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In Silicon Valley, Working 9 to 5 Is for Losers

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Re: In Silicon Valley, Working 9 to 5 Is for Losers

#21
post #2

This is one of their favorite reasons for recruiting people without experience: They're unlikely to say no and more unlikely to be married or have familial commitments.

My first job in Silicon Valley I had no idea I should be saying 'no' to unreasonable demands. I burned out pretty hard.

Encouragingly, when I started saying 'no' I started getting taken seriously as an engineer. The conversation after 'no' includes real engineering topics on resources, schedules, techniques and backup plans. 'Ok, how do we get this done?', not 'You're fired'.

Re: In Silicon Valley, Working 9 to 5 Is for Losers

#23
post #13

In my anecdotal experience perusing glassdoor and talking to various tech company recruiters (as I job hunt), a lot of companies these days (in the valley and elsewhere) seem to be touting "good work life balance" and "9-5 hours" as a selling point.

Remember they are selling..

Oh yea, absolutely, I'm not going to accept those pitches at face value. Been around the block enough times to be skeptical, but its at least something that it seems to be a thing that companies are advertising as a feature.. maybe.

Re: In Silicon Valley, Working 9 to 5 Is for Losers

#24
post #21
post #2

This is one of their favorite reasons for recruiting people without experience: They're unlikely to say no and more unlikely to be married or have familial commitments.

My first job in Silicon Valley I had no idea I should be saying 'no' to unreasonable demands. I burned out pretty hard. Encouragingly, when I started saying 'no' I started getting taken seriously as an engineer. The conversation after 'no' includes real engineering topics on resources, schedules, techniques and backup plans. 'Ok, how do we get this done?', not 'You're fired'.

I found that to be applicable to dating.

Re: In Silicon Valley, Working 9 to 5 Is for Losers

#25
post #16
post #5

No, the losers are the idiots putting in long hours for the same pay as the 9 to 5 guys.

Sometimes it's not possible to say no. The rip and replace strategy of SV will surely force some people to work more than a 9 to 5.

True. I should have said those who do so voluntarily.

Re: In Silicon Valley, Working 9 to 5 Is for Losers

#26
There is one true way to measure this, you may be offering skills but you are selling your time.

100,000 / (5240) = $48 p/h (8 hours a day) 100,000 / (5260) = $32 p/h (12 hours a day)

You are actually costing yourself $320 ($16600 pa) a week by working and extra 20 hours.

60,000 / (5240) = $28 p/h (8 hours a day) 60,000 / (5260) = $19 p/h (12 hours a day)

You are actually costing yourself $180 ($9360 pa) a week by working and extra 20 hours.

I understand this is a fairly black and white way of looking at it, and you could easily say hey I am earning 100K and happy putting in the time.

Now if you take Gary's V point of view on an 18 hour day

100,000 / (52*126) = $15 p/h (18 hours a day).

You want to make sure you get a return on your investment, and as an employee you probably never will. However a business person, I agree these hours may be beneficial.

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