> and founding two companies
What's the story here?
> Fortunately I have some money to show for it
Are you in a rush to get back to work?
Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?
11–20 of 164 posts
Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?
#12Earlier quoted context omitted.
People on HN saying $150k is a "high bar" is frankly insulting. Anyone in the bay who's not a founder or working for a meaningless company easily clears $200k. I've started two companies, exited one and technically have the skills of a "senior engineer". I've managed teams of engineers and have architected remote factory production systems for one of my companies along with a dozen or so relatively complex web apps i…
Why can't other people recognize how great you are?
My resume is pretty scattered. I had good interest with a recruiter sending me FDE roles.
But most large orgs look at my resume and run since I have multiple two year stints and stints starting / running my own companies.
I'm also fully willing to admit that relative to "senior engineers" of today, maybe I just suck. In that case, idk how to move to what's next. I'm social, but not exactly normal. Also willing to see the humor in your comment that points to my potential conceit.
Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?
#13I'd say 150K is shooting for the stars depending on your skill set. It can happen in good times but sometime you gotta revalue your times worth.
As far as leaping out, yeah there's a ton of opportunity while keeping a "tech" base: CCTV Installer (Commercial IP Security Cams), VoIP (Business Phone Systems), POS (Point of Sale Restaurant and Retail).
Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?
#14Sorry to hear you are in this situation. I've been there as well, but sticking in the middle of this is more than nerve wracking and a serious health issue... First, I agree that AI will be shaking up several jobs. But I think that lawyers will also have there aces up the sleeves to keep their business running. Nonetheless, working as one isn't very healthy as well as you always are under pressure to gather enough billables... Niche is always a solution to the mass grinding. Secondly, an advice I once received: looking back at your past jobs, was there something you enjoyed doing besides your main tasks and clocked voluntarily some extrahours, because you were passionate about it? Like the controller, who stepped forward and got a health and safety training, without being paid extra for it, the controller, who wrote a small software tool for easing work processes, the software engineere, who created an onboarding portal for new employees.. Sometimes, people realize, that they already did something, they really enjoyed but never thought about to make it a focus and not just somethin "useful, besides no one else takes care of it"... This hint really helped me to realize, what I was actually good at all the time even though it had nothing to do with my day job and my previous roles.
I wish you all the best in this current situation and hope, things will fall in place quite soon.
Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?
#15Though my academic background is in computer science, I've spent years working in other sectors such as translation and education (areas that are fortunately easier to pivot into without years of rigorous accreditation like law or medicine). I derive a great deal of personal satisfaction from working in these fields, but given your relatively high salary prerequisites, they'd likely be nonstarters for you. It's hones…
I initially worked for Amazon out of college (where I have a legit CS degree), but yeah it's mostly startups. Fortunately I have evidence of progression at each.
I was a technical co-founder for the past two years. Spent the past six months at an accelerator in SF (YC tier) but my concept just wasn't a viable business.
Frankly, I'm really tired of startups and just want a normal job for a while. I don't really care anymore if its in tech or not. I'm pretty close to just getting a job at a UPS Store because it's getting hard to care about any of this anymore.
Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?
#16I don't really know what it's like in America but 150k here is insane.
If you really can't land a job, it's either time for an attitude adjustment or perhaps a third bite at the apple.
Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?
#17Adjust your definition of a “real career” as one making over 150k. Another adjustment is thinking 4 months is a long time, especially given you know you could improve interviewing. Check out data fields. I’m in data analytics, no I don’t make 150k, but it’s a good living and I consider it real. I do a lot of good and save government a lot of money with my tech skills.
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There seems to be something wrong with your inflation numbers. According to BLS [0], $150k in August of this year has the same buying power as $118k in August of 2019.
You might check some other sources, like median USA house prices. I've looked at a few. None come close to the numbers you're claiming.
Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?
#18> and founding two companies What's the story here? > Fortunately I have some money to show for it Are you in a rush to get back to work?
Not in a hurry, but my lackluster "exit" is roughly equivalent to a middling faang job for the years I put into my startup.
My monthly expenses are low, but I'm sad I'm in my early 30's and effectively just burned a year doing nothing because I'm mentally in this place and can't really afford to spend more.
I basically haven't made any money in 2025 and it's starting to eat me alive. Fortunately, after taking some time off I no longer really feel burnt out.
Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?
#19Adjust your definition of a “real career” as one making over 150k. Another adjustment is thinking 4 months is a long time, especially given you know you could improve interviewing. Check out data fields. I’m in data analytics, no I don’t make 150k, but it’s a good living and I consider it real. I do a lot of good and save government a lot of money with my tech skills.
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Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?
#20I’m in the same boat, but fortunately have a job right now. I’m not sure what I’ll do after this current one.
Seems like the interview pipeline is geared towards new grads and junior engineers and penalize senior and staff. At what point do I stop having to do these silly coding interviews?! At what point does my resume and 20 yrs of experience speak for itself? So called senior/staff interview loops are a joke with toy system design questions. What do you really learn asking “design twitter” 100 times?
The only answer I can come up with is networking. Basically, don’t bother interviewing. 4 of my last 5 jobs were via networking—no interviews.