How many developers are now expected to work 60-hour weeks at best (70-hour and even 80-hour weeks are not unheard of)? Is there anybody who is able to do their work and maintain a good work/life balance? I feel like I'm drowning and there's nothing I can do about it since this seems to be the norm all around, not just at Cisco.
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Yeah then 60 to 70 hour weeks are a tough call then. Doesn't sound like the return on assets (long term potential opportunity money return for your current time spent) is part of the equation.
I joined Cisco in my early 30s and those years of 60 to 70 weekly hours were big family sacrifices. I stuck with it mainly because of the stock options. Switching to RSUs was the first gradual step in that deterioration.
I was lucky to have a few good regular (non RSU options) issued after the big price drop in 2000-ish. Between those, the then RSUs, and years of ESPP, that stash has ballooned into a fortunate chunk of change.
Now mid 50s, was then able to make the choice to scale back (could retire if I wanted to) at LR. It luckily paid off; the more I read these threads the more I realize that is not going to happen (potentially never again at Cisco) for those currently choosing to make the long term time sacrifice commitment.
There are other old-timers in the similar good fortune post-LR boat, I am friends with them still after now almost a quarter century. Interesting to see where we all ended up. I would say 20% of the 2003-ish team (~75 person extended BU team) is still at Cisco, the rest have either been LR'd or moved on.
Early 2000s were great, fun, high teamwork, challenging, sleepless, financially rewarding, stressful (but worth it) times.
Miss it but doubt I could run at anywhere near that pace now. It is still out there (options) if you look hard and seriously have the stomach and skills to produce.
AWS is similarly generous (have younger recent engineering grad relative there) if you really know your stuff. He likewise is however drowning keeping up and the hours are taking their toll early in career.
Best of luck.
It worked out for us, hope they are being as generous currently.
Not even close.
I worked many a 60 to 70 hour dev bu weeks from 2003 to the time these swapped to RSUs. On the other hand we were getting 5,000 to 6,000 old pre-RSU options as a minimum per year, plus bonuses, plus additional smaller pre-RSU "Thank You" awards.
It was some long years, but worth it now as that cash has long paid off our home, college, and enabled an early mid-50s. If it wasn't for those pre-RSUs, I wouldn't have put up with that workload. It worked out for us, hope they are being as generous currently.
Alternately, you can work the hours you're paid for, and then stop. Disconnect in between. Don't make it miserable for yourself.