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OP: Why wouldn't you want to change a job or take a vacation? These need to always be on the table. You have _one_ life to live.. >If you want more money loo

by aantix 10y ago

OP: Why wouldn't you want to change a job or take a vacation? These need to always be on the table. You have _one_ life to live.. >If you want more money look at where you can save money (not eating out, buying generic products, etc.) and things you might be able to do on the side to earn more. Oh dear god, the guy is depressed and now he has to stop buying his daily coffee too? And possibly a second job!?? You're an engineer, not a tollbooth operator. You're in one of the few fields that's actually growing and still pays worth a shit. On the money front, take several queues from Ramit Sethi. Level up, do a cool side project with the latest React/Vue/Node and learn a bit about selling yourself. Most engineers, even if they're really good, decide to take the humble, quiet route and demand a "fair pay". It's bullshit, it's a cop out, and if you're just 10% confident, you can increase your next jobs's salary with the money the other introverted engineers left on the table for you.

tdeck 10y ago
I think you're viewing this suggestion in too negative a light. At times when I've been uninspired by my job, I've definitely found it meaningful to try to optimize my life on other fronts. Sometimes you can't just up and leave because there's a cost to switching as well.
YCode 10y ago
Maybe. I don't know OP or his situation. Others had already mentioned taking a vacation so that seemed redundant. I mentioned that first because it's easy to fall into a lifestyle trap and think the only way to cope is to get a job that makes more. The formula for money is income minus expenses, so you always have two variables you can play with. It also makes a nice mental segue for people into the topic of getting a new job, a topic which people can be adverse to. It creates a choice that seemingly wasn't there before. FWIW I wouldn't be so quick to turn your nose up at side gigs. I have a friend who picked up an old vinyl decal cutter and now makes a significant amount of his income by selling custom decal stickers for cars and windows and such to local businesses. Similarly my neighbor does lawn aerating in the spring and sprinkler blowouts in the fall and considers it a refreshing break from his work as a PM.

by aantix 10y ago

tdeck 10y ago

I think you're viewing this suggestion in too negative a light. At times when I've been uninspired by my job, I've definitely found it meaningful to try to optimize my life on other fronts. Sometimes you can't just up and leave because there's a cost to switching as well.

YCode 10y ago

Maybe. I don't know OP or his situation. Others had already mentioned taking a vacation so that seemed redundant. I mentioned that first because it's easy to fall into a lifestyle trap and think the only way to cope is to get a job that makes more. The formula for money is income minus expenses, so you always have two variables you can play with. It also makes a nice mental segue for people into the topic of getting a new job, a topic which people can be adverse to. It creates a choice that seemingly wasn't there before. FWIW I wouldn't be so quick to turn your nose up at side gigs. I have a friend who picked up an old vinyl decal cutter and now makes a significant amount of his income by selling custom decal stickers for cars and windows and such to local businesses. Similarly my neighbor does lawn aerating in the spring and sprinkler blowouts in the fall and considers it a refreshing break from his work as a PM.