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How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

oliverzheng.com

141–150 of 231 posts

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#141
post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two fucking years of savings? What world is this guy living in?

I don't understand how you couldn't save 50% of your income per year while working at facebook.

Assuming a $200k income, a modest 2bd Bay area house, 2 preschool aged children, between mortgage/rent (4k/mo), childcare (20+k/child/year), car, food, taxes, and other basic life expenses, it's totally possible not to save 50%.

Unless you meant as a childless single person making 200k/yr. Then yes, it's easy.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#143
The OP has joined Facebook in June 2013. Assuming he has 3+ years of experience in Microsoft he must have been hired at Facebook at L4 which puts his salary as 135k + 250K (stock, may be more when Seattle office was just getting started).

Facebook stock was ~$25 in June 2013 which means he has got 10000 RSUs of Facebook while joining. Value of this stock today is around $1.5M. He is in Seattle and his taxes are way low compared to CA.

OP must have been scoring refreshers ($40k (Jan 2014), $100k(Jan 2015), $150k(Jan 2016). Let's assume has around $300K of vested stocks.

OP has made $1.8M in stocks at Facebook and may be some good bonuses and quitting Facebook after has vested his initial grant.

You shouldn't quit Top Tier tech jobs period unless you're this author who has made >2M.

At the growing pace of FB, Google and Amzn, anyone quitting at L5 levels will learn that they could have ended up as Director in 6-8 years if they work hard in these firms.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#144

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

He didn't say 2 year's salary, but 2 year's spend.

I urge everyone in tech to try and get to at least 1 year spend saved up.

I didn't live through dot com crash #1, but if #2 is anything like it, a lot of us may be fighting for the same jobs and having your budget right will help.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#145
post #96
post #87

You know, in this day in age you really need to give more then a two weeks notice. Maybe 6 weeks or more. I've had to fire clients before by giving notice and I always try to work out the best possible scenario where the least amount of damage is done. I even had to deal with yelling, screaming, threats of lawsuits. I always keep my cool and do everything I can to de-escalate the situation, stay professional, etc and…

Why would you give companies this kind of consideration? Most will not certainly hesitate to walk you out the door when times are bad. I have some friends who have told bosses they and leaving. By the end of the day they are told to pack their personal belongings and leave. Two weeks is the law for an employee giving notice. There aren’t many laws protecting employees especially in Work at will states.

Where are you located where two weeks' notice is law?

If you are in an "at will" state, the law applies in both directions. Two weeks is a professional courtesy. An employer that is neither deserves nothing.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#146
post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two fucking years of savings? What world is this guy living in?

Outside of a life-altering sickness I see no way for someone who had worked for a top-tier tech company to go without employment opportunities for half a year, let alone two years.

I think a lot of people forget what it was like during the last tech downturn, or the previous one, or the previous one... or they’re too young to have lived through them. I remember being a month from total bankruptcy, 12 months into a job search, and I had a decade of experience at the time. Almost nobody was hiring. If you haven’t been through it you have no idea. Fund that emergency fund, people!! Minimum 6 months but 2 years is much better.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#147
post #125

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.

This is exactly how I imagine how FB's culture would be, towards the arrogant side, I would like to be wrong on this though. Would like to see if anyone else had this experience.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#148

2 years of savings is a crazy suggestion. 3-6 months should be fine especially if you've got top tier company on your resume.

Why is it crazy? You can never start retirement saving (and I'm talking outside of a 401K) too early. If you've worked at a top-tier tech company for > 5 years and been even slightly careful with your money you're going to have that much saved up without even meaning to. Exhibit A: https://www.thefrugalgene.com/dumb-luck-rich/

It's not crazy to have 2 years worth of savings. It's crazy to think you need that to be in a position to quit your job.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#150

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…

I think it's a California thing. No one in SF or the Bay Area gives a shit about my job title. When I go back East to MA? Everyone's eyes are popping.
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