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How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

oliverzheng.com

1–10 of 231 posts

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#2
About a year ago, I quit my job at Apple because I wasn't able to apply my technical skills in my role and I was not successful in transferring to another department (full blog post: http://minimaxir.com/2017/05/leaving-apple/ | HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14270897)

Despite the loss of a salary and frustration in getting another job (Tweetstorm about data science job hunting: https://twitter.com/minimaxir/status/951117788835278848), quitting was 100% the correct move in retrospect.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#3
How about just quitting because you don't get good work (whatever that definition might be)?

I find it hard to believe that most people in so called "top tier" tech companies do compelling work. Not everyone gets to work on de jour areas, most people work on maintenance and improving old code bases (BTW, there is nothing wrong with this)

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#4
post #3

How about just quitting because you don't get good work (whatever that definition might be)? I find it hard to believe that most people in so called "top tier" tech companies do compelling work. Not everyone gets to work on de jour areas, most people work on maintenance and improving old code bases (BTW, there is nothing wrong with this)

"How about just quitting"

That might be irresponsible, from one point of view. I think TFA takes that stand.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#6

About a year ago, I quit my job at Apple because I wasn't able to apply my technical skills in my role and I was not successful in transferring to another department (full blog post: http://minimaxir.com/2017/05/leaving-apple/ | HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14270897 ) Despite the loss of a salary and frustration in getting another job (Tweetstorm about data science job hunting: https://twitter.…

I'm currently about to quit Microsoft and am going through the exact same set of questions in my head. I joined the company a few months ago and am blown away by how bad the culture is - or how badly I fit into the culture, take your pick.

If you don't fit the culture, it's time to leave.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#7
post #4
post #3

How about just quitting because you don't get good work (whatever that definition might be)? I find it hard to believe that most people in so called "top tier" tech companies do compelling work. Not everyone gets to work on de jour areas, most people work on maintenance and improving old code bases (BTW, there is nothing wrong with this)

"How about just quitting" That might be irresponsible, from one point of view. I think TFA takes that stand.

What's TFA

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#8
post #3

How about just quitting because you don't get good work (whatever that definition might be)? I find it hard to believe that most people in so called "top tier" tech companies do compelling work. Not everyone gets to work on de jour areas, most people work on maintenance and improving old code bases (BTW, there is nothing wrong with this)

What makes good work?

I think in many companies, we can define bad work as lacking agency to do what is needed. I don't think maintenance is all that bad if you have the agency to fix it over time. I've been responsible for three complete rewrites of different systems, and they have gone off without a hitch. The key was building trust with management and making slow tactical decisions which each have impact.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#9
"Your legal status in the country does not depend on your continued employment. If it does, stay away from this train of thought. The destination is a depressing and harsh realization."

Its sad - but most of us are out at this point..nothing more to add.

Re: How to Quit a Top Tier Tech Job

#10
post #3

How about just quitting because you don't get good work (whatever that definition might be)? I find it hard to believe that most people in so called "top tier" tech companies do compelling work. Not everyone gets to work on de jour areas, most people work on maintenance and improving old code bases (BTW, there is nothing wrong with this)

These self-congratulatory articles are always a bit off-putting. I'm not sure if they're meant as a humblebrag, or what. Yes, we get that all jobs can suck. Great, you've got savings. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back for doing what countless billions of people have done in their lives: quit a job. But don't consider yourself a daredevil for jumping with "only" a 2 year savings 'net'.
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