The Myth of Job Security in Big Tech (Michael Galarnyk) - KNN Ep. 143
Mar 29, 2023
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Michael Galarnyk, a guest who left his job in big tech, talks about the downsides of working in the industry, the benefits of traveling and working remotely, and the instability of job security. They also discuss alternative income streams, monetizing hobbies, challenges of remote work, upskilling, and equity distribution in startups.
Working in big tech can limit personal growth opportunities, focusing on admin work rather than practical achievements.
Remote work and travel provide flexibility and new experiences but require balancing work requirements and maintaining productivity.
Diversifying income and skill sets offers financial security and opens up more opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Deep dives
Challenges of Working in Big Tech
Working in big tech companies often involves a lot of admin work, countless meetings, and limited personal growth opportunities. This can lead to a lack of transferable skills and dissatisfaction with one's job. The focus on meetings and administrative tasks can be detrimental to career progression, as it does not showcase practical achievements on a resume.
The Benefits and Challenges of Remote Work and Travel
Remote work and travel provide opportunities for flexibility and new experiences but also come with their own set of challenges. Balancing work requirements across different time zones can be difficult, but being able to work remotely and travel offers various lifestyle benefits. It requires finding suitable work areas and dealing with the challenges of maintaining productivity while on the move.
The Importance of Diversifying Income and Skill Sets
Diversifying income and skill sets provides financial security and opens up more opportunities. Monetizing hobbies and exploring different income streams can offer financial stability and independence. Both in traditional careers and entrepreneurship, having multiple income sources and skill sets enhances personal and professional growth, providing leverage and the freedom to pursue diverse opportunities.
The Rise of Synthetic Data in Perception Tasks
Synthetic data is becoming increasingly relevant for perception tasks in fields like autonomous vehicles and computer vision. Synthetic data allows for the simulation of challenging scenarios that are difficult or impractical to obtain in the real world. By using generative models and world rendering techniques, synthetic data can enhance training data quality and provide valuable insights for developing perception systems.
Training Models with Synthetic Data
Training models with synthetic data can be a valuable approach. One method is to pre-train the model on synthetic data and then fine-tune it on real data to handle specific edge cases. For example, in autonomous driving, pre-training on synthetic data of construction zones helps the model recognize and navigate through them. However, it is important to sample synthetic data properly to avoid the model mistaking real-world scenarios as synthetic anomalies.
Upscaling in a New Role & Leveraging Knowledge
When transitioning into a new role, upscaling quickly is crucial. Transferable skills like working on large-scale projects or writing about complex topics can help with a smooth transition. However, one of the most effective ways to upskill is by talking to people within the organization. By understanding the tools, methodologies, and why certain decisions were made, individuals can gain valuable knowledge. Identifying key individuals with expertise and leveraging their knowledge can significantly impact one's success. Additionally, advocating for oneself, whether it be asking for a promotion or a raise, is important for career growth and recognition.
This is Michael's second appearance on the podcast! Today we talked about why he left his most recent job in big tech, diversifying income and skills, and his crazy nomadic travel lifestyle.