Ask HN: How do I find a job like this? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: How do I find a job like this?

3 pointsthrowawaynewjob5 comments

I currently work for a large company as a senior engineer. It's a large .com, so many of the technical problems are somewhat interesting. Optimizing queries etc. However that work alone doesn't really seem to fulfill me. In my past, working for a startup, I had the opportunity to be closer to the business. I was in a position that allowed me to see business problems (not just technical) and propose tecnical or non-technical solutions to it. Thus far in my 10 year career, this has been the most enjoyable time i've spent working. No other job has felt as "fulfilling" as this time.

I want that again, but I haven't been able to find it. It seems like as I've grown the only jobs recruiters seem to send me are jobs where i'm only allowed to analyze technical problems. When I've explained to recuriters what I want, they never seem to get back in contact.

How do I find a job where I'm a "problem solver" and not a "code monkey".

My experience is that longer you work for big company more difficult it will be to leave. I was in similar position for 7 years and then left, but emotional attachment of my peers (resulting in both positive and negative emotions towards me) was really a problem... My professor used to say - change your job every 4 years, this works nicely for ease of your psyche :-)

Sounds like you want to be a consultant, or like you said, at a startup. It's a tautology, but working for a big company makes you better at working for big companies. And startups are biased against corporate/enterprise developers. If you've been there a while, you may need to compromise on some level.

My observation is very different - seen startups grown by ex-corporate people who found a solution to problem their employer could not fix.

Also many startups are targetting industries led by corporations (like manufacturing or buildings automation) where basically you must know ins and outs of tech and market - and only corporate folks (or ex corporate folks) have that since only corporations are serious players when it comes to this kind of business.

The answer to your question is right there in your post. Working for a startup.

Large .com experience as a senior engineer makes you an exceptionally valuable candidate for startups.

Start you own (on the side first).

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