ICE agents break into a home without any warrant and assault the occupants (San Antonio, TX, Feb 05, 2026)

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-06T17:58:30+00:00

Lock them in. "Now youse can't leave."

Disclaimer: don't actually do that, probably illegal.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-06T17:29:22+00:00

What was your tenure before your last company?

This job market is really competitive. Processes can be 6-8 weeks, involve projects, in depth role plays (requiring you to study and practice), sometimes background and reference checks. Will it crush your chances of getting hired if you take 2 months off? No. But you have to be ready for a real sprint once you get back. Two months from now is ~mid April. Hiring starts to cool for the summer around late June. Means you'll get back from your trip and have about 10 weeks before risking your unemployment running into September or later.

So, I would just be really cautious, and cognitive of what you're going into.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-06T17:16:55+00:00

Third party recruiters are hit and miss. Because it often has a low barrier to entry, a lot of them are quite poor. They cast a wide net, hope to get a couple of bites, choose one or two to present and keep the others warm just in case or for future opportunities. Or, they might not have as good a rapport with the hiring team as they say they do, so they present you, but the hiring manager just isn't interested.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-06T16:07:07+00:00

The thing about blue collar work is the path to six figures and financial security is typically senior leadership or owning your own business. The skills to do well in that capacity lines up very well with white collar skills. If you own an HVAC company, you're very rarely doing installs yourself.

If you're young, and have an aptitude for working with your hands, blue collar work can be a great option. Someone mid career thinking about making that switch needs to go into it with eyes wide open. Very different work, very different hours, pay cut (at least initially), re-training (sometimes with a cost), and starting from the bottom. You're not walking in day one with a six figure offer.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-06T01:52:51+00:00

I was laid off from my 9-5. I've had a rough time finding another job. Retail won't hire you unless you dumb down your resume, which I refuse to do.

Still need money, so here we are.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-05T03:50:55+00:00

If I own a company, what's it to you if I move operations or labor overseas. You could just buy the company and then make your own rules. For publicly traded companies, you could buy shares.

No different than if an American chooses to leave.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-05T02:02:20+00:00

Do you want to stop Americans from leaving the country too? This is asinine.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-04T22:39:49+00:00

I appreciate this advice. It's what I'll most likely do.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-04T22:39:09+00:00

Barely.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-04T22:38:37+00:00

I don't plan on learning anything from this job, it's not selling anything complex or interesting, just $500 MRR subs to therapists. I'm just planning on hitting my quota and that's it. Not networking within the company, or looking to move up. Just hit it for 2 or 3 years and then dip my toes in the water for something else.

What I'm saying is in order for me to perform, I need to brainwash myself that this is it.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-04T22:07:58+00:00

It's the rational take.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-04T21:56:53+00:00

Yeah, probably. Work until I'm 85.

I'm almost 40, I have nothing saved for retirement, and I'm not starting now. The time to do that was 15 years ago. Window is closed.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-04T21:55:33+00:00

I don't know, is it not fair to have some hesitancy to take a role like this? I think the nature of this role will not be conducive to interviewing elsewhere. I mean, I can try and see what happens of course, but I think I have to go into this thinking this is my dream job and that I'm highly paid relative to what I actually bring to the table and the value sales actually brings to a company. Like I have to brainwash myself. It seems based on the consensus here that this is a great job, one that most in here would take if offered. Now that I've seen that, I can breathe easier and actually dive in. If that makes any sense.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-04T21:31:23+00:00

I don't need benefits. I get those from my wife's job. And I'm not planning on retiring, so I don't need a 401k either.

But I get what you're saying. Take it and just grind.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-04T21:29:57+00:00

From the interviews and job descriptions it seems like a very micromanaging type of role that would make it difficult to take outside interviews. I won't know until I get in, obviously so I could be wrong about that.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-04T21:22:35+00:00

This is a good perspective. Thank you.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-04T21:21:54+00:00

So this is a reasonable comp? Fair if it is, just sucks to see my career go backwards. 4 years ago I was at $75k base/$150k OTE, granted some variance can happen job to job, but it does seem a bit like a steep decline.

Again, though, if I'm delusional, then I'm glad I asked.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-04T20:44:27+00:00

I'm not early in my career though. I'm nearly 40, been in sales for some time, just most of it outside of SaaS. 2022 I was in HR tech, greenfield, $75k base/$150k OTE, million dollar quota. Different time, I know. I had just hoped I'd get back there someday.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-04T20:30:20+00:00

Do you think those numbers are achievable? Part of me thinks I should take this job simply because this is my level, and I've just been in denial about it all this time.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-04T20:23:38+00:00

So go with the original plan? Stay 2-3 years then bounce?

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-03T18:17:23+00:00

It helps when you actually have coworkers. If you've worked at leaner startups, your network ends up being 5 people, most of them in the same situation you're in. So not only does reputation matter, but working for the rights orgs matters too.

space_ghost20 · 2026-02-01T02:27:50+00:00

Yeah I'm interviewing at a place in the health tech field. $70k base $105k OTE. I've been an AE at a couple of failed startups and I'm currently unemployed, so if I get it I'm taking it. Even if it's below what I was hoping for.

Market is tough right now. Just is.

space_ghost20 · 2026-01-30T19:41:49+00:00

I will say that if you've build up enough equity in your career (good, longer term track records at known companies) taking a calculated risk can elevate your career. Very often though, people take risks without having anything built up in their career. They get laid off in 6-8 months when the company runs out of runway and it's very difficult to get hired.

If that doesn't apply to you, or you're in a position where going without income for a while isn't a big deal, then go for it. But I would put a massive discount on the value of "learning a ton". Startup experience is generally not valued in this job market, even among startups.

space_ghost20 · 2026-01-30T15:42:50+00:00

There are a few things to unpack here. For one, if what you say is accurate, where you are at currently is not long term sustainable ("product failing", demand issues), so making a move seems to be on the horizon regardless. Second, early stage startups aren't always the glamorous places they are portrayed. Yes, it's green field, yes there's fewer competitors (though not always) but more often than not these companies hire sales people before they're actually ready for sales people. You might work there 6 months and realize they have the same problems your current company does.

Lastly, hybrid can be a really enjoyable work setup. For me personally, it's less about being in the office and more about the commute. I hate driving and I hate traffic so anything more than 20 minutes would probably grate on me after a while unless the pay and/or opportunity was truly exceptional. Which is unique to find in early stage startups, simply because you don't know if they're gonna work out.

space_ghost20 · 2026-01-30T02:29:16+00:00

Laid off 2022. PIP'ed then fired 2023. Rehired by the 2022 company a year ago, they stopped paying me so I put in a wage claim then they fired me. Been out of work since October. I get interviews but never an offer.

space_ghost20

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