Thank you HN

#1

Post by throwAwayXYZ69 » Sun, Aug 12, 2018, 6:32 PM UTC

About a couple of years ago, I submitted a thread here called "Ask HN: I'm depressed, what should I do?" [0].

I was in a very dark place personally and professionally. I had turned to my family and friends without success, and posted here looking for a moral boost.

I would like to thank all the people that have responded with kindness.

I just wanted to say that your words helped, that I think about this thread often, and that your effort did actually help someone from a tough spot.

Update on my situation:

By the time that I got an offer I could live with, I had sent over 250 applications and done around 20 interviews.

I started with 33k€ a year (translates to a little less than 2000€ per month), now I'm at 38k€.

I rented a place downtown, and started working out (lost 18kg and counting), I'm going to run a marathon in 3 months!!!

Overall, I'm not exactly where I want to be, but -for once- I can see myself getting there.

I'm hopeful for the future, and I would like to thank the many people that helped me to get here.

Just to sum up, be kind when you can, it can change someone's life.

[0]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13134183

Re: Thank you HN

#2

Post by lisper » Sun, Aug 12, 2018, 6:35 PM UTC

Congrats! Now pay it forward by finding someone feeling blue near you and helping them out.

Re: Thank you HN

#3

Post by throwaway8879 » Sun, Aug 12, 2018, 7:02 PM UTC

Glad to hear you're doing better, friend. Please keep it up. Taking care of the mind and the body is the right way to do it.

Re: Thank you HN

#4

Post by wellboy » Sun, Aug 12, 2018, 7:31 PM UTC

Is it really that competitive these days after uni when you have "no experience" and are a junior dev?

I assume you have a top 10% GPA?

I always hear in the bay area you get $150,000 straight out of uni, at least when you're from Stanford etc. Is this not the case anymore?

Edit: Ok, I see you're in France. Then 33k€ is rather reasonable.

There don't really exist exciting software companies in France or Germany, except maybe blockchain companies.

Re: Thank you HN

#5

Post by Rjevski » Sun, Aug 12, 2018, 7:32 PM UTC

wellboy wrote: post #4

Is it really that competitive these days after uni when you have "no experience" and are a junior dev? I assume you have a top 10% GPA? I always hear in the bay area you get $150,000 straight out of uni, at least when you're from Stanford etc. Is this not the case anymore? Edit: Ok, I see you're in France. Then 33k€ is rather reasonable. There don't really exist exciting software companies in France or Germany, excep…

In Europe not really. US is a different league I believe, one I can't comment on.

Re: Thank you HN

#6

Post by codingdave » Sun, Aug 12, 2018, 7:36 PM UTC

wellboy wrote: post #4

Is it really that competitive these days after uni when you have "no experience" and are a junior dev? I assume you have a top 10% GPA? I always hear in the bay area you get $150,000 straight out of uni, at least when you're from Stanford etc. Is this not the case anymore? Edit: Ok, I see you're in France. Then 33k€ is rather reasonable. There don't really exist exciting software companies in France or Germany, excep…

> I assume you have a top 10% GPA?

Why would you assume something that is, by definition, not true for 90% of the population?

Re: Thank you HN

#7

Post by ebbv » Sun, Aug 12, 2018, 7:47 PM UTC

wellboy wrote: post #4

Is it really that competitive these days after uni when you have "no experience" and are a junior dev? I assume you have a top 10% GPA? I always hear in the bay area you get $150,000 straight out of uni, at least when you're from Stanford etc. Is this not the case anymore? Edit: Ok, I see you're in France. Then 33k€ is rather reasonable. There don't really exist exciting software companies in France or Germany, excep…

In the US a lot of companies just don’t have the bandwidth to hire someone straight out of university. A degree is great but 10 out of 10 times I would rather have someone with four years of experience doing the work we are doing than someone with a four year degree and no work experience. It’s sad but it’s the truth. We aren’t a big enough team to spare the time and effort it takes to teach a recent graduate everything they are gonna have to learn in their first couple years. A lot of which is just about what being a developer is day to day.

Re: Thank you HN

#8

Post by adventured » Sun, Aug 12, 2018, 7:47 PM UTC

Wonderful progress, congratulations. Good luck on the marathon.

Re: Thank you HN

#9

Post by throwAwayXYZ69 » Sun, Aug 12, 2018, 7:47 PM UTC

wellboy wrote: post #4

Is it really that competitive these days after uni when you have "no experience" and are a junior dev? I assume you have a top 10% GPA? I always hear in the bay area you get $150,000 straight out of uni, at least when you're from Stanford etc. Is this not the case anymore? Edit: Ok, I see you're in France. Then 33k€ is rather reasonable. There don't really exist exciting software companies in France or Germany, excep…

I was indeed in the top 10% of my school. Even a smaller percentile I guess since I was on the top 2 or 3 people in my class.

But unless the job is in Paris (which is extremely expensive) I havent found anything starting close to 40k€

Re: Thank you HN

#10

Post by toren » Sun, Aug 12, 2018, 7:49 PM UTC

Life can be tough as we all know.. Glad to hear that you're doing well, keep it up.