I worked 80 hour weeks to deliver a platform for a hedge fund,then they fired me
81–90 of 193 posts
Re: I worked 80 hour weeks to deliver a platform for a hedge fund,then they fired me
#82Earlier quoted context omitted.
> ...people are going to be greedy and selfish with or without capitalism. True. But in capitalism greed is a fetish
It's a double-edged sword. On one edge there's the risk of greed, but it's also unparalleled in incentivizing and rewarding ambition.
Re: I worked 80 hour weeks to deliver a platform for a hedge fund,then they fired me
#83I just do not believe this story. Nobody in the right mind will fire key software engineer 48 hours after system goes live. This is where all the bugs/problems show up and you need all hands on deck to fix them. Six months after launch when all problems are solved - absolutely, you can fire engineer. 48 hours after launch? absolutely not.
This is the U.K. - technology is seen by businesspeople as dirty and bad, as are the people who work with it. Maintenance is unheard of, sustainability is a dirty word.
For instance, I know of a large U.K. medical data processor who wanted ISO270001 compliance, so they got in a contractor to write an ISMS, had it audited, and then immediately fired the contractor upon successful pass of the audit.
What happens next year? Who cares! I’ll be in Marbella with my bag of swag by then. Someone else can figure it out.
Re: I worked 80 hour weeks to deliver a platform for a hedge fund,then they fired me
#84Just keep in mind that a business's role in society is to deliver something and bring in a profit. So if you don't bring revenue directly to the bottom line you are in line for layoffs. Don't fall in love with your job. The business is not in love with you. I suspect the fund's trading strategy was less than great so they had to cut expenses ASAP. I can't imagine why they would get rid of the person who would have to…
This is by (capitalist) design.
Re: I worked 80 hour weeks to deliver a platform for a hedge fund,then they fired me
#85I just do not believe this story. Nobody in the right mind will fire key software engineer 48 hours after system goes live. This is where all the bugs/problems show up and you need all hands on deck to fix them. Six months after launch when all problems are solved - absolutely, you can fire engineer. 48 hours after launch? absolutely not.
Re: I worked 80 hour weeks to deliver a platform for a hedge fund,then they fired me
#86I just do not believe this story. Nobody in the right mind will fire key software engineer 48 hours after system goes live. This is where all the bugs/problems show up and you need all hands on deck to fix them. Six months after launch when all problems are solved - absolutely, you can fire engineer. 48 hours after launch? absolutely not.
>Nobody in the right mind will fire key software engineer 48 hours after system goes live. Thats the thing. Hedge funds are not managed by people in their right minds
I'm sure there are chuds in the HF industry just like any other sector but by and large most people working in those firms are some of the most capable society has to offer.
Re: I worked 80 hour weeks to deliver a platform for a hedge fund,then they fired me
#87> I worked 80 hour weeks I don't know how the work culture is there but that seems completely insane. I've said it many times and I'll say it again. The first thing I tell anyone that enters the work force: Do not play the hero. You don't have to save the world. You will only be rewarded with more work. Put that passion and energy into something you created and own and control.
Re: I worked 80 hour weeks to deliver a platform for a hedge fund,then they fired me
#88OP will take that experience with them forever (technical, tactical, emotional perhaps). It’s a huge learning experience, many would suffer for. OTOH, the hedge fund will probably fail to profit from the project soon enough: A. they fired their most productive engineer in a changing competitive business B. they run a v0.9 with many bugs without the author-maintainer C. hate the saying but they seem penny-wise pound-f…
Nobody actually pays for software development in the U.K. - just the taxpayer.
Re: I worked 80 hour weeks to deliver a platform for a hedge fund,then they fired me
#89I hope they were paid by the hour or at least learned this lesson.
Re: I worked 80 hour weeks to deliver a platform for a hedge fund,then they fired me
#90When the system has a bug and they call this person back -- I hope they require a basis point of every trade for ongoing maintenance.