Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess its health?

Re:Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess it... by scarface74 on Wednesday June 28, 2017 @10:07AM (#14654220)

I've given another answer, but on the meta level, it shouldn't matter to you if a company is doing well. The only thing that should matter is are you learning skills for which there is a market? Getting in the mindset that your "job" does not determine your well being but your skills do.

That mindset presupposes a few things:

A) that you always have your finger on the market and the skills that are in demand

B) your network is strong - including recruiters.

C) You live below your means and have enough in liquid savings to survive a job loss and getting a new job.

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Re:Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess it... by johnpython on Wednesday June 28, 2017 @11:10AM (#14654785)

I completely agree with this approach. The best job security is being good at what you do. Fortunately, we work in an industry where if you are even slightly talented, you will have no trouble finding a new job. So, don't worry too much about how the company is doing. Stick around as long as you are getting paid, the work is interesting, and you are growing in your knowledge/skills. Ensure you have savings for any disasters. And always be scouting the market for new opportunities.

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Re:Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess it... by scarface74 on Wednesday June 28, 2017 @12:22PM (#14655466)

True. I think the only time I really worried about my job is between 2008 - 2011. Between the economy sucking and me not following my own advice, I was in a very precarious position.

I told myself I would never do that again

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Re:Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess it... by ThrustVectoring on Wednesday June 28, 2017 @12:48PM (#14655742)

Having a job helps tremendously in negotiating a salary. BATNA is continuing to work at your current pay, rather than living off savings.

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Re:Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess it... by taurath on Wednesday June 28, 2017 @04:58PM (#14658333)

It can however be unhealthy and ultimately lead to a worse outcome to continue in the same job with very high levels of stress. You will not interview as well, and you will have to decide to make health sacrifices to brush up on skills necessary to make the next jump.

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Re:Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess it... by vinceguidry on Wednesday June 28, 2017 @11:09AM (#14654772)

Certainly, your skills provide a layer of security, ensuring that you don't starve. But once you have this, and it's really not that hard to do once you have a few years in your industry, then you need to start on the next safety net of ensuring you don't get ripped away from your daily routine at a moment's notice.

This is where keeping a finger on what your organization is doing really helps out with. If you can do this well, then you're not just inured to sudden shocks in income, but you can also thrive in uncertainty.

For example, if I caught wind that the company was being reorganized, I'd have a closed-door meeting with my manager to figure out what my exposure was and what opportunities are presented. Perhaps there's a way to help the organization and myself at the same time. Not every such situation has to result in chaos.

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Re:Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess it... by scarface74 on Wednesday June 28, 2017 @12:12PM (#14655392)

For example, if I caught wind that the company was being reorganized

I have a great relationship with my manager, he lets me run the development side as I see fit for the most part, I'm privy to a lot of information because of my role,but he couldn't tell me anything about a reorg until it was announced to everyone. I understand that perfectly.

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Re:Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess it... by vinceguidry on Wednesday June 28, 2017 @01:02PM (#14655877)

If I found the company really wanted to keep me out of the loop then I'll assume that I'm not a part of the new direction and plan accordingly. They can let me know what they want from me when I put my new job offer down on his desk.

If I'm a new employee then sure, it's new enough to where my life hasn't settled yet. But after I've been there a year or so, a reorg is basically already like getting another job. If I'm not a part of that process then I'm going to regain control of my destiny myself.

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Re:Ask HN: As an employee of a company, how do you assess it... by scarface74 on Wednesday June 28, 2017 @01:10PM (#14655976)

That hasnt been my experience. Maybe it's my ego, but I always go in thinking that I'm good at what I do and that I will be the last man standing, I survived three rounds of layoffs at a former company, was laid off when the company laid off everyone but four people when it was acquired, and even then I negotiated a deal to work as a contractor for one of our customers. The company was very up front about its prospects.

The next time around, during a reorganization at another company, I not only wasn't laid off, I got a promotion. I don't think I play politics I just know how to be effective.

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