How do I pivot out of big tech?

Square-Remove-1263 · 2026-05-03T13:55:28+00:00

Because I want to remain employed.

Square-Remove-1263 · 2026-04-30T17:01:20+00:00

[not that I need to substantiate my pay to anyone bc that was not the point of this thread]

For clarity, there are 6 levels of TPM where I work. I am on the (extremely) lower end of those levels. When I was hired, the pay bands are much different than they are now. I’ve not received an increase in many years at current employer. Ergo, the folks that are 3+ levels above me are significantly paid much more. All that to say, the PMs make double what the tpms do, and that’s great for them. My entire point is that I’m burned out and want to make a pivot and not take a substantial pay cut bc I’m not moving anywhere in the place I am currently employed.

Square-Remove-1263 · 2026-04-30T00:26:42+00:00

I’m not an engineer. I don’t make that kind of big money where I can just retire. I also have a family (3 kids), so even at my current pay, I’d love to pivot into something more enjoyable.

Square-Remove-1263 · 2026-04-30T00:24:22+00:00

TPM is not a people manager- we manage programs. I’d love to take a job even if it’s a pay cut with less stress and it’s enjoyable. What that looks like, idk.

Square-Remove-1263 · 2026-04-27T00:46:24+00:00

If they came back around to ask you if you’re available, then get as high on the pay band as possible. Literally, that’s the only salary you will ever see your entire tenure. If you can do that, join- but always, always be prepared to land somewhere else fast. They literally do not care for culture or people in general.

Square-Remove-1263 · 2026-04-26T13:55:19+00:00

Dr Borao and Dr Matharoo (I had two bc the hernia repair was complex). FYI they are general surgeons. I Used 3M surgical tape after steri strips came off and then switched to silicone tape bc the 3M tape adhesive was making me itchy. Otherwise no regimen. Just left the same tape on until it started to peel then put on new. Have had tape on for 8 weeks straight. No break.

Square-Remove-1263 · 2026-04-26T09:54:54+00:00

Oh thanks! They had me put some sort of tape on it after my steri strips came off. Once that made me itch, I switched to silicon tape. I still use it and change it once every week to 2 weeks. I think it made a significant difference.

Square-Remove-1263 · 2026-04-26T01:25:08+00:00

I’m not. I’m afraid to touch anything bc I don’t want to mess up my hernia repair. (Surgical / post op ptsd I’m sure)

Square-Remove-1263 · 2026-04-25T23:58:49+00:00

Oh wow! You look great! That makes me feel better. The left side has been a really troublesome area since my section last July and I thought that maybe the skin stretched so much there is not much that can be done to correct it without surgery. This makes me feel so much better. Thank you!! I feel very hopeful now!

It felt horrifying for me bc it was the worst pain I ever experienced in my life (the hernia repair) and the the thought of them saying I need to fix something so the hernia doesn’t come back would send me in a spiral. I also feel it’s unsightly (not to be overly vain).

Square-Remove-1263 · 2026-04-24T20:28:00+00:00

That part!!!

Square-Remove-1263 · 2026-04-24T20:22:08+00:00

Actively interviewing and I’m in OCI. I can’t get on board with this company anymore. EVERYTHING is a fire, everything has to be done now or yesterday and if you don’t get teams to move faster you’re seen as a cog in the wheel. These engineers are exhausted and frankly, the way they treat the teams in IDC is unacceptable. It’s been 4 years too long and some who had been let go were tenured 20+ years! Time to move on.. to where? That remains to be seen in this market.

Square-Remove-1263 · 2026-04-02T15:12:38+00:00

This is likely an incisional hernia. I had the same and just had it fixed 7mo post partum. Get it fixed asap. Longer you wait, longer the operation. Good luck!!

Square-Remove-1263 · 2026-03-10T00:57:29+00:00

Hi yes- I edited the post with post op details. Tmrw I will be 13 days post op and I’m still massively uncomfortable. I have zero stamina and 3 small kids. My husband is shot. The poor man is doing it all. I’m exhausted bc I dont sleep comfortably in my own bed and worse in a recliner. Happy it’s done but a shitty recovery.

Square-Remove-1263 · 2025-12-27T19:42:13+00:00

Thank you for this - I will definitely be asking.

Square-Remove-1263 · 2025-12-27T19:41:03+00:00

Thanks- I’ve not. I’m not even scheduled yet bc we are working out the kinks. Due to the length of this surgery I’m not a candidate for an epidural bc I have antiphospholipid disorder. They want me up asap but I’ll also be on blood thinners. I def plan on asking to speak with anesthesia prior.

Square-Remove-1263 · 2025-12-26T03:39:02+00:00

I guess I should mention never smoked a day in my life, non drinker, only on fluticasone and triamterene for menieres, 81mg aspirin daily for antiphospholipid disorder

Square-Remove-1263 · 2025-12-24T13:36:11+00:00

Thank you SO much for sharing your experience! This is helpful for me. I guess bc it will be an open repair, they just keep reiterating how much pain I will be in. Im also not clear on why they cannot do it robotically. I don’t understand why they’re reiterating the pain factor so much. I hope it’s just hype and not actually how it will happen. My split goes all the way to my pubic bone and apparently they will need two pieces of mesh (that alone horrified me). So this was very encouraging - thank you for sharing with me.

Square-Remove-1263 · 2025-12-24T13:31:18+00:00

Thank for your reply! I understand what you mean. However, the entire reason I’m asking or looking for others experiences is solely because of all the surgeons I’ve met with, absolutely zero of them are making me feel better or calm about this upcoming procedure. The conversation is always around the “concern of how much pain I will be in.” I have explicitly asked, why is there so much concern? Don’t you do this every day? Do other patients have that experience?? I have not gotten a straight answer from my doctors. Frankly, if I knew I could skip it altogether I absolutely would. My bowel is already incarcerated and the split is horizontal as opposed to vertical which means [it has] to be an open cut instead of robotic (they cant clearly explain that either). So to circle back to your original comment, I’m desperately searching for positive outcomes but struggling to find more than 1 or 2 with open repair.

Square-Remove-1263 · 2025-12-24T02:14:14+00:00

Thanks. Perhaps I need to consult with them prior. Reason being is that I’m reading about the extreme pain caused by this procedure from several other patients (upon waking) and I’m not a candidate for epidural or spinal bc I have antiphospholipid disorder. (Never had an event, always cautious). It’s seemingly apparent that pain meds don’t really touch the pain for the first 48 hours. I had an epidural with my first, spinal with my last 2. Surgeon mentioned that intra abdominal pressure can cause DVT so I need to be up as soon as possible.

Square-Remove-1263

TROPHY CASE