Lee_Robert_Willis@cup.portal.com (05/27/91)
This isn't Amiga related, but I don't know what comp.sys.??? group to place it in, and I think of comp.sys.amiga as my "gang". I have become extremely dissatisfied with my job of late, and I'm starting to look for a new one. The problem isn't money or benefits or parking spaces, it's simply that I am not proud of the software that we produce. It's crap, and I'm tired of putting in 60 hour weeks to produce crap. (It's not due to lack of effort or talent by the software staff, but from the complete lack of technical management.) I've seen enough to conclude that the current situation is not isolated to my project or to my department, nor can I expect it to improve within the next 5 years. So I'm getting out before I give myself an ulcer. I'd like to find a new company where I could produce software on which I'd be happy to have my name. My problem is that every company SAYS they're committed to quality. You don't find out what it's really like until after you're hired. So I'd like to find out how others on the net feel about their workplace. Specifically: Does your (job, management, environment) provide you with the opportunity to do work that you are proud of? Can you describe it? (NOTE: I'm NOT looking to find out if your company is currently hiring. I'm trying to identify 'good' companies, and how to recognize them.) All my experience has been with large (>1000 employees) defense contractors. Is life better/worse in the commercial world? How about at smaller companies? Thanks for your input. Lee Lee_Robert_Willis@cup.portal.com
cazabon@hercules (Charles Cazabon (186-003-526)) (05/29/91)
In article <42703@cup.portal.com> Lee_Robert_Willis@cup.portal.com writes: > >I have become extremely dissatisfied with my job of late, and I'm starting >to look for a new one. The problem isn't money or benefits or parking >spaces, it's simply that I am not proud of the software that we produce. >It's crap, and I'm tired of putting in 60 hour weeks to produce crap. >(It's not due to lack of effort or talent by the software staff, but from >the complete lack of technical management.) I work at a company where we produce IBM compatible hardware, not software, but I think I know how you feel in some instances >I've seen enough to conclude that the current situation is not isolated >to my project or to my department, nor can I expect it to improve within >the next 5 years. So I'm getting out before I give myself an ulcer. >I'd like to find a new company where I could produce software on which >I'd be happy to have my name. My problem is that every company SAYS they're >committed to quality. You don't find out what it's really like until >after you're hired. > I think that perhaps you could look at the software you own/use, and decide which companies have a good average, companies who you feel produce less than, say, 10% crap. Find out which ones could use people. And apply at the others, cause what the hey, they might hire you even if they AREN't looking. >So I'd like to find out how others on the net feel about their workplace. > >Specifically: > > Does your (job, management, environment) provide you with > the opportunity to do work that you are proud of? Can you > describe it? > Sometimes. I build a good machine. However, when money gets tight and the boss gets itchy, sometimes we are forced to deliver a machine that I myself would not be happy with, or would at least be potentially unhappy with. My personal feelings are, if it isn't good enough for me, it isn't good enough for a customer. I think every business sometimes pushes something out before it is 'ready' or polished. That's why so many programs and machines have tons of tiny bugs in them on first release. >All my experience has been with large (>1000 employees) defense contractors. >Is life better/worse in the commercial world? How about at smaller >companies? Our company only has about 50 full time employees. One nice thing about it is that it is a lot easier to air grievances and get situations that you find undesirable resolved. I can go to my deepartment head and tell hiim what I really think, without worrying about whether I look like I am rocking the boat. If nothing gets done, I can go straight to the big boss and sit down with him, and settle it there. If nothing happened there, I suppose I would have to quit. But I'm still there... >Thanks for your input You're welcome. -Chuck cazabon@hercules.uregina.ca