Honestly, I don’t think it’s just money. It’s a baseline of support that means you never have to worry about your kids eating or having new clothes, coupled with a vast social network. That network is made up of friends, coworkers, people who went to the same school as you, your parents friends and coworkers, your extended family, and just random-ass acquaintances who go to the same fucking gelato place as you.
I’m a good software developer- I interview well, have broad experience, and pick things up quickly. I’ve repeatedly leveraged my contacts from school, their contacts, and even people I’ve dated in the same industry - to get jobs and opportunities that my family couldn’t provide because they’re desperately poor. It’s absurd how many opportunities I’ve gotten that way. I’ve seen equally talented developers grind along in shit jobs because when they look for work they do it by applying to hundreds of openings on indeed or wherever instead of hitting up all of their current and past acquaintances and asking if anyone is looking.
Now draw the same comparison, but between someone who has a network of contacts that are wealthy, and me. That’s why these people can do what they do. They might be smart, they might work hard, but at the end of the day, they’ve got access we don’t.
Pretty much this. I have made contacts over the years and “done well” for myself. But never well enough to start a wealth avalanche of any kind.
But properly positioned, I can make a company $20m/yr (as can any solid developer with a little innovativeness). If I knew the right people, I’d be seeing a noticeable percent of that instead of just my “cog in the wheel” salary. But also, it’s a matter of the roles. I’ve worked some roles where I don’t make a company that kind of money. Not because of a skill gap. It was just a different dev job.
If I had a rich dad with the right friends, I’d be wealthy (probably making them richer). It took me over 10 years in the field to even become a senior, but I’ve worked for execs that were “just hired that way” in their 20’s, with no better credentials than I had, but a different last name. Even if I do spectacularly, I’ll still be 15 years behind them with less of a safety net and less leverage.
I didn’t say that it was my primary skill, I mentioned it as a factor. If you have some bias against a worker learning how to communicate clearly and present themselves well to stand out in an interview and get a higher paying job, then you’re an idiot.
Honestly, I don’t think it’s just money. It’s a baseline of support that means you never have to worry about your kids eating or having new clothes, coupled with a vast social network. That network is made up of friends, coworkers, people who went to the same school as you, your parents friends and coworkers, your extended family, and just random-ass acquaintances who go to the same fucking gelato place as you.
I’m a good software developer- I interview well, have broad experience, and pick things up quickly. I’ve repeatedly leveraged my contacts from school, their contacts, and even people I’ve dated in the same industry - to get jobs and opportunities that my family couldn’t provide because they’re desperately poor. It’s absurd how many opportunities I’ve gotten that way. I’ve seen equally talented developers grind along in shit jobs because when they look for work they do it by applying to hundreds of openings on indeed or wherever instead of hitting up all of their current and past acquaintances and asking if anyone is looking.
Now draw the same comparison, but between someone who has a network of contacts that are wealthy, and me. That’s why these people can do what they do. They might be smart, they might work hard, but at the end of the day, they’ve got access we don’t.
(Edit to add conclusion)
Pretty much this. I have made contacts over the years and “done well” for myself. But never well enough to start a wealth avalanche of any kind.
But properly positioned, I can make a company $20m/yr (as can any solid developer with a little innovativeness). If I knew the right people, I’d be seeing a noticeable percent of that instead of just my “cog in the wheel” salary. But also, it’s a matter of the roles. I’ve worked some roles where I don’t make a company that kind of money. Not because of a skill gap. It was just a different dev job.
If I had a rich dad with the right friends, I’d be wealthy (probably making them richer). It took me over 10 years in the field to even become a senior, but I’ve worked for execs that were “just hired that way” in their 20’s, with no better credentials than I had, but a different last name. Even if I do spectacularly, I’ll still be 15 years behind them with less of a safety net and less leverage.
That “You interview well” is your primary skill tells me everything I need to know about how really good you are vs just gaming the ladder
I didn’t say that it was my primary skill, I mentioned it as a factor. If you have some bias against a worker learning how to communicate clearly and present themselves well to stand out in an interview and get a higher paying job, then you’re an idiot.