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I would add: If there's anything worse than feeling bad at work, it's feeling bad because of not getting a job. Bad experiences at your workplace might make y

I would add: If there's anything worse than feeling bad at work, it's feeling bad because of not getting a job. Bad experiences at your workplace might make you want to quit without having another job offer lined up, and you might even feel good for the first 1-2 months. But do not underestimate how soul crushing it is to look at your savings go down while having your bills always on the back of your mind, and being constantly ghosted or rejected, for months, even for positions that sound literally aimed at your skillset or are basically the same of your last role. Just, don't.

quectophoton 2y ago
Also: If you move to a different location, be aware of how that would affect your ability to rely on your network if you need to find a job. Even if you work primarily remotely and your network is mainly working at on-site jobs, you might need to rely on them at some point. And by the time your situation gets bad enough that you start seriously considering hybrid or on-site positions, you might not be able to relocate, so it would be as if you had no network at all.
scarface_74 2y ago
I’ve been laid off twice over the past two years in 2023 and last year. Both times looking for a job was focused on two tracks - the type of job I wanted and the types of job (or contract) I didn’t want but was qualified for. The main goal was to get any job that would pay enough to keep me from going through savings or in 2023, savings or my three and half months severance. I wasn’t going to let my ego get in the way. In 2023, I got Amazoned and wasn’t too proud to get any old enterprise CRUD job. Luckily, it didn’t resort to that either time and both times I found the job I wanted within three weeks.
- quectophoton 2y ago
  > I wasn’t going to let my ego get in the way. Also important. The rest of this comment is not aimed at you specifically because it doesn't apply to your situation (being laid off), so when I say "you" I mean in the generic sense: --- When leaving voluntarily, if you realize it was a grave mistake, don't let your ego prevent you from getting back in touch with your previous employer and asking if there's any chance to work for them again, assuming you're prepared to stay with them for an even longer time (this is the important part). The first time you make a mistake like this, it's likely due to lack of experience, you didn't realize how good you had it, or you didn't know it could get this bad, and you learned the hard way. If it happens a second time tho, that's on you. Also, remember that taking unpaid leave for a few months might be an option depending where you live. Maybe your thoughts of leaving are just because of burnout and all you need is to take a longer break. But yeah, first priority is getting a job that lets you stop running through your savings. After you have that and can stop worrying about bills, you can walk your way up again from there with a clear mind.
  - meiraleal 2y ago
    honestly, that’s terrible advice. Anyone working at a big tech (or even not that big) for a few years should be able to save enough money to get some freedom to change jobs, even in a bad market. Being jobless might be soul crushing if you don’t prepare yourself but staying in a place where you get burnt out is a lot, lot worse, having been in both situations. For me the best advice is to not think you are rich just because you are making >150-200k/year. Save money and live frugally
    - Clubber 2y ago
      It's good advice for young people. I remember not getting my contract renewed during the dot bomb/911 and it was a soul crushing 6 months. I had to move to another city for work and took a 40% pay cut. Now that I'm pretty comfortable in my finances, it's important to take a sabbatical when you need it. Right now I'm so burned out I don't like programming, even on personal projects, so that can be pretty detrimental to my career. I decided to take a sabbatical. I gave 5.5 months notice as to not put anyone out, but I'm going to try to enjoy it. Tech is generally soul crushing these days, so pick your poison.
    - scarface_74 2y ago
      There are 2.8 - 4 million developers in the US. How many do you think are working at BigTech? No matter how much money you save, it’s senseless to go through the money unnecessary. Jobs in 2025 don’t just fall out of the sky. Burn out is a choice. Do your work, go home. Start interviewing.
ghaff 2y ago
Yep. During the tech boom of the last 15 years or so, I think a lot of tech people got used to leaving a job for whatever reason and having a new one lined up the next week. That is absolutely not the norm for professional jobs and is almost certainly not the norm for tech jobs today. I know people who were laid off during dot-bomb and never got another equivalent job again. I was extremely lucky in that regard in that I landed a good (better) if lower-paying job in about a month through my network.

quectophoton 2y ago

Also: If you move to a different location, be aware of how that would affect your ability to rely on your network if you need to find a job. Even if you work primarily remotely and your network is mainly working at on-site jobs, you might need to rely on them at some point. And by the time your situation gets bad enough that you start seriously considering hybrid or on-site positions, you might not be able to relocate, so it would be as if you had no network at all.

scarface_74 2y ago

I’ve been laid off twice over the past two years in 2023 and last year. Both times looking for a job was focused on two tracks - the type of job I wanted and the types of job (or contract) I didn’t want but was qualified for. The main goal was to get any job that would pay enough to keep me from going through savings or in 2023, savings or my three and half months severance. I wasn’t going to let my ego get in the way. In 2023, I got Amazoned and wasn’t too proud to get any old enterprise CRUD job. Luckily, it didn’t resort to that either time and both times I found the job I wanted within three weeks.

quectophoton 2y ago
> I wasn’t going to let my ego get in the way. Also important. The rest of this comment is not aimed at you specifically because it doesn't apply to your situation (being laid off), so when I say "you" I mean in the generic sense: --- When leaving voluntarily, if you realize it was a grave mistake, don't let your ego prevent you from getting back in touch with your previous employer and asking if there's any chance to work for them again, assuming you're prepared to stay with them for an even longer time (this is the important part). The first time you make a mistake like this, it's likely due to lack of experience, you didn't realize how good you had it, or you didn't know it could get this bad, and you learned the hard way. If it happens a second time tho, that's on you. Also, remember that taking unpaid leave for a few months might be an option depending where you live. Maybe your thoughts of leaving are just because of burnout and all you need is to take a longer break. But yeah, first priority is getting a job that lets you stop running through your savings. After you have that and can stop worrying about bills, you can walk your way up again from there with a clear mind.
- meiraleal 2y ago
  honestly, that’s terrible advice. Anyone working at a big tech (or even not that big) for a few years should be able to save enough money to get some freedom to change jobs, even in a bad market. Being jobless might be soul crushing if you don’t prepare yourself but staying in a place where you get burnt out is a lot, lot worse, having been in both situations. For me the best advice is to not think you are rich just because you are making >150-200k/year. Save money and live frugally
  - Clubber 2y ago
    It's good advice for young people. I remember not getting my contract renewed during the dot bomb/911 and it was a soul crushing 6 months. I had to move to another city for work and took a 40% pay cut. Now that I'm pretty comfortable in my finances, it's important to take a sabbatical when you need it. Right now I'm so burned out I don't like programming, even on personal projects, so that can be pretty detrimental to my career. I decided to take a sabbatical. I gave 5.5 months notice as to not put anyone out, but I'm going to try to enjoy it. Tech is generally soul crushing these days, so pick your poison.
  - scarface_74 2y ago
    There are 2.8 - 4 million developers in the US. How many do you think are working at BigTech? No matter how much money you save, it’s senseless to go through the money unnecessary. Jobs in 2025 don’t just fall out of the sky. Burn out is a choice. Do your work, go home. Start interviewing.

ghaff 2y ago

Yep. During the tech boom of the last 15 years or so, I think a lot of tech people got used to leaving a job for whatever reason and having a new one lined up the next week. That is absolutely not the norm for professional jobs and is almost certainly not the norm for tech jobs today. I know people who were laid off during dot-bomb and never got another equivalent job again. I was extremely lucky in that regard in that I landed a good (better) if lower-paying job in about a month through my network.