I have been sending out my CV for a new job. I’ve been in tech almost 6 years now (Analytics / BI / DE). I got a comp increase once I swapped firms (to Amazon) and then just the standard inflation increase. Today a top tech recruiter pitched a role to me a base salary 3k (GBP) lower than my current rate. This was kinda upsetting to even hear. He told me the SDE banding is about 10% more. London pay seems just suck for lower level tech. Each time I try to move to the US something happens internally out if my control (manager leaves, team gets disbanned, company restructures etc) and my plans get ruined. I was looking at the incomes across London on the national statistics website and it said the 90th percentile earn 60k GBP+ which is 3.5k ish a month post tax. How will I ever afford a flat, raise kids etc on this and give them a decent future in London? Will Brexit make things worse (as I assume there will be an influx of people from the East?). I feel stuck in this grind. I want to be successful. I am not whining, I appreciate I am still earning well relatively, I am just lost how to do better. I am getting older and am worried. I will LeetCode all day if needed, I just want a way forwards. I picked up side freelance work also for some extra cash. I feel like I am drowning sometimes just to keep up with a basic lifestyle in London. My one dream is to have a dog. But if you rent a flat in London you cannot have a dog. And good luck paying for dog school while you go to work as a single person on a single income. I dont know what the point of all this is if I cannot fulfil a basic dream of mine. :(
If you are playing a game and you loose each of the time, it might be true that game is screwed against you. It takes time to see big system problems. This system makes people work hard for small increases in pay but with that they can’t afford a good future for there kids and population decrease (unless there are other factors like immigration to help ), example Japan. No reason to believe it is getting easier. Just the basic simple survival is getting harder and harder for most people. I am just sympathetic towards your feeling. Don’t fully understand all factors to give a better solution. Sorry.
Yup and this is what I am afraid of. If I reflect at my past 6 years, I am still single, living in a small studio, etc. I would have thought experience at top companies and additional qualifications would help but to then only get 1% increases or 3k decrease in an external offer (on an already ‘low’ salary) was upsetting. Idk how to stay motivated like this.
Just be glad that your dream isn't getting married
Amen to this. I’m just surprised with this much ‘career’ focus that I am not further in my career than I had hoped to be really. :/ I don’t have any distractions per say (mortgage, kids etc).
I'm glad that I'm not ambitious otherwise I'd have a harder time being happy. Outside of my hohum job I'm generally content with my life and what I have. Perhaps you may also want to look outside of work for fulfillment
Learn about Buddhism. You’re unhappy because you desire for more hence you suffer
Yup reading up on this. I am definitely someone who lives within their means and I don’t have fancy tastes / expensive hobbies. I want to feel more complete inside. You are right, I desire more, but is that such a bad thing? We have one shot at life and I just want it to be a good one :)
Lol, must be young. The "grind" is that constant feeling, that your life is not advancing. Eventually you grow old and wise enough to realize that feeling was the actual waste of time.
I am indeed young. Can you explain what you mean by the feeling being a waste of time? Am curious.
I am also tired. I’ve been interviewing. Most have gone well. But there is always an external issue eg headcount moved to US, cannot relocate to Dublin anymore, role is too senior, role is too junior (therefore comp is lower than my current), etc. Just want something to work out.
Unfortunately, it will only get worse, try to find the positive in life, we are very lucky to have what we have.
Why worse? :/ I’m not unthankful. I realise I am lucky relative to a lot of the world. Just also don’t want to waste my life away given all these opportunities in that sense ie make the best of things.
Worse because you are getting older every passing day. And if you are unhappy today, more reason to be unhappy tommorow. So try to find happiness in what you have today.
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Moving to the Bay Area will give you more opportunities, income, but also more competition. Be prepared for it if you’re interested.
I have tried 3 times already and each time something has happened stopping me from moving. I kept my chin up, focused on getting into the next best team or firm and tried again. It is just not working out for me. Now I need to leave Amazon so have to start all over again for 12 months at the new place..
What’s stopping you from applying to a new company?