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"I could stick it out another 7 months to claim the bonus but hate to stay at a place where I feel like things are hopeless and I'm making no contributions" I'

"I could stick it out another 7 months to claim the bonus but hate to stay at a place where I feel like things are hopeless and I'm making no contributions" I'm a non-programmer in SV so I'm potentially jealous/out of the loop, but I will say something no one else here is: Quit being a baby. Unless you have another bonus offer, giving up on 35k because of your feelings is a childish move at best. You have 7 freaking months, which is a blip. In other industries it might take you 7 months just to get another job. You might think 7 months is a long time if you are just out of school and still think in semesters. But you will have many more periods that feel this way, except without a bonus. Unless you have a legitimately better offer, sack it up and get your bonus. It won't always be good times. Edit: I will even go so far as to say that you are lucky the project is overdue and bloated, because that is the entire reason your bonus exists in the first place.

peacemaker 11y ago
Life is short and precious and you could die tomorrow. 7 months IS a long time if you are hating every day. I think you're giving bad advice saying "Quit being a baby". That's the kind of advice that gets people stuck in crappy jobs their whole life being unhappy. The OP needs to get out now before the unhappiness ruins his passion for the work and potentially his entire career.
- nicholas73 11y ago
  One really needs to consider the probability of dying tomorrow versus the potential gain of seriously shooting themselves in the foot both financially and resume-wise. Plus those 7 months aren't just gone - the OP can be preparing for his next step in the meantime. PLUS, that 35k represents time you have to spend earning elsewhere.
  - peacemaker 11y ago
    Resume-wise he can just not put the position on there, it's easily explained away by a break traveling/freelancing etc. As for financially, I agree with you for the most part. I'd still rather take the hit on the money and get out ASAP, you can always earn more. The best situation would be another sign-on bonus that paid the original one off - as long as the new position was good enough to last the year. But, if he's getting a $35k sign-on bonus he must have quite a good skillset and be earning a high salary wherever he lands. Paying it off will be unfortunate but is totally doable.
    - nicholas73 11y ago
      I come from another engineering field, so maybe I'm out of the loop. But I've never had a signing bonus offered, sub-six figure salaries are the norm early in your career, 6 months job searches are expected, and there is always monkey work. How long have you been in industry? Because I'm sure it wasn't always as good as you and the OP make it sound.
      - peacemaker 11y ago
        15 years now and no, back when I started I wouldn't have expected a sign-on bonus or such a large salary. If you're in one of the major hubs though you can expect six figures early on, within 2-4 years depending the skillset and your negotiation abilities.

peacemaker 11y ago

Life is short and precious and you could die tomorrow. 7 months IS a long time if you are hating every day. I think you're giving bad advice saying "Quit being a baby". That's the kind of advice that gets people stuck in crappy jobs their whole life being unhappy. The OP needs to get out now before the unhappiness ruins his passion for the work and potentially his entire career.

nicholas73 11y ago
One really needs to consider the probability of dying tomorrow versus the potential gain of seriously shooting themselves in the foot both financially and resume-wise. Plus those 7 months aren't just gone - the OP can be preparing for his next step in the meantime. PLUS, that 35k represents time you have to spend earning elsewhere.
- peacemaker 11y ago
  Resume-wise he can just not put the position on there, it's easily explained away by a break traveling/freelancing etc. As for financially, I agree with you for the most part. I'd still rather take the hit on the money and get out ASAP, you can always earn more. The best situation would be another sign-on bonus that paid the original one off - as long as the new position was good enough to last the year. But, if he's getting a $35k sign-on bonus he must have quite a good skillset and be earning a high salary wherever he lands. Paying it off will be unfortunate but is totally doable.
  - nicholas73 11y ago
    I come from another engineering field, so maybe I'm out of the loop. But I've never had a signing bonus offered, sub-six figure salaries are the norm early in your career, 6 months job searches are expected, and there is always monkey work. How long have you been in industry? Because I'm sure it wasn't always as good as you and the OP make it sound.
    - peacemaker 11y ago
      15 years now and no, back when I started I wouldn't have expected a sign-on bonus or such a large salary. If you're in one of the major hubs though you can expect six figures early on, within 2-4 years depending the skillset and your negotiation abilities.