4 ms·

I worked on the top project at a FAANG company. I was burned out, in a terrible commute, and had to send my cats to live with a family member because I felt the

I worked on the top project at a FAANG company. I was burned out, in a terrible commute, and had to send my cats to live with a family member because I felt they couldn’t get enough attention from me. I now work at a small company (~22 people) making less money but with no expectation of OT or weekend pushes. Nobody’s ever heard of the company and that’s fine. I took the position to coast for a bit and found out I really like the vibe. I’ve been there for five years later this year. I have the luxury of being able to be paid less (no dependents), but boy is it great. Post-FAANG I have nothing to prove to anyone (including myself). I just want to pay bills and have a life. This gives me that.

jleyank 4y ago
Did you get your cats back?
- alsetmusic 4y ago
  Sadly, they were up in years and both died of old age in the care of my mother. However, she loved them like her own and I know they had a good life with her and her own cats. Thanks for asking. I have two furry friends again and plenty of time to dote on them.
  - jleyank 4y ago
    Good to hear. We have always had cats when we could and have found, like others, that their value increases as one gets older. Good to have a reason to get outside one’s head to appreciate or take care of others.
nemo44x 4y ago
> I just want to pay bills and have a life. You value the right things. Congrats.
- fnordpiglet 4y ago
  I could leave the bills frankly
mmmmpancakes 4y ago
[flagged]
novok 4y ago
You can live a pretty chill life at most FAANGs too if you avoid the burnout high pressure projects and choose not to have the crazy commute by moving close to work? They pay you plenty enough if you are a single person to not have a bad commute. There is a reason why there is jokes about google employees working from 11-4. IMO it's the small startups and certain industries that have crunch.
- mangosteenjuice 4y ago
  Have you actually worked at a FAANG?
  - novok 4y ago
    Yes for many years, and I have many other friends that do so too. Just recently left to work even harder at a small place and I got promoted past sr eng. The hardest part about FAANG is the fucking leetcode when you change jobs. IMO working at a FAANG is the most optimal place to be if you want to put on the slippers, have a good work life balance and get paid the most.
    - fnordpiglet 4y ago
      Hence the layoffs
    - jacurtis 4y ago
      Yeah I never understood the whole leetcode between positions, even lateral moves that you choose for culture or personal interest reason required another leetcode. I swear it was just there as a dis-incentive to keep people from moving. Do all FAANGs do this? Or did we just happen to work at the same one?
      - zem 4y ago
        google doesn't, as far as I know; changing teams has just required talking to the manager and a couple of engineers from the new team to make a case for them taking me on. so interviewing of a sort, but not the leetcode rituals that getting hired in the first place needed.
xeromal 4y ago
I did the same about 8 years into my career. I've been here for about 4 years now and I don't ever see myself leaving. I get to work on neat stuff, the leadership is genuinely nice and open to anything. I feel like a human here and I can see myself being friends with most everyone at the company. We have about 45 people.

jleyank 4y ago

Did you get your cats back?

alsetmusic 4y ago
Sadly, they were up in years and both died of old age in the care of my mother. However, she loved them like her own and I know they had a good life with her and her own cats. Thanks for asking. I have two furry friends again and plenty of time to dote on them.
- jleyank 4y ago
  Good to hear. We have always had cats when we could and have found, like others, that their value increases as one gets older. Good to have a reason to get outside one’s head to appreciate or take care of others.

nemo44x 4y ago

> I just want to pay bills and have a life. You value the right things. Congrats.

fnordpiglet 4y ago
I could leave the bills frankly

mmmmpancakes 4y ago

[flagged]

novok 4y ago

You can live a pretty chill life at most FAANGs too if you avoid the burnout high pressure projects and choose not to have the crazy commute by moving close to work? They pay you plenty enough if you are a single person to not have a bad commute. There is a reason why there is jokes about google employees working from 11-4. IMO it's the small startups and certain industries that have crunch.

mangosteenjuice 4y ago
Have you actually worked at a FAANG?
- novok 4y ago
  Yes for many years, and I have many other friends that do so too. Just recently left to work even harder at a small place and I got promoted past sr eng. The hardest part about FAANG is the fucking leetcode when you change jobs. IMO working at a FAANG is the most optimal place to be if you want to put on the slippers, have a good work life balance and get paid the most.
  - fnordpiglet 4y ago
    Hence the layoffs
  - jacurtis 4y ago
    Yeah I never understood the whole leetcode between positions, even lateral moves that you choose for culture or personal interest reason required another leetcode. I swear it was just there as a dis-incentive to keep people from moving. Do all FAANGs do this? Or did we just happen to work at the same one?
    - zem 4y ago
      google doesn't, as far as I know; changing teams has just required talking to the manager and a couple of engineers from the new team to make a case for them taking me on. so interviewing of a sort, but not the leetcode rituals that getting hired in the first place needed.

xeromal 4y ago

I did the same about 8 years into my career. I've been here for about 4 years now and I don't ever see myself leaving. I get to work on neat stuff, the leadership is genuinely nice and open to anything. I feel like a human here and I can see myself being friends with most everyone at the company. We have about 45 people.