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I graduated into the dot com bust as a programmer and made it – you will too

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Re: I graduated into the dot com bust as a programmer and made it – you will too

#2
In the age of RSUs, graduating in the middle of a recession is financially incredible IF you managed to get the job before all the hiring freezes AND it is at one of the publicly traded big N companies with good trade volume. Your RSU price is lower, you get more stock units for the same dollar amount at the time of joining in your initial grant (arguably much more important than refreshers).

I have a friend who recently got his MSFT joining RSUs at $130 a few weeks ago.

Re: I graduated into the dot com bust as a programmer and made it – you will too

#4
post #2

In the age of RSUs, graduating in the middle of a recession is financially incredible IF you managed to get the job before all the hiring freezes AND it is at one of the publicly traded big N companies with good trade volume. Your RSU price is lower, you get more stock units for the same dollar amount at the time of joining in your initial grant (arguably much more important than refreshers). I have a friend who rece…

Your friend figured out how to time the market. Amazing.

Re: I graduated into the dot com bust as a programmer and made it – you will too

#5
I graduated from university at the exact moment the dot com bust occurred, and the job market went from fizzing to non-existent in the space of a few weeks.

I ended up working at a local charity, and then entering into a business incubator but for a couple of years I had no money to speak of. If I felt rich, I'd have McDonalds for lunch.

On the other hand, I was living in a cool part of town with a group of people who I still keep in touch with - those days were the best in some ways.

So yes, it does get better, but people's expectations will need some major adjustments. I do firmly believe that it's a good opportunity to set yourself up for when the recovery occurs.

Re: I graduated into the dot com bust as a programmer and made it – you will too

#7
post #2

In the age of RSUs, graduating in the middle of a recession is financially incredible IF you managed to get the job before all the hiring freezes AND it is at one of the publicly traded big N companies with good trade volume. Your RSU price is lower, you get more stock units for the same dollar amount at the time of joining in your initial grant (arguably much more important than refreshers). I have a friend who rece…

I hear winning the lottery is also financially incredible.

Re: I graduated into the dot com bust as a programmer and made it – you will too

#8
post #2

In the age of RSUs, graduating in the middle of a recession is financially incredible IF you managed to get the job before all the hiring freezes AND it is at one of the publicly traded big N companies with good trade volume. Your RSU price is lower, you get more stock units for the same dollar amount at the time of joining in your initial grant (arguably much more important than refreshers). I have a friend who rece…

Don't count your chickens before they vest, in 6 months somebody might be getting them at $90

Re: I graduated into the dot com bust as a programmer and made it – you will too

#9

I graduated from university at the exact moment the dot com bust occurred, and the job market went from fizzing to non-existent in the space of a few weeks. I ended up working at a local charity, and then entering into a business incubator but for a couple of years I had no money to speak of. If I felt rich, I'd have McDonalds for lunch. On the other hand, I was living in a cool part of town with a group of people wh…

I imagine its worse now with the Student debt bubble - too many people with 100k in student loans.

Re: I graduated into the dot com bust as a programmer and made it – you will too

#10
post #4
post #2

In the age of RSUs, graduating in the middle of a recession is financially incredible IF you managed to get the job before all the hiring freezes AND it is at one of the publicly traded big N companies with good trade volume. Your RSU price is lower, you get more stock units for the same dollar amount at the time of joining in your initial grant (arguably much more important than refreshers). I have a friend who rece…

Your friend figured out how to time the market. Amazing.

His parents were the ones who really showed foresight.
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