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Ask HN: So I'm being let go

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Ask HN: So I'm being let go

#1

Post by 404error »

After 10 years at my local newspaper (I'm 30 now) I think I will be facing the chopping block in the coming months. I'm nervous, scared, and somewhat excited.

Nervous because my whole adult life has been spent in between these walls. Scared because I don't have a degree and at 30 I'm competing with younger, new grads. Somewhat excited because it will force me out of my comfort zone.

I got married in June of this year so that adds extra pressure since I am now a provider. Luckily, I dont have any kids, yet, to have to worry about.

I've spend the last decade working with HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP and a suite of other tools. I've built banner ads for advertisers, booked online campaigns in various platforms Google DFP, Yahoo APT. I'm a jack of all trades master of none. I've always taken that as an insult rather than a compliment. I hear it as "your mediocre at a bunch of things...not really good at anything."

So HN, what advice do you have for a 30 year old who's about to embark on a new adventure?

Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go

#3

Post by 404error »

BradyDale wrote: post #2

Wait, so you're a dev, not a reporter? Where in the world are you? This is an important question.

Yup, I've held multiple titles here, I'm in California.

I started as a Print Graphic Designer, then moved to I.T. Due to more layoffs I then became I.T./ Web Dev. I weathered the storm once again and had my job mutated into I.T. Assistant/ Web Dev/ Digital Campaign Coordinator.

Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go

#4

Post by sharemywin »

I wouldn't wait. It's a lot easier to get another job when you have one. When new HR person asks why say looking for better opportunities to expand my skills...don't bad mouth company or puke company drama. Plus if you have stuff in the pipeline you are that much closer to finding something.

Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go

#5

Post by 404error »

sharemywin wrote: post #4

I wouldn't wait. It's a lot easier to get another job when you have one. When new HR person asks why say looking for better opportunities to expand my skills...don't bad mouth company or puke company drama. Plus if you have stuff in the pipeline you are that much closer to finding something.

It's not in me to bad mouth anyone anyway. I will definitely start looking A.S.A.P. I'm lucky because the layoff news isn't going to be disclosed for another couple of weeks so this gives me time to start the job hunt.

Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go

#6

Post by lollipop25 »

> Scared because I don't have a degree and at 30 I'm competing with younger, new grads.

10 years work experience > fresh grad with a degree that has no idea what lies ahead. You know the ins and outs of companies, the kind of people you deal with, you don't throw tantrums, deadlines are deadlines.

> I've built banner ads for advertisers, booked online campaigns in various platforms Google DFP, Yahoo APT.

Yep, experience in different platforms is a huge plus.

> I'm a jack of all trades master of none. I've always taken that as an insult rather than a compliment. I hear it as "your mediocre at a bunch of things...not really good at anything."

I hear it as "I know that much, too much." Being a jack of all trades means you know enough to move around. Your wide range of experience allows you to look for a wider range of jobs. You are more flexible to position change. You are no stranger to being moved across projects, across people, across locations.

> what advice do you have for a 30 year old who's about to embark on a new adventure?

- Read up on the latest trends. Most job interviews will have questions about them (though the job itself may not actually use the latest tech).

- Be sharp, concise and confident in job interviews. I've heard from my co-workers who do the interviews for new candidates. They find resumes good, but they fail candidates because they were terrible at interviews.

- Up the ante. Take up higher positions. You probably make a good project manager with that 10 years around people.

Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go

#7

Post by argonaut »

lollipop25 wrote: post #6

> Scared because I don't have a degree and at 30 I'm competing with younger, new grads. 10 years work experience > fresh grad with a degree that has no idea what lies ahead. You know the ins and outs of companies, the kind of people you deal with, you don't throw tantrums, deadlines are deadlines. > I've built banner ads for advertisers, booked online campaigns in various platforms Google DFP, Yahoo APT. Yep, experie…

I wouldn't be so optimistic about the "jack of all trades" point. The problem there is that, as a generalist, that's one less leg up you'll have on new grads (who are also usually interviewing for generalist positions).

Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go

#8

Post by facorreia »

Knowing several technologies and tools is a good thing. But you really need to pick one to master. It might be PHP web development (or Wordpress plugin development); it might be JavaScript front-end development; or ad campaign management. Something that you get to know very well, and become very efficient in.

Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go

#9

Post by NetStrikeForce »

It is time to specialize. You say you're a jack of all trades, but you probably have to spend a bit more time thinking about what are you a master on, because I don't believe you haven't become a master on something after 10 years working in the same place.

You might not be an ace with HTML or CSS. Heck, you might not even be a great coder (I suck at coding!), but you've probably learned very valuable lessons about how a local newspaper works and how your work could add value to them.

Can you remember every time you had an opinion about how to do something and it was shut down by someone else? Do you still think you were right? If yes, that means you think you can do better. What about those ideas you've never shared but still think were great?

Why don't you sell this knowledge to local newspapers? You could start an IT consultancy specialized in the newspapers business. You could sell again your services to the same newspaper that just let you go, plus other newspapers in your region.

This is my advice without knowing much about you. I hope it helps you in any way :)

Re: Ask HN: So I'm being let go

#10

Post by notahacker »

argonaut wrote: post #7
lollipop25 wrote: post #6

> Scared because I don't have a degree and at 30 I'm competing with younger, new grads. 10 years work experience > fresh grad with a degree that has no idea what lies ahead. You know the ins and outs of companies, the kind of people you deal with, you don't throw tantrums, deadlines are deadlines. > I've built banner ads for advertisers, booked online campaigns in various platforms Google DFP, Yahoo APT. Yep, experie…

I wouldn't be so optimistic about the "jack of all trades" point. The problem there is that, as a generalist, that's one less leg up you'll have on new grads (who are also usually interviewing for generalist positions).

Someone with ten years' experience shouldn't be applying for the same jack-of-all trades positions as fresh grads. He should be applying for positions where a few years experience keeping a revenue-generating site going is a minimum requirement.
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