Why did I QUIT My High Paying REMOTE JOB? | A framework to help the next job find YOU!

Summary

In this video, the speaker, with over two decades of experience in the software industry, shares the reasons behind quitting a high-paying remote job at a European bank to join a company in Pune, India. They emphasize the importance of continuous learning, challenging oneself, and making a 'graceful exit' when it's time to move on. The speaker also outlines a framework for evaluating when to leave a job and stresses the significance of 'learning in public' to attract future opportunities. Ultimately, it’s a mix of career advice, personal reflection, and actionable insights for making strategic career transitions.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker has 23+ years of experience in the software industry, working across multiple countries including India, UK, US, Europe, and South Africa.
• 😀 He was working remotely for a bank in Europe for 2+ years, earning in Euros while based in India, but decided to quit his high-paying remote job.
• 😀 The main reason for quitting the job was a lack of excitement and a desire to challenge himself by solving bigger problems and making a greater impact.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of not making knee-jerk decisions when quitting a job, such as reacting to a bad boss or appraisal. Instead, consider the long-term picture.
• 😀 The concept of 'graceful entry, gracious exit' is highlighted as an important principle in both professional and personal situations, emphasizing the need for smooth transitions.
• 😀 Networking played a crucial role in finding his next job. He reached out to his network on LinkedIn and quickly got an offer from Zensar, where he had previously worked for 7 years.
• 😀 His new role at Zensar as Associate Vice President of DevOps and AI aligns with his desire to focus on three main areas of interest and growth in his career.
• 😀 The speaker suggests a framework for deciding when to leave a company: ask yourself if you feel excited to go to work every day. If not, it might be time to move on.
• 😀 For those considering a job switch, it's important to have the next offer lined up before quitting to avoid unnecessary stress and pressure during a job search.
• 😀 A reflective exercise is recommended: list your past companies, durations, and reasons for leaving to identify patterns and assess if frequent job changes are due to deeper issues.
• 😀 He advises displaying your work publicly and learning in public as a way to build your personal brand, helping others recognize your expertise and reach out to you with opportunities.

Q & A

Why did the speaker quit their high-paying remote job at the European bank?

The speaker quit their remote job because they felt they had reached a point where they were no longer excited about going to work. They were looking for new challenges and wanted to continue making an impact. After a period of reflection, they realized it was time to move on to the next adventure.

What role did the speaker have at the European bank?

The speaker held the role of a 'DevOps Evangelist' at the bank. In this role, they were responsible for defining a DevOps framework, revising roles and responsibilities within the organization, reskilling the workforce, and focusing on improving metrics and return on investment for DevOps practices.

How did the speaker secure their remote job at the bank?

The speaker was approached by the bank after they had given a talk at a conference. The bank found the speaker through their public work, including articles and thought papers, which led to them being invited for an interview and eventually offered the job.

What are some key responsibilities of a DevOps Evangelist in an organization?

A DevOps Evangelist is responsible for defining what DevOps means for the organization, creating a common terminology, revising roles as the organization transforms, reskilling employees, and helping scale DevOps practices across the organization. They also work on improving metrics to measure the success of DevOps initiatives.

Why does the speaker believe the software industry is small?

The speaker believes the software industry is small because people in the field tend to bump into each other frequently at conferences and events, building lasting connections and relationships that extend beyond individual job positions.

How does the speaker suggest deciding when to leave a job?

The speaker suggests evaluating whether you feel excited to go to work every day. If the answer is no for an extended period, it may be time to start considering a job change. The key is not to make a knee-jerk decision based on temporary frustrations but to reflect on long-term fulfillment.

What advice does the speaker offer about leaving a job?

The speaker advises against knee-jerk decisions when leaving a job, such as leaving due to a bad boss or lack of a promotion. Instead, the speaker recommends considering whether the job still offers personal growth and challenges. If the answer is no over a prolonged period, it may be time to move on.

How did the speaker find their next job after leaving the bank?

After deciding to leave the bank, the speaker updated their LinkedIn status to 'open for work' and began reaching out to their professional network. This led to conversations with potential employers, and the speaker rejoined Zensar, a company they had worked with previously.

What is the speaker’s current role, and why did they choose it?

The speaker is currently working as the Associate Vice President of DevOps and AI at Zensar. They chose this role because it offered the opportunity to focus on the three key areas they wanted to work in: DevOps, AI, and leadership.

What principles does the speaker suggest for career transitions?

The speaker suggests two principles for successful career transitions: 'graceful entry, gracious exit' and 'learning in public.' A graceful exit means leaving a company or project on good terms, ensuring the organization would want you to stay. Learning in public involves displaying your work and expertise publicly, which can attract job opportunities.