3 ms·
Arrogance doesn't make you a bad programmer. It, in general, makes you a person that others don't like to be around. And if you want to get hired by a large com
by groby_b 14y ago
Arrogance doesn't make you a bad programmer. It, in general, makes you a person that others don't like to be around. And if you want to get hired by a large company, likability is part of the package. Not because it's a popularity contest, but because those other people there will need to spend 8 hours every week day with you.
I know your story - I've not been exactly popular in HS either. I did not excel at quite a few thing. Like you, for a while I thought I could gain more confidence by loudly proclaiming my superiority when I actually was better at things than my peers.
All that creates is resentment. The best piece of advice I ever got - and it might well be meaningless to you, but let me share anyways - was that "Actions speak louder than words".
Go forth, do great stuff. Help other people achieve greatness. Be judicious when you do and don't mention your achievements. (I'm not saying to never toot your horn, but do it by choice, to make a salient point). And never, ever, call yourself "great". There are few truly greats in any profession. Aspire to be one. You'll know you're there once others refer to you by that label.
- j_baker 14y agoI personally say that if someone wants to refer to themselves as a great programmer, and they have at least some reason to believe that, they should find people to work with who are willing to put up with their arrogance. Everyone has a vice. Is a bit of arrogance really that big a deal?
- groby_b 14y agoYes. Because soliciting constructive criticism is a rather important part of being a good engineer, and arrogance will get in the way of that. And of course, working with somebody who rejects constructive criticism but loves doling it out (a characteristic quite commonly associated with arrogance) is plain annoying. So nobody wants to.