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Ask HN: Early career burnt out at Big Tech, what to do?
2 points by overwhelmedTA 4 days ago | hide | past | favorite | 3 comments
Hi HN, posting on a throwaway. I’m an early career engineer at a Big Tech company.

I joined two years ago after graduating. It felt like a dream: opportunities like this, you can’t say no. However, over time it feels like I’m reaching a point where work is deteriorating my health. I had a panic attack yesterday.

I feel drained every day. Not tired, exhausted. I don’t have the energy to follow my passions after work. End of day I’m in a trance state where even the slightest thought is too energy consuming.

Early morning meetings are draining. Even just half hour earlier than usual throws me off. (I’m neurodivergent)

Major projects overlap—there’s no calm moment to focus on smaller things.

I’m very productive but the work is never ending. I’m trying to slow down but sometimes the pressure is intense.

I look at others managing so well, achieving their responsibilities and I feel inadequate.

This job is a great opportunity that enables me to do so many things. Save for retirement, new experiences, etc. Simultaneously, I see the long term horizon and all I see is many more years of this…

How can I take control of this situation? Leaving is not an option. Does anyone have strategies on how to manage for a young engineer?






> It felt like a dream: opportunities like this, you can’t say no.

That is the first problem. You don't know how to say "No."

Big Tech companies love "Yes" people and will run you down as far as possible to the ground (by giving you more work) and they don't care if you cannot handle it. (And you will still say "Yes" even when you don't like it)

> Leaving is not an option.

You need to say "No" and leave.


IMHO, you should definitely reflect on why you feel that "leaving is not an option". Is it because of the money? Pay off your loans, downgrade the location/size of your apartment/house and suddenly making only half the money will no longer be a problem. Is it because of all the "opportunities"? (Are you absolutely sure that does not mean "opportunities to have no personal life and to potentially lose your mental health"?) Realize that many brilliant techs consider "a dream job" to be "a job they love" as opposed to "a job for a famous company". Finally, perhaps also realize that being that tired, you might not be able to ever maintain a romantic relationship, not to mention starting a family. It might or might not matter to you down the line - you have to figure it out.

Leaving is not an option

anyone with empathy and care for you will tell you to leave as soon as possible.

if you don’t want to hear that you’ll get lies like “hang in there, it’ll get better” (it will get much, much worse…)




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