Need break

Facebook QhBl71
Apr 4 23 Comments

I am completely burnt out and am thinking of taking a break for 3-4 months. I am currently M1 and just hit 4yr cliff as well. If I try to interview with Uber/Google/Msft, is there a big risk in them down leveling me or reducing comp?
I am a bit of a paranoid personality with low confidence currently due to being depressed (I think)
TC: 220k base/20% bonus/200k RSU

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 TOP 23 Comments
  • Lyft / Eng Damn Son
    I took 10 months off last year to recover from surgery, travel, rest, and recharge. Admittedly I probably wasted a great deal of time watching Netflix and playing video games but that was fun. My advice here would be to have a concrete plan of things you want to do.

    I spent the last 2 months studying and interviewing. While it was easier to schedule my onsite interviews back to back in an attempt to get overlapping offers and more negotiation leverage, the fact that I was currently unemployed seemed to backfire with exploding offers from each company (48-72 hours at LinkedIn, Uber, Lyft). If you’re currently employed while interviewing it’s easier to tell a company that you still have interviews lined up for the coming weeks or even months since you have to schedule them on PTO.
    Apr 4 5
    • Facebook QhBl71
      OP
      Sorry, what do you mean by exploding offers? Bad offers or you did not get any or did they lowball you? From your username, you seem to be at Lyft
      Apr 4
    • Microsoft Orville
      Exploding offers mean you have a limited time to respond or they rescind the offer.
      Apr 4
    • Lyft / Eng Damn Son
      LinkedIn gave me a verbal offer on a Friday. Official offer arrived on Monday and had until Tuesday night to sign (extended to Wednesday). Uber offer came on Tuesday and matched LinkedIn’s timeline, explaining they requested a signing bonus specifically to match LinkedIn. Lyft offer came on Wednesday evening, which didn’t really leave much time to negotiate. The whole sequence of events and constant phone calls was really stressful and I did not enjoy that one bit.

      Every piece of advice I read told me to get more time. I tried. I did not get much time. At least I got the timelines to match up.
      Apr 5
    • Lyft / Eng Damn Son
      Anyways my advice to you would be to do whatever you need to get a new job lined up and be upfront about your start date early in the process. Say you want to travel, connect with your family, recharge—just don’t say you’re burnt out. Big companies can afford to wait.

      Then plan your big break. Spend some time being productive. Spend time being a couch potato or being pampered. Go travel to an exotic place that’s outside your comfort zone. Travel to a place where you’re most comfortable. Stay at home playing video games. Get excited.
      Apr 5
    • Uber vgghhh
      Exploding offers are bullshit if you’re an engineer. If the recruiter presents one, just reject immediately and say “sorry, but I don’t consider exploding offers. If you’re interested in me now, you’ll be interested in me a few weeks or months from now. Feel free to get back to me with a non-exploding offer if you company is still interested.”

      If you didn’t get more time it’s because you asked for it instead of demanding it and being willing to walk away over those stupid recruiter shenanigans.
      Apr 6
  • What's your base
    Apr 4 3
    • Facebook QhBl71
      OP
      220k
      Apr 4
    • What is your rent
      Apr 4
    • Facebook QhBl71
      OP
      Not sure where you are going with this but I can afford not to have a job for up to a year and my wife does work
      Apr 4
  • Microsoft sabertooth
    I have thought if this. I think the most important thing is to figure out what you want to do for those 3-4 months before taking the time off. If you do it unplanned, you may end up sleeping off that time, which is not bad but if you want to do something else like travel, practice a hobby etc., figure it out first and then take a break.

    If you are afraid of down leveling, get an offer from them and give a joining date 3-4 months out.
    Apr 4 1
    • Facebook QhBl71
      OP
      Good idea and have thought of this one but got such low motivation currently. I do intend to travel and focus on my health
      Apr 4
  • Uber zhdbwb
    I’m sure Uber would love to have you, half the company is ex FB/G. I don’t think EM1 has equivalent TC though, you may have to look at EM2 positions (5b equivalent)
    Apr 4 2
    • Facebook QhBl71
      OP
      Thank you. Would Uber be okay in considering me for a EM2 level if I am not at a job. I am not getting pip’ed but my fear is that might be the assumption
      Apr 4
    • Uber zhdbwb
      I’m not sure anyone would mind, it’s common for people to take breaks.
      Apr 4
  • Indeed zegra
    I've done this multiple times over my career and I find the best way to do this is to find another job and push back the start date for 3-4 months so you can quit and use that time to recover, travel etc. You don't think about work during those months since you cleanly break from your prior job and can start fresh with the new one. You sacrifice a little income but it's very worth it to me and I've never even had the second income to fall back on.
    Apr 4 0
  • Oscar 🐨koala
    So you are E5? How bad is facebook work life balance? I am interviewing with them. Sorry to hear you are burnt out.
    Apr 4 3
    • Facebook QhBl71
      OP
      M1. There are lot of teams with potentially decent WLB
      Apr 4
    • Workday whomee
      What do you mean OP
      Apr 4
    • Facebook QhBl71
      OP
      Oops...corrected typo 🤫
      Apr 4
  • Google bofo
    M1 at FB is feeling burnt out. what about the E6s? 🤔
    Apr 4 1
    • Facebook QhBl71
      OP
      Ha ha ...I slogged to make up for my weaknesses and not enjoying the cross collaboration opportunities
      Apr 4

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