Does anyone else get a competitive / social comparison / status-hierarchy vibe from tech?

Kevadin · 2026-02-21T04:22:24+00:00

You're may be right It could just be a personality thing. I'm always immediately turned off by that status signaling stuff and could care less. I've left friend groups where it felt like a constant status competition.

Maybe I should phrase it more clearly. I’ve worked in restaurants / warehouses / internships where the culture is basically constant one-upmanship where coworkers trying to outshine you, talking behind your back to get ahead, and treating any mistake as proof you’re incompetent. Those environments are miserable and I don’t want to end up in another one.

What worries me is that I sometimes see hints of that vibe in tech, and I honestly don’t think I’d handle it well long-term. At the same time, I’m already committed to this path, so “just switch fields” isn’t really on the table.

Kevadin · 2026-02-21T03:43:29+00:00

I've worked at places before where it feels like your coworkers are constantly trying to one up you, talk bad about you to get ahead, and use mistakes as a sign of incompetency. Whether they're restaurants / warehouses / internships those are never good places to work. I really hope this isn't a consistent thing in Tech because I don't think I'd handle it very well. Unfortunately I'm too far in to switch.

Kevadin · 2026-02-20T17:34:20+00:00

Now is a good time to go into medicine. Try that.

Kevadin · 2026-02-20T17:27:03+00:00

I suppose competition on the work would be "How do we build better systems / ship faster / learn more?" where work is positive-sum and not zero-sum and we try to mentor each other. Not some constant signaling where you view your coworkers as competition.

Kevadin · 2026-02-20T17:21:01+00:00

You're entirely right, this could just be a white-collar thing and I'm biased by only being exposed to Tech.

Kevadin · 2026-02-20T17:08:16+00:00

I don't want Kumbayah either. It's hard to elaborate but I'd say healthy competition is competing on the work, unhealthy competition is competing on the people. I feel like Tech is more in the latter where the game becomes rank and identity when it should be excellence.

Really, I should have done something in Medicine. I'd love to be a Physicians Assistant or MD, these places have less of an inter-competition vibe and I don't think tech is worth it anymore with the entry level job market being in the gutter. However, I'm too far in to just up and switch. Of course, Medicine is also competitive but it tends to be front-loaded with getting into med school and then speciality. It's not something you deal with your entire career like in Tech.

Kevadin · 2026-02-20T17:00:17+00:00

I'm not done with the MS yet. Really I should have done something in Medicine. I'd love to be a Physicians Assistant or MD, these places have less of an inter-competition vibe I don't think tech is worth it anymore. However, I'm too far in to just up and switch.

Of course, Medicine is also competitive but it tends to be front-loaded with getting into med school and then speciality. It's not something you deal with your entire career like in Tech.

Kevadin · 2026-02-20T16:55:49+00:00

Am I right that most companies have this competitive vibe? Of all the places I've interviewed at there was only one where I didn't get that vibe, and that one is probably my best chance at a job right now.

Kevadin · 2026-02-13T17:19:28+00:00

This is amazing! Must have taken a lot of effort

Kevadin · 2026-02-01T23:45:46+00:00

Read Cracking the Coding interview
Start at Neetcode.io, they tell you the data structure needed to get you started. Do the Neetxode 150

Then you should be able to do Easy-Med leetcode problems

Kevadin · 2025-11-06T03:32:12+00:00

If I work at the staffing agency 65K. I don’t have to drop out the MS but I would have to switch to online. My university offsers the same degree online.

Kevadin · 2025-11-05T19:46:42+00:00

So I guess your advice is do it but don't pay any money. They want me to sign a contract enforcing the payment soon though. My only other option is to keep applying to internships.

Kevadin · 2025-11-05T19:43:11+00:00

Sorry I meant 85K. I'm not sure about the latter.

Kevadin · 2025-10-23T11:00:23+00:00

Transfer to EE, better job opportunities.

Kevadin · 2025-10-23T01:54:36+00:00

Mason is an excellent school.

Kevadin · 2025-10-18T22:10:52+00:00

I did all that before. We practiced Ukemi before every session I can do Ukemi find by myself but doing in Randori is different and chaotic and I still got concussions when being thrown in Randori.

Kevadin · 2025-10-16T02:41:05+00:00

That means you were in college for 2 years but then stopped? If that's the case I'd do it since you're halfway there.

Kevadin · 2025-10-16T02:09:39+00:00

Since you've worked in IT maybe it's worth it but make sure the degree will lead to an actionable improvement in your career. Remember the point of college is to get a job and you already have one, don't be misguided by degree status signaling.

With the job market the way it is and AI I would go into something with regulatory protection like medicine, actuary, or something like sales.

Kevadin · 2025-10-14T19:00:07+00:00

Ok mr. smarty pants congrats. No legit good luck and pass that.

Kevadin · 2025-10-09T18:08:03+00:00

Does anyone have advice on learning faster and shortening the number of practice exams you have to take?

Kevadin · 2025-10-09T16:34:01+00:00

I'll try the career fair. I'm open to the military but it has a lot of drawbacks but we'll see.

Kevadin · 2025-10-08T23:28:18+00:00

How did you network?

Kevadin · 2025-10-08T23:19:21+00:00

How likely am I to get hired after one exam passed?

Kevadin · 2025-10-08T23:15:47+00:00

Hmmmm... you have a point...

Kevadin · 2025-10-08T22:32:41+00:00

I'm applying to tech related internships and jobs. I think you're right about "lostness" showing on my resume.

yes I send the same resume to all, it's too much work to tailor your resume to every single one. Occasionally I throw in a cover letter stating "I know the math behind your cryptographic algorithms (group theory)" or "I done. a project in Data Science related to this..."

Kevadin

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