[satvikpendem]

It can be a company wide policy rather than trying to target a single individual even if the outcome is that they are targeted. This is something that should be addressed to them through a manager etc or if not, it's time to leave while they ruin the product over time.

[pdimitar]

This "you should leave" thing is a very boring and tired take and it should be said regularly that almost no engineer can afford it nowadays.

Beautiful theory, but only that.

[DANmode]

> it should be said regularly that almost no engineer can afford it nowadays.

Everybody is not you.

The market is bleak - but don’t mistake everyone’s leverage - or understanding their leverage - for your own.

[ethanrutherford]

> Everybody is not you

Perfect example of a non-sequitur. Irrespective of whether or not the statement is true, it has no bearing on the veracity of the original claim: that in the current market, the majority of workers simply do not have this leverage.

[DANmode]

The original claim wasn’t “the majority of workers”, though.

I likely would have avoided commenting, if it was.

The original claim was “almost no engineer”.

Anyway, the point is, if you take little interest in the “full stack” of whatever you’re working on (the technical stack, BizDev, whatever),

you will obviously be easier to replace with an automaton - AI or human.

[pdimitar]

Same can be said back to you. Obviously mine and 50+ acquaintances experience is not the entire world but geographical clusters and/or work-area clusters do apply.

Can you pick up the phone and be in the next job the next week?

[DANmode]

Coming off of a health sabbatical, yes, I have more contracted work around than I can commit to.

I can’t even imagine having 50 acquaintances I see in a year, currently, so I don’t know I’ll be able to offer advice specifically…

but generally?, I think I’d be pretty upset if I knew 50 people and none of them would bring me on their team, or start something up with me.

[pdimitar]

Well, I am upset. But -- bubbles. My health has been in decline for years and I am very slowly making some strides. Missed on a million networking opportunities by being unable to go to conferences and... yeah, I'll not turn this into a sob story.

LLMs really accentuated the importance of networking, did they not?

[DANmode]

They really accentuated the importance of continuing education, continued interest, continued ownership,

and, failing all of that, networking and nepotism type of safety-nets.

100%.

[satvikpendem]

What's the alternative? You push back or you don't, leaving you likelier to leave in the future. For non-junior devs, the market is still humming along.

[pdimitar]

I don't see how the market is humming along for anyone.

Then again, I have zero network. Maybe you can just call someone on the phone and jump ship next week? I can't. Many other people cannot as well.

My idea right now is to find ways to do things mostly my way and introduce a near-perfect meritocracy in my team. No seniors or juniors; I am technically "the most senior" but we all have differing and unique experiences. I share my experiences and when I feel stronger about something I make it clear why but I don't go sad in the corner if the other engineers overrule me.

Regardless of how the market is, I like getting along with people. Of course sometimes (actually: often) it's not possible in which case either a team restructuring should be done, or one should indeed leave (which is the nuclear option; not just "oh well, things did not work out").

[satvikpendem]

> I don't see how the market is humming along for anyone. Then again, I have zero network

I mean, yeah, that's the issue. Even without a network my LinkedIn is full of recruiter spam because my profile is optimized, which is a skill anyone can learn and do, same concept as SEO.

> I like getting along with people.

Sure, who doesn't? The issue is when one becomes a doormat, just as in other social situations; in this case, it'd be being nice to others when in reality you'd need to be firm but fair that their writing huge PRs is negatively affecting everyone else. It's the paradox of tolerance applied to the engineering world.

[pdimitar]

Yeah, you are sadly right. Took me a long time to stop being a doormat. Not sure I am nailing it even now to be honest, but I am doing _much_ better compared to two years ago.