Leaving Tech

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

A veteran Ruby developer’s decision to quit tech after roughly three dozen failed job applications prompts broader debate about how hard the software job market has become, especially for senior engineers insisting on fully remote work from smaller cities. Commenters argue over whether 36 applications is giving up too early, noting that mass applications and ghosting are now common, while also pointing to structural shifts: shrinking remote options, AI devaluing language-specific expertise, and age or location bias. Many reflect on whether to adapt by embracing AI and new tech stacks, move into management or other fields, or abandon software entirely for trades, hardware, teaching, or entrepreneurship.

State of the Tech Job Market

  • Many say 36 applications with ~24 explicit rejections is low by current standards; others argue that for a 20-year veteran that number is emotionally significant.
  • Several commenters report needing 100–500+ applications, dozens of interviews, and heavy LeetCode prep to get offers.
  • Some insist tech remains “hard/scarce” for strong candidates; others describe an “apocalypse” compared to earlier cycles (2000–03, 2007–09).
  • Senior roles are seen as rarer; there’s debate whether age (~40+) as an IC is an unspoken disadvantage.

Remote Work and Geography

  • Strong consensus that fully-remote roles, especially in specific time zones or small/regional cities, are now much harder to land.
  • Many argue COVID remote was a temporary anomaly; companies have largely reverted to on-site/hybrid preferences.
  • Some say insisting on 100% remote dramatically shrinks opportunities and effectively means competing globally.
  • Others believe RTO is irrational and will collapse in the next downturn when office costs are scrutinized.

AI’s Role and Developer Value

  • Disagreement over AI: some see it as just another tool (like a framework) and a force multiplier; others see it as fundamentally eroding demand for traditional coding and deep language expertise.
  • Some claim many do in fact know how to use AI to drive business value; others say that’s overstated, and companies don’t yet know what they want.
  • There’s concern that AI models may be trained on the very books and code that now get devalued.

Burnout, Identity, and “Leaving Tech”

  • Several note the interview treadmill and repeated rejection as “soul-crushing,” especially for people who previously got jobs easily.
  • Some see leaving after 36 applications as hasty; others emphasize mental health and the right to opt out if the process is intolerable.
  • A recurring theme: the joy of craftsmanship is being replaced by “babysitting agents,” making the work feel less meaningful.

Alternatives, Trades, and Labor Politics

  • Suggestions include hardware, writing, teaching, music, trades (electrician, welder, plumber), starting a company, or local non-tech jobs.
  • Some warn that “go into the trades” is an overused fallback that could saturate those markets too.
  • There’s extended debate on unions, professional gatekeeping, and comparisons to medicine and law:
    • One side argues software workers failed to protect their profession.
    • The other warns that cartel-like restrictions, while good for insiders, are harmful to society.