Ask HN: How do you escape golden handcuffs at FAANG?
12 comments
I didn't move from FAANG, but a very similar equivalent in my home country. I saw people "golden handcuffed" all the time, and the honest truth is that you have to decide what's more important to you - spending cash on vacuous bullshit and being unhappy at work, or not dreading every monday. You can still find places that pay well, and you don't have to sacrifice your life to them. The big thing is learning to live within your means - or, simply, to be able to say "no" to the little kid inside you who wants everything.
> The big thing is learning to live within your means
I'd say it's more "learning to live within the means of a non-FAANG person."
My FAANG colleagues spending 4x what I was on their mortgages in the Bay Area were also technically living within their means, but it also meant they had no choice but to stay handcuffed.
I'd say it's more "learning to live within the means of a non-FAANG person."
My FAANG colleagues spending 4x what I was on their mortgages in the Bay Area were also technically living within their means, but it also meant they had no choice but to stay handcuffed.
> My FAANG colleagues spending 4x what I was on their mortgages in the Bay Area were also technically living within their means, but it also meant they had no choice but to stay handcuffed.
That is the problem. It is about how much you are keeping after taxes. If >75 of that is going to bills, mortgages, cars and the stock drops, then you are essentially keeping far less and you'll find yourself stuck in your job.
Now that AI is everywhere, the loss of their job means a ~5 month runway (If on H-1B you have 2 months) is the reason why folks in the Bay Area at FAANG are terrified of leaving their jobs and find themselves handcuffed.
That is the problem. It is about how much you are keeping after taxes. If >75 of that is going to bills, mortgages, cars and the stock drops, then you are essentially keeping far less and you'll find yourself stuck in your job.
Now that AI is everywhere, the loss of their job means a ~5 month runway (If on H-1B you have 2 months) is the reason why folks in the Bay Area at FAANG are terrified of leaving their jobs and find themselves handcuffed.
>> spending cash on vacuous bullshit and being unhappy at work ...
I don't find anything incorrect in your response per se but I hope those weren't your assumptions about my situation and I didn't specify the details either. I've lived within my means, spend only for comfortable leisure travel, no mortgages; otherwise I wouldn't have achieved FIRE.
Neither am I sacrificing due to work as it's a good team with good WLB, it's just that I'm no longer excited by the work without dreading the Mondays. So as I mentioned in another response it's very likely that I'm actually scared of leaving this comfort level.
I don't find anything incorrect in your response per se but I hope those weren't your assumptions about my situation and I didn't specify the details either. I've lived within my means, spend only for comfortable leisure travel, no mortgages; otherwise I wouldn't have achieved FIRE.
Neither am I sacrificing due to work as it's a good team with good WLB, it's just that I'm no longer excited by the work without dreading the Mondays. So as I mentioned in another response it's very likely that I'm actually scared of leaving this comfort level.
The money thing is real though. What helped me was starting to build stuff on the side before quitting. Shipped a couple of small projects, got some revenue trickling in, and at some point the side thing became more exciting than the day job. That's when leaving felt obvious, not scary.
How'd you handle the no compete and whatever you do is ours clauses pretty much the norm at FAANG's?
> Shipped a couple of small projects, got some revenue trickling in
What did you ship?
What did you ship?
Lived within my means with the knowledge that the party would not go on forever.
Pretended my base salary was my only salary, and invested the rest.
Pretended my base salary was my only salary, and invested the rest.
What's your number?
My strategy is to go until I can't take anymore pain, then just walk away guilt free.
My strategy is to go until I can't take anymore pain, then just walk away guilt free.
Just leave and build your own startup / business.
What are you scared of?
What are you scared of?
I didn't mention other things like I'm living well within my means, no BS expenses except spending on leisure travel ensuring it's comfortable, no mortgages.
I'm working in good team with good WLB but after FIRE while I don't dread the Mondays, I'm no longer excited by the work. I still am able to make decent contributions to my team.
So may be I'm scared of leaving this comfort level.
I'm working in good team with good WLB but after FIRE while I don't dread the Mondays, I'm no longer excited by the work. I still am able to make decent contributions to my team.
So may be I'm scared of leaving this comfort level.
You will no longer be scare when either you do not enjoy work enough at the current comfort level, or you have something better to go to. Since the first seems unlikely, explore the second. Start side projects, unrelated hobbies, volunteering - anything that makes you excited for work to end.
If work is just so-so, find something that isn't, inside or outside your daily 9-5.
If work is just so-so, find something that isn't, inside or outside your daily 9-5.
Those who did it, how did you do it? What did you move onto from FAANG?