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Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

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Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#11

Post by throwaway9191aa »

This sounds like AWS, but probably resembles most large companies. Hire great people down a level, and suddenly you are raising the bar. However, you are also grouping folks with 10+ years doing great work with folks who just got promo'd on their first job out of college.

I have not quit. Instead I became a high achiever in other aspects of life. I listen to folks at work talking about programming podcasts and online tech conferences..... I won a bike race last year and podium'd in a 100 mile off road race. I can cook pretty quickly these days, which results in making healthy, tasty food that my kids actually eat (along with the kraft mac n cheese which is an anchor nobody can escape).

Anyway, once you step away from computers life is huge. Give your job what it needs, and give the rest to yourself.

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#13

Post by throwaway160123 »

hunglee2 wrote: post #2

well there is no need to immediately resign the employers behaviour here is offensive to any persons sensibilities and I think everyone reading this would be of the same mind to moving on as soon as possible. The way to do this is of course start talking with other employers, there is no reason why you couldn't rustle up some more suitable opportunities whilst you continue in post with this employer. Go only when you…

That's sensible advice for sure. At the same time, I feel like I can't apply myself anymore, and I hate to half-ass the work I do (I'm sure a lot of folks here will understand this).

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#14

Post by canucklady »

spadros wrote: post #6

Don’t just quit your job without another lined up. Milk the current company for everything you can while finding a new job. They’ll find a way to offer you the position and pay you deserved from the beginning when you put in your 2 weeks. Don’t accept their crap, find a better job, and move on. I do think you’d regret quitting without anything lined up. I’d just twiddle my fingers and do as little as possible at curr…

If the current job is causing a lot of stress/burnout, carrying that into a new role is setting yourself up for failure. Having a few months gap isn't a problem IME and it helps with recovery.

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#15

Post by woopwoop24 »

i bet the processes will allow it if they really see the risk of losing you. If even then they don't care --> leave as fast as you can. Company is not your friend and usually not interested in "wasting" money on giving you more salary then they have to.

at least my 2 cents

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#16

Post by malux85 »

Don’t quit, start searching for better jobs.

Don’t go indie, it will burn your savings - scratch this itch later when you’re better motivated.

Don’t get disillusioned with the industry, bad jobs are more common than good jobs, move on until you find one that appreciates you better.

Sure it’s easier to stay with the familiar prison than face the possibility of the unknown, but the bravery of stepping out is the cost that must be paid for the search for happiness, the easy decision is usually not the correct one.

Start applying!

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#17

Post by spadros »

canucklady wrote: post #14
spadros wrote: post #6

Don’t just quit your job without another lined up. Milk the current company for everything you can while finding a new job. They’ll find a way to offer you the position and pay you deserved from the beginning when you put in your 2 weeks. Don’t accept their crap, find a better job, and move on. I do think you’d regret quitting without anything lined up. I’d just twiddle my fingers and do as little as possible at curr…

If the current job is causing a lot of stress/burnout, carrying that into a new role is setting yourself up for failure. Having a few months gap isn't a problem IME and it helps with recovery.

Why can’t you do both? You can line up a new job and take a break in between. I regularly take a month or more between jobs. Most employers are fine waiting a bit longer for top talent.

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#18

Post by brianwawok »

Title doesn’t matter. Pay does.

Also titles are not the same across companies. SR dev at one place is a level 5 dev at another is a lead dev at a third.

If you are at the pay you want with a lower title, that is pure gold. It means an easy promotion, which is a pay bump.

Fighting for a higher title as an IC when happy with the pay seems like you are fighting against yourself. You want to be hired at the highest possible title so you have many years to go until a promotion?

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#19

Post by canucklady »

spadros wrote: post #17
canucklady wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the current job is causing a lot of stress/burnout, carrying that into a new role is setting yourself up for failure. Having a few months gap isn't a problem IME and it helps with recovery.

Why can’t you do both? You can line up a new job and take a break in between. I regularly take a month or more between jobs. Most employers are fine waiting a bit longer for top talent.

When I went through something similar it would have taken way longer than a month to recover. I didn't know how long when I took the break. Also I was too burnt out to interview well.

Re: Ask HN: Should I quit my job?

#20

Post by xwkd »

I'm surprised that you say that you have 10 years of professional experience if you were actually having this conversation with a company.

Get another job.

The interviews are part of the process. This is tough love: Suck it up. There's a part of you that does have the energy, and you know that. The fact that you can get excited as an indie dev says that you're not as burned out as you might think. You're just scared. It makes sense. But you can do it.

I hope this helps.

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