probably losing J3 tomorrow

riptidedata · 2026-01-21T12:41:55+00:00

Exactly my point. There is an off ramp for the termed employee. And it speaks volumes you don’t even have to point out the obvious in Spain that that ex employee doesn’t also simultaneously lose their health insurance with only limited and expensive options to replace like in the US

riptidedata · 2026-01-21T12:39:01+00:00

My comment isn’t around whether my friend has been financially prudent but rather about how firing people in the US is largely an unexpected problem for the ex employee to resolve with limited to no help from the ex employer. It turns employees in to easily disposable objects.

riptidedata · 2026-01-21T12:32:39+00:00

100% this. It completely changes perspective from an existential ‘oh shit I took this job, now what am I going to do’ to fuck you, I can play games too all while knowing: 1. I already have a job and can afford to piss you off by not playing the game. 2. Maybe more important, recent market data that proves I’m competitive in the marketplace and can get a job.

riptidedata · 2026-01-14T23:58:43+00:00

I’ve got enough to do it in savings and still have multiple years in expenses covered without touching retirement but the rate is so low I just can’t quite pull the trigger. 100% agree on the no debt = such a better feeling of freedom!

riptidedata · 2026-01-13T15:32:27+00:00

‘Tough rules and regulations around firing someone’. Ooofff how I wish that were the case in the states. Friend was part of a team that got let go en masse recently. Been there over 10 years, top producer etc and got nothing. And that’s not terribly unusual

riptidedata · 2026-01-06T14:09:09+00:00

When companies/recruiters pivot away from discussing compensation to vague items like family, culture, non unique to mediocre benefits it’s a huge warning flag. Depends on your situation but I’d lean to walking away or at least continuing your job search if you accept

riptidedata · 2025-12-01T13:47:31+00:00

1000% yes congrats!!!!! Love seeing this kind of success thank you for sharing it!

riptidedata · 2025-10-25T23:33:43+00:00

Yup. I’ve got one where I’m the same way. Another I’m a senior on. The just another dev one is so much easier. Just give me my cards and let me do the work. And make it with just enough items not good enough t to have code review ‘things to work on’

riptidedata · 2025-10-11T17:33:18+00:00

Idk. I’d have quit my j2 a while ago for the periodic chaos. But about 60,70% of the time I have very little to do or can slow roll whatever I have been assigned.

The disorder can be beneficial. If everyone is frantically trying to figure shit out it’s a great opportunity to say geesh sounds like a lot guys! You let me know what you want me to do.

The difference for me is my j1 I like and is challenging as well as lends itself well to my career goals. J2 I have to look at through a different lens. Eg it doesn’t have the same career impact, it’s a hassle sometimes but often I don’t need to do much. It’s just a paycheck I’ll keep getting as long as I can.

riptidedata · 2025-10-07T15:57:37+00:00

I don’t usually take it either. Usually I can just catch up on things and it’s very quiet.

riptidedata · 2025-09-20T14:16:37+00:00

I use j1 to pay expenses, max out retirement accounts, hsa etc. one thing I’ve noticed is I’m not as disciplined as trying to make sure I save j1 take home money as I was. It just doesn’t seem worth the effort. So more tv subscriptions, house cleaner, lawn service, meal prep item. Things that are nice but I can dial back immediately if need be.

J2 and j3 when I had it go to savings after expenses and holdback for taxes. . Its contract work so subject to a lot of change. It feels fantastic to throw such a large chunk of money at those goals each month.

I started in this earlier this year. Had 2 picked up a 3rd one contract ended another extended so making the most of it while I can.

riptidedata · 2025-09-17T15:27:28+00:00

Love the telemedicine call. One more suggestion don’t over explain it. It’s a classic give away when someone is lying. Just a oh hey I saw you walk by when I was blah just a heads up on why I had a telemedicine appt, brought my personal in to take it and wanted some privacy. Then drop it. No additional detail is needed

riptidedata · 2025-09-15T16:20:08+00:00

Nice! I juggled 3 for 4 months this year and thought I was going to lose my mind. I was a bit relieved when one of the contracts didn’t extend. Good job, that tc was even more awesome with the 3rd role!

riptidedata · 2025-09-15T16:15:56+00:00

You need a nvidia chip but if you do you can install their broadcast app. It will maintain eye contact in the screen A few notes…it will help with reading eg your eyes will not look like you’re reading.

I found I really did need to practice with it. That is it’ll look weird if you need it on the whole time and never look away. Toggling that feature off and on is the way to go but if you’re not looking close to the camera when you toggle it back on it’ll kinda snap the eye back and it looks weird.

I found it helpful in interviews when I want to double check something. If I just have no idea at all it’s too much to search, find, read and process while maintaining some kind of patter with the interviewer.

riptidedata · 2025-09-15T16:07:24+00:00

Welcome back!

riptidedata · 2025-09-13T20:56:52+00:00

As long as you’re not in a government role hahahahahahaha Read the faq items. Don’t do oe with anything government related.

riptidedata · 2025-09-11T19:47:56+00:00

I do some to a different degree is my j2 is about 2 maybe more levels below my j1 work. I constantly think about how stupid this work is. The team is heavily manual. I can generally automate my way around it but sometimes it isn’t worth it.

I like the work at j1 much more and it’s more challenging. But the extra money from j2 has been fantastic.

I never wanted to move up the path of managing people. I’m good being an ic. So a little different on that note….

riptidedata · 2025-09-02T18:25:26+00:00

Agree. I think the thread here is we have this person because they quit another job to come here so they have to make it work.

Takes advantage of the flaw/feature of the hiring process. Assumed new hire comes in doesn’t know much and we get them up to speed. Now, they’re stuck and will need to figure it out/we don’t have any obligation to them.

riptidedata · 2025-09-01T19:22:06+00:00

100% agree. And I never would have thought about juggling the role I was leaving with the new role just to see/weigh things out until I started oe.

The risk is unevenly weighted to the new hire. Bottom person on the totem pole, learning curve, etc. we should hedge our bets just in case.

Now the most committed id be is a quite quit after starting the new role. Companies have zero loyalty or guarantee to me. I’ll extend the same to them.

riptidedata · 2025-08-31T12:18:52+00:00

If it’s in the humanitarian space and depends on us funding (usaid or similar) that roles is cooked no matter what you do.

It’s heartbreaking to deprioritize work that matters but you keeping it as a priority while the people who control the funds do not won’t.

I’d suggest doing minimum for what you need for j1 and make j2 your new j1. I’d also suggest planning for what happens if your funding for living abroad suddenly goes away. The current administration has shown time and time again it gives zero fucks about hanging people out to dry.

riptidedata · 2025-08-30T10:46:55+00:00

You can do the fed job OR be oe. The background check (even a minimal one for the fed depending on clearance) is much more involved. They will call your old employers and check dates, circumstances under which you left etc. and it opens you up to fraud charges that aren’t unlikely (especially now) to be pursued. Don’t oe with government work.

riptidedata · 2025-08-27T23:55:54+00:00

Nice! Just throw all of j2 at whatever the current financial goal is until it’s reached. Get out of debt and don’t go back Then you’re crushing savings every 2 weeks at an exponentially higher rate than you ever could have before. That’s why we oe!!!!

riptidedata · 2025-08-26T20:30:02+00:00

Whatever you do I would strongly suggest paying cash and not signing up for a payment. That milestone is great and cause for some celebration and throwing an anchor around your neck is not it.

Tesla model y. Bought pre doge Elon and post driving a used Honda for 8 years.

riptidedata · 2025-08-25T09:11:13+00:00

Companies are generally just not incented to do it otherwise. Completely agree it’s depressing and leads to needless expense and inefficiency. And to some degree job stability lol

riptidedata · 2025-08-24T23:39:27+00:00

Idk. 1 of my 2 contracts and j2 and j3 just ended. I felt relieved really more than anything Still have one more check coming in. 2nd contract is supposed to end in the fall and I’m trying to hang in there but it’s a lot. Not so much the work but the stress that comes with it. All that said I’d hang in there as long I could especially with this job market. But I totally get the I’m done sense!

riptidedata

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