[brmgb]

> in the case of the people who were laid off, cost to people's careers.

I fail to see how.

Considering Uber is reinventing the wheel a lot, the people who were laid off where probably working on some interesting problems. Uber is a fairly well known brand. Unless they are incredibly inapt at selling themselves, their career should do fine.

[khazhou]

It is better when you can decide, yourself, to exit to another company, rather than being pushed out and then having to find a new job. Certainly, a competent engineer SV will land on their feet, but you lose significant negotiating power when you're not actively employed.

[malandrew]

Unless you've got plenty of money and are funemployed and wealthy enough to turn down offers and move on if they are unsatisfactory.

You're only in a bad bargaining position if you need a job to pay your bills.

The key in the discussion with the recruiter is not to say that you are unemployed but to say that you're taking time for yourself and looking for opportunities that meet your professional desires and baseline financial expectations. The key is to make it clear that you have no financial needs, just financial expectations.

Be prepared to use the Noel Smith-Wenkle salary negotiation method.

[alasdair_]

>you lose significant negotiating power when you're not actively employed.

I took six months off after a large liquidity event and then went back into the job market. I don't think I lost any negotiating power - the trick was to make sure I times the interviews so that I'd have several offers at the same time and then could use the fact that company X was offering a certain amount to ensure I got the job at the company I liked the most.

I do just want to say one thing: most tech investors now think we are in a bubble. A downturn is likely at some point. Now would be a very good time to ensure you have six months of expenses in a savings account so you don't have to take the first job you get offered - I had to do that in 2008 after the financial crisis hit and my startup died and it wasn't a fun time.

[foobiekr]

To be completely honest, the parent poster is referring to the common experience of normal people. If you were in the position to take months off after a large liquidity event, that experience doesn't apply to you.

There is a similar effect people have when they reach a certain level of financial independence - not only are offers better, but negotiation is much easier. Companies react to confidence (whatever the source) the same way individuals do.

[Rapzid]

Probably not too many avg Joes doing skunkwerks at Uber and getting laid off..

[malandrew]

Every engineer on HN should be earning enough that they can put away 6+ months of expenses just in case.