Of course, that's not super valuable advice now, sunken costs and all that. But there's nothing more depressing than entering a field with all kinds of hopes and dreams for the future, only to watch them get squashed by FAANG and ultimately realize that computers are a liability, not an opportunity.
The more you learn about the modern state of technology, the more horrified you become. I studied fields like cryptography and surveillance for a few years, and it's destroyed me. I show every symptom of a paranoid schizophrenic, but there's nothing that could ever treat me. The only way I could have stopped myself from becoming so horrified would be to never learn about it at all. This fear constantly permeates everything I do, everywhere I go and everyone I interact with. These days I border on completely socially dysfunctional, simply because I can't give my phone number to someone without having a mental breakdown.
If I could do it all again, I'd learn to love the earth and embrace naturalism. I might have a shot to live a truly fulfilling life, free from the neverending purgatory that we call the internet. But I've breached that contract with God, and my penance for such an affront is being stuck with knowledge I desperately want to forget. It really is true what they say, Ignorance Is Bliss.
I have been thinking about this quite a bit. Thank you for your answer.
It is sort of funny that collectively, people whose minds are so good at synthesis and analysis never lifted their heads up to see what we were creating.
Keep looking for new opportunities and keep growing. It’s very easy to focus on your work and develop strong expertise at one place, but this benefits your employer the most. Make sure that you focus on doing the things that help you.
It's interesting what FAANG looked like 10 years ago. People kept saying that Facebook was going to fail, all the numbers certainly pointed that way. And who thought Netflix was going to be one of the top companies to work for? Amazon's low profit margin approach seemed like it could implode any moment, but never did.
Don't sell out to a corporate job while your young. move somewhere cool and then move again. once you start a family your dreams need to be measured against the rest of your families goals and dreams. and your kids usually out way everything.
personally, I would go do something in crypto, because honestly that's where most of the action is.
polygon, solana networks have low transaction fees. I imagine it will be a race to the bottom on network fees.
If you're a CS student or software engineer: don't go for a grad degree (MS or PhD). Start work right out of college, whether it be at a startup or FAANG. Get some work experience, savings (and stock if you're lucky), you can always go back to higher education later if you want to, and that work experience will be worth it when you do go back.
I understand some might disagree with this advice, but having done a grad degree 10+ years ago, this is what I would advice my younger self.
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[ 3.3 ms ] story [ 46.2 ms ] threadOf course, that's not super valuable advice now, sunken costs and all that. But there's nothing more depressing than entering a field with all kinds of hopes and dreams for the future, only to watch them get squashed by FAANG and ultimately realize that computers are a liability, not an opportunity.
What would you tell you younger self to do instead?
If I could do it all again, I'd learn to love the earth and embrace naturalism. I might have a shot to live a truly fulfilling life, free from the neverending purgatory that we call the internet. But I've breached that contract with God, and my penance for such an affront is being stuck with knowledge I desperately want to forget. It really is true what they say, Ignorance Is Bliss.
It is sort of funny that collectively, people whose minds are so good at synthesis and analysis never lifted their heads up to see what we were creating.
Does this count? lol
Apart from the joke, I second @smoldesu 1000%.
But even 10 years ago, I think Apple/Google/Microsoft were pretty safe bets
personally, I would go do something in crypto, because honestly that's where most of the action is.
polygon, solana networks have low transaction fees. I imagine it will be a race to the bottom on network fees.
- Don't stop going to the gym
I understand some might disagree with this advice, but having done a grad degree 10+ years ago, this is what I would advice my younger self.
Being a frontend/backend dev after coming out of a CS degree in uni is insanely boring, I feel like I'm barely using my brain at this point.
But the opportunity cost is also crazy high in the current job market.
Masters I can see but PhD would really set you back considering time value of money.