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Ask HN: Get a job with my CS degree, or start my dream business?

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Re: Ask HN: Get a job with my CS degree, or start my dream business?

#11

Post by xMichael24 »

VirusNewbie wrote: post #4

I really recommend against doing a non Tech/CS business at this stage in your career. It is very hard to jump back into tech if yo have no experience and then leave tech for a while. Unfortunately, it's a really big negative signal that's hard to overcome. Have you ever worked for a coffee company? Have you ever worked a full time job at all? Have you worked at a startup? If the answer is mostly no, I think some real…

I think this is really what I needed to hear. I agree with you, I really need to focus on getting the work experience now. Thank you very much!

Re: Ask HN: Get a job with my CS degree, or start my dream business?

#12

Post by gcheong »

xMichael24 wrote: post #10
gcheong wrote: post #5

The coffee thing is doable but do you have any experience making coffee? That would seem to be the minimum prerequisite there. In any case if you do the coffee thing and it doesn’t work out you can always go back to school until the job market recovers.

Fortunately, I do have a fair amount of experience making good coffee. It’s one of my non-tech passions.

There are a couple coffe places around where I live that managed to become solid businesses. Andytown coffee roasters https://www.andytownsf.com/about and Trouble Coffee which the owner eventually sold. https://sf.eater.com/2022/7/15/23220492/trouble-coffee-how-t....

Trouble’s story is especially compelling and inspiring. As I recall,the owner Guilietta started out as a barista then eventually decided to open her own space. She went around the neighborhood getting people to donate and was sleeping in the shop until it was solvent enough that she could get an apartment. She is definitely a character to say the least and very determined despite all the challenges she’s had. I loved just going down there to hang out because of the regulars there.

Re: Ask HN: Get a job with my CS degree, or start my dream business?

#13

Post by xMichael24 »

codingdave wrote: post #7

If you knew either path would succeed, Who would you want to be in 10 years? Someone who struggled through a tech downturn, but then was in the right place to rocket forward in a tech career, so in 10 years you are at the top of the game... or someone who launched a coffee company, and in 10 years is running a coffee shop? Either answer is fine, but you should be looking more at where you will land in the long term,…

This is an excellent perspective. Thank you!

Re: Ask HN: Get a job with my CS degree, or start my dream business?

#14

Post by xMichael24 »

treebeard5440 wrote: post #6

> My main focus is in Embedded Systems Software and it’s something I’m really passionate about. Not entirely what you’re asking but if you decide to go the job route try applying at all of the major defense contractors (Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop, Raytheon, etc). I work for one and the embedded software skillset is highly desired and hard to hire for. You will likely have to be okay with relocation and working onsite…

Yeah defense contractors are a route I’ve been considering. I’ve sent out applications to a few but haven’t heard back yet. Thank you for the suggestion!

Re: Ask HN: Get a job with my CS degree, or start my dream business?

#16

Post by sircastor »

If you're young, and relatively untethered, right now is probably the best and easiest time to take a risk on something. The future will undoubtedly hold relationships, connection to your local community, ownership of property, maybe children or other family obligations, etc. You have more energy right now than you will have ever again. Which is all to say, it will (probably) only get harder to do this from here on out.

That said, Food service has famously thin margins. I don't know a lot about coffee, but I'm willing to bet that it is not the exception to that rule. You really have to have a deep passion for doing this, because the money will probably not be enough.

If you're super ambitious - why not both? Start a coffee company and start prototyping a coffee machine that does things the way you like. The Coffee machine market is massive, and ranges from ten bucks to thousands of dollars.

Congratulations on your degree, and on graduating without debt. Good luck. If you feel like sharing in the future, I think we'd love to know what you chose.

Re: Ask HN: Get a job with my CS degree, or start my dream business?

#17

Post by b20000 »

treebeard5440 wrote: post #6

> My main focus is in Embedded Systems Software and it’s something I’m really passionate about. Not entirely what you’re asking but if you decide to go the job route try applying at all of the major defense contractors (Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop, Raytheon, etc). I work for one and the embedded software skillset is highly desired and hard to hire for. You will likely have to be okay with relocation and working onsite…

do any of these companies pay well? they just all seem to pay way below what you can make at FAANG

Re: Ask HN: Get a job with my CS degree, or start my dream business?

#18

Post by xMichael24 »

sircastor wrote: post #16

If you're young, and relatively untethered, right now is probably the best and easiest time to take a risk on something. The future will undoubtedly hold relationships, connection to your local community, ownership of property, maybe children or other family obligations, etc. You have more energy right now than you will have ever again. Which is all to say, it will (probably) only get harder to do this from here on o…

Thank you! I will deeply consider this advice.

Re: Ask HN: Get a job with my CS degree, or start my dream business?

#19

Post by treebeard5440 »

b20000 wrote: post #17
treebeard5440 wrote: post #6

> My main focus is in Embedded Systems Software and it’s something I’m really passionate about. Not entirely what you’re asking but if you decide to go the job route try applying at all of the major defense contractors (Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop, Raytheon, etc). I work for one and the embedded software skillset is highly desired and hard to hire for. You will likely have to be okay with relocation and working onsite…

do any of these companies pay well? they just all seem to pay way below what you can make at FAANG

Way below what you’d make at FAANG is absolutely correct. Salaries are not competitive with top-tier tech companies. Not everyone wants to work at FAANG though. Depending on what you value though the lower salary can be offset by some of the other benefits. Work life balance tends to be really good - rarely do I ever go over 40 hours a week but if I do I get paid overtime even though I’m salaried. You can also usually arrange to work a flexible schedule like 4/10’s (10 hrs a day M-Th and every Friday off) or 9/80’s (9 hours a day, 8 on the working Friday and every other Friday off). 401K and medical benefits are also very good. Job security for engineers tends to be high - especially compared to FAANG with their recent series of layoffs. Even if FAANG is your ultimate goal, working for a few years at a defense contractor will not hurt your chances of future employment there.

Re: Ask HN: Get a job with my CS degree, or start my dream business?

#20

Post by b20000 »

treebeard5440 wrote: post #19
b20000 wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

do any of these companies pay well? they just all seem to pay way below what you can make at FAANG

Way below what you’d make at FAANG is absolutely correct. Salaries are not competitive with top-tier tech companies. Not everyone wants to work at FAANG though. Depending on what you value though the lower salary can be offset by some of the other benefits. Work life balance tends to be really good - rarely do I ever go over 40 hours a week but if I do I get paid overtime even though I’m salaried. You can also usuall…

yeah i’ll pass. i doubt that they understand you are doing them a favour and that you should get whatever flexibility you want. same drama, less pay.
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