Decent comp but unhappy. Advice needed

[throwaway303293]

I have been at my current job in digital product for about 12 years now, before that a career as a digital producer building flash websites and banner ads. Now I am in my mid-40's and really struggling with a few things that I wold love some thoughts on.

1. I know HN is an echo chamber but US based roles like mine always seem to be well north of $300K TC and I am sitting around $230K and have been stuck there because the company has missed bonus targets for a few years and I don't have any stock plan. Am I truly underpaid or is it really just the FAANGS making that much in senior roles?

2. It seems like a crazy time to look for a new job. Everyone seems to be using AI to apply, having their resume vetted by AI and most of the roles being ghost roles. Is anyone actually getting a job? I use AI daily so I see the benefit a tool but it seems like the landscape is bleak

3. I'm a male and I feel like I dedicated so much of my life to work that I don't have alot of friends outside of work, which has really made things feel like I missed out on alot of the world.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

[pavel_lishin]

> 3. I'm a male and I feel like I dedicated so much of my life to work that I don't have alot of friends outside of work, which has really made things feel like I missed out on alot of the world.

Time to start looking at hobbies. Unless you live somewhere very rural, there are very likely to be groups nearby doing all sorts of interesting things. I'm a D&D player, and I've met a lot of people I'd consider my friends through the hobby.

Write down a list of five hobbies you think you might enjoy, and look around the local area!

[Aurornis]

A job in “digital product” is too vague for actionable advice. Depending on your location, company, and role you could either be paid just right, underpaid, or overpaid.

1. For comp over $300K going Big Tech is really the easiest way to do it, though it’s hardly easy to get there. You can get $300K at smaller companies but you have to be very, very good, well networked, and working in an in-demand field.

2. Yes, people are actually get jobs. Hiring managers are actually reading resumes. You need to cut the cord on the Reddits and even HN complaint echo chambers where everyone acts like all job listings are fake and AI will gatekeep you at every corner. Write resumes, review them, apply to jobs, iterate. The worst thing you can do is have unrealistic expectations that you’re going to get the first one or two jobs you apply for and then become disgruntled when that doesn’t happen. Stay away from the cynical echo chambers!

3. Go out and do things. Invite old friends out for lunch. Be active in the world. Reduce time spent at home. Be friendly but not desperate for friends. Accept every invitation that comes your way. Go to events. Social life will come.

[throwaway303293]

I appreciate the frankness! Colorado based. Manage teams of teams that build a mobile app and a number of different websites for businesses under the corporate entity.

[rvz]

> Am I truly underpaid or is it really just the FAANGS making that much in senior roles?

The difference with FAANG is that they have stock upside plus $300K+ cash.

$230K and no stock upside? You need to leave right now.

It does not matter how much money you are making, what people in jobs never understand is that you will NOT get that time back again.

> 2. It seems like a crazy time to look for a new job. Everyone seems to be using AI to apply, having their resume vetted by AI and most of the roles being ghost roles. Is anyone actually getting a job? I use AI daily so I see the benefit a tool but it seems like the landscape is bleak

Don't. use. AI. on. your. resume.

It will be tossed onto the pile like all the rest of them and it is not a way to stand out which is the goal of getting hired.

> 3. I'm a male and I feel like I dedicated so much of my life to work that I don't have a lot of friends outside of work, which has really made things feel like I missed out on a lot of the world.

Then your first task is to do some networking and build projects that make money.

[Aurornis]

> $230K and no stock upside? You need to leave right now.

$230K is already high compensation. "Leave right now" is useless advice because it's not an actual goal, it's just a hint to be angry or unhappy. You have to look for other jobs that pay higher first, actually pass interviews to get offers, and then decide if the stress-to-pay ratio at the new job is worth the change.

[rvz]

> $230K is already high compensation.

Yet he is still complaining and is unhappy. So as long as the OP is working for someone else no amount is ever enough, he still loses more time at work.

> You have to look for other jobs that pay higher first, actually pass interviews to get offers, and then decide if the stress-to-pay ratio at the new job is worth the change.

Hopefully he is prepared for lots of Leetcode puzzles to even be considered and competing against thousands of 20-30 somethings that have a lot more time, and that's the first hurdle. It's up to him to decide if that is worth the stress.

Or, he could start a business from one of his own projects that makes a lot more than his own yearly salary and the best part is that he works on his own terms.

Making more than $230k+ a year stress free is exactly what he is looking for and I guarantee you that no "9-5 job" exists that pays more without the additional stress and loss of time.

[pavel_lishin]

OP is complaining about spending so much time at work that he doesn't have any friends, and your advice is to work more and harder?

[rvz]

I'm telling him to know his own worth and build projects for himself that make money. If he is that good he can build a startup.

Instead of wasting it at companies that can replace him with another worker or one with an AI agent.

You said it youself "spending so much time at work" when the alternative is for him to work for himself and save that time for other things. So my response still stands:

It does not matter how much money you are making, what people in jobs never understand is that you will NOT get that time back again.