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975 points namukang | 3 comments | | HN request time: 0s | source
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ein0p ◴[] No.43666998[source]
As an ex-Googler I say: blessing in disguise. When working at a $MEGACORP it's easy to think there's barren wasteland out there beyond the walls, so it's scary. But that is very much not so. I get that opportunities to work on browsers are relatively few and far between, but if you can do something else, try working for a smaller company which treats you more like a human being, and less like a replaceable cog.

Not much of a consolation, I'm sure. I've never been laid off, so I can only hypothesize what that'd feel like, but know this: this too shall pass.

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lazide ◴[] No.43671402[source]
It is much easier to handle when departing is voluntary. Layoffs, especially surprise ones, are the opposite.

For someone young with no dependents, it can be scary but doable. For those with kids? Not so much.

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ein0p ◴[] No.43676891[source]
OP spent several years at Google. Kids or no kids, if they managed their finances well, they have a lot of latitude wrt next moves.
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1. ryandrake ◴[] No.43678747{3}[source]
Not necessarily. Nobody on HN knows OP’s finances. He might have extended family relying on him. He might have crippling student debt. He might have expensive health problems. Do you know? I don’t.

Also, not all Google employees make great money. People act as though you work there for 5 years and that automatically means you’re off to buy your third house in Monaco.

Point is, he might “manage his finances well” and still be on insecure footing.

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2. trinix912 ◴[] No.43679085[source]
Exactly. Plus I think we're forgetting a lot of Google employees are on visas, meaning they might have expenses both in the US and in their home country.
3. jansan ◴[] No.43679127[source]
You may be correct in general, but in this particular case I do not see how Adam should have any difficulties in finding a very good paying job at another company.