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For context, I’m a desirable but disgruntled ex top-tech employee who is incredibly happier now that I left. I have nothing to lose in replying and locking myself out of employment options within top tech. They followed up recently so I need to reply soon.
Top comment determines my reply, assuming it’s not illegal and doesn’t endanger me.
I went to a top university, worked for years in top tech, and trashed my mental health. Finally decided to leave after getting PIP'd for absolutely no good reason, I got off the PIP but I was too burned. Literally anxiety/panic attacks every day. Saved up a lot and left, took a few years off to recover mentally. Studied to get back into top tech, leetcode grinded, then applied around.
I was mostly looking at companies with a good Blind WLB review. Got an interview with a tiny company at half my previous salary, I was super duper overqualified. But I fell in love with the manager, he was actually legitimately nice and cared about me more in 5 seconds than I ever felt from any other manager in years. I accepted the offer and since starting it's exactly what I expected, wonderful management and a good culture. Sleepy a.f. and the codebase is crap, low pay and everyone is checked out, but never looked back and it's working good for me. I don't think I can go back to top tech, certainly never would consider xAI.
I'm also lucky I was able to save enough for retirement so that I can accept half my previous salary and be comfortable. It won't work for everyone but it's working for me. My job is easy, 20-25 hours a week to perform 2-3x the others on my team. I do miss the technical challenges of my last job, top tech is a lot more gratifying. Legacy code is its own challenge, luckily I'm able to see it that way but it's easy to get checked out like that.
I've taken it upon myself to refactor their legacy code in huge swaths against the odds. We have some other top tech folks here in recent years for the same reason so it's perceived well, but many don't want to take the risks of breaking something. It's a daily struggle to modernize stuff and it keeps me going. It's optional, they don't really care if I take the short term path, so no stress. I've poured my heart into code that is shot down because "don't fix what isn't broken" that is infuriating. But it's a good challenge. It's wonderful really and I've never been happier in my life. I hope you find that happiness, friend. Feel free to DM me. I don't care about doxxing, the NSA knows who we all are.
That is a heart-warming story, thanks for sharing!:-)