Ask HN: How to survive as a homeless engineer? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: How to survive as a homeless engineer?

#161

Post by lebanon_tn » Fri, Jun 15, 2018, 7:11 PM UTC

csomar wrote: post #88

I also agree this story doesn't make sense or it is missing some stuff. Otherwise I'll be harsh: What the hell happened during 15 years? I'm based in a third-world and have been working for 7 years only and have approximately a lifetime of savings. Despite traveling to a dozen countries and buying lots of gadgets. Something doesn't add up. Or, you have a bigger problem than finding a job (gambling addiction? an expen…

There’s no use for such a condescending reply especially when admittedly speaking from a place of ignorance.

Not everyone wishes to live in a third world country and yes - OP did mention a health condition.

Re: Ask HN: How to survive as a homeless engineer?

#162

Post by csomar » Fri, Jun 15, 2018, 8:05 PM UTC

icebraining wrote: post #100

csomar wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you talking about yourself? I can hardly see someone with 40k karma in hn charging less than $100/hour. Stop selling yourself short.

Yes, I'm talking about myself :) I know I'm worth more, but that doesn't help if the buyers with money to afford it aren't here. I'm exploring remote, we'll see what happens.

I’m not sure why I’m getting downvoted. With your writing skills, you can sell articles. I did that when I started and didn’t have enough connection to get real programming gigs.

Articles pay range from $150 to $500. It’s not difficult to get an article per day done if you have enough commitment.

The second way is least profitable short-term but more rewarding long-term. Start a blog. You’d be surprised how many random people contact you through your blog looking for devs. And some of them are very good clients.

Re: Ask HN: How to survive as a homeless engineer?

#163

Post by civilitty » Fri, Jun 15, 2018, 8:41 PM UTC

tapvt wrote: post #36

civilitty wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, Colorado's eviction laws are not as pro-tenant as California's or other Western countries'. Based on a cursory search, it doesn't take more than 30 days between the missed payment and a judge ordering a sheriff to evict you in person.

But a late payment (only 3 days!) rather than a missed one. A court appearance seems very heavy-handed to me. I'd hope the judge will see that.

The thinking probably goes that it's only a late payment if the tenant makes an agreement with the landlord, in which case the landlord wouldn't be giving them notice to vacate. If it has gotten that far then it is a missed payment because the tenant couldn't (or didn't try to) reach an agreement in time and it resulted in the tenant breaking the lease. I think many leases include provisions for late payments for this reason, even in states with pro-tenant laws.

Re: Ask HN: How to survive as a homeless engineer?

#164

Post by icebraining » Fri, Jun 15, 2018, 9:25 PM UTC

csomar wrote: post #162

icebraining wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, I'm talking about myself :) I know I'm worth more, but that doesn't help if the buyers with money to afford it aren't here. I'm exploring remote, we'll see what happens.

I’m not sure why I’m getting downvoted. With your writing skills, you can sell articles. I did that when I started and didn’t have enough connection to get real programming gigs. Articles pay range from $150 to $500. It’s not difficult to get an article per day done if you have enough commitment. The second way is least profitable short-term but more rewarding long-term. Start a blog. You’d be surprised how many rand…

I can't even imagine where I would get enough content to write an article a day. I gave up on my blog after I failed to manage a rate of one article a month, simply due to being bereft of inspiration.

By the way, who buys such as articles at those rates?

Re: Ask HN: How to survive as a homeless engineer?

#165

Post by bartozone » Fri, Jun 15, 2018, 9:42 PM UTC

araes wrote: post #10

- Public libraries can help with the job search if they offer free internet access - If you don't mind camping, its an extremely cheap way to live, and a gym / YMCA will help before interviews. - If you have any friends / family, ask them if you can crash. Have a friend who lived this way for ages. - If it comes to it, there are often abandoned structures that are reasonable for keeping rain off. Lived in an abandone…

Just to add on to this, Huntsville, AL is the fastest growing market in the United States for technology jobs.

http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/facebook/facebook-build-7...

Average rent for a 2br is somewhere around $800, and about 3 hours from Nashville and Atlanta.

Re: Ask HN: How to survive as a homeless engineer?

#166

Post by DoctorOetker » Fri, Jun 15, 2018, 10:14 PM UTC

homelessdev wrote: post #31

bequanna wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With some exceptions (hostile work environment, etc.), unemployment typically won't pay out if you quit a job.

unemployment approved me as the reason I quit was valid (HIPPA violations)

perhaps these were symbolic breadcrums after you revealed your allegiance with the people instead of the corporation?

if true, this helps explain why you have a hard time finding an IT related job.

if true, this insight may help you find a job by selectively applying for IT work at civil right-ish places (EFF, small civil right-ish law firms, etc ...) as they may be less prone to discriminate on your past "offences", with the upshot that you might feel more at home in such a job than elsewhere?

Re: Ask HN: How to survive as a homeless engineer?

#167

Post by malmsteen » Fri, Jun 15, 2018, 10:18 PM UTC

stop saying the reason why u quit in job interviews

Re: Ask HN: How to survive as a homeless engineer?

#168

Post by dilatedmind » Fri, Jun 15, 2018, 10:28 PM UTC

Doesn't the eviction process take at least a month? How long will it take you to land a new job? It seems pointless to have to be homeless if you're able to land a job within a month or 2.

Are you in a position to borrow money? Maybe even an online lender like bestegg.

You could setup a bitcoin wallet and livestream yourself coding, I feel like a person in your situation is a kind of person I would be willing to donate to.

Re: Ask HN: How to survive as a homeless engineer?

#169

Post by systemicdent » Sat, Jun 16, 2018, 12:31 AM UTC

I'm surprised (or maybe I didn't read through all the posts in detail) that we aren't trying to solve the root cause - finding you a job by clearly and correctly understanding your skills as an engineer. I honestly want to help and I have a few ideas but I'm not very good at this mode of communication (I have always used hackernews in readonly mode and this is the first time I am commenting here - I actually had to create a new account). If you'd be willing to reach out to me (systemicdent at gmail dot com) I'll do whatever I can to help you get out of this situation.

Re: Ask HN: How to survive as a homeless engineer?

#170

Post by jason_slack » Sat, Jun 16, 2018, 12:40 AM UTC

PM me your info (my email in my profile) and I'll mail you some gift cards to your local grocery store.

I have a T240 with 8gb of RAM you can have.

There is a lot more said here so I won't repeat.

I'm struggling to to find a job in my area as a c++ dev, but I can help out another human being.

If you ever get to Upstate NY you and your wife are welcome to stay with us. We live on a lake with lots of trees. Might eliminate some stress while you rebound :-)