4 ms·

Great advice all around. I'd also add to this an important, but somehow occasionally controversial piece of advice: don't just quit the job. Yes, it's not ideal

Great advice all around. I'd also add to this an important, but somehow occasionally controversial piece of advice: don't just quit the job. Yes, it's not ideal to be looking around for another job after only having been there for a month or two. But that's a lot better than looking for a job as an unemployed person. A lot of companies——certainly not all, but many——attach a deep stigma to unemployed job seekers. I've been in your position before. Well, sort of. At the time, I hated seeking advice and getting responses along the lines of, "Well, that sucks. But just make the most of it." But there's really something to that advice. Make the most of it, and in the meantime, conduct a job search. The good news is that you're an engineer! I cannot possibly overstate what an advantageous position that puts you in with respect to 99.99% of job seekers on the market. If you were anything else——a salesperson, a marketer, a corporate strategist, or what have you——your situation would be a lot thornier than it is. At least take some solace in that your line of work is in high demand.

bstar77 12y ago
I completely agree about not quitting (if the job is unsatisfying). I've found I consistently have way more confidence going on an interview already employed.
- lione 12y ago
  When the motivation is more personal fulfillment or better pay/conditions, and less "Can I put food on the table and a roof over my head", there's a lot less pressure and nervousness about the interview as well.
- ChuckMcM 12y ago
  And you have more power since you don't "need" the job you can be a better negotiator.
  - go1979 12y ago
    I see some good advice on this thread so a followup question. I'm about to quit my job with the aim of starting up my own company. I don't have a lot of non-tech contacts - i.e. potential customers and angel investors. That is my biggest worry. I can't really bootstrap while on the job since I am currently in a large corporate job where the company owns everything I dream up. So .. while I agree with all the advice about not quitting a job until one has another one lined up (I've given the same advice to others) ... I am about to go against this advice myself. Any words of advice on how to manage this? Am I bonkers? Some stats ... have 6 months of living costs in liquid savings. No kids. Going to be leaving a job that pays north of 120K (which is not much in elite companies it seems).
    - jonnathanson 12y ago
      One of my best friends went through a very similar predicament with her startup a few years ago. She and her startup aren't technical, interestingly enough, but she's been very successful, and has raised a fair amount of VC and angel money on the basis of very few a priori connections. She bootstrapped while on the job. I am not 100% sure how she managed that vis-a-vis her employer, but I'm guessing that she had a conversation with them and put her cards on the table, and that they came to an agreement of some sort. Incidentally, IANAL, but my understanding of those workplace IP agreements is that they only cover inventions and ideas you come up with "in the course of performing your job," or something to that effect. They do not cover nights and weekends. Read your contract's fine print, though, because there have been horror stories here. Hit me up over email (address in my profile) if you're interested in speaking to my friend about her experience. I'm also happy to help as best I can.

bstar77 12y ago

I completely agree about not quitting (if the job is unsatisfying). I've found I consistently have way more confidence going on an interview already employed.

lione 12y ago
When the motivation is more personal fulfillment or better pay/conditions, and less "Can I put food on the table and a roof over my head", there's a lot less pressure and nervousness about the interview as well.
ChuckMcM 12y ago
And you have more power since you don't "need" the job you can be a better negotiator.
- go1979 12y ago
  I see some good advice on this thread so a followup question. I'm about to quit my job with the aim of starting up my own company. I don't have a lot of non-tech contacts - i.e. potential customers and angel investors. That is my biggest worry. I can't really bootstrap while on the job since I am currently in a large corporate job where the company owns everything I dream up. So .. while I agree with all the advice about not quitting a job until one has another one lined up (I've given the same advice to others) ... I am about to go against this advice myself. Any words of advice on how to manage this? Am I bonkers? Some stats ... have 6 months of living costs in liquid savings. No kids. Going to be leaving a job that pays north of 120K (which is not much in elite companies it seems).
  - jonnathanson 12y ago
    One of my best friends went through a very similar predicament with her startup a few years ago. She and her startup aren't technical, interestingly enough, but she's been very successful, and has raised a fair amount of VC and angel money on the basis of very few a priori connections. She bootstrapped while on the job. I am not 100% sure how she managed that vis-a-vis her employer, but I'm guessing that she had a conversation with them and put her cards on the table, and that they came to an agreement of some sort. Incidentally, IANAL, but my understanding of those workplace IP agreements is that they only cover inventions and ideas you come up with "in the course of performing your job," or something to that effect. They do not cover nights and weekends. Read your contract's fine print, though, because there have been horror stories here. Hit me up over email (address in my profile) if you're interested in speaking to my friend about her experience. I'm also happy to help as best I can.