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Ask HN: I got let go this morning. What should I do next?

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Re: Ask HN: I got let go this morning. What should I do next?

#91

Post by rabbimarshak »

dminor wrote: post #20
rabbimarshak wrote: post #5

1. Realize that as a developer you will be in high demand in the workforce, surely you will find something better in no time. 2. Work on your startup idea / prototype during this downtime. It doesn't have to be perfect, just hacked together well enough to provide value to someone. 3. Brush up your skills on sites like Codeacademy, W3C, Tutsplus, etc. Take a few free online university / MOOC courses. 4. Sift through p…

> Sift through projects on Odesk / Elance. You may find some part time work that may provide some supplemental income while at the same time improving your dev skills. You're probably better off taking unemployment and working on some quick projects to spiff up your github account. I experimented with Odesk/Elance for side income and the best job I managed to find was $20/hr.

Ah, the American way: Why work when you can get the same pay from the taxpayers pocket without having to?

I rather work at McDonalds for half that @dminor and still have my pride, than to be a burden on society.

Re: Ask HN: I got let go this morning. What should I do next?

#92

Post by johnnyg »

jacquesm wrote: post #89
johnnyg wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. While I mean no disrespect the pass to fail ratio on them is 5:1 or worse. I've got to check so that when I pay for an hour of work I get an hour of value. I read blog posts to the contrary. They say how awful it is that these "dumb HR people" ask these basic things. Well, I've probably done 200 technical interviews, mostly from HN, and unfortunately this is my experience. If I must choose between unpopular and…

Being internet famous is overrated. Anyway, if you're going to start off from the premise that the OP is fibbing about their capabilities then you're starting off your relationship based on distrust. I'd rather give them the benefit of the doubt, give them a real test of their capabilities than to start off with something that has value when you're evaluating 100's of applicants for a specific job position so you can…

What do you think of Regan's "trust by verify"?

How do you define "a real test of their capabilities"?

While we start the hour long skills test off with some fizzbuzz weeders, we quickly move into harder questions pulled out of issues we've resolved in the real world that are likely to be of the same shape of future work.

If people are offended by fizzbuzz, they don't express it often during interviews/employment/exit interviews. The most common reaction from someone who can solve it is a bit of a wink and a nod as they slay it and move on to the "real" stuff.

I've never had anyone ace our test. No one is a 10 everywhere. I think there's a lot of value in how you approach things and react to a blocker or limitation. We watch this closely too. It isn't just about saying "Every answer is correct, so hire me".

Lastly, we're out of Houston, TX. I'm guessing the culture is very different in CA and perhaps that's the mismatch.

Re: Ask HN: I got let go this morning. What should I do next?

#93

Post by jacquesm »

johnnyg wrote: post #92
jacquesm wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Being internet famous is overrated. Anyway, if you're going to start off from the premise that the OP is fibbing about their capabilities then you're starting off your relationship based on distrust. I'd rather give them the benefit of the doubt, give them a real test of their capabilities than to start off with something that has value when you're evaluating 100's of applicants for a specific job position so you can…

What do you think of Regan's "trust by verify"? How do you define "a real test of their capabilities"? While we start the hour long skills test off with some fizzbuzz weeders, we quickly move into harder questions pulled out of issues we've resolved in the real world that are likely to be of the same shape of future work. If people are offended by fizzbuzz, they don't express it often during interviews/employment/exi…

I'm about as far from California as I could be without moving to Russia or China.

Anyway, as I said, you're free to run your shop any way you want.

Re: Ask HN: I got let go this morning. What should I do next?

#96

Post by dminor »

rabbimarshak wrote: post #91
dminor wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Sift through projects on Odesk / Elance. You may find some part time work that may provide some supplemental income while at the same time improving your dev skills. You're probably better off taking unemployment and working on some quick projects to spiff up your github account. I experimented with Odesk/Elance for side income and the best job I managed to find was $20/hr.

Ah, the American way: Why work when you can get the same pay from the taxpayers pocket without having to? I rather work at McDonalds for half that @dminor and still have my pride, than to be a burden on society.

thecolorblue has already paid unemployment insurance, via his employer, for exactly the situation he's in now. He is his own burden.

Re: Ask HN: I got let go this morning. What should I do next?

#97

Post by golgappi »

markerz wrote: post #87
daxfohl wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Never getting a raise because that's not built into their budget and there's not a system around it. Having to beg for vacation time and getting maybe a week a year. And after a few years or a few ventures, your friends at big corps are already starting to talk about retirement and pensions, and you realize that's an extra million you gave up. But hey, you can wear shorts!

Retiring in your 30's? What an age we live in. What an industry we work in.

I work at a startup and I am 25. I have saved up some money and seriously considering retirement by the time I am 30.

Not that I have a lot of money saved up. I just have a couple of thousand bucks. Nothing fancy. But to me it is a seed money to try out new things, at an age where making huge mistakes wouldn't result in me being 70 and penniless. There will still be enough time to return back to IT once (if) I fail miserably. And it will also be an extended break in the worst case.

I want to explore the world, jobs, hobbies, people. I have realized the 8 hours everyday I spend on my desk is the best time to be out and about. The sunshine is literally gone by the time I get off work. If this is what hundreds of years of progress and planning has led to, I think we have failed.

So yes, I support people who think about retiring early, and actually living their lives when they are still young. If youth is the best time of one's life, it shouldn't be wasted on the desk.

Re: Ask HN: I got let go this morning. What should I do next?

#98

Post by kleer001 »

Always have a beer after getting laid off.

First off, how much cushion money do you have? Are you living paycheck to paycheck? Do you live in your parent's house? Roommates? Married? Kids? House?

How strong is your network? As in, how many people in the industry do you know? If you know a lot of people go freelance. How often do you get unsolicited job requests? If you get 1-2 a year then take some time off and work on a personal project without worrying about employment, while always keeping an ear to the ground.

Here's the thing, it's hard to give concrete advice without more info. But, in the end, as a Java programmer you're probably fine, don't sweat it, someone will hire you soon enough.

Re: Ask HN: I got let go this morning. What should I do next?

#99

Post by yuhong »

michaelochurch wrote: post #38

First, this is common and it's not a big deal. Layoffs happen, even to great developers. Ask about severance, but don't get pushy or threatening if not offered it (you don't want an extortion rap). Ask about a guaranteed positive reference (by contract, and with LinkedIn recommendations) and do be pushy or threatening if not offered it. Have your references checked in any case by a third party. Don't sign non-dispara…

Describe your situation as a layoff for economic reasons (even if it wasn't) and say that your performance reviews were excellent (even if they weren't) and don't say anything negative about former colleagues, managers, or employers except in a you-or-them situation (such as a 6-month job, where someone will come off looking bad and your job is to make sure that it's not you... but even then, minimize what you say.)

Why?

Re: Ask HN: I got let go this morning. What should I do next?

#100

Post by donw »

jacquesm wrote: post #8

Try to retain your former boss as a customer, likely they'll need you two weeks time.

This deserves to be the top answer.

While I've never been "let go", I've made a strong effort to keep the door open at every place I was a full-time employee. In every case, this has led to more and better work down the road.

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