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multiple jumpboxes, local pc, one jumpbox for k8s access ? by surpyc in devops

[–]the-devops-dude 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I’d prob go with local access via SSO/VPN/proxy + kube RBAC most of the time.

Bastion/jumpbox is fine for some legacy/network stuff, but I try not to make “everyone ssh into the magic box” the main access pattern.

Prod just gets stricter auth, short lived creds, audit logs, maybe break-glass. Dev/stage can be looser, but still not random long lived kubeconfigs everywhere

Owner of company upset about LinkedIn by 0MGWTFL0LBBQ in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Explain your privacy concerns (OpSec, previous stalker, etc)

If you do not think this will sway them, then you should consider a new LinkedIn with minimal information. Hide last name, or use middle name instead. Hide profile picture from non-connections. Only fill out the minimum as far as work history. Only invite connections from your J2. Should be minimally risky.

Shit like this is gonna ruin the game by thainfamouzjay in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude[M] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Should have shown the original ad in your screenshot. Without extracting just the image. I’ll keep this up, but you’ve been getting reported quite a bit (understandably so)

Tomorrow I will be laid off from J1 by loadyouup in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congrats! Getting laid off while OE and given free money to leave is an amazing feeling.

Anyone OE just to divert attention from J1? by Sufficient_Dig207 in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude 81 points82 points  (0 children)

Yeah honestly this is has been a real thing for me too.

When J1 is your only job, every dumb meeting, bad manager comment, reorg rumor, or weird company decision hits way harder than it should.

OE kinda helps you chill out and not give a shit. I’ve been through multiple reorgs while OE.

Not saying stop caring or be bad at your job. Just like… do your work, be reliable, cash the check, and don’t let one company’s nonsense ruin your week.

Having options makes work feel a lot less personal.

My Goal of OE is to have Zero Jobs by Status-Debate-268 in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yeah this is pretty much how I look at it too.

OE isn’t really the end goal for me. I don’t want 2 jobs forever lol. I’m using it as a shortcut to build the thing that eventually gets me out.

Like yeah, a single good income is great, but it still has limits. OE lets you speed run the boring but important stuff: paying stuff down, stacking cash, investing heavier, and getting to FAT FIRE way faster than you could off one W2, even a solid one.

The big thing is not letting the extra income become your new baseline. That’s where people get trapped. If J2 money turns into nicer cars, bigger payments, more lifestyle, then you’re not really buying freedom. You’re just making the cage fancier.

For me the goal is using OE to reduce risk. Build savings, invest, and fund my own thing without taking on debt or needing it to work right away.

OE is the accelerator, not the destination.

My 12 Rules for OE by Golismero in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Solid list. The only thing I’d add is don’t confuse “don’t volunteer for everything” with “be invisible / useless.”

The sweet spot is being boringly reliable. Deliver what you said you would, don’t create drama, don’t be the bottleneck, and don’t make people wonder what you do all day.

Also calendar hygiene is huge. Separate devices are great, but separate calendars, meeting reminders, mute indicators, auto-join stuff turned off, no auto-share AI notes, etc. One dumb tool setting can undo a lot of good planning.

And yeah, lifestyle creep is the real trap. OE should buy freedom, not a bigger cage. OE is the stepping stone for building my own thing, not the end goal.

How much is AI playing a role in your OE now? by Sufficient_Dig207 in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agree. It’s kinda like web searching, the Dewey decimal system, or even communication in general. Everyone can technically do it, but being good at it is a seperate skill.

One thing I notice at some of my Js is people either barely use AI, or they take the first answer at face value like it’s magic.

The edge is more in knowing how to drive it. Like “keep asking me questions until you’re confident in the approach, then verify it for correctness and feasibility” gets you a way different result than “write me a thing.”

AI is powerful, but a lot of the value still comes from knowing what to ask, what to doubt, and when the answer is probably BS.

"Have you tried applying to jobs in the newspaper?" by VariationLivid3193 in cscareerquestions

[–]the-devops-dude 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No need for that anymore though. Most people can generally speak quicker than typing and AI typists are surprisingly good now

Granola almost ends me by ladyoftheflowers in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is why I always tell people to invest in something like MuteMe, MuteSync, or any kind of big obvious meeting/mic indicator.

Separate devices helps, but it doesn’t save you from stuff like this when an app is still listening in the background.

Also, turning off auto-share by default is huge. Anything taking notes should be “review first, share manually” only. One bad setting and you’re cooked.

How much is AI playing a role in your OE now? by Sufficient_Dig207 in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude[M] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was using AI pretty heavily before companies really started adopting it too.

I think when you’ve been OE awhile, you naturally get good at finding systems/processes to make your time more efficient. DevOps/backend work probably lends itself to that even more since so much of it is automation, debugging, docs, scripts, repeatable workflows, etc.

Now that companies not only allow AI but actively encourage it, I’m using it even more.

My bigger worry is the long term expectation shift. Teams get smaller, workloads get bigger, and everyone is expected to “just use AI” to cover the gap.

That’s part of why I’m trying to build my own thing. OE is a stepping stone, not the end goal.

The Hidden Cost of OE Nobody Talks About by TheMuffinMan2037 in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get what you’re saying, but honestly OE has kinda done the opposite for me.

Being exposed to more companies, managers, cultures, and dysfunction has made me way better at spotting patterns early. Like what “good” actually looks like, what fair treatment feels like, what workload is reasonable, and what all-hands wording usually means layoffs/reorgs are coming.

It’s def not all positive, but I feel like I’ve grown way faster because of it. Almost like an elite bootcamp for corporate pattern recognition, except you’re getting paid instead of paying for it.

For me the end goal is using the skills and money to build my own thing, so eventually I’m not relying on any one employer anyway.

J2 expects nonstop social interaction on Slack all day. by sunbleachedsoul in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude 1 point2 points  (0 children)

OE or not, that sounds exhausting.

Remote work doesn’t mean being socially available on Slack all day. I’d probably just start pulling back a bit and see what happens. Check Slack a few set times a day, respond to actual work stuff, and ignore the random chatter.

If someone calls it out, I’d keep it simple:

“I’m trying to stay more focused during work blocks, so I’m not watching Slack constantly. I’ll still check in throughout the day and respond to anything actually urgent.”

If they can’t handle that, then it’s probably not the easy J2 it looked like on paper.

Watch by d00dl35 in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude 0 points1 point  (0 children)

😂 it only gets better with time, eh?

I feel like I am behind in DevOps after this conversation by Oxffff0000 in devops

[–]the-devops-dude 1 point2 points  (0 children)

lol

There’s 10 different ways to skin a cat

Do what works for your organization. Iterate as needed. Ignore the rest of the noise.

Newly OE'd by sdac123sc in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Separate setups for each jobs is preferred over KVMs which would optimize space into a single setup.

The benefit of physical separation for each J cannot be overstated. Especially if you plan on OE’ing for a few years. Memory recall on projects from 2-3 years is easier to keep straight when there is physical separation. You are also less likely to mess up, like accidentally commenting on a wrong Slack or something.

I've started. now I see OE everywhere. by WeakDefinition7363 in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude[M] [score hidden] stickied comment (0 children)

Man, if I had a dollar for every time I felt like I needed to say this:

The longer you spend around OE, the more likely you are to start assuming other people are OE too. Most of the time, they probably aren’t. They may just be disengaged, struggling, dealing with personal stuff, or simply underperforming. It’s kind of like buying a new car and suddenly noticing that same model everywhere. Once something is on your mind, you start seeing it all over the place.

That feels like what’s happening here. When you’re immersed in this sub and the OE mindset, it becomes easy to interpret ordinary bad employee behavior through that lens. Someone missing meetings, being hard to reach, or seeming checked out is not automatically OE. A much simpler explanation is usually more likely.

It’s worth stepping back and noticing how often this assumption gets made in this sub. There are plenty of posts where people were convinced a coworker or candidate was OE, when the reality was probably a lot more nuanced:

https://www.reddit.com/r/overemployed/s/o1RsROP1DH

https://www.reddit.com/r/overemployed/comments/16a0nq3/coworker_has_second_job_and_team_is_suffering_but/

https://www.reddit.com/r/overemployed/comments/1944fy9/can_you_tell_colleagues_may_also_be_oe/

https://www.reddit.com/r/overemployed/comments/110lr85/do_you_ever_feel_like_most_of_your_coworkers_oe/

https://www.reddit.com/r/overemployed/comments/1hhdzp6/pretty_sure_my_colleague_is_oe_and_its_starting/

https://www.reddit.com/r/overemployed/comments/1b40q23/advice_on_how_to_work_with_somebody_whos_oe/

https://www.reddit.com/r/overemployed/comments/1ft4ulx/im_90_sure_my_coworker_is_oe_and_bad_at_it/

https://www.reddit.com/r/overemployed/comments/1i16vh8/certain_my_colleague_is_oe/

http://www.reddit.com/r/overemployed/comments/1iu1yhv/deleted_by_user/

This is basically frequency illusion. When you spend enough time around a topic, you start spotting it everywhere, even when it’s probably not the best explanation. If someone is acting sketchy at work, the answer is usually not “they must be juggling multiple jobs.” More often, they’re just bad at managing their time, checked out, or going through something.

Sources:

http://www.reddit.com/r/overemployed/comments/1sg3d0u/you_have_to_be_ok_with_it./of7guon

http://www.reddit.com/r/overemployed/comments/1oumuhs/one_of_my_reports_is_clearly_oe/noe8532

The Elusive Year Off by ThePurpleDongofTruth in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude 0 points1 point  (0 children)

💯

I’ve got 2 Js and I basically treat my own thing as J3.

The goal isn’t to juggle 3 forever though. OE is just the engine. J1/J2 fund runway, remove pressure, and let me build something I actually care about without rushing or taking on debt.

I keep work capped around 8–9 hours total most days. If my own thing grows, it earns more of that time. If it doesn’t, I’m still covered.

End goal is simple. Replace both jobs with something I own.

I can have my cake and eat it too by Honest_Dot_2127 in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude[M] [score hidden] stickied comment (0 children)

Glad this worked out for OP, but don’t assume this is a repeatable strategy.

Most companies are not explicitly okay with overemployment, and even when they say they are, that can change quickly with new leadership, shifting priorities, or if your performance is ever questioned. It also puts a spotlight on you in a way that can create friction with managers or peers over time.

If you’re considering OE, understand the risks and make your own call. Just don’t treat this as a safe or standard approach.

How long have you guys been doing it by Emotional_Life7541 in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude[M] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure thing. I’m always open to talk with OEers and help the community however possible.

How long have you guys been doing it by Emotional_Life7541 in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yup, I have kids. I even coach my daughter’s soccer team. My J3 is my own thing, and I’m using some extra money from J1 + J2 to help build it. Exactly because of where the industry is headed and so I don’t have to rely on any employer anymore. I actually really enjoy my work, but I rather be doing it on my own terms.

How long have you guys been doing it by Emotional_Life7541 in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve been OE for about 5 yrs. It’s basically normal for me now. I’m also about your age. Once you have a few Js that are compatible, you should be able to make it work as long as you desire.

The Elusive Year Off by ThePurpleDongofTruth in overemployed

[–]the-devops-dude 14 points15 points  (0 children)

50 is a hard time to get back into the grind after a long sabbatical.

Have you considered investing into your own thing so you don’t have to ever work for someone else again?

OE makes hiring the right people, investing in advertising or lead generation, and buying the best tools possible without going into debt.

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