First time watching your channel, and ended up listening to the entire video. Thank you for sharing your experience. I feel like we see so much of the other side of tech and career content, so im glad you took the time to talk about your personal journey and how it shaped you. I found it really beneficial.
Sorry to hear that the big tech IC thing did not work out. Having transitioned from decades of startups to bigger tech through acquisition, I've experienced the opposite outcome. No more presales calls. Instead, I get to focus on building.which is my passion (Rarely told secret is that most ICs are maintainers - very few are builders of new stuff. So if you're a builder, there're always projects looking for help.) And I've seen some pretty creative roles amongst colleagues -- like one person who loves to travel and photograph decided to be a bootcamp trainer, giving sessions worldwide, supporting acquisitions through their integration journeys, etc. -- never thought such a role would exist, but it does, and for some, it;s the perfect fit! I follow your channel (and many others) to try to get a better understanding of early-to-mid career ICs' journeys and attitudes -- good and bad. Best of luck.
Peaceful day, thanks for sharing your energy. Yesterday, I quit my salary job. I'm proud of my educational goals I accomplished. I have a masters in photography and love working on art projects daily. My job had nothing to do with my art. Art related work is challenging but when market around me doesn't change, then I have to. that being said I felt some of the things you talked about. I have a passion project I'm fully invested in and will continue to refine it. thanks for your story, I'll subscribe. peaceful day
To echo other comments, it’s nice to see you back. I’m glad you’re on a journey, you’re starting to recognise the things you don’t want to have in your life and you’re searching for the things that work. It all sounds very healthy for the mind. Good luck, I am keen to see where you go next.
Facing a similar problem in the field of Pentesting. On one hand, it is my quickest way to progress financially. I sank plenty of time and effort into developing this skill set. And yet, many positions juice the shit out of your life. Turned down a good paying job for the sake of work life balance, clowned on by friends and family, but hands down was the best decision I made. However, things cost money, and I have goals of owning a home, so it may be back to the grind for at least 2 years before settling down in a slower role for the next chunk of my life Good luck in whatever you end up deciding to do, even if that means you change your mind later. Progress (in terms of happiness and life satisfaction) is not linear
I quit mine around the same time - too much harassment and I lost all drive to do any work lol, horrible. I felt like I was reborn when I quit damn. Managed several contract coding projects and gigs since - less pay but a lot less stress too overall.
I absolutely love your videos. I got so excited when I saw your video on my youtube feed. We missed you. I wonder have you seen a good old fashion therapist who could help guide you through this chapter, I just wish you find happiness and we will all be cheering for you :) Have you also thought about maybe writing your own book? also do you still dream of starting your own tech company? Glad to see you back.
Awe thank you, that motivates me to continue posting. I do not believe in therapy, and I have tried them in the past when work has expensed it, and they've been utterly useless. I have actually, I loved writing as a kid. I don't have anything substantive to write about right now, but depending on how this year turns out, I might! I do still have the goal of starting my own tech company but I question my motivations behind it daily. Most people that aspire to that have ugly motives for the most part. I want to make sure I have a legitimate reason. So for now, I just like coding little projects that solve my daily problems :)
@sam_in_tech Same here. I find for myself there are better ways of expression and self progress than therapy. I find comfort in your videos. Thank you. rooting for you!
I feel like this exactly. I'm about to complete a year of working for big tech as an IC1. When I first started, we started working on a project from scratch. No maintenance. Just straight up coding a fresh new service that could actually compete against other companies when finished. But just out of nowhere they scrapped the whole thing since it wasn't generating revenue and now the work I do feels completely meaningless.
@@emilyau8023 I get that. I was talking about the frustration of not getting the same opportunities as someone who does not really have an interest in the field.
Please get mental health help. I totally feel you. I've been IC for a decade. And if it wasn't for the money and the kids I would be doing something else by now. I've worked for two FAANGs as a SWE. It's always the same stuff. Different logo, different bs values, different fake colleagues just here for the 401k. Noone cares about the mission. You were smart to get out of the matrix before having too much ties. Hope you haven't made a mistake.
@@emilyau8023 I'm (unfortunately) trapped as I cannot easily replace my income unless I take risks that are not something sound to do with 3 dependents. So I'm stuck doing the same design reviews, the same PRs, the same oncall rotations, the same code blabla, regardless of it's Amazon Microsoft or Google. It sounds like something out of touch to say, but frankly after 14+ years doing it you just want to do something else with your life. they suck you dry with 'impact', who cares. I want to go scuba diving all day lmao.
In her shoes I would probably build one to two years of cash liquid to be able to live on outside the US. and then take a jump and just travel and postpone the decision. You can always come back to an engineering job later. but your youth you only have it once. I'd visit Europe first. it's a place where work is not the center of your life. She can maybe get an engineering job in europe for a startup, maybe remote. and discover places until there is one she loves.
doing psychedelics... crazy, i understand quitting your job, we are overworked all the time. but doing these drugs or considering them? i think you need therapy
did you miss the part where I said I would never do it? also psychedelics are becoming more prevalent these days, heck there's psychedelic-based "therapy" now. But just to spell it out to you again, I don't do drugs and I don't endorse them.
And she's back! We missed you!
I really don't like being in tech. Kind of wish I went in a different career, but also don't want to fall for the grass is greener syndrome.
I didn't like it either! What parts of it do you not like? @emilyau8023
Happy to see you are alive!
I dont know why. Your videos always have a calming affect.
First time watching your channel, and ended up listening to the entire video. Thank you for sharing your experience. I feel like we see so much of the other side of tech and career content, so im glad you took the time to talk about your personal journey and how it shaped you. I found it really beneficial.
Sorry to hear that the big tech IC thing did not work out. Having transitioned from decades of startups to bigger tech through acquisition, I've experienced the opposite outcome. No more presales calls. Instead, I get to focus on building.which is my passion (Rarely told secret is that most ICs are maintainers - very few are builders of new stuff. So if you're a builder, there're always projects looking for help.) And I've seen some pretty creative roles amongst colleagues -- like one person who loves to travel and photograph decided to be a bootcamp trainer, giving sessions worldwide, supporting acquisitions through their integration journeys, etc. -- never thought such a role would exist, but it does, and for some, it;s the perfect fit! I follow your channel (and many others) to try to get a better understanding of early-to-mid career ICs' journeys and attitudes -- good and bad. Best of luck.
Peaceful day, thanks for sharing your energy. Yesterday, I quit my salary job. I'm proud of my educational goals I accomplished. I have a masters in photography and love working on art projects daily. My job had nothing to do with my art. Art related work is challenging but when market around me doesn't change, then I have to. that being said I felt some of the things you talked about. I have a passion project I'm fully invested in and will continue to refine it. thanks for your story, I'll subscribe. peaceful day
we missed you Sam. Welcome back
To echo other comments, it’s nice to see you back.
I’m glad you’re on a journey, you’re starting to recognise the things you don’t want to have in your life and you’re searching for the things that work. It all sounds very healthy for the mind.
Good luck, I am keen to see where you go next.
Facing a similar problem in the field of Pentesting. On one hand, it is my quickest way to progress financially. I sank plenty of time and effort into developing this skill set. And yet, many positions juice the shit out of your life.
Turned down a good paying job for the sake of work life balance, clowned on by friends and family, but hands down was the best decision I made.
However, things cost money, and I have goals of owning a home, so it may be back to the grind for at least 2 years before settling down in a slower role for the next chunk of my life
Good luck in whatever you end up deciding to do, even if that means you change your mind later. Progress (in terms of happiness and life satisfaction) is not linear
I quit mine around the same time - too much harassment and I lost all drive to do any work lol, horrible. I felt like I was reborn when I quit damn. Managed several contract coding projects and gigs since - less pay but a lot less stress too overall.
I absolutely love your videos. I got so excited when I saw your video on my youtube feed. We missed you. I wonder have you seen a good old fashion therapist who could help guide you through this chapter, I just wish you find happiness and we will all be cheering for you :) Have you also thought about maybe writing your own book? also do you still dream of starting your own tech company? Glad to see you back.
Awe thank you, that motivates me to continue posting. I do not believe in therapy, and I have tried them in the past when work has expensed it, and they've been utterly useless. I have actually, I loved writing as a kid. I don't have anything substantive to write about right now, but depending on how this year turns out, I might! I do still have the goal of starting my own tech company but I question my motivations behind it daily. Most people that aspire to that have ugly motives for the most part. I want to make sure I have a legitimate reason. So for now, I just like coding little projects that solve my daily problems :)
@sam_in_tech Same here. I find for myself there are better ways of expression and self progress than therapy. I find comfort in your videos. Thank you. rooting for you!
we've missed u sam ❤
Welcome back! Looking forward to more videos
Surprised you didn't take more PTOs if you just want to travel more. Do they have an "unlimited PTO" policy?
ohhh someone is back.. welcome back 🎉
your nightmare was kind of funny 😅
I wonder what projects 🤔 you can use us for... also just weekly vlog is okay 👍
Welcome back!
I feel like this exactly. I'm about to complete a year of working for big tech as an IC1. When I first started, we started working on a project from scratch. No maintenance. Just straight up coding a fresh new service that could actually compete against other companies when finished. But just out of nowhere they scrapped the whole thing since it wasn't generating revenue and now the work I do feels completely meaningless.
Lovely vocabulary, very refreshing. :)
Oh wow. You were making $250k! I retracted my original comment about time wasting and making money off of dividends.
Here I am begging to get a job as a SDE and feel the work pressure.
Perspective is different once you reach the goal.
@@emilyau8023 I get that. I am more frustrated about people who want it desperately not getting the opportunities.
@@emilyau8023 I get that. I was talking about the frustration of not getting the same opportunities as someone who does not really have an interest in the field.
@@sirrus3009 that's life.
An alarm clock? Burnout sucks.
Go back into programming. It's fun. Python data science maybe
Please get mental health help.
I totally feel you. I've been IC for a decade. And if it wasn't for the money and the kids I would be doing something else by now.
I've worked for two FAANGs as a SWE. It's always the same stuff. Different logo, different bs values, different fake colleagues just here for the 401k.
Noone cares about the mission.
You were smart to get out of the matrix before having too much ties. Hope you haven't made a mistake.
What would you do instead?
@@emilyau8023 I'm (unfortunately) trapped as I cannot easily replace my income unless I take risks that are not something sound to do with 3 dependents. So I'm stuck doing the same design reviews, the same PRs, the same oncall rotations, the same code blabla, regardless of it's Amazon Microsoft or Google. It sounds like something out of touch to say, but frankly after 14+ years doing it you just want to do something else with your life. they suck you dry with 'impact', who cares. I want to go scuba diving all day lmao.
In her shoes I would probably build one to two years of cash liquid to be able to live on outside the US. and then take a jump and just travel and postpone the decision. You can always come back to an engineering job later. but your youth you only have it once. I'd visit Europe first. it's a place where work is not the center of your life.
She can maybe get an engineering job in europe for a startup, maybe remote. and discover places until there is one she loves.
Come to Colombia ❤
What are you doing now?
👍
Find a job where you build relationships with people.
Why do you need to feel full filled if you making 250k😏🤔 you could have retired in 5 years but now...
doing psychedelics... crazy, i understand quitting your job, we are overworked all the time.
but doing these drugs or considering them? i think you need therapy
did you miss the part where I said I would never do it? also psychedelics are becoming more prevalent these days, heck there's psychedelic-based "therapy" now. But just to spell it out to you again, I don't do drugs and I don't endorse them.