study and do online coding exercises like crazy. That should land you a job at most companies with whiteboard interview at your seniority level.

If you are concerned about actual learning, most of my professional growth has been on the job.

I spent a long while doing 'proactive learning' where I would study new techs and frameworks. It turns out that all of them, either I never had to use, or when I had to, I needed a refresher, since I forgot most about it. Lately I have been doing more 'reactive learning', where I learn new things as I need them, or studying general topics that can be broadly applied.

Long story short, look for positions that will stretch your abilities, you'll be fine.

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

#234

Post by dunkelheit »

wayoutthere wrote: post #65
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.

Software engineering just isn't that hard. Tedious yes, but not remotely difficult. We've been fed the narrative of economic success that many folks have forgotten what personal success looks like. You can be successful in your career and still feel like a failure. Therapy is the answer here. You have to un-brainwash yourself from the notion that your job is your life and figure out what really matters to you. Then f…

> Therapy is the answer here. You have to un-brainwash yourself from the notion that your job is your life

Yeah, but where is the guarantee that therapy really un-brainwashes instead of re-brainwashing you to just be content with a comfortable middle-class lifestyle. I guess it is a totally rational strategy if you want to maximize happiness (whatever that means) but it still feels like a cop-out.

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

#235

Post by rl3 »

reactspa wrote: post #221
zzzcarrot wrote: post #189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you elaborate on the observed personality thing? How do you do this?

E.g.: I'm a jeans & t-shirt kinda guy. However, I now dress a little more formally (business casual) because it leads to better outcomes. I've not gotten around to wearing suits even though that would be even better. A little more strategic: I usually wear at least one item of clothing with my employer's logo visible on it. (Gives off a "corporate citizen" vibe.) A far cry from the recent past when I'd carry a laptop…

What if you're at an overly-corporate place being the jeans & t-shirt person?

Throughout modern history tech founders used this to great effect against suits.

My theory is that radically different dress from the norm (whether dressing up or down) can be advantageous provided you remain utterly confident and bring value to the table.

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

#237

Post by walshemj »

HashThis wrote: post #153
throwaway_googl wrote: post #48

I have three friends at Google who are nice, smart people, but terrible employees. All three of them seem to be doing just fine in their Google careers. One is very smart, but he's been telling me literally for years that he has zero motivation, to the point where he sometimes won't actually start working until 6PM. He's moved around within Google trying to find something he's interested in, but it's just the same th…

I know companies that won't hire Google employees because of this reputation.

Exactly what reputation is this? I have heard that about a former employer British Telecom, I suspect it varies I can imagine the sort that went into CS and rote learned their way to a Degree might have a problem.

Not that some of googles published api's and standards work can sometimes a little shonky and could do with a lot more rigor.

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

#238

Post by taneq »

longtimegoogler wrote: post #219
ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This blows my mind that in the US one can make such insane money in tech while still being a slacker and retire early with a dream house bought and paid for while in Europe devs are slaving away through SCRUM powered meat grinders burning themselves out for a 3% salary increase on a pitiful 40-80k/year, no stock options, without any hope of early retirement or owning a decent home without a 30 year loan or financial…

Well, if you look at the cost of living in SV the salaries aren't that insane. Buying a house is challenging on a Google salary in that area depending on level. If you get in right out of college and live meagerly, than yes, you might be able to retire early if you leave that area. If you actually want to build a life in the Bay Area and buy property, you will probably have to work at least 20 years to have enough fo…

> you will probably have to work at least 20 years to have enough for retirement

A whole 20 years? Cry me a river.

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

#239

Post by 3fe9a03ccd14ca5 »

fearface wrote: post #220
ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This blows my mind that in the US one can make such insane money in tech while still being a slacker and retire early with a dream house bought and paid for while in Europe devs are slaving away through SCRUM powered meat grinders burning themselves out for a 3% salary increase on a pitiful 40-80k/year, no stock options, without any hope of early retirement or owning a decent home without a 30 year loan or financial…

No, that’s not generally true in Europe. It depends solely on the company. During the first 12 weeks of fatherhood, I worked two days instead of five and my perceived productivity stayed the same. As an expert slacker and procrastinator, you can slack in many places. Salaries in IT are generally very good in all European countries and if you manage your salary well, you’ll buy a house when you’re in the mid-thirties.…

Also, let’s not forget about the extreme cost of living difference between the Bay Area and europe. SWE from google aren’t easily buying homes here, especially if they want to live near their work.
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