Graduated from a three-year advanced programming diploma. Programming was all I ever wanted to do since I was eight years old. I think the quality of work reflects my passion.
Right out of school, got a sweet job at Google Maps. But it wasn't good for me mentally. Every Friday when I got off work, I'd take the bus with the worst schedule down to Finch Station in Toronto, down to Dundas, wait in the Greyhound for up to two hours, and take the bus for another two hours back to London just to be with my girlfriend and tight group of friends. So I was quickly looking for work in London. Applied to a job at a local ISP (yes that one), packed up all my things, moved back to London.
First day of work they hand me my contract and it's for $10k less then we had agreed. I said, “Didn't we agree on …?” “Oh, well we'll reevaluate after three months.” I was pissed. Livid. I had moved my entire life back to London on a salary that wasn't commensurate with my work. But, I actually did cut my teeth on that job. Sitting in that chair 8 hours a day brought me up to speed really quickly.
I even asked them, “Why did you hire me?” “You did the best on the programming test.” … k, so you hired me with what you thought was little experience so you could pay me less even though I do a better job. Okay.
I was the lead programmer for their best client's site. I can't tell you what site, but the work I did was impeccable, and I'm sure it's made him heaps of money over the years.
Welp. Three months came and I started looking for a new job. I applied to a random post looking for a programmer who had experience with nmap. Interviewed three times for that position. I was the one they wanted. I even made this config editor for IP tables rules that you could drag and drop the lines in different orders. They loved it. They called me and asked me if I could meet with their CEO at a cafe downtown less than a five minute walk from my work just before the end of the work day. I typed up my resignation letter that night, signed, sealed, burning a hole in my backpack. Took my last break the next day, walked down to the coffee shop, the CEO handed me an offer letter for $10k more than I was asking. Went back upstairs, went into my bag, walked into the CEO's office, plopped down the envelope and said, “This is my two-week notice.”
Stunned. Stunned. It was so delicious to see that look on his face and I'll never forget it. It took him a good ten seconds to get the gears in his head turning again. He was so pissed he said, “Can you just leave today?”
I needed the money, but he didn't know that. I said to him: My project is almost done. Let's get
That new job, I was there for three days when my boss comes over to me, says, “Come with me.” Takes me into this ultra-secure room, and one of my co-workers had just hacked into a business and was playing around as Domain Admin. I'm like … “WE'RE HACKERS?” lol. I had no idea. Spent seven years programming exploits and doing pen tests. Three years in I went to my boss and said, “I'd like to go back to school and get my degree.” “Good. We'll put you on part time. You can work whenever you want. We'll change you to hourly at the same rate. Submit time sheets.” Such a great place to work. I'll never forget it.
So I'm doing my new job for like 6 months when I get a message from my buddy from college: “Guess where I am.” “Where?” Sends me a picture of my old chair at that work.
“Omg. Seriously? I quit there because they didn't pay me enough in a nefarious way.”
Four months after that he sends me another message: Just quit. Pays too little.
Sometimes I lie in bed at night with a smug look on my face just imagining the steam coming from the CEO's ears when my buddy dropped that news.
I now make 4 times as much as I did with that ISP.