3 ms·

Why exactly /do/ deadlines matter? My experience has shown that with white collar work things are a lot more flexible than in school, sure there are "deadlines"

by yesco 5y ago

Why exactly /do/ deadlines matter? My experience has shown that with white collar work things are a lot more flexible than in school, sure there are "deadlines" but in almost all cases they are negotiated in advanced and lateness is accepted with, often weak, justification. The only thing college is more accepting of is tardiness but even with that you can get a lot of leeway depending on what company you are working for. This is of course is a bit different for retail or blue collar work. It's kind of ironic that as you get payed more, the more you can get a way with.

MattGaiser 5y ago
Indeed. Deadlines only mattered in my life when in university and before. I can't say that I have had to deal with a genuine deadline in nearly three years now. My first exposure to this was during my first serious internship. On my first day, I was in a meeting of a dozen large banks and everyone was supposed to have completed a task so that we could move on. My bank had not completed the task, so I was expecting a lecture from the others in the group. Maybe two companies had done it. The rest were split between halfway done and "oh, that was for today?" In my life as a dev, work that runs over just gets shipped in the next sprint. That feature you have needs a tad more work? Move it from sprint 7 to 8.
refurb 5y ago
That hasn’t been my experience with white collar work. Yes, something don’t have to be done now but you’re not the only person working on them, so when you’re late, someone else is too, and so on. Something can be delayed with prior notice, but that’s a lesson in and of itself.
kaetemi 5y ago
Only real deadlines so far were for getting demos ready for trade shows. Everything else has been wildly flexible. At least we get to take the time to deliver quality. :)

3 ms·

Why exactly /do/ deadlines matter? My experience has shown that with white collar work things are a lot more flexible than in school, sure there are "deadlines"

by yesco 5y ago

MattGaiser 5y ago
Indeed. Deadlines only mattered in my life when in university and before. I can't say that I have had to deal with a genuine deadline in nearly three years now. My first exposure to this was during my first serious internship. On my first day, I was in a meeting of a dozen large banks and everyone was supposed to have completed a task so that we could move on. My bank had not completed the task, so I was expecting a lecture from the others in the group. Maybe two companies had done it. The rest were split between halfway done and "oh, that was for today?" In my life as a dev, work that runs over just gets shipped in the next sprint. That feature you have needs a tad more work? Move it from sprint 7 to 8.
refurb 5y ago
That hasn’t been my experience with white collar work. Yes, something don’t have to be done now but you’re not the only person working on them, so when you’re late, someone else is too, and so on. Something can be delayed with prior notice, but that’s a lesson in and of itself.
kaetemi 5y ago
Only real deadlines so far were for getting demos ready for trade shows. Everything else has been wildly flexible. At least we get to take the time to deliver quality. :)