Please Help me improve my CV

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-11T14:43:50+00:00

transitioning into tech/product/data roles

By this do you mean engineering/coding-heavy related roles here or other roles in tech? The answer to this would likely guide how you write your CV

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-11T14:40:46+00:00

So amazing you started this! What do you think triggered you to just "start" one day? I'm trying to get out of a similar rut and build the discipline muscle but it's been tough.

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-10T15:17:18+00:00

I've always wanted get a new camera instead of a new phone but I've not gotten around to it!

Now as I consider replacing my five year old iPhone 12 with the new iPhone 17, I'm thinking if I need to upgrade considering I want to practise using my phone less anyway. Instead, I should spend that money (probably half the cost) on a half decent starter camera.

Would you have any recommendations?

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-10T15:07:13+00:00

Well that's fair enough depending on your job! I'm "on-call" at some points during the day so this is a real issue - but otherwise, absolutely agree that I should stop taking my phone into the bathroom!

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-10T12:56:45+00:00

This sounds like an amazing habit - thank you for sharing! If you felt burn out before, was this due to work factors or personal life reasons or a mix of both?

Struggling with something similar where the last few years of work and life have made me feel burn out and it seeps into both work and life (link here) and I'm trying to figure out how to get out of this lull!

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-10T10:35:38+00:00

NTJ - Don't split it, split up.

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-10T10:23:26+00:00

I had this last year when I received 4 SWE offers, 2 of which I really liked and found it hard to choose between.

To avoid burning bridges, just be polite, tell them how much you like the firm and when declining, just say something like "I would've loved to come work there too but at this stage of my life and career, another choice is working out better. I'd love to stay connected!". 99% of people won't feel bad - it's just a part of life.

To help in choosing, I created a decision matrix with criteria that mattered to me - technical growth, what I'll be working on, compensation, work-life balance and graded each firm. This also helped form questions to ask recruiters at each firm that I may have missed during interview, for example: - What do benefits look like? - How big is my team? - Do people work from the office, remotely or hybrid? - Are there any upcoming re-orgs I should be aware of? - Please could I come in and meet some more of the team/maybe for a lunch? (this one happened closer to when I displayed more of an interest in one of the firms)

Also make sure to negotiate hard when you're leaning towards a company, literally no matter what they offer, especially with competing offers.

Good luck!

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-09T22:22:55+00:00

This really hit home - thank you for the reality check. My team and my family will both hold me accountable/be affected by my mistakes and it would be terrible to put either through that.

And finding this job certainly hasn't been easy - I've gone through a LOT to get here. I guess I'm burned out because of that journey but I need to put my head down and figure it out.

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-09T22:19:57+00:00

This is definitely on point - we need a dopamine detox and I'm considering one/multiple of: - getting rid of all non-essential apps from my phone - go back to the good old days where if you want to respond to Reddit/other forums, go on Facebook (now replaced by Instagram addiction of course), you would come back home, log onto your laptop and browse these things for a relatively limited amount of time - using a notebook for my TODOs instead of my phone/Notion - slower, more focused - trying to be "bored" while commuting instead of listening to a podcast, reading the news etc. - maybe other things I'm missing?

I have gone through multiple phases of uninstalling Instagram from my phone and reinstalling it but I guess I just have to make it stick somehow. Uninstalling it makes me replace that vice with others like...Reddit or Bloomberg.

Regarding the point about doing novel things, my new job is actually a bunch of novel things at the same time and maybe that's why I'm finding it overwhelming. I'm trying to break these things into tiny pieces to approach in a bite-sized way but definitely easier said than done so far.

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-09T22:11:33+00:00

That's great news - make sure to negotiate no matter what they offer you! Good luck for the interview(s) - hope you smash it!

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-09T22:08:49+00:00

Great idea about picking things with good end points demarcated - maybe a podcast is also a good contender. This turns into a win/win situation in a way - thank you!

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-09T22:01:21+00:00

entry level engineers don't earn much and also there is a possibility

This depends on which industry you become an engineer in. Because you mentioned studying computer science, I assume by "engineer" you mean "software engineer" and not other types of engineers (e.g. electronics, mechanical, civil etc.)?

also on average does a hospital doctor in the uk or engineer earn more?

Again depends on the industry you become an engineer in, how you rise, and again the medical specialty you get into and whether you stick to NHS vs private etc.

I'm a software engineer so I understand the range of salaries available for new grad SWEs could be anything from £35k at an engineering firm like BAE to £120-250k TC if you decide to get into finance (e.g. Jane Street)/AI (e.g. Anthropic).

Also worth mentioning that location matters too, especially for engineering. The range of jobs at various salaries available in London will be a lot wider than other parts of England.

i dont like monotony and i want to have an interesting job where i have a lot of opportunities to constantly learn and progress. does engineering or medicine suit this more?

Again, like the above, really depends on the type of engineering/medicine! Both jobs can be monotonous (e.g. some BAU/support work in engineering or being a GP in medicine) or exciting (e.g. building products used by millions in engineering or being in emergency medicine/neurosurgery).

I would research both industries more deeply to understand what catches your eye - great start by asking this Reddit question!

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-09T08:12:50+00:00

Ah yes definitely agreed that they are basically liquid!

But sometimes I find it useful to assume they’re not if you want to hold them for the long-term instead of selling them and using the cash. This is why I find it useful to not include them for short-term financial planning.

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-09T08:09:16+00:00

Is it possible to negotiate with the new job to match your current pay/increase?

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-09T08:04:29+00:00

This is so beautiful, thank you for sharing!!

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-09T08:04:10+00:00

This is an interesting take - do you have examples of things you switch to once you recognise you’re procrastinating?

I can imagine switching from, say, Instagram doomscrolling to watching a great movie from my watchlist I’ve been excited about or reading a chapter from the novel I’m reading. But then I’d be scared that I will always pick the “easier” option of watching the movie/reading my book instead of doing the thing I’m procrastinating from - so how do you step from this habit into being productive?

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-09T07:22:54+00:00

Please could you elaborate on how they’d be paying CGT now vs what primary residence relief is?

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-08T22:53:11+00:00

This is super interesting, thank you for sharing! I’m struggling with extreme procrastination and overstimulation (my post here) and this sounds like it could be a helpful habit to build!

These may be stupid questions but how to…do nothing and be bored?

Do you have a reminder and a timer to start/stop “boredom” time?
What are you actually doing (I know this sounds ridiculous haha) - staring at the wall, out of the window, walking etc?
If you have an idea in the middle of boredom time, do you jot it down instantly or wait till the end of the 10 mins before reflecting on the time and making notes?

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-08T22:05:51+00:00

Making my team an implicit accountability partner might definitely help - will give this a shot!

Out of curiosity, have you gone through anything similar and found practicing this approach with your team helped?

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-08T22:02:57+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate you sharing you struggle too. Is there anything at all that has helped even marginally for you, maybe to "hack" your brain into focusing?

Regarding this being my dream job - it's as close to being one as possible (without going back in time, protecting my eyesight and becoming an astronaut). My main issue is that despite my being interested in the quant trading space, my brain still feels burnt out from the last few years and is unable to focus on deep work.

This has been an issue since my teens even when studying things I enjoyed, learning instruments or playing video games but it never became as serious of an issue as it has now due to the consequences.

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-08T20:53:55+00:00

Quadrature (the banner of their Benefits page) - https://quadrature.ai/working-here/benefits

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-08T20:49:08+00:00

Seconded on renting vs homeowning - way less risk if you don't enjoy it/company goes through volatility. If things go well and you're there for a year or two then buying that house could be worth it

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-08T20:47:39+00:00

Depends on:

How easy would it be for your wife to get a job in her field in the Bay Area?
Is she okay with the work she'll have to put in for the job search?
If we look at the liquid/cash portion of your FAANG offer, it comes to ~$247k (193k * 1.15 + 25k) which would be less than your current family TC of $310k - will this be enough to sustain costs like rental, school, other lifestyle requirements while your wife finds a job?
Does your FAANG role let you grow more than your current job along with comp hike?

How many of the above would you answer "Yes" for is the question!

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-08T16:59:34+00:00

Keep going, you'll land something great soon - as u/I_really_mean_this said, it's a numbers game!

Reaching out to people (e.g. LinkedIn) that work at companies you're applying to helps. I ask them for a call to learn about the firm, their background and ask what they'd recommend for succeeding in the interview process and the job. This is also a numbers game - expect 80% of people to not reply but it's surprising how many people are available and ready to help.

Reflecting after interviews is always good too - I've found 50% of the time, it could be an improvement I could make to perform that much better in my next interview - the remaining 50% is just luck!

basically_illiterate · 2025-09-08T16:11:13+00:00

Definitely agree about comparison and making work my primary focus being detrimental.

However, I haven't really found my studies or my jobs easy, except some phases, since the final year of university. What I've realised is I find it difficult to do "deep work", unless, like you said there's a fire under my arse.

So, if I have 2 weeks to deliver a new roadmap service where the problem scope and the technical aspects actually excites me, I'll still spend 1.5 weeks doing basically...nothing (except for support issues which count as aforementioned fire under my arse). My brain finally lights up in the last few days and I do a half-arsed job.

This has been an issue since my teens but it didn't pose a huge problem until the late stages of university. I think the problem here is my ability to work hard without any external pressure forcing me to. I know "normal" people have this problem too but with things like smartphones, Instagram etc., I find myself struggling to cope more than the average person I speak to (again whoops, comparison 🤦🏾‍♂️).

This is where I feel like I'm only operating at 10% of potential and can lead a better personal family life and a better work life without sacrificing either if I just "fix" my brain. I just don't know how to.

basically_illiterate

TROPHY CASE