Sincerity – as the worst quality in an IT career? Or how I got fired on my first day at my first job
I graduated from the university with a degree in programming just in the midst of the dashing 90s. And in a sense, we were lucky – by the end of the fifth year, the entire backbone of our group was invited to work in a well-known IT company. From the best students of our group, a department was formed, the head of which was also my classmate. What could have gone wrong here?
We were warned that the IT company we were going to work for was serious. And before starting work, we will be trained by the best teachers from Israel. Who will specially come to us in a provincial town, solely for the sake of our additional specialization.
And so, the first day of work / training. We, the backbone of our group, are sitting in a brand new specialized computer class. Before us is a teacher from Israel, who speaks excellent Russian. And, apparently, the student turned on in me. And it should be noted that in my group I had the social role of “press secretary” or “voice of the people.” It was I who actively communicated with teachers at lectures. Of course politely, and according to their own established rules. Therefore, I immediately asked the teacher from Israel – how can I ask questions – along the way, or at a specially allotted time for this? The teacher especially noted that he flew to us thousands of kilometers away so that we could understand everything well. Therefore, in the most urgent way, he demanded that we interrupt him and ask if at least something was not clear. And then there was a lecture on board layout and low-level assembly of some specialized equipment. To us, programmers of the Department of Applied Mathematics!
Of course, I didn’t understand anything! And I bombarded him with a barrage of questions. At first the teacher responded kindly, then not so much. Then he became angry and irritable. My classmates didn’t understand either. But they are used to the fact that I solve all such misunderstandings. That’s why they put the initiative in my hands. During the break, the teacher called the future head of my department to a corner, and whispered something to him. After that, the boss approached me and told me the sad news – that, from the point of view of a respected specialist from Israel, I am not suitable for this position because of poor knowledge. And the teacher demands to fire me right there. But due to our friendship, my boss, instead of the position of a programmer, offered the position of a technician. The salary is two times less, but then, after half a year, having learned, maybe they will transfer me to a programmer. I did not want to be a technician, so I immediately quit this company. Didn’t work even 2 hours!
Much later, a couple of years later, I accidentally found out that an overlay had occurred in this Israeli IT company. And they mixed up the teachers. The wrong specialist was sent to us. He needed to go to another department (hardware development). Then, a month later, they figured it out, sent another teacher who taught what was needed – the scripting language for working with industrial controllers. Naturally, no one called me and offered nothing – they fired me so fired!
The funny thing is, objectively, of all of us, I was the best fit for the job. Because actually already at that time he worked as an intern in two companies on the subject of industrial controllers. I even had publications on this topic – on the development of an emulator for one controller that was popular at that time.
And another moment – why were all my other classmates silent? They looked at the presentation slides on microcircuitry like sheep at a new gate for a whole week and were silent. Now I understand that they were afraid to share my fate. And then, in my youth, I really thought that, perhaps, earlier at night for several years they attended secret courses of circuit engineers, about which they did not tell me anything!
Separately, it is worth mentioning the boss – why was he silent? With age, perhaps, I understood his motives. Among us, he was not the best professional. Therefore, most likely, he expected that his subordinates would understand what was needed for him. And his business is small – only to give orders.
Also, much later, I read the most excellent article by Natalia Uskova “Organizational subcultures: a look through colored glass. The article really won me over with its conciseness and humor regarding corporate subcultures. The author distinguishes three types of organizational subcultures:
“Family” – when the business was historically created by family/classmates/colleagues. There are founders of business – “father” and “mother”. And they need to be idolized.
“System” – when old, big, clumsy and ossified. Not because a particular “system” is like that, but because the life of a “system” cannot be otherwise.
“Partisan Squad” – on the verge of violating the law and common sense, making breakthroughs and all sorts of unimaginable things.
In my opinion, every subculture of every organization has its own “dark side” – a kind of quintessence lies-nonsense. When I was young, I thought that such a substance is an absolute evil that prevents the company from developing. But with age I realized that such a quintessence is the same boltwhich is best left untouched.
In my story, I ran into the “dark side” “systems”. More specifically – on its fallacy, inertia and formalism. And instead of understanding this and keeping silent, I began to sincerely try to fulfill the task assigned to me (to learn the educational material according to the rules received). I was not prepared at the university for the usual problems in “systems”.
Summarizing
What was the knowledge that I lacked? I would phrase it like this: the beginner should be silent, and at first behave like Stirlitz on a mission. Realizing that any word he said can be used against him. You must first identify the type of organizational subculture. Understand what and how you can talk, and what you can not in any case. And all the time to read and predict the perception of yourself by colleagues. That notorious “how do you look in the eyes of others”? In my story, I inadvertently presented myself as an illiterate specialist, although in reality I understood the topic of the issue better than anyone. Don’t repeat my mistakes!
