4 ms·

There is so much to unpack here I wouldn't even know where to start. First off, you think you're having a mental health crisis so you're going to HN for advice?

by zcw100 5y ago

There is so much to unpack here I wouldn't even know where to start. First off, you think you're having a mental health crisis so you're going to HN for advice? Now on to you're specific scenarios.... A. "Aggressively move into management" Why do you even think this is an option? Do you really think the only reason you haven't gone into management is because you haven't decided to claim the seat that they've got just sitting there waiting for you? Management is a hierarchy so by definition there are fewer and fewer seats the higher you go up. If you want one you're going to have to beat someone else out for it. "The cons might be too much politics. People skills don't expire though" So you already think the only problem with management is "politics"? You're already starting out with a contemptuous attitude towards management that comes out in later statements. B. Again, so you're so good at what you do that you can just decide to become a thought leader. It seems like you're assuming you're brilliant and the only ting that has held you back from being a thought leader is that you haven't applied yourself to the task but once you do success is certain. This doesn't jibe with your statement that you think you're a failure. C. "I could easily make 2x - 3x my salary [at a FAANG]" You're going to get a job at a FAANG that easily? and get a 2x-3x salary bump for doing it. If it was that easy why the hell aren't you doing that now? LeetCode is what's holding you back? You don't want to take time away from your family, perfectly reasonable choice, but then you can't easily get a new job at a FAANG. D. Again, you can just walk in anywhere AND get a salary bump? Again why aren't you doing that already. It's kind of the no brainer solution which wouldn't preclude any of the other options and you're not even leaning towards this one. E. This is just pure fantasy. If your day job is soul-sucking then at the very least go with option D, take your 1.2x to 1.6x salary bump and reassess.

ac2022 5y ago
Thank you for honest and brutal feedback. > First off, you think you're having a mental health crisis so you're going to HN for advice? I have seen a lot of these posts on HN and gained a lot of value from other people's experiences suggestions. Last night I went to bed feeling lost, but writing out this post and then reading reviews been really helpful. Yes a professional can help with mental health issues better than internet strangers but this is what I have for now. I will contemplate a bit more but I think I am close to seeing clear choice for me. > A. "Aggressively move into management" Why do you even think this is an option? I have seen many "I will never be a manager"-developers becoming managers, directors, VPs, both in smaller and larger companies. I think it is a skill that one can develop. One of my friend is a senior director at a 5000+ people company. He has been telling me I have natural leadership skills and I should move into management. Also I have held team lead roles several times, I also enjoyed mentoring junior developers. As a manager my biggest weakness would be project/time management. >. Again, so you're so good at what you do that you can just decide to become a thought leader. Doesn't hard work make you good at what you do? Thought leader is a loaded term. It is company lingo. I guess what I really should have said I should work on internal Individual Contributor track. The final stage of our IC track is basically thought-leader. As for feeling like failure, I failed in my side projects and ignored my career. And really feeling depressed that our dream home that was so attainable is complete out of reach now. Anyways, if I really focus on my career, I think I have a good shot of having a successful career. > C. "I could easily make 2x - 3x my salary [at a FAANG]" If it was that easy why the hell aren't you doing that now? Because I was not focused on money until now. I was happy and comfortable. I had a few interviews where I went in with a little Leetcode practice and I failed them horribly. > D. Again, you can just walk in anywhere AND get a salary bump? Again why aren't you doing that already. Again I was mostly happy and honestly I don't know if 1.6x bump in salary is worth giving up the comfortable job and the potential to move within my current tech giant. And thanks for pointing this out. More I think about it, this won't be worth it. > E. This is just pure fantasy I forgot who but someone said ask yourself what would you do if you were not afraid. Then do that thing. I guess this is what I would do. Having a family makes it harder. > If your day job is soul-sucking then at the very least go with option D, take your 1.2x to 1.6x salary bump and reassess. I think you can change your mindset and turn subjectively bad things in to positive things. Now option D doesn't seem worth it. I rather try to go in management than get a small pay raise in another company and start over.
- zcw100 5y ago
  You’re very welcome. If you think that’s brutal just wait until you step out of that bubble you’re living in. Your entire list is, “do I want to make more money or a lot more money”. You seem to exhibit very little self awareness.
gxespino 5y ago
He said FAANG would easily increase his salary 2-3x, which probably is the case if he is making sub $150k. He never said getting into FAANG would be easy.
- ac2022 5y ago
  Yeah I am exactly at $150K.