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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

#81

Post by kettlecorn »

jrbancel wrote: post #72
kettlecorn wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A massive issue with Microsoft's college recruiting pipeline (this may not apply to you) is that college hires are placed pretty much arbitrarily without input from the hire themselves. People interested in backend work get placed on frontend, people interested in frontend work get placed on backend. As a result, retention for Microsoft college hires is rather poor. Contrast this with Google where once you're selecte…

I have had the exact opposite experience. The first thing I was asked when I interviewed with Microsoft was what I wanted to do and what I wanted to avoid. I said, no frontend, something related to distributed systems and they put me up for interviews with an Azure team. With Google, it was like "interview first, accept the offer before knowing where you are going to be placed, and we will put you in some team".

These are good anecdotes to share. A few years ago when I was a Microsoft college hire I got my impression from gathering anecdotes from others, but maybe it's better now!

Google absolutely has the problem you described and I forgot to mention it in my prior comment. With Google you have no clue what team you'll be on when you're evaluating the offer, but once you've accepted the offer you're given more choice with regards to placement.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#82

Post by mehrdada »

It's amazing that there is a widespread tendency in Googlers to think Google is "the best place" and moving is a downgrade (i.e. fear of missing out, where do I go after this), while at the same time many Facebook employees feel exactly the same towards their employer and think moving is likely a downgrade (my friend who left FB to Snap told me that he had that feeling but now that he has moved he sees Snap as clearly better). These feelings cannot simultaneously be true, which shows the Kool-Aid is powerful indeed, and I think systematic and intentional in nature. At least for Facebook, they have an explicit propaganda ministry, ehem..., Analog Research Lab, actively working toward instating this feeling with posters and stuff.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#84

Post by SystemOut »

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…

Or you have family/friends that aren't very technical and don't know any better. I saw people's faces change as soon as someone mentioned where I worked to others in my circle while I was at Google. I had never seen that before. It was weird at first and then I just accepted it. Then having to explain why I wanted to/did leave there was just a major PITA.

I'd be lying if there wasn't some reservation or me doubting myself a bit at first when I realized I just wasn't happy there and needed to get out and I'd also be lying if I said some of it wasn't because of the above reaction of family/friends.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#86

Post by tyrust »

ttul wrote: post #73
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…

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

Sounds reasonable to me.

You should have an emergency fund that covers six months of expenses, ideally you never touch this. If you quit without another offer it's safe to prepare for a job hunt lasting up to a year. Six more months for safety is just smart.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#87

Post by delbel »

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 try to minimize damage. Every single time this has happened I get some kind of contact or letter of appreciation thanking me for keeping things professional no matter how bad things got. It just makes me feel better as a person to know that I did everything I could to minimize potential damages and to seek the best possible scenario.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#88

Post by lainga »

fwdpropaganda wrote: post #70
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…

> 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. I suggest you take a walk in the real world.

Yes, if you work for Facebook right now, you might cause a few eyes to actually narrow.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#89

Post by matte_black »

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.

Sounds great but not a good idea in practice. A company should always be designed in a way that it works smoothly even with people of modest backgrounds. Especially as it grows larger.

Otherwise your "top tier" employees become liabilities, and it becomes unsustainable to rely purely on everyone being a top player. Basically you want a company that can still operate effectively even if everyone was a dumbass.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#90

Post by DarkTree »

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…

> 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.

Get over yourself and out of your bubble. American culture constantly pushes the value of prestige and the way of obtaining that being going to good schools and working at popular companies. If you are a person who didn't go to an ivy league or work at Facebook, it's easy to believe that the person who did is better than you in some way. It is more rare to attain that status, so therefor many people both in and outside of the industry look starry-eyed at them.

I don't work at one of the big tech firms and nor do I want to, but I know for a fact most people in my family would think highly of me if I told them I worked at Google, because it is prestigious whether you like it or not. Does that make them douchebags?

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