3 ms·

I went from being a hotshot who had multiple offers all the time with sign up bonuses to somebody who could send out 100 resumes and not get a single response a

I went from being a hotshot who had multiple offers all the time with sign up bonuses to somebody who could send out 100 resumes and not get a single response and once I got a response I was offered much less than I was used to. It was very depressing but also educational. It took me quite a while (probably too long) to accept this new reality. I feel the same may happen to a lot of Startup guys who make big money in their 20s now. Not all success is your own making. Often you are just riding a wave that takes you up but will also take you down if you are not careful.

im_down_w_otp 7y ago
> It was very depressing but also educational. Indeed. When 2008 hit, it was reminiscent of what ~2002 felt like, except instead of tech it was basically happening to everyone. In that way I felt more prepared to deal with the new crisis because I'd learned from the old one.
- ip26 7y ago
  What did you learn?
  - im_down_w_otp 7y ago
    Several things: - Any news about a "recovery" has nothing to do with the reality you are likely facing. - The worst of it is in the long-tail, not necessarily the initial shock. - The change in the market from, "We can grow our way out of anything!" to, "Quick! Circle the wagons and lay low." happens a lot more suddenly than you expect, but there are also warning signs. - You're super valuable and totally super employable right up until the moment that you're not, and in the wrong place at the wrong time you have no control and almost no influence over changing that, so be prepared to weather it or jump ship. - Super high software developer salaries seem somehow correlated to VC-pumping, and when the market fundamentals kick in, you're likely to find yourself facing steep cuts, so live like you're a mechanical engineer, not a lottery winner.
    - pjmlp 7y ago
      - Value the team not the employer, you might meet them again elsewhere, while the employer might fire you at the first crisis.
- k__ 7y ago
  I was so lucky to be in university from 2007 to 2011. When I got out, things were cooling down again...

im_down_w_otp 7y ago

> It was very depressing but also educational. Indeed. When 2008 hit, it was reminiscent of what ~2002 felt like, except instead of tech it was basically happening to everyone. In that way I felt more prepared to deal with the new crisis because I'd learned from the old one.

ip26 7y ago
What did you learn?
- im_down_w_otp 7y ago
  Several things: - Any news about a "recovery" has nothing to do with the reality you are likely facing. - The worst of it is in the long-tail, not necessarily the initial shock. - The change in the market from, "We can grow our way out of anything!" to, "Quick! Circle the wagons and lay low." happens a lot more suddenly than you expect, but there are also warning signs. - You're super valuable and totally super employable right up until the moment that you're not, and in the wrong place at the wrong time you have no control and almost no influence over changing that, so be prepared to weather it or jump ship. - Super high software developer salaries seem somehow correlated to VC-pumping, and when the market fundamentals kick in, you're likely to find yourself facing steep cuts, so live like you're a mechanical engineer, not a lottery winner.
  - pjmlp 7y ago
    - Value the team not the employer, you might meet them again elsewhere, while the employer might fire you at the first crisis.
k__ 7y ago
I was so lucky to be in university from 2007 to 2011. When I got out, things were cooling down again...