Meta Software Engineer Says: I was relieved to give up my million-dollar annual salary

作者 | Sambodhi、褚杏娟、凌敏

In the past two years, due to the impact of the epidemic and the economy, the employment situation has become more and more severe, and many companies have reduced their recruitment scale or suspended their recruitment plans, and the same is true for large factories. For many job seekers, big factories have become even more out of reach. But we have also found that some "migrant workers" in large factories have begun to flee from large factories. Dachang is like a "besieged city", people inside want to get out, and people outside want to come in.

In this article, "migrant workers" from Meta, McKinsey and other big factories decided to give up their high-paying jobs and flee the big factories. Here's what they had to say.

放弃 Meta 百万年薪后,我如释重负

Eric Yu, a former software engineer at Meta, began to develop an "escape" plan after the stress of his job caused his body to react to stress.

In 2016, after a series of interviews with Google, Meta (formerly Facebook), and Palantir, I received an offer as a software engineer at Meta on the plane home. At that moment, I felt like I had reached the pinnacle of my life. A few days later, I even received an offer from Google.

Getting an offer like this has always been one of my life goals. I studied hard in school and seemed to have finally found a way out of life. I'm torn between Meta and Google. But Meta at the time was more of a startup, with less of a "big business" feel than Google. I liked the campus vibe more, so I chose Meta.

As a fresh graduate with a lot of vision and enthusiasm for work, everything went smoothly at the beginning. But this state only lasted about two and a half years, after which I started to get anxious.

The pressure of the tech industry has left me with "anxiety"

My job starts at 7 a.m., attends a few meetings, takes a break at noon, and gets into the intense coding battles between 2:30 and 5 p.m.

The problem is that even if my work is put on hold for a while, I can't get rid of the stress of work and the bogging of my to-do list. I felt the weight of the tech industry and I had to push myself all the time, which made it impossible for me to escape the cage of work after work.

Until one afternoon in 2019, when the sun was shining, I was concentrating on coding at home. Suddenly, I felt a numbness in my left little finger. I didn't care at first, but it quickly deteriorated: after an hour, my ears were ringing and my heart was beating like a war drum. It was as if I was standing on a dam, unable to suppress my emotions like a flood of beasts. Filled with inner anxiety and thoughts, it is like a precarious dam that will rush out once it bursts. The more depressed I was, the more it was going to explode.

Note: Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by repeated panic attacks without warning. A panic attack is a sudden, short-term intense fear that may include heart palpitations, sweating, shaking hands, difficulty breathing, numbness, or a feeling that something very serious is about to happen. The intensity of symptoms peaks within a few minutes.

Luckily, my girlfriend at the time, Wanda (now fiancée), was right next to me and she was keenly aware of what was wrong with me.

At the time, I didn't know anything about panic disorder and thought it was just a small episode in life. Over the next few months, however, it haunted me and got worse.

For half a year from March to September 2020, I was at a low point in my life. Every day was like a battle, and I lost myself, didn't know what I was doing, and didn't understand why I kept working hard. My performance plummeted, I couldn't concentrate on writing code, and I couldn't meet my deadlines.

Code reviews have me walking on thin ice

Meta is extremely strict about code, and code review has made me walk on thin ice. At my previous internship company, code reviews were a no-brainer and a hasty affair. Those people would take a quick look at my work and give it approval. At Meta, however, code review is a rigorous affair that must follow the "right" design patterns and architectural style.

During the review process, I work with different teams to find the best way to code. Stressful scenes happen from time to time, and I get harsh feedback after multiple reviews, which makes me feel stressed.

In my opinion, the feedback should have been a tact: "Hey, I like what you're trying to do, maybe I can make improvements here." At Meta, however, some engineers' feedback was too direct: "This is really bad, you shouldn't write it that way." This feedback is too sharp and ignores the emotional needs of communication.

I worked overtime longer than most team members

Whenever a new feature is built, our team tests it thoroughly. If this feature works well, it can be rolled out globally. Otherwise, we learn from the lessons and develop a plan for the next step in building.

For a month, I was the only engineer on the Android team, and I was under a lot of pressure because the rest of the team was on vacation or on vacation for mental health reasons. I figured that I couldn't be a stumbling block to the progress of the project, so I felt like I had a lot of work on my shoulders. I knew that if I didn't stay on track and gain experience quickly, it would delay the workflow of the whole team and affect the overall progress of everyone.

So, I put my best foot into my work: working until 8 p.m. every day (later than most of the team would) and also working an additional four hours each weekend, just to make sure I could keep up.

Looking back on those days now, I feel that such a work load was not healthy. I should have told my superiors that I couldn't handle the pressure and needed more help.

Final Hit: Questioning My "Code Commits"

There is an internal dashboard where we can see the number of submissions from ourselves and our team members at any time.

However, I don't think this measurement is scientific, and it puts a lot of pressure on employees. I just look at my dashboard every few weeks to see where I stand in the team, in the company.

I remember when I first joined a new team, my manager came to talk to me and expressed his concern about the number of submissions I made: I was slightly below the average for the rest of the team.

But the problem was that when I first joined, the team didn't have a clear plan for the future, so they didn't assign me too many projects, which led to my low number of submissions.

But leadership is very fond of measuring the value of employees by the number of submissions. I don't think the amount of code is everything, and skills such as coaching, project management, and dealing with interpersonal dependencies should also be valued. But my manager didn't think so, and this conversation became the last straw for me to decide to leave the company.

Look for a side hustle to make a final step up to leaving Meta

At the end of 2020, Wanda and I started thinking about life for the next ten years and made an exit plan because we didn't want to stay in the tech industry for too long.

One night, we laid out a whiteboard of various possible revenue streams, including dropshipping, brand affiliate marketing, and real estate. After the evaluation, we decided to narrow down the options to real estate and Airbnb. However, due to the pandemic, we weren't sure if we wanted to be all in.

We decided to start with "house hacking", which is a way to enter the real estate space at a lower cost. We plan to buy a house, live part of it ourselves, and rent out the rest to others.

After that, we purchased a five-bedroom house in Reading, California. While we live in a separate 252-square-foot guest room in the backyard, our main room can bring in about $8,000 a month through Airbnb. Our cost of living is already covered by rental income, and we can still earn money every month.

We see the potential of rental housing and are confident in it. I even set a personal goal: quit my job at Meta once I could make $10,000 a month from it. In 2021, we increased our investment again and purchased two more properties. At the end of that year, I reached the milestone of $10,000 per month. Then two more homes were purchased in 2022 and another in 2023.

The experience of leaving Meta was as uneventful as water. Working from home, gathering with colleagues in the cloud, no farewell party, no formal goodbye. After the last meeting, I gently closed my computer and was relieved: "Ah, it's finally over." ”

Leaving this high-paying job seems crazy to outsiders, after all, staying at Meta can have a stable and reliable income. But I know it's not where I belong.

Passive income through real estate isn't my ultimate pursuit, but it gives me the time and space to explore what I really want to do when I'm financially free. I'm still exploring, and the goal will be to build community and help others meaningfully change their lives, just as I changed my own.

"Every day I feel like I'm walking on the tip of a knife"

Lu was a senior business analyst at McKinsey & Company, earning $130,000 a year. At McKinsey, Lu's average working day was 12 to 15 hours, and the pressure of his job led him to take a pay cut to join a tech startup.

Started at McKinsey with an annual salary starting at $100,000

When I joined McKinsey in 2016, I had a base salary of $80,000 and a performance bonus. The company also helped me set up a retirement plan with 7% of my qualified compensation and offered me an additional $5,000 signing bonus. All that comes up is about $106,650 in my first year of earnings.

As far as I know, McKinsey is a fair man and does not advocate salary negotiations. Bonuses are calculated based on performance in the first year and are paid as a percentage of the basic salary. Then in the following year, this bonus is added to the base salary to become the new salary base. When I left McKinsey after two and a half years as a senior business analyst, I was paid about $130,000.

I joined a tech startup with a lower salary and also passed up the opportunity to be promoted to project manager. I ultimately decided to leave because I was eager to explore and grow in other ways.

Shouting, "I'm about to break down" is like admitting defeat

At McKinsey, we work an average of 12 to 15 hours a day. Every Monday at 4 or 5 a.m., I have to get out of bed and head to the airport on time to catch the earliest flight to visit a client. On the plane, I also have to work against the clock, and occasionally take a break.

Some types of projects are the "kings of pressure", such as those that can be two to three weeks long for M&A due diligence. We dig deeper into our customers' business, operations, and beyond. During this time, some of us would work until the wee hours of the morning, resting for just a few hours, and then going into battle again at 8 a.m. the next morning.

When I first entered the industry, I faced a huge challenge. I had just graduated, but I had high expectations and learned how to deal with stress, schedule work, and deal with tight schedules.

I remember vividly that on a flight to a client's city, anxiety followed. The moment the plane landed, the airplane mode was turned off, and the notification sound of work messages on my phone suddenly sounded, and the sound made me feel like pins and needles. I quickly turned off the app and tried to calm down.

An unfriendly team atmosphere can also be stressful. In one project, the deputy on the team had more seniority in the company than me. Whenever there is a problem in the project, he always likes to throw the "pot" on my head, saying that it is my negligence, which makes me lose face in front of the leader.

McKinsey has recruited a group of outstanding elites who come from leading universities and are at the top of their fields. Consultants like me have become immersed in a well-constructed lifestyle: a $400 per night upscale hotel becomes a daily home, and a $120 daily food and beverage allowance.

Also, I don't have to worry about trivial administrative tasks because McKinsey will take care of everything for me. For example, McKinsey has a dedicated travel team that books flights for consultants. If you need to change your flight, just call the in-house travel department and they'll take care of everything.

However, when I started to lose humility and patience, I realized that I had become too dependent on this lifestyle. I remember one time when I was in line, the line was moving very slowly, and I became restless and thought, "How can these people be so inefficient?" Looking back now, I'm used to having the company take care of all my needs.

Shouting "I'm about to break down" is always like admitting defeat, so I never admit it. Many people I know, myself included, have kept their emotions hidden. I don't want to burden others, everyone is already busy, so I never discuss it with my team, mentors, or managers.

No regrets

When I first started in counseling, I was tested both emotionally and physically. However, every challenge has also made me stronger, and I don't regret it.

Joining McKinsey & Company was a huge turning point in my career, not only as a rapid growth in my professional skills, but also in the unparalleled confidence that still plays a huge role in my current role. In addition, I have developed strong friendships with many outstanding colleagues who have benefited me from their valuable guidance.

At McKinsey, I also had the opportunity to work on client projects as well as a global project called "Secondment". Through this project, we can go to work all over the world. If you're eager to experience a new role but don't want to actually leave the company, this project is the perfect solution. I spent six months at a small consulting firm in Kenya and it was an unforgettable time. I got to know the local culture and made many friends.

Also, my husband met through his work at McKinsey.

After leaving McKinsey, I moved into fintech as a product manager at WealthSimple, where I was fascinated by driving projects. In the consulting field, I develop high-level strategies, which are presented to the client after one or two case studies. In the tech industry, however, I can release products and iterate based on feedback, and my impact is much more concrete.

Now, I'm also sharing real-life experiences on social media to provide more information to people who want to get into the consulting industry, so that they can make an informed decision about whether or not to enter the consulting industry, and not just because of the superficial aura and reputation of the industry.

"My regret is that I didn't quit sooner"

Vincent Chan went into a bank job with an annual salary of $120,000 with his parents' expectations. However, every newcomer in the company competes to outperform others. Chan eventually chose to leave and devote himself to content creation.

I was born into a family of Chinese immigrants and came from a poor family. My parents' sacrifices and dedication inspire a sense of responsibility in my heart, and I am determined to make their sacrifices worthwhile. In order to achieve this goal, I decided to pursue a career in the financial industry after graduating from university and find a decent job.

While in college, many people aspire to work in the financial industry, so the competition is fierce. But instead of being discouraged, I worked harder to improve myself and build relationships.

In the beginning, I struggled to find a full-time job because I didn't have a lot of connections. Through unremitting efforts, I finally got an offer from a bank. This made my parents very proud because their son not only completed college, but also managed to make it to the white-collar class.

However, after I started working, I gradually realized that this American corporate system was not what I was after. Am I going to spend my life in this cold skyscraper, or am I going to be brave enough to pursue my dreams and find a path that suits me better?

Involution is prevalent

At first, I longed for the glamour of the financial industry: a crisp suit, a clean office, and a tense and orderly work rhythm. However, there is nothing new in all this, and it is even full of bureaucracy.

For example, I often have to produce a lot of PowerPoint and Excel, all of which have to follow established procedures and formats, and there is very little room for innovation. Because I work with senior executives, a lot of the work has to go through multiple teams and can take weeks or even months.

In the company, newcomers are keen to showcase their talents and want to stand out. They are convinced that this is a fast track to promotion. However, once someone creates this work atmosphere, others will follow suit so as not to be left behind. Every employee strives to impress their superiors and wants a raise or promotion.

I was involved in a major project and didn't get home until 1 a.m. to rest. Yet I felt like I had nothing. After work, I had no fun days. I was apathetic to my family, and I didn't have time to spend with friends, let alone socialize.

I dedicate 60~80 hours a week to help this big business achieve their dreams, and I could have used that time to pursue my dreams. After a while, I realized that the company didn't really care about me, and if I passed away tomorrow, they would just look for a replacement, and a day or two later, no one would remember that I had worked there.

"Layout" for resignation: The economy is the confidence to have more free choices

I am currently working on several causes. First of all, I focused on content creation, especially on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. In addition, I am responsible for a financial newsletter called the Daily Market Brief, which provides easy-to-understand news and information for the average investor. I've also been involved in a content creator accelerator program and planned a data business focused on newsletters and content creators.

Before I left my job, I gradually instilled this idea in my parents months in advance. When I actually quit my job, my parents, sensing that I was being paid off from other jobs, didn't hesitate to take my side and encourage me to move forward.

Over the years, I've been saving and being prepared. So when I decided to quit my job, I had enough money to support me for more than a year. Even if my attempt fails, the worst-case scenario is to find a new job and start over.

My advice to those of you who are stuck in high-paying, high-pressure positions or who want to quit your job is: improve your financial skills. With financial security, you can have more freedom of choice.

Now, I'm content with my life. If I don't regret it, I didn't quit my job earlier and start my content business sooner.

Original link: Meta Software Engineer's Statement: After Giving Up a Million Annual Salary, I Feel Relieved_Management/Culture_Sambodhi_InfoQ Selected Articles