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There's a key point missing from this article: who gets respect where. Companies like Google are run by engineers while companies like Goldman are run by busine

by rm999 12y ago

There's a key point missing from this article: who gets respect where. Companies like Google are run by engineers while companies like Goldman are run by business people. This sounds obvious, but it has deep implications for how you are treated, how much potential you have to develop your career, etc. The best way to have a great career is to be close to the core of your employer, i.e. where the money comes from. If you aren't, you'll be a necessary evil who can be mistreated without much risk to the company (there are of course exceptions, like product managers at tech companies and quants at finance companies). I think tech is a great place to be right now for anyone who can get a job in it. But my advice to new graduates is to be strategic in your career, i.e. look ahead 10+ years when you'll be more senior. Go in a direction where you'll be valued.

johnward 12y ago
This is a big factor. The only place in my hometown that hires for IT related jobs is an international law firm. In that case the lawyers are top dog and you are just some lowly engineer. Where as at large tech companies you are the company's bread and butter and you usually get treated like it. Like you said in most businesses IT/development staff is just an overhead costs.
mrbird 12y ago
I'd say the best way to have a great career is to choose a job where you get to be with other people you really like, respect, and can learn from. This network is how you'll find the best new opportunities in the future, and where you'll be able to recruit people into whatever you're working on. Optimize for having the best coworkers (and manager) you can find. You can never start too soon.
johan_larson 12y ago
One might think that the financial companies' reliance on their IT infrastructure would translate into some real influence and authority for IT staff. But it doesn't. At Morgan Stanley, for example, no one on the operating committee is focused on technology. I would have expected at least a CTO, but no, nothing. http://www.morganstanley.com/about/company/governance/operating_committee.html http://www.morganstanley.com/about/company/governance/operat...

by rm999 12y ago

johnward 12y ago

This is a big factor. The only place in my hometown that hires for IT related jobs is an international law firm. In that case the lawyers are top dog and you are just some lowly engineer. Where as at large tech companies you are the company's bread and butter and you usually get treated like it. Like you said in most businesses IT/development staff is just an overhead costs.

mrbird 12y ago

I'd say the best way to have a great career is to choose a job where you get to be with other people you really like, respect, and can learn from. This network is how you'll find the best new opportunities in the future, and where you'll be able to recruit people into whatever you're working on. Optimize for having the best coworkers (and manager) you can find. You can never start too soon.

johan_larson 12y ago

One might think that the financial companies' reliance on their IT infrastructure would translate into some real influence and authority for IT staff. But it doesn't. At Morgan Stanley, for example, no one on the operating committee is focused on technology. I would have expected at least a CTO, but no, nothing. http://www.morganstanley.com/about/company/governance/operating_committee.html http://www.morganstanley.com/about/company/governance/operat...