Ask HN: What huge mistake did you make early in your career? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What huge mistake did you make early in your career?

#131

Post by austincheney » Sun, Jun 20, 2021, 12:45 AM UTC

UltraSuperUser wrote: post #104

austincheney wrote: post #88

A belief that as a JavaScript developer competence and a thorough understanding of the standards are a valued commodity. This is absolutely wrong. The name of the game is tools. Most people are scared to death of writing applications in JavaScript and absolutely hate the DOM and many other standard APIs, so… tools. If dicking around with tools and frameworks isn’t your thing look for somewhere incredibly niche to par…

>You can reasonably determine this during job interviews if you ask the right questions in the right ways. Surely then, listing some examples here would be relevant?

Conversation and interviewing are managerial skills best learned through practice.

I will say this though, this point of learning has applied equally to my corporate technology career as well as my military management career. Sell your executive a vision of success without any bullshit and deliver what you sell.

Re: Ask HN: What huge mistake did you make early in your career?

#132

Post by ghoward » Sun, Jun 20, 2021, 12:45 AM UTC

Trying to work for someone else.

It turns out that I just can't work on software that other people built. I have too strong of opinions, which could also be considered a mistake.

I'm still early in my career, so I haven't made many.

Re: Ask HN: What huge mistake did you make early in your career?

#133

Post by lemarchr » Sun, Jun 20, 2021, 12:46 AM UTC

marto1 wrote: post #13

Not keeping up with professional connections as I made them from the start. Even a "happy birthday" card would've been enough, but here we are.

Why do you consider this to be a mistake? I've thought about this in the past, but can't really articulate my motivations, and in the end I haven't followed through. Some of my previous colleagues have fit into the gap between co-worker and friend. I would never spend time with them outside of work and since we no longer work together I'm not sure what I'm really missing, so I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

Re: Ask HN: What huge mistake did you make early in your career?

#134

Post by jonnycomputer » Sun, Jun 20, 2021, 12:46 AM UTC

Not asking for help, generally.

Re: Ask HN: What huge mistake did you make early in your career?

#135

Post by rsynnott » Sun, Jun 20, 2021, 12:46 AM UTC

victor9000 wrote: post #110

napsterbr wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have this weird feeling that I'm making the same mistake right now.

If you've been there longer than 3 years, then yes, you're making the mistake.

This is a strange attitude; if you change jobs every three years, then how much are you going to get done, really? If everyone took this approach, then would any large project ever get finished?

Re: Ask HN: What huge mistake did you make early in your career?

#136

Post by irrational » Sun, Jun 20, 2021, 12:50 AM UTC

Not signing up for ESPP. Doh!

Re: Ask HN: What huge mistake did you make early in your career?

#137

Post by rpmisms » Sun, Jun 20, 2021, 12:51 AM UTC

napsterbr wrote: post #38

somtum wrote: post #11

Staying in the first company of my professional career for too long. I would have learnt more and earned more if I moved companies regularly early on.

I have this weird feeling that I'm making the same mistake right now.

It's very likely. 2 years seems to be standard, and I'm moving jobs after 1.5 next week. 20% raise for very similar work, there's no reason not to move.

Re: Ask HN: What huge mistake did you make early in your career?

#138

Post by logicchop » Sun, Jun 20, 2021, 12:51 AM UTC

ncmncm wrote: post #116

My biggest mistake, that I made again and again, was not leaving a job when it was time. I thought I had something to prove, but there was never any point to it. You don't owe anything to an employer. You can't prove anything to an employer. They have absolutely no loyalty to you, and care less than nothing about what is right or wrong, wise or foolish. So: If you ever think things might not turn out as well as you h…

I agree, but just a note: it doesn't do your career any good to hop a lot. I won't hire someone that looks flaky. If you find yourself at a bad job, sure, move on. But work on sussing out the good from the bad so you don't put yourself in a bad situation repeatedly.

Re: Ask HN: What huge mistake did you make early in your career?

#139

Post by jonnycomputer » Sun, Jun 20, 2021, 12:52 AM UTC

abhishektwr wrote: post #128

Not starting with a big name tech corp or a high-growth VC-funded company. Big brand on CV makes big difference when recruiters are doing initial screening. A CS/MBA degree from top university helps. Do whatever you can to work with a big tech brand early in career, otherwise later you will regret.

same here. could have done too. just one big-name tech company would have done it.

Re: Ask HN: What huge mistake did you make early in your career?

#140

Post by xEnOnn » Sun, Jun 20, 2021, 12:54 AM UTC

abhishektwr wrote: post #128

Not starting with a big name tech corp or a high-growth VC-funded company. Big brand on CV makes big difference when recruiters are doing initial screening. A CS/MBA degree from top university helps. Do whatever you can to work with a big tech brand early in career, otherwise later you will regret.

I’ve often wondered if I should be working for a high-growth VC funded company. Does it really make much difference when I still have to go through the same leetcode and interview when switching jobs? I still get left out if I fail the leetcode from the start. Not to mention, these high-growth companies are usually more demanding and long hours are expected. Is it worth it?