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I quit the tech industry

eev.ee

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Re: I quit the tech industry

#41

Post by seivan »

probablyfiction wrote: post #17

This is what burnout looks like. Unless Yelp has a toxic work culture, it's likely the author brought it on themselves by pushing too hard. After several months, the author will probably start thinking about work again, and begin the job search once more. Not to say that the author's points are invalid; it's a terrible feeling to have to spend your most productive hours working on someone else's problems. He or she m…

I went through this. Not sure what toxic culture entails, but fucked up deadlines burned me out. Why do all software companies rush so hard.

Re: I quit the tech industry

#42

Post by 72deluxe »

probablyfiction wrote: post #33
aaggarwal wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am going to start working soon. This makes me think if full-time work is really worth it. Wouldn't multiple short-term contracts with regular breaks be able to cut it in today's world? Isn't there people with experience on working on short-term contracts and still living well-off?

Full-time work can be worth it. Financial stability goes a long way towards contributing to happiness. You ultimately have to ask yourself what your goals are, and why you're working. A job should be a tool to help you get what you really want out of life.

I think many of us end up working fulltime because we are trained throughout schooling that fulltime employment is the norm. Also, we start working fulltime on low income (we are young, after all) so need to work fulltime to afford to live / buy the things we want etc.

When we reach a threshold of income and financial stability, some of us forget to evaluate why we're working.

As it turns out, I haven't reached this threshold yet so have to carry on working, but it is probably a good idea to look around and ask "why am I working?" if there's no real need for fulltime work.

Re: I quit the tech industry

#43

Post by jahnu »

"I had stock options, and I cashed them all in last week. I net enough to pay off the mortgage, so I’m doing that, which will leave the entire household debt-free and cut our expenses drastically."

I'm happy for you. Even a tiny bit jealous. But it does in the end make the whole post sound like a humblebrag to me.

Re: I quit the tech industry

#44

Post by Jare »

johan_larson wrote: post #34
probablyfiction wrote: post #17

This is what burnout looks like. Unless Yelp has a toxic work culture, it's likely the author brought it on themselves by pushing too hard. After several months, the author will probably start thinking about work again, and begin the job search once more. Not to say that the author's points are invalid; it's a terrible feeling to have to spend your most productive hours working on someone else's problems. He or she m…

Generally speaking, if you have to pay people to do it, there is something nasty about the work. It's strenuous or dangerous or dirty or degrading or stressful or boring. If it were actually fun, people would be doing it for free. (Exceptions, anyone?) We programmers are quite lucky. At its worst our work is only frustrating. And we are well compensated, usually. Don't get me wrong; programming itself can be lots of…

> if you have to pay people to do it, there is something nasty about the work

a) Even if it's a job I would do for free, you need to pay me because I need money in order to live.

b) Even if it's a job I do because I love it, you need to pay me to ensure that I do it at the pace and with the guarantees you need.

I wouldn't call either of these "nasty", although the first is arguable at a global scale.

Re: I quit the tech industry

#45

Post by 3pt14159 »

yc1010 wrote: post #18
rblstr wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, you've just convinced me never to return to Ireland until I retire, thanks!

Yeh me and my kids will be paying for a long time for the worlds biggest banking (per capita) debacle and the destruction of the economy in the 00s by various governments. With kids its sort of hard to leave :( Tho' it is a nice place to live despite all the carry on. But hey look over there at the news yet another multinational setting up to launder/funnel money onto somewhere warmer and seems like a housing bubble…

Set up a trust or a separate management company that cannot be easily sued (only one client: your other business). If for some reason Irish tax law doesn't work for this case, you can probably set up a foreign owned management company or quality assurance company. Another option is to buy business insurance for lawsuits, though really do you research and record the call you have with the rep because he will promise you things that are not true. If you don't have one party consent for phone calls in Ireland do it from a country that does.

Re: I quit the tech industry

#46

Post by raziel2p »

yc1010 wrote: post #11

I have been working for myself for last 8 years after completing my masters, in hindsight financially I did not do too badly (tho there was some great and ups and incredible downs!) and it is NICE working from home and watching your kid grow (tho there are quite a lot of distractions!!! says he who is procrastinating reading HN :D ) BUT if I was offered a job with guaranteed employment and steady wages and (gaaasp pe…

$35K monthly or yearly?

Re: I quit the tech industry

#47

Post by rasur »

raziel2p wrote: post #46
yc1010 wrote: post #11

I have been working for myself for last 8 years after completing my masters, in hindsight financially I did not do too badly (tho there was some great and ups and incredible downs!) and it is NICE working from home and watching your kid grow (tho there are quite a lot of distractions!!! says he who is procrastinating reading HN :D ) BUT if I was offered a job with guaranteed employment and steady wages and (gaaasp pe…

$35K monthly or yearly?

He would be talking about yearly.

Re: I quit the tech industry

#48

Post by simonebrunozzi »

yc1010 wrote: post #11

I have been working for myself for last 8 years after completing my masters, in hindsight financially I did not do too badly (tho there was some great and ups and incredible downs!) and it is NICE working from home and watching your kid grow (tho there are quite a lot of distractions!!! says he who is procrastinating reading HN :D ) BUT if I was offered a job with guaranteed employment and steady wages and (gaaasp pe…

It is (was) great for Ireland, though. That's how they attracted tons of (large) tech companies to Ireland. It's the perfect match: low corporate tax, no incentive for people to go away and do their own startups, which means you can get paid less as there as less alternatives for you. Very smart play by Ireland.

Then, the EU went back to them and told them they couldn't keep doing this, and very soon (is it 2016?) they will rack up corporate tax and make a fortune. And if you're Google, you built a large office and hired thousands of people, you're not going to leave anytime soon.

Re: I quit the tech industry

#49

Post by maccard »

yc1010 wrote: post #11

I have been working for myself for last 8 years after completing my masters, in hindsight financially I did not do too badly (tho there was some great and ups and incredible downs!) and it is NICE working from home and watching your kid grow (tho there are quite a lot of distractions!!! says he who is procrastinating reading HN :D ) BUT if I was offered a job with guaranteed employment and steady wages and (gaaasp pe…

Between that and the cost of property in Dublin (rental prices are insane at the minute, and I haven't looked at buying but I figure it's the same) that's why everyone graduating in ireland is leaving

Re: I quit the tech industry

#50

Post by jahnu »

yc1010 wrote: post #40
jkot wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some source on Irish taxes? Last time I checked income tax in Ireland was one of lowest in Europe. Bellow €40K (+-) was 20%, everything over 40%. Same income in Germany is taxed way higher.

Try this calculator, in the last few years taxes have increased a lot. Also keep in mind if you are a director of a company (Startup etc) you lose a good chunk of your tax credits Anyways to answer your question, play around with calculator http://download.pwc.com/ie/budget-2015/index.html A single 30 year old (average age of HNers?) earning €100K will receive €58,869 after all the income taxes From this money he/she…

If you can't live well €100K in Ireland you are doing something wrong. Do you realise that you are in the top ~12% of household income with that sort of money?

I do sometimes wonder what kind of self-awareness people have of their status.

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