[revolutukr]

Cash rules everything around me is the only emotionally healthy attitude to take about your career. Every time I would be told "we're a family" by a potential employer, I added $25k to my minimum salary. If corporations are "family" then that family belongs on Jerry Springer, and receiving group Dialectic Behavioral Therapy.

Punch in, do a good job, punch out, have a life outside of your job. Don't socialize with co-workers, don't spend all of your free time on work projects or talking to other colleagues online. Do anything you can to compartmentalize and separate work from home.

Work is how you pay the bills, it is not who you are.

[orzig]

I held this attitude for the first few years of my career, having read hacker news in school. I have found that, for me, a more balanced approach works better. I have been through layoffs, but I have also gone to the weddings of coworkers and even managers.

Trying to keep that adversarial boundary was actually draining for me, so for any other young person out there reading this: moderation in all things

[kevinventullo]

There is a fundamental difference between developing camaraderie with coworkers and having any kind of loyalty to the company itself.

[dmurdoch]

Exactly this. I've generally loved the small teams I've been on, and keep in touch with co workers from every company I've worked for and left. But that doesn't mean I held any allegiance to the company that we both worked for. I like people not corporations. Yes it sucks to 'leave' your friends behind at a job, but if they're really your friends you'll still keep in touch.

[dalyons]

agreed. the overly cynical take is way too negative and draining for something that you spend like 1/3rd of your waking hours doing. Making light friendships and doing the occasional social thing can lead to _shock horror_ actually enjoying some of that work time. hardcore cynicism and clinical detachment leads to misery in its own right.

[lawn]

I agree with the sentiment, but I wouldn't go so far to say that cash stands above everything.

Having a fulfilling job, a low-stress work environment, a challenging job, a job full of learning and pleasant co-workers are all very valuable.

I would not take any shitty job just because the pay is good, it has to be good in other ways too.

[jbm]

> Don't socialize with co-workers

I'm 100% certain that socializing with my coworkers was the key to my (eventual) large social circle when I moved abroad.

If anything, not socializing with coworkers would have probably left me destitute. A lot of my job upgrades involved former coworkers in some form.

[fortuna86]

Don't attempt to form friendships/relationships with people you spent the most time with (including friends and family) is odd advice.

[jbm]

Agreed.

There is a loneliness epidemic, and discarding people you encounter regularly is an ineffective way of dealing with it.

"Don't Trust Anyone" is a pro wrestling slogan, not a way to live.

[jxf]

> Every time I would be told "we're a family" by a potential employer, I added $25k to my minimum salary.

This is also why it's super important to screen for these kinds of signals during the interview process, and why interviewees asking questions is super critical.