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>I have a strong belief that technical skills aren't as important as the ability to be a suck-up in most mega-corps. Hasn't it always been this way at organiza

>I have a strong belief that technical skills aren't as important as the ability to be a suck-up in most mega-corps. Hasn't it always been this way at organizations, tech or not? Not even suck ups but people that don't cause a stir, keep their heads down, yes men to whatever the manager asks, etc. Personally, I've seen it in action in a workplace where everyone "loves" so and so. That person would put on a good face and tell them how "amazing" everything was in every interaction. Behind their backs, that definitely wouldn't be the dialogue. >You can easily buy a suck-up offering graduates a six-figure salary. Or less. A name brand, prestige title, or industry. When I worked in visual effects, it's enough to get your name at the end of a movie to justify working 80-90 hour weeks. Video game peeps had it worse and you don't even see their names on a big screen. >It's like VPs are building their own personal armies not to get ousted by the other feudal lords. This is pretty visible in transitions right? New manager comes in, people loyal to old ones start melting away to different groups or leave to either join old manager or go somewhere else. The new manager brings in people they know and trust. It's how we all benefit from weak ties.

bottlepalm 4y ago
Sucking up to some degree is team work. You need to know how to work with people to get what you need and move the company forward. Each person is different and part of working at a large company is learning how to interact with a multitude of personalities, many that you would not get along with outside of work. It is like high school, it is like politics, it is like any group of humans interacting. You skills are part of the equation, but your people skills are as well. It's the people who can go with the flow that stick around long term and actually have a meaningful impact on the success of the company. It's very easy to get caught up and think everyone is against you and burn out.
- bumby 4y ago
  I think the distinction is it’s a very different to schmooze as a way of getting things done in service of a larger mission vs sucking up in a non-productive way of meeting purely selfish ends.

bottlepalm 4y ago

Sucking up to some degree is team work. You need to know how to work with people to get what you need and move the company forward. Each person is different and part of working at a large company is learning how to interact with a multitude of personalities, many that you would not get along with outside of work. It is like high school, it is like politics, it is like any group of humans interacting. You skills are part of the equation, but your people skills are as well. It's the people who can go with the flow that stick around long term and actually have a meaningful impact on the success of the company. It's very easy to get caught up and think everyone is against you and burn out.

bumby 4y ago
I think the distinction is it’s a very different to schmooze as a way of getting things done in service of a larger mission vs sucking up in a non-productive way of meeting purely selfish ends.