tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post4930994454882002352..comments2023-11-30T11:57:43.224-08:00Comments on Niniane's Blog: Letters to a Young Engineer: How to Decide Where to WorkNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06731517033909059791noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-2074539728535068342014-08-19T21:08:29.851-07:002014-08-19T21:08:29.851-07:00Nice blog. Would love to read about your experien...Nice blog. Would love to read about your experiences at the different places you've worked at. You seem to have worked at google during their rapid growth years. Any growing pains and office politics which became frustrating for you as the company matured? Was working at a smaller startup world more enjoyable? Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-77256166440775211532012-10-29T07:58:36.417-07:002012-10-29T07:58:36.417-07:00Dear Niniane,
I am the CTO of a startup and recen...Dear Niniane,<br /><br />I am the CTO of a startup and recently stumbled upon your blog and I must say you have got really inspiring pieces here especially this<br /><br />"Letters to a Young Engineer: How to Decide Where to Work" which relates directly to my situation.<br />Being so young (25) and inexperienced with the role of CTO for a startup is a very challenging task and would really appreciate it if I could get any advice from you on how to go about it. <br />I am constantly faced with the insecurity of lack of work experience in the real business world which makes me feel like it could affect my competence to carry out the job description. <br />I would really appreciate your take on this as I feel that you understand the system more from your experience and how it works. <br />Again, many thanks and look forward to hearing from you.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05363466331221342561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-59796102732376712662012-05-07T03:17:30.431-07:002012-05-07T03:17:30.431-07:00Great post!
Who's the author of the book you...Great post! <br /><br />Who's the author of the book you mention (How To Decide)?Aweber9https://www.blogger.com/profile/04415709914862522175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-23355837234180965142012-05-07T03:16:42.273-07:002012-05-07T03:16:42.273-07:00Great post! Who is the author of the book you ment...Great post! Who is the author of the book you mention (How To Decide)?Aweber9https://www.blogger.com/profile/04415709914862522175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-41607582379284928062012-05-05T02:10:00.657-07:002012-05-05T02:10:00.657-07:00Greetings from Dublin, Ireland. Great advice, lov...Greetings from Dublin, Ireland. Great advice, loved it. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-55801953247330208982012-05-02T07:27:00.743-07:002012-05-02T07:27:00.743-07:00I really liked your post. At this moment i am deci...I really liked your post. At this moment i am deciding on my summer job and it really helped a lot. Thank you!Irenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13846779104900656660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-53320167450868779372012-05-01T15:30:30.170-07:002012-05-01T15:30:30.170-07:00Quality of colleagues is paramount, IMHO, for two ...Quality of colleagues is paramount, IMHO, for two reasons. One, all work these days is in teams, and you want your name to go on products and services that other topnotch people helped ship. Two, they're the cadre from which your future career will derive: references for your next gig; potential co-founders when you go out on your own; clients and teammates and bosses in future jobs. Anybody you work with NOW who is dishonest or even simply doesn't get it will slow you down in years to come. Better a C job in an A company...Jim Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12094636783088951456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-63683574521695677652012-05-01T06:26:33.210-07:002012-05-01T06:26:33.210-07:00Niniane, I'm glad you bring up the points abou...Niniane, I'm glad you bring up the points about fit. So many people consider only compensation or status and end up unhappy. Great advice.Coachability Inchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213859430668934425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-72207839462405154052012-04-30T09:41:47.355-07:002012-04-30T09:41:47.355-07:00^
This is a very interesting question.
People wit...^<br />This is a very interesting question.<br /><br />People with family...their dreams stop, opportunities cease, possibilities narrow. I've seen it over and over again - super talented people stuck at a job because it's the most secure for their young family. Mortgage comes, followed by college cost and retirement. Hence the lock in for the next 25 years is complete.<br /><br />Througout life, but even more intensely at at the end of life, there's the unbelivable and undeniable pleasure of having raised a family, and having the security of a family who will look out for you when you're feeble. Plus a family is people who have known you for decades, which is a priceless gift that is worth more than anything you can buy. Having a family lets you grow old and older in security, comfort, family bliss. The young replaces and encourages the old which makes life and death bearable. All in all, it is down-to-the-bone goodness. I cannot extol family values and virtues anymore than what I already feel. <br /><br />But I have a sneaky suspicion that something ain't right. I can't help but feel like there is a minority of people at the top, leaders of our time and resources, who created a world where, for the price you pay for this family, you're locked into a employment pattern for 25 years. You are incentivized by the tax codes to by a house and carry a mortgage for 30 years. You are incentized to keep working for the government so you can get the pension. You are incentivized to keep working for Private Company Terrible so you can have health insurance. Etc. You have 'no choice' but to carry a mortgage, save for college funds, save for retirement, and work for someone else for your life. At the end of life, you haven't built anything that's your own on paper. <br /><br />Even if you hate your job or your industry, you stay because it's the best for your family. So you work hard during the week, and amuse yourself on the weekend with little treats, like shopping, activities, hobbies, as a way of recuperating, numbing, and encouraging yourself to keep on going. Of course all of these distracting hobbies and activities cost more money so you have to make more of it to sustain this lifestyle. <br /><br />Governments, corporations, businesses need a stable work force so many things are created and built into the system to create that stability. Students obligate themselves with huge student debt so they 'have' to get a job in their field to pay it off. <br /><br />How information technology will transform the world into a more mobile and freeing place that opens up all kinds of exchange of information and possibilities will transform everything. I'm excited to see how things will unfold.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-46531804206752630642012-04-30T05:17:34.747-07:002012-04-30T05:17:34.747-07:00I will say once you have a spouse and family, it&#...I will say once you have a spouse and family, it's not up to you anymore - you pick the best job for your family. No choice to pick that fun startup job with little pay, got to go for that big behemoth company that's somewhat stable and pays more. I just wish the economy would turn around, so consulting would pay more again :-).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-39636492371255210012012-04-29T11:10:29.544-07:002012-04-29T11:10:29.544-07:00Interesting! I have been thinking about what makes...Interesting! I have been thinking about what makes me happy in a role recently, and I came up with the following "4 C's":<br /><br />1. Competence. Will I be competent? Will I be challenged without feeling like I'm struggling to keep my head above water?<br /><br />2. Compelling (Product). Am I passionate about the product/mission.<br /><br />3. Camaradarie. Great teams matter a lot.<br /><br />4. Compensation. Intentionally last on the list.toddbeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07432285474048808519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-37135468645116371742012-04-29T06:47:43.962-07:002012-04-29T06:47:43.962-07:00exactly :)exactly :)Amwrit Purihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16354499978925680538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-83852797603527041322012-04-29T05:07:29.510-07:002012-04-29T05:07:29.510-07:00I would also add that it's good to work at som...I would also add that it's good to work at some place where you are neither the "dumbest" nor the "smartest" person there. You want to be challenged by your peers, but not overwhelmed or overawed by them; you want to stand our for your accomplishments, but you don't want to have to carry the company on your shoulders.<br /><br />When I give interviews, I'll always tell the interviewees to look around and ask if they could see themselves working here with these people. <br /><br />I guess all of the above could be folded into your "fit" category.<br /><br />I also found that your manager can make or break your working environment.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13182043368417700370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-75109904580197998562012-04-29T04:35:22.805-07:002012-04-29T04:35:22.805-07:00Waiting eagerly for your next post on how to becom...Waiting eagerly for your next post on how to become a wanted player.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-5687185525837694332012-04-29T01:33:11.926-07:002012-04-29T01:33:11.926-07:00Even though I'm not an engineer, I think this ...Even though I'm not an engineer, I think this post has great relevance for someone considering career options in any field! That was enjoyable Niniane!thispartyisnsfwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12028423146098219038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-184525512951757162012-04-29T00:23:48.426-07:002012-04-29T00:23:48.426-07:00woot Caltech alum! Thanks for the support, fellow...woot Caltech alum! Thanks for the support, fellow Techer! :)Nhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06731517033909059791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-72250144788825814722012-04-29T00:21:31.963-07:002012-04-29T00:21:31.963-07:00I am a Caltech alum and your advice here is so inc...I am a Caltech alum and your advice here is so incredibly relevant & HONEST that I wish I had read it years ago. Fit is such an individual thing, and an environment/culture/group that makes one individual happy can make another individual insane....and inner happiness has such a drastic effect on one's productivity and creativity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230750.post-59812338574710345102012-04-29T00:21:12.945-07:002012-04-29T00:21:12.945-07:00I am a Caltech alum and your advice here is so inc...I am a Caltech alum and your advice here is so incredibly relevant & HONEST that I wish I had read it years ago. Fit is such an individual thing, and an environment/culture/group that makes one individual happy can make another individual insane....and inner happiness has such a drastic effect on one's productivity and creativity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com