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How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

oliverzheng.com

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Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#121

Post by walshemj »

debt wrote: post #50
yfiapo wrote: post #33

Yeesh, the mindwash is strong. I had a hard time continuing to read this post after the Prestige by Association section. Working at a respected company known for cutting edge work is generally a good sign but it does not make you an Internet God or widen my eyes. It is like saying you went to Harvard or MIT. That's neat. You are probably reasonably intelligent. However, even that isn't an automatic and I'll reserve j…

It's actually quite hilarious to me this Prestige by Association. I've worked at a couple very high-profile companies in the Valley and have never felt this prestige primarily because I don't hang out with complete douchebags. If people get all starry-eyed when you announce the company you work for; run in the opposite direction. Also, don't kidd yourself, you and I know both know you're not working on anything that…

Ever had any friends who went to a public (private in the US) school.

One of my mates who went to a mid tier public school and he commented he made sure when sending out his cv the fact that he was a old bedfordian was prominent.

And if I had stayed in Birmingham (UK) and my mum's plan to use family connections to get me into King Edwards had come off dam right I would use that - btw this is the school that is always in the top 3 in the rankings.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#122

Post by fatjokes »

yfiapo wrote: post #33

Yeesh, the mindwash is strong. I had a hard time continuing to read this post after the Prestige by Association section. Working at a respected company known for cutting edge work is generally a good sign but it does not make you an Internet God or widen my eyes. It is like saying you went to Harvard or MIT. That's neat. You are probably reasonably intelligent. However, even that isn't an automatic and I'll reserve j…

Good on you, but you're also kidding yourself. First impressions matter---and hearing someone went to MIT or Harvard or works at GoogFace immediately implies that they passed their rigorous vetting. In the absence of more information and the time to process it, it's a pretty strong signal.

It also matters socially. I went to an Ivy League grad school and a no-name undergrad, so I can provide a point of anecdata that people treat you differently.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#123

Post by rhexs »

Cofike wrote: post #54
AceJohnny2 wrote: post #20

> you have enough savings to last at least two years. I've always heard it as being 6 months. Especially with his next point assuming you can certainly find employment. Or maybe that's what I chose to remember, because I'm lucky enough to work in a high-employment sector in a region that can't fill enough positions: i.e. my profile is in high demand. (... for now. I know)

Yeah that struck me as a little strange. If you have a "top tier tech job" then I don't really understand the need for two years of savings. Do you think you won't find a job before two years? I guess it depends on location. I've left jobs multiple times to take a few months off to work on stuff before job hunting again and I definitely didn't have more than one year of savings.

Are people at top tier tech jobs (FANG) so secure in their jobs that they aren't saving for retirement? I had two years of living expenses saved up after two years at my first job out of college making 63K. Yes it was a cheap city, but I decided I wanted to start saving early after I noticed tech companies had so few employees over the age of 40. No, I wouldn't be living grand if I had to rely on these savings, but it would get me by in a small apartment.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#124

Post by louthy »

eljimmy wrote: post #115
deckard1 wrote: post #102

......................

I don't think not working for 2 years would make someone unemployable so long as they are continuing to hone their craft.

It can raise doubts and suspicions with employers though. Why wasn’t he employed? Does he have a problem with work? Was he in jail? etc. Even if misplaced, you, can’t stop people thinking that way

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#125

Post by dokem »

I also quit fb in 2017. A large part was the arrogant attitude shared by many of my young peers like OP. Another factor was the over-sweetened coolaid. Fb is not the end-all, be all. It's a great place, sure, but there are smart teams and people everywhere. I couldn't finish the article.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#127

Post by phyzome »

deckard1 wrote: post #102

......................

Unemployable after 2 years? In what world?

People take sabbaticals all the time. They raise kids. They start businesses. They take care of sick family members. They work on personal projects. There are a shitload of reasons people take time off. And then they pick up at a new job.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#128

Post by Cofike »

bthornbury wrote: post #116
boffinism wrote: post #67

Oh good lord. If you want to quit a job, quit it. Top tier tech is no different to anything else. OP should have titled this post "How to not realise you're having an existential crisis and respond to it by massively over-complicating a very simple career decision."

Fundamentally this is true, but bringing yourself to the point where you "just quit" is quite difficult. I think you're ignoring a lot of human things like that a lot developers are quite isolated and working 60+ hours a week. Their social group is quite likely just their co-workers. Especially for new devs who have relocated.

That's a good point I didn't think about. Assuming you are most likely burning some midnight oil at a top tech company, you'd be stressed to keep up a social circle besides your coworkers.

I think that plays a bigger part in it than we are thinking

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#129

Post by compiler-guy »

throwaway7230 wrote: post #99
jjtheblunt wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know if we know one another, but the same here: quit my job of many years at Apple (engineering, very good rank, loved Apple) because I also wasn't able to apply my technical skills, and transferring to another department is really hard to time such that it works.

Same here, left same company, for similar reasons. It was also about advancement though. Once you’re at level 4 it takes god like technical skills and a lot of political showing-off to get promoted to level 5 or move into management. If you’re an “up or out” kind of person you’re going to be frustrated there! Do you remember hearing the saying: “It’s easier to get hired at [other very selective tech company] than to…

Diagonal promotion is a real thing across Silicon Valley.

I believe it is because the company that currently employs you knows you relatively well, both your upsides and your downsides, it has seen your good code and your bad code. It has you, and knows your level of work, and assumes you will keep going, regardless.

Whereas the new company has much more limited information and, as it needs someone more, it has to take the plunge.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#130

Post by ur_all_autistic »

dandr01d wrote: post #78
matte_black wrote: post #71

I find the only people whose eyes go wide almost popping out of their head are younger people just entering the workforce whom may have never met someone who works at a big company whose products they use everyday (or recruiters I guess). It's like you're a celebrity to them. Hell, some of these kids used to get pumped when I was telling them I was merely heading to some Apple conference or Google I/O. No one with ex…

Speak for yourself. I would definitely give a shit if someone who applied to my theoretical company worked at a top-tier company.

That's because you don't know anything.
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