Succeeding In Industry Jobs: Straight Talk about the First Five Years
From Anita Borg Institute Wiki
Contents |
Hilary Pike (Microsoft - recently moved from IBM)
- realtime apps - developer
- get involved in lots of communities
- manager may or may not help lay out things
- active in IP (int. prop.) - 20 patents in 2 years
- IBM has communities for people with different interests (ie, high availability, etc)
- don't have to choose what you want to do right at the start; three members of this panel have changed jobs within first five years
- possibly look within company before moving between companies to get new job
Alexis Battle (Google)
- started after finishing bachelor's degree
- thought would only spend a year there then go back and get PhD
- machine learning
- worked part time while starting PhD - not easy, definitely think about it, but has worked out well
- people are willing to offer you more support than you think
- think about if there is something more that you want, something to improve on, more interesting projects, etc
Diane Curtis (Microsoft)
- mentoring - definitely in favor of finding a good mentor
- infrastructure mentoring - when first starting, someone to help figure stuff out (company/work-wise)
- career mentoring - a step or two above at least, figuring out what you lack, where to improve, making sure you're getting experience that help you in the path you want
- find someone on the path you want to be on (Hilary: or think you want to be on; finding out what you don't want to do is just as valuable)
- sometimes changing jobs is difficult emotionally, esp. after a short time
- networking helps in finding jobs
Michelle Lunn (Dolby Digital Cinema - has now moved to Pixar)
- testing; find your right path - even if it's kind of shady or not looked upon highly
- job dissatisfaction: sometimes a job is too easy; depends on priorities at present
- don't be afraid of jumping out of the comfortable and moving to a more difficult/challenging position - is exhilarating
how to choose between academia & industry; moving between them:
- definitely possible to try industry and go back; some do part-time, some do full-time (ie quit job, full time school)
- out for a couple years, likely fine. if out for 10 years or so, probably difficult to find recommendations
- spend some time in both - internships, etc
- keep foot in both doors - keep in touch with professors; publish, etc
- if working in industry, may be limited to universities close to site. many companies also are flexible; have sites in different locations and may allow you to transfer to another location near a school you want, or work remotely
how to find mentors:
- find mentors, not only through programs but through networking, meeting people
- also through organizations - SWE, etc
- also some mentoring from managers - one on ones set aside for where you want to be in 2 years, etc
best way to find jobs that match specific goal set; best way to go about pursuing new job within company (without burning bridges):
- job searches, submitting to favorite places; part focused part whimsical
- with internal jobs, be honest with manager ahead of time if you expect to be leaving (and why); manager can keep it between you and them
- network, network, network. find out what's around, about managers, jobs, etc
see other companies; get exposed to different cultures - and languages some companies may be good places to end up at, others to move up/develop in
compare/contrast of company atmospheres, how they change w/ kids, etc
- some people left when they had kids
- talk to people who have done so; ask what experiences were like
- packages/benefits
- all panelists feel their companies do well with this
anything you would change/do differently
- get a business minor; have some exposure to different areas of business
- one good thing: getting a masters; learned presenting, etc, that did not get in undergrad
- would have tried a startup company; easier to do earlier in life (before have kids, etc)
do you enjoy working with your coworkers ask questions - what time did you get here, when did you leave, do you have kids, did you think of the idea for your last project or did someone send it to you on a sheet of paper, does everyone come in at the same time/flexible working hours, post-offer can ask to talk to specific types of people (parents, career track, etc)
