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Hard truths I learned when I got laid off from my SWE job

stevenbuccini.com

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Re: Hard truths I learned when I got laid off from my SWE job

#591
post #272

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My parents paid for it for me and refused to consider anything cheaper, so I was lucky, but yeah, it is something like $700 a month.

For my family COBRA is about $2500 a month, which is a lot when you aren't working!

It's a lot when you ARE working!

Re: Hard truths I learned when I got laid off from my SWE job

#592

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let me give you an example: you're gay and your employer has a thing about gay people. They will not ask you outright 'are you gay?' because that, while legal might result in an anti discrimination suit upon rejection of the candidate which they could very well lose. Lots of other situations and questions like that which are strictly speaking none of the employer's business. When given the option between telling the…

Maybe you picked being gay as a hypothetical out of a hat but it's a terrible example. Unless we're talking about extremely repressive societies where there are literally no professional options available for LGBT people, almost no LGBT person would recommend going back into the closet to find work with a bigoted employer. LGBT people regularly run away from home as teenagers and become homeless to avoid bigotry, tha…

There’s a difference between going into the closet and not wanting to share personal information

Re: Hard truths I learned when I got laid off from my SWE job

#593

This is why people do LC problems daily and interview regularly. You will find that you need to constantly play the game if you want to stay in the game. It's a sliding scale of preparedness. Those out of step with the interview meta and out of practice will find it more painful. The biggest mistake is losing your job, then having to prep to get a new one.

Biggest mistake is thinking you have to grind in leetcode outside of work to edge out others. If your job right now isn't preparing you for your next job, then you are in the wrong job.

That's not how the interview process works. Leetcode is completely different from the daily job. Almost no one does LCS daily.

Re: Hard truths I learned when I got laid off from my SWE job

#594
post #438

About this: "If you had asked me right after I got laid off how long it would take me to get back to work, I would have said three months – including two months of vacation. It took me a year." That is fascinating. I'm glad they shared this experience. It is very different than my own experience. I'm trying to imagine what that would be like, to go a year looking for a job. Here in New York City, at the end of 2022,…

I found this a bit strange as well. A year seems a bit excessive. The most I've seen is 4 months, with an average of much less than that.

Only exception was first half of 2009 when it seemed like the world had ended.

Otherwise, for experienced people, something is wrong. Not trying hard enough, applying to wrong companies, terrible resume, interview very badly, demanding a job above skill level.

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