My Engineering Craft Regressed
a year ago
- #job-market
- #career-growth
- #open-source
- Graduated university with extensive open-source contributions but found limited job market recognition.
- Applied to over 600 jobs, received 3 offers, and accepted a startup role that respected autonomy.
- Continued open-source work alongside full-time jobs, believing it would lead to better opportunities.
- Realized the job market valued Leetcode over real projects, leading to a career pivot.
- Achieved a 5x salary increase by focusing on industry expectations rather than open-source contributions.
- Despite skill regression, received high-profile job offers after conforming to industry norms.
- Plans to retire early, hoping to return to open-source work in the future.