Sounds like you don't have a good manager, if this wasn't being communicated to you and she had her boss deliver this feedback to you alone. You should talk with your manager about it and if you don't feel the relationship improves soon, my advice is to switch teams (at the same company) or companies entirely. If you have a bad relationship with your manager, it's going to be unfun to work there, and life's too short.
Ask HN: My boss doesn't think I'm doing good work, how to proceed?
341–350 of 506 posts
Re: Ask HN: My boss doesn't think I'm doing good work, how to proceed?
#342It sounds like your manager had particular expectations and failed to communicate those to you. I think you've done well to recognise that you felt like you were treated unfairly, but also to recognise valid feedback and things you could improve upon.
I think it's a good idea to make it clear that you simply didn't know about those particular requirements, and that you would benefit from clear communication. I doubt that they're unhappy that they've hired you - you've done good work, and they can only expect so much from a junior. I'd keep at it - there's a good chance these are just some minor issues that will be ironed out as you continue to work together.
Re: Ask HN: My boss doesn't think I'm doing good work, how to proceed?
#343A few takeaways from an old-timer here: > First, he basically tells me this project should have been finished a long time ago and he can't believe it's taken this long etc. I had no idea that he felt this way before the meeting - I've mostly just been working to get it done before the revised deadline my manager gave me. You need to communicate, build relationships, and get feedback from many people in the organizati…
As another old-timer, I honestly think this is not very good advice.
I mean "communicate" is always good advice, but reading between the lines, the situation as described is a setup for failure. I doubt it's intentional, but no one there knows how to develop software, apparently, other than to blame the junior for a timeline slip. There's only so much "managing upward" this kid can do.
My practical advice is:
Do tell the immediate boss what was said in the meeting.
Keep a good, positive, helpful attitude.
Understand there is no future for you at this place, because it is poorly managed. This is a place that will blame a junior for a timeline slip.
Do not blame yourself for the failures of the people whose job it is to support you. They are asleep at the wheel. This will be hard, because at this stage you don't even know in what way they are failing you, and likely will never learn that while there.
Do your best, anyway. But don't kill yourself over this.
Re: Ask HN: My boss doesn't think I'm doing good work, how to proceed?
#344Earlier quoted context omitted.
> You called in sick yesterday and went to the beach with your buddies? I'm glad you did! We all need a mental health day once in a while. Being happy actually makes you more productive in the long term. Not quite. It's great when employees take care of themselves and make a point to enjoy their time outside of the office. However, it's not really cool if you commit to be somewhere on a certain day, no-show, and then…
Cross-cultural programmer here, and I can help. In Europe, calling in sick when you're not actually, recognizably ill is a pretty serious breach of trust. No cutesy "mental health break" exceptions. That said, you likely have at least 20 days of paid vacation, plus holidays. In the US, where 10 days paid vacation is the norm and you're often punished in some way for actually taking it, the occasional "mental health b…
So far the companies I've worked at don't have "vacation" or "sick" days, they have "paid time off" (which is really great if you're healthy and really shitty if you're not).
Re: Ask HN: My boss doesn't think I'm doing good work, how to proceed?
#345Mistakes are for learning. Admitting mistakes is the first step to solving. Your boss's style may be bad, but you can be sure that you cannot change his bad style.
Re: Ask HN: My boss doesn't think I'm doing good work, how to proceed?
#346> How should I proceed?
My suggestion is that you didn't know what you didn't know. Your Boss's boss should not have ambushed you like that either. Consider talking with your boss to have them expressly describe what their expectations are and how they are measuring them. Then, using the same way they are measuring, measure yourself and check with your boss to see if it matches up. It will help you understand what is expected and it will help them see how you hear what they are asking.
Also, have your boss put their expectations and their measurement criteria in an email to you, also email them with what you think the measurement should be and get them to confirm, in email that you are correct. With that information in hand, you cannot be ambushed like you were because you have "the receipts" as they say. What's more, if they fire your boss, and the next boss doesn't know what to put in your review, go over your email with them and that will set them straight.
Re: Ask HN: My boss doesn't think I'm doing good work, how to proceed?
#347A few takeaways from an old-timer here: > First, he basically tells me this project should have been finished a long time ago and he can't believe it's taken this long etc. I had no idea that he felt this way before the meeting - I've mostly just been working to get it done before the revised deadline my manager gave me. You need to communicate, build relationships, and get feedback from many people in the organizati…
I think this advice is out of touch. It’s been written without considering the person the advice is for. There is a time and place for these points and a junior developer in a new job is not one of them. OP listen to others, not this one.
Re: Ask HN: My boss doesn't think I'm doing good work, how to proceed?
#348Former individual contributor, former middle-manager and former "VP-level boss" here. I've seen all this before, several times over. Know that this will recur throughout your career, most likely. Your boss is disconnected from the project and the manager, and the boss has no idea what's happening at the individual contributor level. It's always "you shoulda done this, you shoulda done that" It's always in retrospect…
>Also, know that you don't owe your company jack shit. They are not, and will not be loyal to you, ever. Ever. They will cut you at first necessity. Be prepared to do the same at any time. Boss will blame manager, manager will blame you, people will get fired, unjustly or not. Probably unjustly. Bosses never fire themselves, ever. They will always place blame down the line. Always. Bank on it.
This is true. Learn it now. It took me far too long in my career because I bought into the work hard and you will be noticed for far too long.
Another hard learned lesson: HR is NOT your friend. If you believe their training you may think 'I have a problem at work, let me get HR to help' WRONG what you will have is TWO problems and an annoyed string of management.
Re: Ask HN: My boss doesn't think I'm doing good work, how to proceed?
#349Earlier quoted context omitted.
> You called in sick yesterday and went to the beach with your buddies? I'm glad you did! We all need a mental health day once in a while. Being happy actually makes you more productive in the long term. Not quite. It's great when employees take care of themselves and make a point to enjoy their time outside of the office. However, it's not really cool if you commit to be somewhere on a certain day, no-show, and then…
Cross-cultural programmer here, and I can help. In Europe, calling in sick when you're not actually, recognizably ill is a pretty serious breach of trust. No cutesy "mental health break" exceptions. That said, you likely have at least 20 days of paid vacation, plus holidays. In the US, where 10 days paid vacation is the norm and you're often punished in some way for actually taking it, the occasional "mental health b…
Uh, or you have allotted hours that you can use and will use? My boss isn’t my mother, they don’t need to know the “real” reason why I’m calling in sick.
Re: Ask HN: My boss doesn't think I'm doing good work, how to proceed?
#350Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have this junior engineer DM'ing me right now and I've been ignoring it because I don't want to deal with him and I have my own work to do. I'm reading through your comment here thinking "hey, I'm pretty good at walking that line, bothering the professor when appropriate, not waiting too long and not asking him for help too soon"... and then it occurred to me this guy is probably bothering the professor where I'm t…
I have a theory about why it is so difficult for great IC's to make the jump to being a great manager. As an individual contributor, you need two things most of all: 1. quiet uninterrupted time to focus your mind and get into flow, and 2. quick responses to any blockers or questions that you have so that you can get back into the work. As a manager, a key part of your job now requires you to be infinitely interruptab…
> I have a theory about why it is so difficult for great IC's to make the jump to being a great manager
I find it very odd that most ICs take the path of management. This seems like an unnatural transition, like going from being a minister to playing in a death metal band.