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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?

#121

Post by aaronsnoswell »

evo_9 wrote: post #14

So my guess is this is the first time you've been let go, or this is the first time as an adult (post-college) during your profession that you've been let go. Relax, it happens. This doesn't mean you aren't a terrific developer and person to work with. Take a little time to think about what you've worked on, what you've accomplished in the past 6-12 months I think you'll see what a great position you really are in. A…

The OP says they are engaged - depending on the situation this may mean the increased risk of a startup is not a great choice.

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

#122

Post by mbernstein »

aaronsnoswell wrote: post #121
evo_9 wrote: post #14

So my guess is this is the first time you've been let go, or this is the first time as an adult (post-college) during your profession that you've been let go. Relax, it happens. This doesn't mean you aren't a terrific developer and person to work with. Take a little time to think about what you've worked on, what you've accomplished in the past 6-12 months I think you'll see what a great position you really are in. A…

The OP says they are engaged - depending on the situation this may mean the increased risk of a startup is not a great choice.

Or a great time since you can decrease risk with another income?

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

#123

Post by tonyhb »

BRitterbeck wrote: post #115
sqyttles wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never worked for a start-up in a development role before, but I think I would like it. I am 28, fresh out of grad school and working for a bank currently. I like my coworkers and the work but when I walk by management and I overhear "We're not a development shop," I get disheartened because banks are becoming data centers and have to be in the software game. Take a look at... Dwolla: they are out to destroy the…

Is your background more tech or more finance?

Not to discredit your question which is important in context... I feel like Both of them overlap and there are some really, really interesting problems in finance which most people don't have the balls to solve. There's a reason fintech startups are few and far between in comparison to the rest.

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

#124

Post by tonglil »

jacquesm wrote: post #8

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

Can someone explain this more in detail?

It's bad ethics to write stuff that only you can maintain, so what other methods can one achieve this/what do you mean?

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

#126

Post by creese »

coned88 wrote: post #18
evo_9 wrote: post #14

So my guess is this is the first time you've been let go, or this is the first time as an adult (post-college) during your profession that you've been let go. Relax, it happens. This doesn't mean you aren't a terrific developer and person to work with. Take a little time to think about what you've worked on, what you've accomplished in the past 6-12 months I think you'll see what a great position you really are in. A…

What's the benefit of a startup? Seems like more hours for less pay while always needing to get things done. I fail to see the appeal. They just have lunches and dinners which appeal to people.

The advantage is learning curve. If you're in the right startup, you'll learning faster than you will anywhere else.

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

#127

Post by bsder »

tonglil wrote: post #124
jacquesm wrote: post #8

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

Can someone explain this more in detail? It's bad ethics to write stuff that only you can maintain, so what other methods can one achieve this/what do you mean?

> It's bad ethics to write stuff that only you can maintain

However, even in the best codebase, it takes time for somebody new to come up to speed. If they need help now, it will make sense for them to call in the original developer.

So, if you were a good developer and something happens, you can get called in to consult. Make sure you hit them for 50+% more than whatever your salary was; that's the penalty for the company gaining the flexibility to not use you when they don't have work.

And, even if something doesn't happen, they might want you to train the next person, again, make sure you charge appropriately for it.

Don't be a dick--especially if the company is going down, there are going to be other people springing loose shortly and you might want to work for/with them.

Good luck.

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

#130

Post by lotharbot »

platz wrote: post #106
golgappi wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 m…

You probably need ~1.7 to 2.5 million to retire, and even that's not going to be at 30

depends on the lifestyle you want to live.

My wife and I might retire in our mid-30s, in the US but not in an expensive area, and be completely comfortable with well under $1 million in assets. Because we live a laid back, low cost lifestyle -- with the house paid off (as of this week) our burn rate is dropping to under $20k per year.

You might need considerably more money to maintain your desired lifestyle. There's nothing wrong with that -- but recognize that not everyone is you.

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