How My Dream Job Became a Nightmaređ±
Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash
Iâve been a software developer for a long time. When I look back upon my career one job stands out.
At the time I believed it was my dream job and I remember the giddy feeling of landing the role with a big-name company. I brewed some coffee and gently typed some code on my mechanical keyboard excited about what the new job would give me.
Life was good, or so I thought. I didnât have that much experience at the time, but I felt that wouldnât matter.
A False Sense of Security
I think software development is easy. Seriously, I do. Youâre just translating easy-to-understand instructions and putting them into a machine for it to understand.
Even in my coding naivety, I could dance around LeetCode problems like a pro. I enjoyed being dropped into new situations and felt I could handle this challenge.
The induction day, filled with talks of missions, values, and the dreaded probation period, included a seemingly mundane directive: âKeep the Netflix binging for after hours.â Ha! As if I, a multitasking maestro, needed such advice.
I knew I could handle this, and settled down to watch The Office as I inspected the code base. After all, Iâm very clever and a good coder.
Dual Screens, two problems
Ah, the beauty of working from home! One screen for work, one for the series. âTheyâll never know,â I told myself. After all, I was not some tech newbie; I was a master of disguise and efficiency. Or so I believed.
What I knew was that I was smart. What I didnât know is that my colleagues were just as smart but were also going to work harder than I. I took my time with tasks, having a second breakfast mid-morning and a walk in the afternoon.
The Unraveling
It wasnât long before the fast-paced environment of the company began to expose my inadequate coding. For the first time in my life, I found myself lagging, struggling to keep up with my colleaguesâ relentless pace and unyielding dedication. I started missing some calls, but what did it matter, as I could catch up on the work later? It seemed like Iâd be fine using my spare time to get everything done.
It didnât occur to me to switch off Netflix. After all, a new season was just around the corner and what harm could it do? I wasnât watching 55 hours of Friends and kept completing tickets. But then the defects started to come. I could have changed my schedule. But I didnât. I just carried on like nothing had happened.
The Fall
My negligence soon became impossible to hide. My colleagues just seemed to have more time to keep up with the work. I worked, as usual, having a second breakfast mid-morning and a walk in the afternoon.
I started missing some calls, but what did it matter, as I can catch up on the work later. It seemed like Iâd be fine using my spare time to get everything done.
The Inevitable Conclusion
And so, my tenure at the company came to an abrupt end.
In a world where intellectual contribution and engagement are non-negotiable, I fell short.
Every developer must pull their weight from day one to gain the respect of their peers. I learned this the hard way. Donât let this happen to you.