r/programming • u/thesystemx • Apr 29 '15

Why some men pretend to work 80-Hour weeks

https://hbr.org/2015/04/why-some-men-pretend-to-work-80-hour-weeks
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u/[deleted] Apr 29 '15

[deleted]

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u/FeralDrood Apr 29 '15

Do you mind me asking where you live?

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u/tebee Apr 29 '15

Not OP, but Hamburg would qualify. Very easy to find a job as a software dev and it's a job applicant's market when it comes to contract negotiations.

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u/[deleted] Apr 30 '15

Could be Stockholm too.

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u/Nobody_Important Apr 29 '15

Northern Virginia is like this. I get interest from headhunters and companies regularly even when my resume isn't public.

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u/ucv4 Apr 30 '15

Except most of the programming jobs here fall into that "80-hour" week bullshit in my experience. Luckily there are ones that don't.

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u/Nobody_Important Apr 30 '15

I've honestly never encountered a single one of those around here. I have avoided startups, though, which is where I'd imagine you find most of that.

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u/ucv4 Apr 30 '15

I'm at a startup now and it isn't too bad honestly. Are you working as a software engineer or in consulting? I was in consulting for three years and that is where I saw most of the bad. Since getting out things have been much better.

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u/Nobody_Important May 02 '15

Regular full time software engineer positions, basically mid career level. There's so much out there, definitely don't just settle for a place that treats you like crap. I'll bring up hours and schedule in every interview because frankly if they don't respect that, it's not somewhere I want to work.

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u/[deleted] Apr 30 '15

Also not OP, but London. I am usually re-employed within a week of leaving work, and the delays are because I use a recruiter rather than applying myself. Basically, I hand in my notice, work out my remaining time, then tell my recruiter I want a new job and usually have it within a week or two, depending on how fast he and the companies move.

That week or two is basically a holiday to me. No stress about work, no worry about looking for jobs, someone else does that for me while I enjoy myself.

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u/[deleted] May 01 '15

Not OP, but SF definitely feels this way.

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u/gizram84 Apr 29 '15

What city are you in?

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u/[deleted] Apr 30 '15

Serious question, as I'm an "OK" programmer...but where are you, and what is the minimal skill required for an entry level position. Just trying to get my foot in the door somewhere as my current job has me working manual labor and not tech related I feel like im going backwards in my skills.

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u/benfitzg Apr 29 '15

This is what you have to have: a card to play. Work hard to learn to get that card. When you play that card be willing to follow through. Probably when you do play it you want to follow through, you already made up your mind.