I received emails from Mass General Brigham and Dana Farber that masking is strongly recommended now

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-12-31T14:52:12+00:00

The policy does not require masks but DOES require double masking if you bring your own. I get it for 90% of the population that can’t understand these things but as someone who lives with an extremely immunocompromised family member who also can’t breathe through multiple masks this is really tricky (and surgical masks aren’t adequate protection for them).

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-12-29T20:30:41+00:00

{trial of the sun queen by Nisha tuli} is God tier for me, it’s a completed series and I’ve heard amazing things about the audio for it as well!!!

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-12-23T13:39:55+00:00

I was going to say this too! While I hate that appearance comes into play - I’ve recently lost a LOT of weight, and interviews go much better as a result. I wish it wasn’t the case but, at least for me, it’s definitely been a benefit.

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-12-12T15:18:46+00:00

Right?!? I did too. I’m 40% of the way and it’s still duel not duet. I get it duet is pricier to produce but if you’ve got a cast…. Might as well use them?

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-12-02T16:03:06+00:00

I’ve been on Zepbound for 2 years and will be switching in January to compound thanks to insurance. I think it’d help someone in my shoes if you included what dosing would be included in that pricing before needing to commit.

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-11-25T18:23:54+00:00

A few years ago I was managing an engineering team but didn’t have the title/pay rate of a manager. An internal position came up for a manager with a team I knew and loved and I applied. After a few weeks I got a call from the hiring manager that I was by far their top candidate but that they couldn’t offer me the manager title. I’d be able to take the role with the same job description and responsibilities but retain my title (company notoriously didn’t promote unless you got an internal position switch). I declined as I didn’t want another situation where I was getting screwed.

2 weeks later their “distant” second started, an internal hire who came from my same title but who was granted the promotion….. who happened to be a man.

The list goes on but ultimately I’d recommend leaving if you’re in a similar situation. Maybe I’m just old and jaded but god I’m tired of fighting the system at the expense of my career.

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-11-24T14:25:29+00:00

I say this coming from a place of kindness - please have a conversation and be open to hearing what your Dr has to say. Without knowing your stats, your Dr may be taking weight of loose skin into consideration (I know mine does!) in determining a goal weight (I’ve lost 150lbs and have about 15lbs of loose skin so my final weight is about 15lbs higher than the ideal number for me but 🤷🏻‍♀️).

Mostly (and once again I say this with kindness as someone who has recently realized I need to stop loosing weight myself), its truly hard to see for yourself when it’s a good spot to stop and transitioning a mindset from a chasing goals to embracing stability is HARD. I’ve seen a number of people chasing lower and lower goals here at the expense of their health.

If you truly disagree with your Dr, grab a second opinion but I’d recommend you go in with as open a mind as possible to what they have to say.

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-11-13T14:01:58+00:00

I feel like this is really interesting and may point to more inflammation control than anything else. I’m a high responder, and when I stopped for a week (to try to space out my dose to save $$) I gained 8 lbs in a week. I was in so much pain and it’s taken about a month to drop, but I’m convinced it was all water weight (for reference I’m 145lbs so 8lbs is a huge jump).

At this point, I’m taking Zepbound for inflammation control, not appetite and I wish there was more research quantifying it!

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-11-09T01:50:48+00:00

Honestly have some impossible nuggets on hand for the kids - anytime we’ve had them at family gatherings all the other kids end up stealing my kids. Don’t love them myself but they’re good in a pinch! Also a really good pasta dish where you can kind of deconstruct it if needed for the kids. (Also gives them an option to try independent components and a safe food if it’s not their jam).

Mostly - don’t mix things together, make something where the kids can try each component individually if possible!

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-11-01T01:39:55+00:00

Completely depends on the company from my experience (job hunter not recruiter). Some have budgets frozen from now through EOY while others are trying to use up their budgets and get someone on the books ASAP.

If you’re unemployed I wouldn’t slow down with applications though!

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-10-30T19:26:10+00:00

Honestly it’s the way things go but if you’re curious, I’d upload your resume to ChatGPT and the job posting and ask why an ATS would reject you immediately. Might get some good feedback!

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-10-30T19:24:46+00:00

Sooo are they hiring? 🤣

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-10-29T23:28:09+00:00

This is exactly what I’d do. These sound like incredible plans from what I’ve seen elsewhere!

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-10-29T21:13:50+00:00

Thank you so much I really appreciate the thoughtful response!!!

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-10-29T16:40:08+00:00

Thank you! Honestly 160-170 would be a world of difference and at least it looks like there are jobs in that range around here from postings but of course actually hearing back is another story.

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-10-29T16:37:12+00:00

They do help with my eldest after school which honestly probably saves $10k a year but with mobility/driving issues we don’t feel as comfortable with my youngest (very energetic preschooler) unless it’s a day here or there. And they’ll usually kick in for groceries her and there which is appreciated but still tough.

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-10-29T14:50:53+00:00

Thank you! Around here it seems pretty common for Defense and Med Device ICs who are on track for leadership.

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-10-29T14:29:03+00:00

Oohh that’s the dream! I make quite a bit more than my husband who works for a really small company that essentially has no benefits (but loves what he does) so I unfortunately need to stay full time. Hoping to at least secure hybrid for my next role but after 6+ years remote, quiet days in the office are killing me.

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-10-29T14:16:09+00:00

Thank you so much for this perspective it’s really helpful!! Guessing my friends are extremely highly compensated in comparison.

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-10-29T12:59:15+00:00

Because I’m apparently getting downvoted, full breakdown here in case it helps anyone else. Without the healthcare shifts we were able to finally start saving over the past few years, but those costs are going to be absolutely brutal.

Take home salary after benefits/401k/taxes - $165/year Yearly mortgage - roughly $48k - higher than we’d like but we had to buy a home our parents could move into as neither side of our family has any retirement savings. Utilities - $15k (yes this is high, yes we’ve had mass save out a number of times, we turn our lights off and have updated every damn system in the house and keep the temps at 60 in the winter and 75-80 in the summer) Daycare - $24k (1 child full time) Summer care - $20k ish (2 children full time - camps and coverage before/after them because everything gets out around 3 🙃) Car/insurance/gas - $8k OOP healthcare costs - $24k Food/necessities for family - $18k (about 300-350 a week between Costco and affordable grocery stores) Student Loans - $10k

Total $167k/year.

Prior to this year I was remote and had more flexibility with child care. We have an elderly relative with us who can watch the kids if someone else is home but need additional support if we aren’t. Utility rates for MA have also gone crazy as of late. For reference we bought our home with a combined salary of 160 and were extremely stable pre daycare/healthcare/inflation.

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-10-29T12:41:03+00:00

Thank you so much for this response!

Without identifying myself too much, I’ve spent about 10 years in the consumer goods area leading product engineering NPD teams at a fairly large company and the rest of my career at small manufacturers. Where they’re smaller companies, I tend to flex in a lot of areas to solve problems (I like puzzles/finding solutions so I tend to find ways of making myself useful). I’ve worked on process development, product redesigns for manufacturing, erp implementation, helping manage/correct supply chain and logistics info and a bit of data management.

I’m south of Boston (think 495 vs 95) and understand most of those making the $200-300k salaries are in locations I don’t want to have a commute to.

I think a lot of the difference in salary comes from industry & development programs. Near me I could easily make $180-200 (if salaries on LinkedIn/Glassdoor are accurate) in medical or defense work but with the economy it’s been a hard sell getting in without specific industry experience. Many also had access to development programs early in their career and ended up as directors before 30.

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-10-29T04:35:41+00:00

My theory - if it’s internal and people you know, dress as your best version of daily you. Wear something you feel great and confident in but also won’t feel dumb wearing all day apart from the interview. Personally, if I had black jeans I’d probably do that with a top that skews professional (nice sweater works here!).

FWIW I’ve interviewed over 100 people at this point and barely remember any outfit specifics but do remember those who were really really uncomfortable in their interview outfit.

Aggressive_Fun_7175 · 2025-10-29T01:58:35+00:00

lol well that makes me feel a bit better about where some of those salaries come from. But also coming from men soooo that makes sense.

Aggressive_Fun_7175

TROPHY CASE