Ask HN: Career Advice – What Next?

9 points·cluelessmaker··5 comments

I was technical cofounder, but product failed, did some freelancing, then joined in an another small startup, but that one failed. Took a sabbatical, covid happened, Now I want to get back to a day job. I can code, can manage product, manage people, but not good with algorithms. What kind of job will be suitable for me?

View on HN

Any software engineering job. You’ve probably gained a lot of experience at the startup as well as being a technical cofounder. You’d be surprised how many engineers out there who are great at algorithms have zero skills or experience building actual products. Find a company that doesn’t rely on algos as their measurement tool. Quite a few exist

If you are looking for a change from coding, product management or data science are relevant career paths where you can leverage your previous experience

I was also going to say any job, but for a different reason.

It seems like you've already done your fun/risky career adventures. I feel like most of the "day job" stuff will seem boring to you now, because, well, most of it is boring stuff. Just apply to postings you think will pay you well and might have some I teresting part of it (business problem, tech, culture, etc).

I remember interviewing with a startup that was an hour of casually chatting about previous works and technologies we used. Sane companies with sane interviews do exist.

> What kind of job will be suitable for me?

Reframe: Ask WHO can I best serve?

In your field of interest— WHO is doing the most exciting, bleeding edge work?

Reach out to them, start a conversation. Incidentally, it’s a remote world now. These folks can be found all over the map.

Try for Amazon, good pay, not as hard as algorithms questions

Reply on news.ycombinator.com