Techie quits high-paying 'boring' Meta job to sell noodles for a living. He has a message for everyone: 'If this does not work out...'

For many professionals, landing a job at Meta represents the peak of a successful career. The company is known for its prestige, high salaries, and global influence in technology. But for one former software engineer, achieving that dream only led to a surprising realisation. Instead of climbing further up the corporate ladder, he chose to walk away and pursue something entirely different: cooking Hokkien Mee, a beloved noodle dish popular across Singapore and Southeast Asia. His story is now sparking conversations online about passion, purpose, and career choices.

The story emerged through a video shared by content creator Tay. The clip opens with a text overlay that reads, "Meta software engineer to Hokkien Mee hawker," immediately setting the stage for an unconventional career journey. During the conversation, Tay asked former Meta engineer Alvin Tan why he decided to leave a job that many people spend years trying to secure.

His answer was remarkably straightforward. "Because software engineering is boring," Tan said. Tay pointed out that countless people dream of joining Meta, yet he chose to leave after making it there. Responding to that observation, Tan explained that experiences can change once someone reaches a goal they have been pursuing.



According to him, large companies frequently go through restructuring, and his own team experienced several rounds of changes. While getting into Meta may be a dream for many, he said that once inside, people often begin wondering what else they might want to do with their lives. The conversation then turned to compensation. When Tay asked how his earnings from the noodle business compared with his Meta salary, Tan admitted there was no real comparison. With a smile, he said his income at Meta was "easily 2-3X more."

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Despite the financial trade-off, Tan appears committed to his new path. The video shows him preparing Hokkien Mee, a dish he described as both highly technical and deeply fascinating. Tan explained that it is the culinary craft he feels most passionate about. He also noted that Hokkien Mee is among the hardest dishes to scale commercially, making it a particularly challenging business.

Building that business has not been easy. Tan revealed that he currently works alongside his girlfriend because hiring additional staff is difficult within his budget. He also took a moment to acknowledge and thank her for the support she has provided throughout the journey. Toward the end of the interview, Tay asked what advice he would offer to people considering a similar leap toward their passions.

Tan encouraged others not to quit at the first sign of difficulty. He said there will always be opportunities and new doors to explore. Even if his current venture does not succeed, he remains confident that he can find "some other things to do."

He also emphasised the importance of maintaining perspective and protecting one's well-being. According to Tan, pursuing a passion should never come at the cost of health. If cooking were to make him frequently unwell, he said he would choose to prioritise his health over everything else.