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Ask HN: What are some Bay Area startups that don't use an open office plan?

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Re: Ask HN: What are some Bay Area startups that don't use an open office plan?

#31

Post by thecolorblue »

deeviant wrote: post #27

I really feel that the open office environment really only makes sense for junior programmers. For them, it's great to have a pool of knowledge(experienced programmers) around all the time to push them along, bounce ideas off of, and in general, act as mentors. I think when you really start getting to the point where you know what needs to get done, and approximately the right way to go about it, open office loses it…

I would agree, but at least for me, there is always technology I am working with that I am not an expert. For example, I am kind of the javascript guy at work, so people come to me with js questions. When I have to make a change to something on the server, or even debug something on the server, I could save a lot of time asking someone else how the server works.

Re: Ask HN: What are some Bay Area startups that don't use an open office plan?

#32

Post by Spoom »

11001 wrote: post #2

A somewhat related question: I'm about to start a job at a company with "open office" structure, after having my own office for the last 4 years. Anything I should be prepared for? EDIT: Any headphones suggestions?

I recommend a good pair of in-ear monitors like the UE-900s[1] with some Comply Foam tips[2] for extra isolation.

1. http://www.ultimateears.com/en-us/900s

2. http://www.complyfoam.com/products/Tx-200/

Re: Ask HN: What are some Bay Area startups that don't use an open office plan?

#33

Post by Artemis2 »

driverdan wrote: post #26
11001 wrote: post #2

A somewhat related question: I'm about to start a job at a company with "open office" structure, after having my own office for the last 4 years. Anything I should be prepared for? EDIT: Any headphones suggestions?

For headphones check out http://www.head-fi.org/

/r/headphones [1] is very welcoming too.

[1]: http://www.reddit.com/r/headphones

Re: Ask HN: What are some Bay Area startups that don't use an open office plan?

#34

Post by rwallace »

11001 wrote: post #2

A somewhat related question: I'm about to start a job at a company with "open office" structure, after having my own office for the last 4 years. Anything I should be prepared for? EDIT: Any headphones suggestions?

Is it a case where you have to take the job because you need the money? If so, fair enough, but always remember 'have to take this job today' doesn't imply 'have to stay in it indefinitely'. Go ahead and start work in the open office, but in the meantime put out feelers, be quietly looking for a job that will give you a private office or let you work at home. The best situation in which to be looking for a job with your preferred conditions is one where you aren't desperate to find something quickly.

Re: Ask HN: What are some Bay Area startups that don't use an open office plan?

#35

Post by timcederman »

11001 wrote: post #2

A somewhat related question: I'm about to start a job at a company with "open office" structure, after having my own office for the last 4 years. Anything I should be prepared for? EDIT: Any headphones suggestions?

Bose QC-15. Pricey, but worth it.

Re: Ask HN: What are some Bay Area startups that don't use an open office plan?

#36

Post by jug6ernaut »

protonfish wrote: post #18
frankwiles wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Buy some really nice noise canceling headphones is definitely top of the preparation list. You'll be wearing them 80+% of your day.

I have found that whatever peace blocking noise gives you, it is more than offset by the paranoia of being watched or the terror of people sneaking up behind you.

I have had this happen to me a few times. Really into my work with my ear phones & music playing, can hear nothing besides my music. Turn to the side and my co-worker is there waiting on me to go over something. Scares the *$#$ at of me every time.

Re: Ask HN: What are some Bay Area startups that don't use an open office plan?

#37

Post by gravity13 »

parsnips wrote: post #30
deeviant wrote: post #27

I really feel that the open office environment really only makes sense for junior programmers. For them, it's great to have a pool of knowledge(experienced programmers) around all the time to push them along, bounce ideas off of, and in general, act as mentors. I think when you really start getting to the point where you know what needs to get done, and approximately the right way to go about it, open office loses it…

So where do these experienced programmers sit?

In red Victorian chairs with tall oversized backrests.

Re: Ask HN: What are some Bay Area startups that don't use an open office plan?

#38

Post by lfuller »

A bit off topic, but does anyone here prefer / not mind open office plans?

As someone who prefers open office plans to private offices / cubicles, I've always wondered if the large number of anti-open-plan articles are because that opinion is the majority, or because it is the loud minority.

Re: Ask HN: What are some Bay Area startups that don't use an open office plan?

#39

Post by gravity13 »

bunderbunder wrote: post #22
alimoeeny wrote: post #8

I think if you keep different "functions" (engineering, sales, ...) separate, then each can have their own open office without losing productivity. Don't you think so?

I worked at a company that did that. I think there might still have been a productivity loss. All the engineers and programmers got huge studio monitor headphones to shut out the sound of everyone else working. Because of that we all used instant messaging for most our communication even though we were sitting in the same room. We salvaged our productivity by essentially turning ourselves into telecommuters with a co…

I had a similar situation, but it made sense. Instant messaging grants the asynchronicity of emails without the overhead of long waits between replies.

When you want to talk to somebody without interrupting them, it's ideal. I might also suggest more 'got a sec?' type messages to get more of the swifter voice conversations.

That and sometimes we engineers prefer to build our sentences rather than blurt them.

Re: Ask HN: What are some Bay Area startups that don't use an open office plan?

#40

Post by georgemcbay »

getsat wrote: post #3
11001 wrote: post #2

A somewhat related question: I'm about to start a job at a company with "open office" structure, after having my own office for the last 4 years. Anything I should be prepared for? EDIT: Any headphones suggestions?

Your productivity to potentially go down a lot.

I wish I could upvote this 10 times.

I've worked in both environments and my productivity (not to mention my morale, overall happiness, etc, which are likely related) were much, much higher in a non-open seating environment. Even shared offices (2 people to an office) were far better -- still much easier to avoid distractions because you don't get cafeteria-style escalation of volumes from different conversations and people are far more likely to be sound-considerate in a 2 person setting (especially if both are developers... don't mix devs with sales).

It is virtually impossible for me to hit real states of "flow" in an open office. Unfortunately the industry has gone bonkers and it is really difficult to find developer jobs that aren't using open office layouts anymore. I'm at the point now though where the next time I am looking for a job I will assign a lot of value to any company that provides real offices or allows nearly full-time remote work.

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