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I'm really surprised by all of the next job worry. I'm a software developer in Iowa and have been doing this right here for 18 years now and that has never been

I'm really surprised by all of the next job worry. I'm a software developer in Iowa and have been doing this right here for 18 years now and that has never been a concern. I was once out of work for about 2 months after being laid off from a start-up after the main VC investor backed out. I have spent a lot of time interviewing candidates and it is much harder for me to hire than it is for me to go find a job. I have a nice large home in a quiet neighborhood with easy access to anywhere I want to go. I raise three kids and still manage to invest about 50K a year into retirement every year and so I will retire early with millions saved. There is so much FUD from everyone that doesn't live here. Please keep thinking the same way though. If everyone catches on and moves here eventually we really will be the next silicon valley; to that I say, "No thanks."

ryandrake 10y ago
Interesting. Do you happen to know roughly how many software engineer-hiring companies are within a commutable radius from your home?
cableshaft 10y ago
I live in Chicago and it can be a bit tough finding the next gig here. Lots of people are hiring, but no one ever seems to be in a big hurry. I had one recruiter touching base with me for over two months as one startup took their time to schedule a second phone interview with me (I was still in contention, they just have a dirt slow process. The recruiter had complained to them about it before). By the time they were ready, I had finally found something new, but that was after four months (they contacted me when I was 2 months unemployed). I've also had people submit changes in their requirements to recruiters before a phone interview so I was no longer had enough years of experience for them (and I have quite a few), contact me about setting up an interview and then never end up emailing me to confirm a final time, all sorts of stupid stuff that's happened. I'm at a new company now (in the Chicago area) and even though we've lost four people and we're 'desperate for new developers' according to the boss, we haven't had a new hire in at least six months. I doubt this kind of crap happens with companies at SV, because they wouldn't be able to hire anyone because other companies would snatch them up too quick.
- ryandrake 10y ago
  > I doubt this kind of crap happens with companies at SV, because they wouldn't be able to hire anyone because other companies would snatch them up too quick. No, I can assure you that it does happen in SV too. Everyone claims to be 'desperate for new developers' but the proof is in the pudding--lots of places interviewing, few places hiring. Lots of slowness, endless rounds of interviews, and foot dragging.

ryandrake 10y ago

Interesting. Do you happen to know roughly how many software engineer-hiring companies are within a commutable radius from your home?

cableshaft 10y ago

I live in Chicago and it can be a bit tough finding the next gig here. Lots of people are hiring, but no one ever seems to be in a big hurry. I had one recruiter touching base with me for over two months as one startup took their time to schedule a second phone interview with me (I was still in contention, they just have a dirt slow process. The recruiter had complained to them about it before). By the time they were ready, I had finally found something new, but that was after four months (they contacted me when I was 2 months unemployed). I've also had people submit changes in their requirements to recruiters before a phone interview so I was no longer had enough years of experience for them (and I have quite a few), contact me about setting up an interview and then never end up emailing me to confirm a final time, all sorts of stupid stuff that's happened. I'm at a new company now (in the Chicago area) and even though we've lost four people and we're 'desperate for new developers' according to the boss, we haven't had a new hire in at least six months. I doubt this kind of crap happens with companies at SV, because they wouldn't be able to hire anyone because other companies would snatch them up too quick.

ryandrake 10y ago
> I doubt this kind of crap happens with companies at SV, because they wouldn't be able to hire anyone because other companies would snatch them up too quick. No, I can assure you that it does happen in SV too. Everyone claims to be 'desperate for new developers' but the proof is in the pudding--lots of places interviewing, few places hiring. Lots of slowness, endless rounds of interviews, and foot dragging.