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What’s good career advice you wouldn’t want to have your name on?

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Re: What’s good career advice you wouldn’t want to have your name on?

#201

Post by strictnein »

Trying to answer the question as written:

1. When people discuss politics at work, it is far, far better to say nothing than to say anything that goes against the prevailing politics of your company.

2. There is never a circumstance where you should question any program designed to help groups that your company has deemed are underrepresented, no matter how unfair you feel it is that those same opportunities aren't available more broadly. Not only are these efforts frequently highlighted publicly, they are often lead by VPs with buy-in all the way up the executive chain. There is zero upside here.

The correct approach is to talk to your leader about how you could incorporate similar training/learning into your career plan.

Re: What’s good career advice you wouldn’t want to have your name on?

#202

Post by debatem1 »

krageon wrote: post #175
debatem1 wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Basically I'm not willing to go to this level of drama unless the consequences of going the other way are really, really obvious. That means things like illegality, safety of life issues, ethical breaches, total project failure, etc. If you just think they're wrong and don't want to deal with their wrongness anymore, tell them so in your resignation letter. Hell, maybe by the time you have an offer in hand they're ha…

If ethical breaches cause you to escalate to this level of drama, may I ask in what sector you are employed? In my own industry I see breaches like this as a matter of habit and I can't even imagine being generally employed in IT if this bothers you. Unless of course you have really lax ethical standards compared to mine. That's also an option.

I work in security.

If you're in an environment where serious ethical failure happens on the regular I would encourage you to get out. There are plenty of jobs, including in IT, where the worst you'll see is self-serving lies and corporate doublespeak.

As for my standards being laxer than yours, well, I don't know you.

Re: What’s good career advice you wouldn’t want to have your name on?

#204

Post by non-entity »

breakerbox wrote: post #105

Not controversial IMO, but useful. Most companies are stuck in the dark ages, despite what you think after browsing HN. A lot of money to be made in consulting if you can market yourself well.

But aren't they stuck in the dark ages because they don't want to pay to get out of it (seeming as tech is just a cost center)?

Re: What’s good career advice you wouldn’t want to have your name on?

#206

Post by blaser-waffle »

Balgair wrote: post #111
mdorazio wrote: post #71

Article comments and comments in this thread seem to miss the point of the title entirely. Here's some actual advice I don't want my name on, but seems pretty effective based on working at a lot of different Big Cos: - Always go for prestige over purpose. Have a choice between a shiny project with very little actual impact to the company and a behind the scenes project that will actually make lives better for employe…

> Especially throwing other people under the bus. Hard disagree with this one. I've seen better success with 'compliment everyone behind their backs, giving a good reason'. Throwing everyone under the bus can be very very effective, but it's got to be for a very short run at the goal, typically. If you end up working with those people again, you're cooked. I'd say, if you don't see yourself working with that person e…

>> Especially throwing other people under the bus. > Hard disagree with this one.

Sometimes you gotta burn bridges. The IT/tech world is surprisingly small, and it's possible you'll see these people again, but the trade-offs can sometimes be worth it.

Guys like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates have reputations of acting like A-holes. You're going to have to step on someone's toes to make it to the top.

Re: What’s good career advice you wouldn’t want to have your name on?

#207

Post by blaser-waffle »

PaulOlteanu wrote: post #90
dev_dull wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mobility but no means, versus means but no mobility. Most people find later in life that they actually had more means then they realized.

So what things should someone in university atm look to do to ensure they're maximizing their means

* Try new things, join groups, stick your neck out. Don't find out you really prefer [X] or [Y] when you're 40, figure it out when you're 19. College fencing, for example, opened a whole world for me, like SCA, blacksmithing, etc. It's always going to be awkward joining/hanging out w/ a new group, just be patient and keep going.

* Spend as little time in your dorm as possible. Be out with people, read a book in the library or student union, join an intermural team, go to a party, whatever. Don't fall into the Weed-And-Vidya-Game pattern that college types tend to have. I suspect one of the reasons many dorms make students share a room is to force this.

* Be willing to say no to a course of study, or even to college. It's not for everyone, and I hate that we force people into it even if they don't have the money/interest/aptitude for it. The best-off people I know are CS grads, but several grads are not making great cash. Meanwhile I know (hired) electricians making north of six-figures, and I know a couple plumbers who are doing quite well.

* Most of the couples who got married after college are now divorced; most of the couples I knew in college split before graduation. Some are still a thing and happy, but the takeaway is don't limit yourself because of relationships. Date around if you can.

Re: What’s good career advice you wouldn’t want to have your name on?

#208

Post by blaser-waffle »

reaperducer wrote: post #35

Make friends with people who have keys. Janitors, secretaries, maintenance guys. Win the trust of people who are trusted with the keys to the company. You never know when you might need a favor.

My grandfather said something to the effect of: "the 'real' work happens on the golf course and in the secretary pool".

Re: What’s good career advice you wouldn’t want to have your name on?

#210

Post by acheron »

blaser-waffle wrote: post #207
PaulOlteanu wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So what things should someone in university atm look to do to ensure they're maximizing their means

* Try new things, join groups, stick your neck out. Don't find out you really prefer [X] or [Y] when you're 40, figure it out when you're 19. College fencing, for example, opened a whole world for me, like SCA, blacksmithing, etc. It's always going to be awkward joining/hanging out w/ a new group, just be patient and keep going. * Spend as little time in your dorm as possible. Be out with people, read a book in the l…

I got married to a woman I met in college, we're still married ~20 years later, and given what I hear about how terrible dating is now I'm fairly convinced it was the best decision I ever made. I made a lot of bad decisions in college, but that wasn't one of them.
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