4 ms·

I enjoy a lot of the writing on Rachel’s site, but the bitterness is too much for me sometimes.

by beervirus 6y ago

HenryBemis 6y ago
I find this "bitterness" an eye-opener, especially when I see how true it is.
- justapassenger 6y ago
  When taken with a right skepticism, then yeah, it is. But especially junior folks should be careful taking stories like that at face value. Being senior engineer is about much, much, more than just technical chops. I've worked with many people like that - they were extremely good technically, but their attitude alienated them and made it harder (and over time - often impossible) for them to do their jobs. If you think that you need total immunity and authority by reporting to the CEO, then you most likely doesn't understand how your organization operates. Being able to navigate an org and get stuff done, like it or not, is critical skill to being a successful senior engineer at any bigger modern tech company.
  - cinquemb 6y ago
    > Being able to navigate an org > is critical skill to being a successful senior engineer at any bigger modern tech company. Yeah, this is why after almost half a decade of working remote, I refuse to entertain the song and dance for working for the giants. Plenty of other places pay enough, with less stress, less koolaid drinking and less rear orifice licking for those that prefer it.
    - justapassenger 6y ago
      Yeah working at smaller shops has an advantage of less overhead and you can focus more on the pure technical stuff. It can be very rewarding. But aligning and navigating how to work through the org doesn’t have to be rear licking (although, it often is). Any big org requires you to figure out how to navigate it, even if it’s meritocracy. Understanding what your business needs and figuring out right solutions for it, that are realistic and can be delivered, is a very valid engineering work.
mleonhard 6y ago
Is it bitterness or cynicism? Cynical people would call it realism. Anyway, it comes from experience. Less experienced folks can benefit a lot from reading it. Naiveté and idealism are fun until you get taken advantage of. The only way to avoid that is to develop a realistic/cynical view of organizations.

I enjoy a lot of the writing on Rachel’s site, but the bitterness is too much for me sometimes.

HenryBemis 6y ago

I find this "bitterness" an eye-opener, especially when I see how true it is.

justapassenger 6y ago
When taken with a right skepticism, then yeah, it is. But especially junior folks should be careful taking stories like that at face value. Being senior engineer is about much, much, more than just technical chops. I've worked with many people like that - they were extremely good technically, but their attitude alienated them and made it harder (and over time - often impossible) for them to do their jobs. If you think that you need total immunity and authority by reporting to the CEO, then you most likely doesn't understand how your organization operates. Being able to navigate an org and get stuff done, like it or not, is critical skill to being a successful senior engineer at any bigger modern tech company.
- cinquemb 6y ago
  > Being able to navigate an org > is critical skill to being a successful senior engineer at any bigger modern tech company. Yeah, this is why after almost half a decade of working remote, I refuse to entertain the song and dance for working for the giants. Plenty of other places pay enough, with less stress, less koolaid drinking and less rear orifice licking for those that prefer it.
  - justapassenger 6y ago
    Yeah working at smaller shops has an advantage of less overhead and you can focus more on the pure technical stuff. It can be very rewarding. But aligning and navigating how to work through the org doesn’t have to be rear licking (although, it often is). Any big org requires you to figure out how to navigate it, even if it’s meritocracy. Understanding what your business needs and figuring out right solutions for it, that are realistic and can be delivered, is a very valid engineering work.

mleonhard 6y ago

Is it bitterness or cynicism? Cynical people would call it realism. Anyway, it comes from experience. Less experienced folks can benefit a lot from reading it. Naiveté and idealism are fun until you get taken advantage of. The only way to avoid that is to develop a realistic/cynical view of organizations.