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I quit the tech industry

eev.ee

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Re: I quit the tech industry

#91

Post by CrLf »

mgkimsal wrote: post #69
CrLf wrote: post #59

"I’ve worked remotely my whole career" I wonder how much of a role does this play in (not) caring about your employer's problems... As much as I can understand the benefits of working remotely on occasion, doing it all the time will cause a kind of disconnect all by itself. You see the problems as your employer's problems, instead of your team's problems. Your are fixing your employer instead of helping your teammate…

Even if you're f2f, at some point, especially if you've worked a few places, you'll still see the same patterns of problems cropping up, and the same ennui will likely set it. Perhaps not as soon as for remote workers, but it will happen. If you really bond with your teammates, but still see the same recurring problems, you'll almost certainly develop an 'us v them' mentality against 'management', justified or not (t…

But it'ss much easier to avoid burnout. Even if your objective is based on an "us vs. them" mentality, you still have a purpose. If you feel like you're working alone (and sometimes this happens even with other people around) it's much easier to find out that your work means nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Re: I quit the tech industry

#92

Post by mgkimsal »

CrLf wrote: post #91
mgkimsal wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if you're f2f, at some point, especially if you've worked a few places, you'll still see the same patterns of problems cropping up, and the same ennui will likely set it. Perhaps not as soon as for remote workers, but it will happen. If you really bond with your teammates, but still see the same recurring problems, you'll almost certainly develop an 'us v them' mentality against 'management', justified or not (t…

But it'ss much easier to avoid burnout. Even if your objective is based on an "us vs. them" mentality, you still have a purpose. If you feel like you're working alone (and sometimes this happens even with other people around) it's much easier to find out that your work means nothing in the grand scheme of things.

"easier to avoid burnout" feels to me more like a function of time vs actually being f2f with folks, assuming the work doesn't change dramatically. But... my data points are primarily my own and some colleagues, not a comprehensive view of techfolk.

Re: I quit the tech industry

#93

Post by [deleted] »

aidos wrote: post #87
yc1010 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

12.5% corporation tax! That's really low. Just had a look around - is it 35% in the US?!

[deleted]

Re: I quit the tech industry

#94

Post by raverbashing »

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…

> A single 30 year old (average age of HNers?) earning €100K will receive €58,869 after all the income taxes

I just put it into the calculator and the number for 2015 is: 59,019

This results in an effective tax rate of 40% approximately (this is with a property tax and water tax)

The Property tax being so low is one of the causes of the housing bubble. And some people blow their (yearly) water tax on a night at the pub.

And believe me income taxes are not that much better in other places (or there are other issues)

Yeah, healthcare could be better, but it's not a big issue (as opposed to something like the USA)

Re: I quit the tech industry

#95

Post by adenot »

ZenoArrow wrote: post #73
adenot wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought the same thing... first world problems in its essence.

So just because someone has it worse you have to enjoy your job? Doesn't work like that. What the OP realised is that money is no good if chasing it wrecks your time. Is he lucky to be able to choose another way? Yes, but that doesn't make his decision any less valid.

Sure he has his reasons but it's most because he is making a decision that he believes is the right to do, not because his employer did something wrong.

I am in the exact same situation as him (without the equity large enough to cover my mortgage), but I recognize my last employer was actually good to me, my unhappiness was not their fault.

Re: I quit the tech industry

#97

Post by shalmanese »

Delmania wrote: post #77
shalmanese wrote: post #65

It's sad to me that the industry is pushing out so many great people because they feel so disenfranchised by it. I believe technology is one of the most potent forces of good in the world but for that to sustain, a culture has to develop around it with a deep desire to solve serious, large problems. I attended my first (and last) Hackathon a couple of weeks ago because it was immigration themed and so I thought I cou…

> I believe technology is one of the most potent forces of good in the world but for that to sustain, a culture has to develop around it with a deep desire to solve serious, large problems. Idealism > It just seemed to me to be the epitome of the "we're in it for ourselves", move fast and break things, easy X-meets-Y description, get rich quick schemes attitude that is increasingly gaining mindshare in the tech indus…

I think you absolutely have to temper idealism with meeting people where they are but I don't believe that's an excuse for cynicism. At the end of the day, people everywhere want the same fundamental things: A life of connection, respect and joy and a world that is better for their children than for themselves.

Technology & economic development has eradicated illnesses, brought billions out of hunger, enabled new political systems and unlocked creativity as a career option for a large middle class. But it's technology in the broad, expansive sense, not the narrowly focused, web & mobile app economy that is what's meant by "tech" in the Bay Area.

Re: I quit the tech industry

#98

Post by Delmania »

reitoei wrote: post #81
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…

I did exactly this. Was contracting for 8 years in Dublin, commuting almost 3 hours daily. I was making good (but not amazing) money. Then the kids came, and that 3 hour commute became 3 hours that I could spend helping my wife or spending time with my kids. Got offered a full-time job in the tech industry with (gaaasp pension!) outside of Dublin, 5 minutes from my front door, with better salary, bonuses and healthca…

> Got offered a full-time job in the tech industry with (gaaasp pension!) outside of Dublin, 5 minutes from my front door, with better salary, bonuses and healthcare. Things can work out well (and I really don't mean to sound patronizing here) with patience and a bit of luck.

While it seems to have become the trend to rail against traditional 40 hour/week jobs, the stability they can offer it extremely enticing to people with families. Eevee lives with 3 other grown adults and no children.

As someone looking to make the jump from a traditional job to financial independence (and self employment), I've noticed that people like Tim Ferris and Ramit Sethi all have one thing in common: no children. They are able to take the risks they can because when they fail, it's only on them.

With kids and a house, it's no longer the case. The people I follow who have successfully made the transition (Mr. Money Mustahce, Simple Programmer) have all used the traditional job as a means of support until they were ready to launch.

Also, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with just wanting to put in 40 hours and go home.

Re: I quit the tech industry

#99

Post by aidos »

yc1010 wrote: post #62
jahnu wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I just pulled a round figure that someone working in tech either in US or EU would be expecting http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/software-developer... A lot of HN readers are from US and would be shocked at the tax rates here (on everything) and they further shocked as to how little we get to see for our tax money (no free healthcare etc)

I just had a look at the numbers, UK vs IE you're about 10% worse off in Ireland in terms of take home pay. Then as you say, you need to pay another X grand on health insurance. That's a pretty raw deal.

What a crappy system, to simultaneously make it great for corporations and bad for workers.

There have to be some other major upsides that I'm not understanding. It's a pretty country, that's something :)

Re: I quit the tech industry

#100

Post by lsaferite »

mootothemax wrote: post #84
pessimik wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Go to Poland - 19% flat income tax rate for companies - you can get flat by 400 euro / month in biggest cities and work remotely for foreign clients.

Go to Poland - 19% flat income tax rate for companies - you can get flat by 400 euro / month in biggest cities and work remotely for foreign clients. To expand on this: one can operate as a sole trader company, and enjoy the 19% flat income tax rate. You can also register your company for VAT, and then claim back the VAT on company purchases. The only other cost is ~$270 / ~240 EUR / ~180 GBP per month in social insu…

You know what sucks. As an American I'd still have to pay American income taxes. I cannot wrap my head around how we can say that's ok. Sure, there are ways to get around a portion of the taxes, but those involve things like never coming to the US for more than a set (short) amount of time.
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