'Hooligan
I just signed and returned the paperwork. As of November 16, I'll be an employee of Yahoo!.
This might seem like a bit of a surprise for those aware that I started at Squarespace just seven months ago. Unfortunately, six months into it, the requirements of employment changed and I was no longer able to stay on. Suffice it to say, I think the folks at Squarespace are fantastic and I believe they have a great product on their hands.
I took a couple weeks to take a break—something I really haven't done for quite some time. It's an odd feeling to wake up and not have anything to work on. But it was a break that I sorely needed.
One can only go so long without getting paid so I put the word out to some friends that I was on the hunt for a long-term, full-time gig that still allowed me to work from home. It was very refreshing to see so many companies who seemed open to the possibility. With so many great opportunities, it ended up being difficult to decide which direction I should go in. In the end, I chose Yahoo!.
Why Yahoo?
There were a number of things that attracted me to the company. One of the was the opportunity to get to work on multiple platforms from the web, to mobile, to the desktop. Another was to have the opportunity to work with great people and friends who already work at Yahoo!. Finally, it was the opportunity to work on projects with a scale much larger than any project I've had the chance to work on before. I really look forward to the challenges and the opportunity to expand my skills in new areas.
The Industry
The one thing this process re-affirmed for me was that I love working in this industry and love how open the community is. As "hippie" as it sounds, everybody likes to share and there are plenty of people looking out for other people. A big thank you to those that helped me get connected with the right people.
This feeling was re-affirmed again when I was at Fronteers this week. I love conferences for the opportunity to share what I've been working on and to hear what everybody else has been doing. I got to meet lots of new friends and chat with old ones, too. It's an odd thing to fly halfway around the world and still be able to hang out with people you know.
I'm ending this post before I get too sappy and start singing kumbaya...
Conversation
Whoa, Jonathan--congratulations on the change! Hope the new job treats you well.
(Also, epic post title.)
Wow! Congrats, mate!
I'm sure you'll do great things there.
Best of luck.
Congratulations!
Yahoo is lucky to have you.
(oh, and here's a tissue ;)
Wow, nice going Snook. Are you going to be relocating to the west coast?
Best of luck!
What you describe sounds exactly like what I wish to experience and be able to do someday. But hey, there's some time left :)
Congratulations!
"long-term, full-time gig that still allowed me to work from home" - awesome. Congrats Jonathan. Major win for Yahoo!
Nice! Congratulations!
Are you working on the YUI team, or another?
Oh, I saw the url and I thought this was an article about the 960 gs framework... ;-)
Anyway, congratulations, and I hope I can meet you some day in one of those conferences
Congrats! I see this as more of a victory for Yahoo more so then you!
Looks like you forgot to mention a reason that may be not a major, but really exciting - to work for a worldwide and one of the most famous company. Congrats!
Congratulations man!
Congratulatons, Jonathan =) Are you joining the ranks of developers, or do you have a particular niche you'll be specializing in?
Congratulations! Can you say what you will be working on or is a secret? Anyhow best of luck with the new job!
Awesome news, Jon! Congrats :) Don't give them too hard a time about all the things they need to fix; if you play your cards right, you'll have enough work there to stay on for life ;)
Congrats dude, the fine yahoo folks have been putting great stuff out for a while. Looking forward to seeing your contributions.
Congrats friend, this is awesome news. Given this job is a higher scale than any you have had before, I look forward to hearing more about the problem solving at that level.
All I can say is wow! Looks like I'll have to start paying attention to Yahoo! again. All the best Mr. Snook.
Congrats, Snook!
Congrats!
Sounds like an amazing opportunity, you are going to be a valuable addition to their team.
~ Aaron I
Congratulations (again)!
Congratulations! I interned at Y!Blr this summer and I have only one comment -- I doubt there are places more fun to work at :D.
Congrats! That's exciting news! Best of luck!
Are you going to be moving for this job?
Congrats!!
i was gonna say "Yahoo!!!!"... but then decided that might be a bit too cliche ;)
Congratulations. Looking forward to seeing how you shape the place :)
Congratulations, sir! Best of luck.
Congratulations!
Congrats, my friend!
Congrats and welcome to Yahoo! :) Looking forward to seeing you around campus.
Congrats my friend! Happy to hear the good news. I toy with the idea of going corporate, then I talk myself out of it. I'll be watching you to see how it goes. ;)
Smart choice, for you and Yahoo! (man, adding that exclamation never gets old). I'm sure you'll do great things there.
Good for you, hippie.
Let me add my congratulations as well! I know Yahoo! has some kick ass folks, and I look forward to what you're going to bring to the table there as well. Enjoy!
This rocks! Saw your talk at Fronteers, which was really interesting. Yahoo! keeps getting the good peeps.
Yeah...wow...congrats to yahoo.
Congrats Jonathan. I've always like Yahoo! as a company even when most other people in the industry switched to other companies (like Google). Hopefully things have finally settled down in Sunnyvale.
Congratulations Jonathan and Congratulations to Yahoo too.
Radical, Snook'ms!
Congratulations!
Congrats! Which team are you going to be working with?
Congrats, that's some great news. And Yahoo is very lucky to get you. :)
Way to go! Have fun at the new gig.
Thanks everybody for the kind words. :)
@Kevin and Keith: I'll still be working from here in Ottawa with occasional trips being made to Sunnyvale, as needed.
@Ryan Brill, Stuart Thursby and Elliot Swan: Not joining YUI and won't be specializing in any one particular thing. I'll be working on a bunch of different apps starting with Messenger and Mail.
Oh, doh! Didn't read close enough to notice you will be working from home. But I hope you'll come by campus occasionally at least!
@David Calhoun: Yes, I'll no doubt be making my way around the campus at some point. :)
so, should i cancel my squarespace, then?
Congratulations! and Do Yahoo at Yahoo :) ...
Congratulation Jonathan - Yahoo is lucky to have you!
Congrats Jonathan, Yahoo! are lucky to have you. Can't wait to see what you'll be working on.
Wow, thats indeed great news, eh! (sorry, I couldn't resist). I really hope to see you around campus once in a while.
Congratulations. Let's pray that they will not be bought from Microsoft. That would be the end of all standards at Yahoo.
Good Luck!
Congrats Jon, Yahoo! are lucky to have you.
That's fantastic news, Jon. I kinda feel sorry for Squarespace, but as you say, their product is rock solid, so they should be fine. I look forward to hearing about all the wonderful things you'll be working on.
Give us a heads up when you visit the Sunnyvale campus, I'm sure we are a few who'd like to meet with you.
Welcome aboard Jonathan.
If you know anyone else who would be interesting in joining, I have an opening on my FE team here at Yahoo Santa Monica.
welcome to yahoo!
Jonathon in, Rasmus out.
We could start a rumour.
Interesting/awesome news, Jon. Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing some of your handi-work.
Looking forward to having you as a fellow Yahoo! Jon. As a fellow Canadian, I have to add that I'm a tad jealous you get to stay in the homeland. ;)
Congrats, and I'm glad they were able to pull it all together for ya.
What a nice choice and also a good news Jon. :) Congratulation!
Wow.. YAHOOooooooooooooooooo ITS YOU !! :D
All the very best to you saying Yahooooo !
Nice :-) I hope you find ways there to apply your talent and pick up on some new ones and grow!
Well done! You'll make a great addition to the Yahoo team!
Congrats, man. Sounds like it's gonna be a perfect fit for you.
your going to hate it. trust me.
Mazel tov! That's great news. Happy to hear you're happy and still get to stay where you love. Enjoy!
Amazing news! Congratulations!
You rule the school Jonathan. Now make sure to balance work with other things you love. I think you know what I'm sayin'.
Wow. You really are a talented guy. I'm a fan of yours and I really wish I could be as good and blessed as you someday. Congratulations and good luck.
Congratulations brotha! Sounds like you're really going to have an opportunity to work on some fun stuff.
Yeehaw!Yahoo!Welcome aboard! Anyone who comes highly recommended by Chris Heilmann must be twisted^H^H^H^H^H^H awesome!
Great stuff man. We've been so out of touch, but I'm glad to hear you are doing well. I think Yahoo is lucky to have you.
Great news. I am happy that you are excited about the new role. Best Wishes
Congrats on the new gig. Good luck and enjoy your time off.
Congrats Snook! Yahoo is very lucky to have you
Enjoy your first day at Yahoo! :)
Congrats! i like the way yahoo advances front end technologies and i think you'd fit right in there with those bright minded individuals! it's a great place to learn and perfect your front end skills!
Congrats Snook. I hope our paths cross again.