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They weren’t side projects if they were your main projects. Think of it as self employment and find a way to spin that. If you applied to a job I have, I’d mo

They weren’t side projects if they were your main projects. Think of it as self employment and find a way to spin that. If you applied to a job I have, I’d mostly interview you like a normal person, and then I’d say “If you’ve on your own for 9 years, are you sure you really want a normal job? I want to hire you. But this is a job, and that means sometimes you’re gonna have to put up with this company’s bullshit. Even though we do our best to keep the bullshit to a minimum, we still deal with crap we’d rather not do. Tell me why you’re interested and willing to put up with bullshit, and don’t just tell me you need the money.” If you have a good answer to that question, I think you’ll be fine for a job that matches your value proposition.

readonthegoapp 5y ago
I agree-ish with this sentiment But I'd start by saying OP is fucked It's a good market so you'll find something Eventually You're obviously smart because you could chill for a few years (Or you got an inheritance) The general genre of reading you are looking for is "why entrepreneurs can't get hired" -- something like that. I would be honest-ish about the money You, like 99% of people with 9 to 5s, need a job because you need money and/or healthcare That is impolite to talk about often but it could actually work There is a bit more honesty going on right now because of pandemic trauma I'd look to pick up a contract by answering some of the 8 trillion spam emails you're getting Perm jobs are going to be like fuck this guy Imo
- an_opabinia 5y ago
  > Perm jobs are going to be like fuck this guy Yeah, the poster is not engaging with how the recruiting pipeline really works. Concretely, to get back into the top of the funnel, you should pay for a compsci masters program at a respectable university. This is a good career reset opportunity and will nullify the need to investigate your past. Another commenter mentioned leetcoding, which is essential. It's really concerning you're focusing on remote work. If anything in-office work is super uncompetitive right now, which you can always turn into whatever arrangement you want. Don't start off by talking about stuff that makes people say, "fuck this guy."
  - sitzkrieg 5y ago
    leetcoding is essential?
- tonyedgecombe 5y ago
  >I predict that the file explorer specifically will be completely replaced This is probably the best way back in. Employers are less fussy if it looks like you can solve their immediate problem and once you have proved your worth they will probably offer a full time job anyway.
- stadium 5y ago
  > But I'd start by saying OP is fucked This is a bit unconstructive.
  - pc86 5y ago
    Not in the context of the entire comment.
    - stadium 5y ago
      The context is worse than that single comment. It's a "tear you down to bring you up" entire comment. Hurtful to someone we can only assume is genuinely seeking out help.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
dhx 5y ago
Regarding the comment "and don't just tell me you need the money", why would their personal financial situation matter if the person has already proven their skills and abilities? The only other motivations I can see as being viable as a response (other than working because you have to earn money to live a certain lifestyle) is "I really want to learn XYZ and I can't do that on my own without working in a team with more resources" or for NGOs hiring there could be further social good motivations.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
hutzlibu 5y ago
"Tell me why you’re interested and willing to put up with bullshit, and don’t just tell me you need the money." I don't think there are many sane persons around, who honestly want to deal with company bullshit, if not for the money. I mean, you can find a million fake answers, "I want the challenge", "I want to improve myself in difficult situations", blabla, - but this is exactly the kind of bullshit I am only willing to put up with, if I need the money. So why can he just be honest and say so? I mean, it is a valid concern, if a person who was on his own for a long time, can fit back in into a coporation, and it needs some convincing that he actually can - but telling people to fake motivation, when all they actually want is the money - just increases company bullshit.
- pc86 5y ago
  Because nobody wants to hire someone because they need 3 more months of income so they can leave. "I want the challenge" is an obvious bullshit response. "Your company deals with _________ at a scale larger than I can on my own" is a potentially real answer to that question. If it's true it also means they're probably not going to bail once they have replenished their savings account. Even if the your knee jerk truthful answer is "I just want the money" it might be deeper than that. When I went from consulting full time for ~4 years to corporate work, I would have told you it was just for the money, but it was actually for the stability and peace of mind to not worry where my next rent check was coming from.
  - hutzlibu 5y ago
    Those people who lie about the time they plan to work for the company, will also lie about their motivations. My point was, that I want honesty on both sides. Otherwise it is coporate bullshit to me. "would have told you it was just for the money, but it was actually for the stability and peace of mind to not worry where my next rent check was coming from." Yeah well, thats another way of saying you mainly want to work for the money. And about the "real answer": "I want to build great things in a team and I am aware that every organisation has problems it needs to overcome, to succeed, which usually require the ability to make compromises. And I am willing to make the necessary compromises, for a successful project." Which is actually my honest opinion, but I don't need any hypocrite bullshit. I only would put up with it, if the pay is adequate. And starting by having to fake my motivation, would mean a higher expected compensation from my side.
ArkanExplorer 5y ago
There are advantages to working in big companies compared to your own business: - Get to work with and learn from other colleagues who are as motivated as you - Greater economies of scale and budgets, probably a nice office and physical working environment - Can focus on detail instead of having to do absolutely everything yourself and split your attention - Consistent employment instead of volatile business income makes it easier to get a loan to buy a house - Structured work environment and professional support network
lowercased 5y ago
"I'm tired of handling every single aspect of everything on my own". Doesn't mean I'll never want to leave again, of course, but... working on your own is one type of challenge - working with a team, and losing some autonomy is another. "Tell me why you’re interested and willing to put up with bullshit". This presumes someone working on their own isn't dealing with bullshit already. If you're solo, but doing any form of client work, you have a level of bullshit you're already handling. Invoicing/collections/payroll/legal/insurance - it's not necessarily overwhelming in most cases, but... it's another thing that many would happily give up in exchange for a different type of 'bullshit'. Yes, getting to work on certain type of projects - there's things that only 'bigco X' can realistically tackle - I may be willing to put up with corporate bullshit to work with a certain class of projects (scale, industry focus, etc). If I knew some of the folks on the team already, and wanted to work with them, that would also be a big factor. Perhaps they'd even want to work with me! :). I have a list of a handful of folks I've either worked with or watched work/progress over the years, and if the opportunity came up to work with them, in whatever capacity, I would probably consider putting up with whatever 'company X' wanted to make that happen.

readonthegoapp 5y ago

I agree-ish with this sentiment But I'd start by saying OP is fucked It's a good market so you'll find something Eventually You're obviously smart because you could chill for a few years (Or you got an inheritance) The general genre of reading you are looking for is "why entrepreneurs can't get hired" -- something like that. I would be honest-ish about the money You, like 99% of people with 9 to 5s, need a job because you need money and/or healthcare That is impolite to talk about often but it could actually work There is a bit more honesty going on right now because of pandemic trauma I'd look to pick up a contract by answering some of the 8 trillion spam emails you're getting Perm jobs are going to be like fuck this guy Imo

an_opabinia 5y ago
> Perm jobs are going to be like fuck this guy Yeah, the poster is not engaging with how the recruiting pipeline really works. Concretely, to get back into the top of the funnel, you should pay for a compsci masters program at a respectable university. This is a good career reset opportunity and will nullify the need to investigate your past. Another commenter mentioned leetcoding, which is essential. It's really concerning you're focusing on remote work. If anything in-office work is super uncompetitive right now, which you can always turn into whatever arrangement you want. Don't start off by talking about stuff that makes people say, "fuck this guy."
- sitzkrieg 5y ago
  leetcoding is essential?
tonyedgecombe 5y ago
>I predict that the file explorer specifically will be completely replaced This is probably the best way back in. Employers are less fussy if it looks like you can solve their immediate problem and once you have proved your worth they will probably offer a full time job anyway.
stadium 5y ago
> But I'd start by saying OP is fucked This is a bit unconstructive.
- pc86 5y ago
  Not in the context of the entire comment.
  - stadium 5y ago
    The context is worse than that single comment. It's a "tear you down to bring you up" entire comment. Hurtful to someone we can only assume is genuinely seeking out help.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

dhx 5y ago

Regarding the comment "and don't just tell me you need the money", why would their personal financial situation matter if the person has already proven their skills and abilities? The only other motivations I can see as being viable as a response (other than working because you have to earn money to live a certain lifestyle) is "I really want to learn XYZ and I can't do that on my own without working in a team with more resources" or for NGOs hiring there could be further social good motivations.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

hutzlibu 5y ago

"Tell me why you’re interested and willing to put up with bullshit, and don’t just tell me you need the money." I don't think there are many sane persons around, who honestly want to deal with company bullshit, if not for the money. I mean, you can find a million fake answers, "I want the challenge", "I want to improve myself in difficult situations", blabla, - but this is exactly the kind of bullshit I am only willing to put up with, if I need the money. So why can he just be honest and say so? I mean, it is a valid concern, if a person who was on his own for a long time, can fit back in into a coporation, and it needs some convincing that he actually can - but telling people to fake motivation, when all they actually want is the money - just increases company bullshit.

pc86 5y ago
Because nobody wants to hire someone because they need 3 more months of income so they can leave. "I want the challenge" is an obvious bullshit response. "Your company deals with _________ at a scale larger than I can on my own" is a potentially real answer to that question. If it's true it also means they're probably not going to bail once they have replenished their savings account. Even if the your knee jerk truthful answer is "I just want the money" it might be deeper than that. When I went from consulting full time for ~4 years to corporate work, I would have told you it was just for the money, but it was actually for the stability and peace of mind to not worry where my next rent check was coming from.
- hutzlibu 5y ago
  Those people who lie about the time they plan to work for the company, will also lie about their motivations. My point was, that I want honesty on both sides. Otherwise it is coporate bullshit to me. "would have told you it was just for the money, but it was actually for the stability and peace of mind to not worry where my next rent check was coming from." Yeah well, thats another way of saying you mainly want to work for the money. And about the "real answer": "I want to build great things in a team and I am aware that every organisation has problems it needs to overcome, to succeed, which usually require the ability to make compromises. And I am willing to make the necessary compromises, for a successful project." Which is actually my honest opinion, but I don't need any hypocrite bullshit. I only would put up with it, if the pay is adequate. And starting by having to fake my motivation, would mean a higher expected compensation from my side.

ArkanExplorer 5y ago

There are advantages to working in big companies compared to your own business: - Get to work with and learn from other colleagues who are as motivated as you - Greater economies of scale and budgets, probably a nice office and physical working environment - Can focus on detail instead of having to do absolutely everything yourself and split your attention - Consistent employment instead of volatile business income makes it easier to get a loan to buy a house - Structured work environment and professional support network

lowercased 5y ago

"I'm tired of handling every single aspect of everything on my own". Doesn't mean I'll never want to leave again, of course, but... working on your own is one type of challenge - working with a team, and losing some autonomy is another. "Tell me why you’re interested and willing to put up with bullshit". This presumes someone working on their own isn't dealing with bullshit already. If you're solo, but doing any form of client work, you have a level of bullshit you're already handling. Invoicing/collections/payroll/legal/insurance - it's not necessarily overwhelming in most cases, but... it's another thing that many would happily give up in exchange for a different type of 'bullshit'. Yes, getting to work on certain type of projects - there's things that only 'bigco X' can realistically tackle - I may be willing to put up with corporate bullshit to work with a certain class of projects (scale, industry focus, etc). If I knew some of the folks on the team already, and wanted to work with them, that would also be a big factor. Perhaps they'd even want to work with me! :). I have a list of a handful of folks I've either worked with or watched work/progress over the years, and if the opportunity came up to work with them, in whatever capacity, I would probably consider putting up with whatever 'company X' wanted to make that happen.