3 ms·

This doesn't match my experience at all. My perspective might obviously be skewed by living in an emerging market economy but I don't know anyone who hasn't see

by unmole 5y ago

This doesn't match my experience at all. My perspective might obviously be skewed by living in an emerging market economy but I don't know anyone who hasn't seen an improvement in their financial circumstances over seven years, Covid notwithstanding. I really don't think there are a lot of people on HN who are stuck in dead end jobs with no growth. And as harsh as it may sound, if someone can't retire before 80 despite working a tech job, I'm inclined to think they're just bad with money.

Kye 5y ago
Who said anything about people on HN? The friends I'm talking about mostly work retail paying off degrees that were supposed to get them good jobs. The US is not an emerging market economy where there's a lot of potential growth. You either get a job in tech, probably moving away from everything and everyone you've ever known (hard), or you try to create some niche at the intersection of your skills and interests (still hard, but less dictated by random luck). There really isn't an option C unless you had a privileged upbringing.
- iwudn 5y ago
  There’s a lot more options here. Being stuck in retail jobs sucks if that’s not something you want to do. And I get that. I worked in retail and other shitty jobs for years getting paid $12 an hour in my 20s. But you don’t need to have a privileged upbringing to progress. It 100% helps but it’s also possible without it. I know people who washed dishes for years, with no college degrees for them or their parents, and go on to do something like welding and making a lot more. People could also work in tech remotely now, so they don’t have to move away. For example, retail folks could get entry level customer support jobs in tech companies. Those people skills are certainly transferable. The support job could be their foot in the door to other tech positions.

by unmole 5y ago

Kye 5y ago

Who said anything about people on HN? The friends I'm talking about mostly work retail paying off degrees that were supposed to get them good jobs. The US is not an emerging market economy where there's a lot of potential growth. You either get a job in tech, probably moving away from everything and everyone you've ever known (hard), or you try to create some niche at the intersection of your skills and interests (still hard, but less dictated by random luck). There really isn't an option C unless you had a privileged upbringing.

iwudn 5y ago
There’s a lot more options here. Being stuck in retail jobs sucks if that’s not something you want to do. And I get that. I worked in retail and other shitty jobs for years getting paid $12 an hour in my 20s. But you don’t need to have a privileged upbringing to progress. It 100% helps but it’s also possible without it. I know people who washed dishes for years, with no college degrees for them or their parents, and go on to do something like welding and making a lot more. People could also work in tech remotely now, so they don’t have to move away. For example, retail folks could get entry level customer support jobs in tech companies. Those people skills are certainly transferable. The support job could be their foot in the door to other tech positions.