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Ask HN: Is anyone else just done with the industry?

124 points MongooseStudios | 4 comments | 27 Jun 25 02:44 UTC | HN request time: 0.622s | source

I'm a self taught dev that worked my butt off and endured years of "we promote internally" lies at multiple companies to finally get paid to write code.

I've been job hunting since I was laid off last November, and I'm just over it. Everyone is unicorn hunting for X years in Y framework and if you don't have exactly that you need not apply. Meanwhile FAANG, Microsoft, and Intel keep handing out pink slips.

I still love coding, I've spent most of my non "job applications and existential dread" time since layoff building projects. But the thought of working for another company run by braindead execs that want to shove AI into everything, or sitting through another round of Becky from HR (whose most technical skill is sometimes using excel) asking me "so why do you want to work here" fills me with revulsion.

I've taken to telling people with absurdly high meeting count hiring processes and one way video screenings that I'm not interested. I find myself excited about the prospect of doing almost anything other than sitting through another planning week at some company that swears up and down they are "doing Agile."

I'm furious at how companies have decided to kick us to the curb, outsource our jobs to the cheapest country they can find, or whatever AI company has the tastiest complimentary crayons this week. I'm furious at the RTO nonsense everyone is increasingly pushing, because their managers are so awful at their jobs they can't figure out how to replace interrupting us in person with interrupting us via a slack message. I'm furious, and tired at the same time.

Anyone else?

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_wire_ ◴[27 Jun 25 03:06 UTC] No.44393380[source]▶
Oh yes. It's dog eat dog but among very lazy privileged dogs.

Don't confuse business with a humane enterprise. It operates according to a vague informal internal calculus, has little loyalty to staff or communities and will happily eat skilled, conscientious contributors. The utopian stuff about being intelligent and progressive is hyperbole; a side effect of a privileged class of the labor sector for 50 years for the simple reason of growth. Morals and ethics are after-thoughts. Communitas is to the FAANG nothing more than growth. As smart as this class thinks it is, it will wither and die when the corp welfare dries up.

replies(1): >>44396636 #
aristofun ◴[27 Jun 25 13:25 UTC] No.44396636[source]▶
Wtf are you talking about “priveleged”?

Many people worked day and night to become a well paid engineer. And some rich founders of companies still do, coming from nothing.

replies(1): >>44398363 #
spacemadness ◴[27 Jun 25 16:59 UTC] No.44398363[source]▶
I’ve seen way more people struggling with mental health issues largely from overwork and stress than overly privileged. I think I’ve once or twice worked with an engineer that was kinda lazy but that’s out of hundreds of people I’ve worked with closely over the years. The only people who gain from calling engineers lazy and privileged are executives. All it does is widen the stick used to flog you.
replies(1): >>44398548 #
1. aristofun ◴[27 Jun 25 17:18 UTC] No.44398548[source]▶
> The only people who gain from calling engineers lazy and privileged are executives

also commies and alternatively-minded people

replies(1): >>44398669 #
2. spacemadness ◴[27 Jun 25 17:33 UTC] No.44398669[source]▶
Who says commies these days in all seriousness? Alternatively minded people sounds like something out of a Facebook boomer fever dream.
replies(2): >>44398909 #>>44399195 #
3. aristofun ◴[27 Jun 25 18:05 UTC] No.44398909[source]▶
why so serious? :)
4. drewcoo ◴[27 Jun 25 18:45 UTC] No.44399195[source]▶
> Who says commies these days in all seriousness?

Conservatives. And commies.