Hi! Meta is not what I expected and my team is really stressful. It’s a good enough company but just not for me. I’m thinking of two options (1) start applying for jobs now because Meta is not where I want to be long-term and leave when I get something (2) Stick around a few more months but sometime next year ask for a “mutually agreeable separation package” and then take off for about a year to spend time with my kids before my older one starts kindergarten next year, set up a vacation home for us (I’m talking like a $50-100k cabin in a random place in Europe where my hubby is from, we are not crazy rich) and spend a good amount of time next year there then keep it for summers, and pursue some personal goals like learning to ski and completing my first distance bike race. I’d also do some brushing up on data science things so I’d be confident for interviews. I came from economics like lots of people but feel like I have some gaps I’d like to close. Not because I actually need those skills to do my job but because it’d make me feel more confident. (3) a hybrid of the two where I get something set up but set a start date for like a year out. Is that possible in this economy? (4) team switch to see if things improve My thoughts are I’d love the time with my kids and to be me and could use a break after so many years of work and two kids at a company without parental leave (went back at 5 weeks for both kids). On the other hand, with stocks down RSU grant would be good now and with the economy heading down, might be good to have a job. On the other hand, there could be extended unemployment benefits like they did for the last recession where benefits lasted 2 years. Also, how hard would it be to meet or beat my TC if I took a break? Would it be harder to get a job? And has anyone done this or a returnship? Also my husband thinks we should save more before starting to think about taking a step back. I feel like you can get in a trap easily though of working just “a few more years” and also could have lifestyle creep so might as well just take the time now if you can (which we can). Financially, we can live off my husband’s salary. What would you do and why? Also would love experiences shared “like I took off a year and it was a bad choice for X, Y, Z.” Or it was awesome. One other consideration. My husband wants to leave his company in a little over a year (needs to wait for a stock vest that’s currently $1M) so if I took off for about a year, I could apply to places that weren’t fully remote as he can’t work remote and would have to quit. So I could search nationally for a job and move wherever we want if I wait a year whereas now I’m limited to jobs that are fully remote or local and I live in a midwestern state without many opportunities. Level: DS M1 TC: target was $340k but after stock drop in only bringing home about $270k/year. Fully remote in LCOL
OP - given that you’re in an LCOL, and your husband’s next stock vest is 1M (if I understand correctly) you have a lot of wiggle room. Plenty of folks have taken 6 month - 1 year sabbaticals. Does Meta offer one? If so, that could be an option. Would love to be in your situation, financially speaking.
I feel the same as a DS at Meta. Just passed my one year mark not long ago. I thought it was my problem but now realized it is just not for me. I wanted to quit every day in the past year. Well, option (4) is not possible now. How does (2) work? How to get the severance package without a layoff?
Honest question, what do you mean by a “mutually agreeable separation package” without straight up quitting?
I heard through the grapevine Meta is offering 12 weeks severance and I think it’s likely true.
I’ve never heard of this at meta either but have heard other companies like indeed are doing it. I would wait to see if that is an option so at least you have one more path to consider than just straight quitting. It sounds like the biggest decision here is to take a career break or not. And given your driver is family, I say why not. Market will eventually pick up again and hiring will normalize. I don’t think career breaks are as taboo as they used to be. Do what feels right! Your kids will only be that age once 🙂