11 ms·

Here's what young talent wants, at least, this is what I want: - Give me a powerful enough computer that it provides me no hindrance, with a couple of decent s

Here's what young talent wants, at least, this is what I want: - Give me a powerful enough computer that it provides me no hindrance, with a couple of decent sized widescreen monitors so that I can see everything I'm working on at once. The more balls I need in the air at the same time, the more monitor space I need. - Allow me the latitude to pick my own tools without shoving your security policy down my throat every 10 minutes. - Give me room to speak my mind freely and consider my opinion with the kind of respect that's worthy of the paycheque you sign me every month. - Don't mire me down in meetings and process beyond what we need to effectively produce dependable results. - Provide some occasional time that we can gel as a team. - Show me where I can get food and tea for a reasonable price. Free tea and milk and a kettle that actually boils water if you really want to impress me. - Allow me the facility to work from home without complaint if needs dictate. - Trust me to do the job you pay me a small fortune to do. Treat me with the kind of trust you'd expect to be treated with if you were in my seat. - Judge me based on my results, don't micromanage me. You're not my Mother, I'm not an infant. You hired me because you believed I can do the job. I can. Get out of my way and let me. - Recognize everyone's contributions to the team. I don't need awards, but I do want the occasional "Hey, you really showed up for us this week, it was a critical week for our success and we couldn't have got through it without the contribution you made. You really made a difference and helped pull us through it. Thank you." Realistically, most of my list is about being provided with decent tools, treated with respect and being allowed to do my job without hindrance...and tea. I don't need gimmicks and bowling alleys, table tennis, sleep pods, etc. I'm happy when I feel like I'm providing a meaningful contribution. I've paid my dues many times over and I continue to pay them every day, but I'm not here to impress you or claw for recognition. I'm here because I can make a real difference. So let me. Edit: Although, if there were a free gym with decent equipment and showers onsite, I wouldn't knock that. Perhaps spend some of the money from all your other gimmicks to pay for a handful of personal trainers we don't have to pay for and allow us enough time during the day to work out - i.e. lunch break or whatever.

elliekelly 8y ago
All perfectly reasonable requests (except maybe the security policy one). If you ever move to the banking industry you can expect exactly none.
- balabaster 8y ago
  This is generally why I avoid working in the banking industry. I've been asked to attend a number of interviews in the banking industry which have all resulted in offers that I've turned down for this reason.
ravenstine 8y ago
It is pretty funny when you work for a company that pays you enough to put you in the top 10% of earners, yet still treats you the same as the boss you had working for McDonalds. All your points are basically counterpoints to a low trust environment. Such places usually aren't fixable, and anyone stuck in one should start looking for other opportunities ASAP, even if they've only had the job for less than a year.
- balabaster 8y ago
  This is so on point, I think every manager needs to read this sentence over and over and over again until they really understand how detrimental this one behaviour is to the wellbeing of their team. If you didn't trust me to do the job you hired me for, why am I here and why do you pay me so much? Why not hire an intern for almost nothing and micromanage them instead because you'd be in the same position and you could give yourself a nice fat bonus with the budget you're saving.

elliekelly 8y ago

All perfectly reasonable requests (except maybe the security policy one). If you ever move to the banking industry you can expect exactly none.

balabaster 8y ago
This is generally why I avoid working in the banking industry. I've been asked to attend a number of interviews in the banking industry which have all resulted in offers that I've turned down for this reason.

ravenstine 8y ago

It is pretty funny when you work for a company that pays you enough to put you in the top 10% of earners, yet still treats you the same as the boss you had working for McDonalds. All your points are basically counterpoints to a low trust environment. Such places usually aren't fixable, and anyone stuck in one should start looking for other opportunities ASAP, even if they've only had the job for less than a year.

balabaster 8y ago
This is so on point, I think every manager needs to read this sentence over and over and over again until they really understand how detrimental this one behaviour is to the wellbeing of their team. If you didn't trust me to do the job you hired me for, why am I here and why do you pay me so much? Why not hire an intern for almost nothing and micromanage them instead because you'd be in the same position and you could give yourself a nice fat bonus with the budget you're saving.