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My Time Working at Stripe

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Re: My Time Working at Stripe

#291

Post by Aeolun »

zeroonetwothree wrote: post #286
Aeolun wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While this is true, I find myself depressed by the idea of exchanging coding for herding everyone in the right direction. I’ve been trying to make that switch as it’s the only career prospect I have, but…

Many companies have parallel IC tracks. And even though higher level ICs do need to “herd” more you’re still doing a fair amount of technical work (maybe at least until director equivalent).

> maybe at least until director equivalent

Hence the issue xD I’m at the top of what my track offers, but it feels silly to stay in the same place for the next 30 years.

Re: My Time Working at Stripe

#292

Post by siliconc0w »

It makes sense to care about a 'startup' if it's like a few small teams, everyone knows each other, resources are still constrained, etc.

But when the company is public or on their series Z funding round and the once nimble startup has devolved into a big ball of bureaucracy- the psychologically healthier thing is to not care. Your project may be no-scoped by a higher up for no discernable reason. Your trash manager was probably imported from a similarly bureaucratically burdened company and will import and impose their bullshit. You don't have any real agency or identity to this company which will treat you as an interchangeable resource. Sure, try to be useful where you can but seek validation and meaning outside of work. I generally recommend a side project you have agency in that can maybe one day replace your primary employment.

Re: My Time Working at Stripe

#293

Post by BonoboIO »

Brian_K_White wrote: post #269
nunez wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Put yourself in their shoes. They idolized a company that is known for top-shelf engineering talent and, more importantly, brutally hard interviews...and they just got an opportunity to interview with them. You have no idea what the interviewee will "no hire" them over, so you assume they want perfection because obviously. You're deathly afraid of making any mistakes because not getting the job you've been dreaming a…

I cannot understand how anyone gets past 5 years old while still being this fragile as to think any of this you just said. Everyone has some of these feelings but it's just a feeling like 10% of your mind not 100%. WTF idolizes a company? That is just wrong. Who raised someone to let them even think like that?

Everyone is searching for validation and often times we seek it on the outside and often in the wrong place.

Companies don’t care about you, they care about the work you do … and if you don’t bring less to the table … surprise. But everyone has to learn it the hard way, some earlier than others.

Re: My Time Working at Stripe

#294

Post by kelnos »

schmichael wrote: post #268
mndgs wrote: post #118

Sorry for a probably unpopular opinion here, and let me generalize a bit: Gen Z all the way... (Saying this makes me feel a bit old, I guess I'm certainly am than the author). On a serious note, in my book there are hints of perfectionism right from the start of the story (fonts dimming, wait 30 sec to join the meeting..). And too much fragility in personal attidudes. S/he is probably a relatively young idealistic pe…

The author appears to be solidly millenial from their resume. As an Elder Millennial myself I hope HN and our industry is free of ageism against young and old. Comments like yours don’t help.

I wouldn't call that ageism; attitudes change over time, and people early in their career haven't yet learned "how the game is played" so to speak. They will have some emotional attitudes about work that don't always align with reality, which in some cases can be harmful for their mental health and career progression.

This is just a consequence of being inexperienced, and in this case it correlates closely with age.

I do agree that bucketing people by "generation" isn't helpful. Just saying "it seems like this person is early in their career" is sufficient, and is the actual relevant bit.

Re: My Time Working at Stripe

#295

Post by Aeolun »

stitched2gethr wrote: post #171
Aeolun wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course not. They got 4 years of fantastic work out of the guy before he burned out. That serves them just fine. The only requirement is that you have no morals.

I don't see it that way. He wanted to work there. They paid him for his time and from his account all of the passion was his own. I'm not speaking against those who just want to do what's required, but is it really wrong to hire someone who is passionate about the work?

Sorta, yeah. Working for a largeish enterprise I actively select against too much passion. Those people will come in, go WTF constantly for about half a year, spend another half year doing less and less, before eventually leaving for greener pastures.

I mean, I get them, as I went through the same thing.

Re: My Time Working at Stripe

#296

Post by watwut »

dymk wrote: post #187
captnObvious wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounded like an optional request not a command. I’ve managed and I’ve been managed and the relationship ships I’ve built along the way are deep enough to have conversations like these. We’re doing life with this people it’s not a dystopian novel about capitalism. If you have a genuine person as your boss moments like these help form friendships, and don’t feel like a dark Dilbert comic. Friendships increase team c…

A manager asking you to do something is never “just” an optional request

I said no to things and world did not ended. You absolutely can say no. If you can't, you need to change the team or job.

Re: My Time Working at Stripe

#297

Post by Aeolun »

varispeed wrote: post #254
Aeolun wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, brilliant ideas can still be fun to work on. Who cares if you don’t get appropriately rewarded for saving the company $50k/month, it was time well spent. As opposed to working on that pointless crud thing your boss likes.

> Who cares if you don’t get appropriately rewarded for saving the company $50k/month, it was time well spent. If you are that great, it is much better to contribute to Open Source projects than to someone's already fat pockets.

I’m not sure how you see that happening unless your company allows it?

Re: My Time Working at Stripe

#298

Post by watwut »

Tainnor wrote: post #155
dzikimarian wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Now let's switch to close family setting. It would be OK to discuss drug addiction with your parents. It would not be OK to discuss steamy night with your wife with them. It's almost like adult people can understand environment and make conscious decisions what is acceptable and what is 10% they can bend the rules if they want to switch the mood a little. Honestly it's hilarious how supposedly emotionally mature peop…

> Almost like adult people can understand environment and make conscious decisions what is acceptable [...] Apparently not because in TFA, the author shared personal facts about their divorce and other people shared even "deeper" things they'd "never heard in a work setting". Quote: "it was awkward". These aren't things that belong in a workplace context (sure, if you're going out for drinks after work maybe you can…

To be fair, I did seen people discuss divorce, health and even alcoholism in workplace.

Re: My Time Working at Stripe

#299

Post by tbrownaw »

whstl wrote: post #170
Tainnor wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree and this wasn't the only red flag in the post for me. The reverence for a company that does, in the end, "just" process payments or the part about "a billionaire liked my project"... I feel like there's something rather unhealthy about that kind of mindset. All the best to the author of the post, hopefully they can find more meaningful work.

> The reverence for a company that does, in the end, "just" process payments It is funny how the more unimportant the company is, the more this kind of reverence is expected. For me there was a stark contrast between two jobs I had: Consultancy where I worked on software for local government that millions literally depend on? Keep your work-life 100% separate. Marketing startup that spammed Google with crazy amounts…

At least with those specific examples, it could just as easily be startups being inexperienced and more susceptible to silly fads.

Re: My Time Working at Stripe

#300

Post by teaearlgraycold »

zeroonetwothree wrote: post #280
olivermuty wrote: post #9

What you are experiencing is the symptom of working in a large company where no matter how well you perform, you can not significantly move the needle yourself. Coupled with the fact that, as you yourself pointed out, there is a literal endless amount of work to do, forever. This is also due to the nature of the company being so big. All companies always has work to do, and no one is ever «done», but in a giga-enterp…

I work at a much larger company than Stripe and I’ve definitely “moved the needle” myself. It’s all about finding high leverage projects to work on.

There are absolutely a lucky few at even the biggest mega-corps that are seeing their work make huge impacts. But most people won't find those projects or there won't be space in them.
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