0. Why the right team?
Your life long work habits form in your first 1-2 roles. They’re so hard to change (and find folks who will invest in that change). Please find the right team to se your self up for life long work success. Here’s what I’d look for going back in time.
Your life long work habits form in your first 1-2 roles. They’re so hard to change (and find folks who will invest in that change). Please find the right team to se your self up for life long work success. Here’s what I’d look for going back in time.
1. No more than five people.
You need very focused mentorship, and a large team won’t do that. You need to see a variety of approaches to solve problems, effectively organize your time, and execute on projects. Soft+hard skills. Your team are your wingmen.
You need very focused mentorship, and a large team won’t do that. You need to see a variety of approaches to solve problems, effectively organize your time, and execute on projects. Soft+hard skills. Your team are your wingmen.
2. At least two very senior ICs (10-20+ years in industry).
These folks have solved hard problems, maintained their own solutions for years, and have learned effective habits. Above all they are competent. Learn from them. Be skeptical like them.
These folks have solved hard problems, maintained their own solutions for years, and have learned effective habits. Above all they are competent. Learn from them. Be skeptical like them.
3. At most one other junior person (0-3 years in industry).
You’re here to learn. Having a buddy to learn with is great, but you need enough competent colleagues to learn from. Know the saying “buy the worst house in the best neighborhood”?
You’re here to learn. Having a buddy to learn with is great, but you need enough competent colleagues to learn from. Know the saying “buy the worst house in the best neighborhood”?
4. All working on the same product/project/problems.
You can ask anyone on your team for help, you’re working on the same thing, no silos. A shared vision to drive everyone. Our problems, our solutions: that’s shared ownership, all while celebrating victories together.
You can ask anyone on your team for help, you’re working on the same thing, no silos. A shared vision to drive everyone. Our problems, our solutions: that’s shared ownership, all while celebrating victories together.
5. Values excellence and speed.
The tension that striving for excellence while under time pressure breeds pragmatism and project management. Be the best, most expensive, and most efficient, just like your team. Read the last sentence again. You know the saying.
The tension that striving for excellence while under time pressure breeds pragmatism and project management. Be the best, most expensive, and most efficient, just like your team. Read the last sentence again. You know the saying.
6. Stay put for 2-3 years.
Please commit to staying and supporting the things you build. All it takes is 2-3 years at one place to have spent a bunch of time paying technical debt on the things you originally built and live with the decisions you made. It matters. Don’t quit.
Please commit to staying and supporting the things you build. All it takes is 2-3 years at one place to have spent a bunch of time paying technical debt on the things you originally built and live with the decisions you made. It matters. Don’t quit.
Finding all of the above will never be possible, but consider why I suggest each is important, and find at least some. Being part of a great team early on will dramatically accelerate your career, setting you up to be a world class IC or team leader. Thank you for listening.
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