For Jim Tang, working at Google was a pathway to early retirement, because of his excessive wage.
However disillusionment started to creep in; he realized company life wasn’t for him.
Tang give up Google in Might and traveled to Japan for a style of the digital nomad life-style.
This as-told-to essay relies on a transcribed dialog with Jim Tang, 27, about quitting his software program engineering job at Google. The next has been edited for size and readability.
I all the time wished to be son. I assumed getting right into a Huge Tech firm would make my dad and mom proud and supply a excessive wage.
I began working at Google in December 2021 as a software program engineer, primarily based in New York. I spent 3 ½ years there and earned as much as $326,000 in complete compensation earlier than taxes, however I turned disillusioned with company life and, at age 27, I give up and have become a creator and entrepreneur, touring as a digital nomad. It is made me really feel extra fulfilled.
At first, I assumed I would keep at Google for all times
After working for American Specific for a yr, I assumed becoming a member of Google would make my dad and mom proud and do good issues for my profession, due to its model identify.
I labored on the entrance finish of merchandise inside Google’s adverts org. The job was fairly laid-back. On a typical day, I would badge in round 10 a.m. Typically, there was a gathering or two a day, however I used to be normally working autonomously on tasks. At occasions once I was grinding for a promotion, I would badge out at 7 p.m., however some days, I would go away early at 4 p.m.
Google had nice perks, similar to free meals from workplace cafés and free snacks from micro-kitchens.
The primary few months have been a complete honeymoon section. I assumed I would keep for all times.
I bear in mind bringing my dad and mom to the workplace and feeling like we would achieved the American dream.
I began to develop disillusioned
Although there have been numerous perks and I used to be working with good folks, I used to be by no means a giant fan of company work. I discovered it arduous to be genuine in these environments. Whereas engaged on B2B merchandise in adverts for Google, I used to be in all probability serving to them make a boatload of cash, however it did not really feel notably significant.
One of many causes I stayed so lengthy is as a result of I used to be chasing FIRE — monetary independence, retire early. I hoped that by saving and investing aggressively with my excessive wage, I might retire early and have the liberty I desired. I felt it might be insane to offer the job up.
Tang thought his Google wage might assist him obtain early retirement.Courtesy of Jim Tang
I even pushed myself to get a promotion, which I obtained roughly two years into my time there, to pursue this path. I wished to have the ability to retire with $5 million saved by 40.
I resigned from Google after I turned increasingly depressed
In Might 2024, I broke up with my girlfriend of a yr and a half. It introduced numerous issues to the floor about my life. I noticed I would been doing what I felt I used to be alleged to do to make my dad and mom comfortable and win in society, however I felt faux.
I saved feeling increasingly depressed, and someday, I made a decision to take a go away of absence, which was accepted for 12 weeks and began in February 2025.
Though a small a part of me wished to hold onto the security web, I made a decision to decide to quitting after the go away ended. I handed in my resignation in Might.
Google wasn’t at fault for what occurred to me. I am not made for company, and whatever the firm I used to be at, this was going to occur.
In Might 2025, I traveled to Tokyo. I would visited Japan earlier than and loved it, and I wished to expertise the digital nomad life-style. I’ve spent the previous few months bouncing round completely different nations in Asia.
Tang traveled to Japan in Might 2025.Courtesy of Jim Tang
I have been investing my time in constructing an viewers on social media. I have been documenting my journey out of company and making an attempt to construct the beginnings of a enterprise behind it. I construct digital merchandise and have a training supply.
My earnings is variable, however due to my monetary cushion, I will not run out of cash anytime quickly.
I desire having a less-structured routine now that I am not on the clock. I put extra hours into work now than I did at Google, however I anticipated to must sacrifice a lot of time once I made this transition.
I am extra fulfilled now
Initially, after I instructed my dad and mom that I used to be leaving Google, they tried to persuade me to remain, however now, they are saying they assist me it doesn’t matter what. At one level, my dad instructed me he and my mother seen that my eyes had life in them once more.
Tang traveled to Tokyo in Might 2025.Courtesy of Jim Tang.
I used to see success as primarily based on externals and accolades. However now, I feel for those who really feel fulfilled in your each day life, that is success. I used to get up with no vitality and suppose I used to be a lazy individual, however now I’ve vitality within the mornings, and I need to work on issues.
I nonetheless need to earn a living, so I can care for household and mates and have a freer life-style, however I do not subscribe to FIRE anymore. At Google, I used to be sacrificing as we speak for a promise tomorrow or 10 years from now.
I did it to bail myself out of a life I did not get pleasure from. Now, I really feel extra fulfilled.
Do you might have a narrative to share about quitting a Huge Tech job? Contact this reporter at [email protected].
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