I Rejected a High-Paying Job in Silicon Valley

I rejected a high-paying job, and it was terrifying. Let's hope that this year is much better than 2020 because we all know how it went.

But let's not dwell on that because I have a story to tell you. I recently moved across the country, from the west coast to the east coast, because I accepted a new job.

It didn't last, though. I ended up quitting that job after just a couple of months. Now that didn't take long. So what do you do when you move across the country then quit the job you were working in? The only thing you can do, which is to apply for other jobs.

This is easier said than done, though. As I'm sure you guys know, our economy isn't doing that well right now. Everyone is worried about how they will earn money for themselves and their family, and I can't blame them; this pandemic messed everybody up.

I didn't think too hard about it, though, because I really believe in myself that I can get another job. I may not be the best developer out there, but I knew that I was skilled enough to land another job.

So I interviewed everywhere, even at companies that aren't well known. Eventually, I interviewed at a company in Franklin, Tennessee, and was given a job offer. But I didn't want to work down there because it just wasn't enough. Allow me to elaborate.

Let me say right now that, even if I rejected the job, I wanted to accept it. The values and culture of the company were amazing, plus I needed a job ASAP, not just for myself but for my parents as well.

But I knew deep down it wasn't enough. I have 4 years of experience, and I know I can get paid more. So considering that and where I want to see my career grow as a developer, their offer to me of $97,000 a year was not enough. So, in the end, I rejected their offer.

Fortunately, since I am on social media, I went on Twitter and said I was looking for a new job. With the support of hundreds and thousands of people liking that comment and retweeting it, companies started reaching out to me when they heard that I quit my job.

That's why networking is important. Not just LinkedIn, but all forms of social media. Because of that, I had lots of interviews. And the one place that wanted to interview me a lot was Silicon Valley.

I went to interviews with Amazon, Apple, and some small and medium-sized tech companies. So I kept going to interviews until I reached the final interview process of a certain small company, and they gave me an offer letter.

They were willing to pay $15,000 more than what the company in Tennessee would pay me. And they offered me to work remotely, meaning I'd be making $100,000 a year. That's crazy because it's in Silicon Valley, and to be able to say that you work there is a privilege.

But something inside of me was saying that this wasn't it. I mean, sure, they were going to pay $15,000 more than my last job offer, let me work remotely, and have all these different benefits. It didn't feel like it was enough, and I didn't feel like I was going to be happy.

I told myself that if I were to work for a company in Silicon Valley, I'd expect to be paid more. You could say I didn't want to low-ball myself, and I didn't want to settle.

So I rejected their job offer in the end. They were going to pay me well, but I just wasn't content. Pretty crazy, right? After quitting a job I moved across the country for and applying to new jobs, you'd think I'll grab whatever opportunity I can find.

But at the end of the day, when it comes to yourself, especially as you gain experience, you need to know your value.

Truth be told, it was scary that I did that. But I told myself that If I got job offers just a week after quitting, what If I waited just a little longer? And let me tell you, the wait was worth it. After waiting a few days, someone from a big company that's known around the world reached out to me. They offered me way more than those last 2 companies were offering, and the bonus was amazing. And I get all this by teaching code, which is my dream.

I honestly feel like the luckiest person in the world because who does this happen to. This offer took about 3 weeks because I did 6 or 7 interviews for this company. So it took a total of 4 weeks to get the job. The fact that I believed in myself is crazy because I'm the kind of guy to doubt myself a lot. The whole point about this is to believe in yourself and understand your worth. And more than anything, make yourself more valuable to a company. Where a company fights for you, and they really want to get you on their team.

If you don't think you have the skills yet, learn. Get better and improve daily. It took me 5 years to get to this point, and it's because I never gave up. I'm glad I rejected those offers, or else I won't be where I am now. So don't settle for just anything; know your own worth, and be patient. It's like chess; wait for the right opportunity, and it will change everything.

Chris Sean
Developer Relations Engineer | New Relic

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