Ellyse

i got a fun question! whats the one piece of advice you'd give someone starting their very first job? or wish you received when you first started?

i'll go first: the ladder is a trap. it sucks climbing it the whole time and there is no cake. bonus: it's never worth it to work with assholes #career

Apr 5 at 5:37pmWeb
Show threadtusharhero21h ago
@ellyxir I was about to say, "idk climbing ladders is pretty fun." But then realized you are talking about a metaphorical ladder.
Show threadEllyse21h ago
@tusharhero well, i'm ok with a step stool. but anything beyond like 3 steps, that's just a life-risk for me. i can barely be trusted to use stairs. you know that feeling when you climb down and you're like 5 more steps, but then a little later its like WAIT, no, there's no steps left! and you're like, huh? i see more steps. but brain is like no, and you have to stop in rush hour and everyone is like girl, why are you blocking everyone. ya, thats me.
Show threadtusharhero21h ago
@ellyxir climbing up is fun even if climbing down is a bit daunting. I have had instances where my brain confidently thought I am done with stairs, so I just start walking on non existent floor and fall down.
Show threadEllyse21h ago
@tusharhero bro same!
Show threadJanov91121h ago
@ellyxir Most important is to try to have fun. There’s nothing worse than spending your time doing things you hate. Don’t like it? Go do something else! Life is too short.
Show threadEllyse21h ago
@janov911 doing things one hates, that reminds me when i was working at [broadvision](https://broadvision.com/), i literally was crying in the toilets it was so terrible. there was a really good chinese restaurant nearby though. what a contrast. i went there every day.
BroadVision Group

Show threadFredrik Björeman20h ago
@ellyxir Asking questions is a super power. Not least those someone might label dumb, because half the room thinks they’re the only ones not knowing the answer, and anyone else will learn something from answering.
Show threadEllyse20h ago
@bjoreman omg what a good answer. i often asked something so basic like "why are we doing this?" and people would all stop and stare for a while. asking the really basic questions can be so useful AND people see it as a power move, which is hilarious.
Show threadFredrik Björeman18h ago
@ellyxir Thanks! I’m curious when exactly it started to dawn on me, but I’m sure it was a very slow process. Especially when it came to applying it myself 😊
Show threadelfenlaid20h ago

@ellyxir Actively seek out peers from other companies through conferences, hackathons, hackerspaces, Linux repair shops, whatever works for you.

It's of crucial importance to gauge your work environment for adequacy. It's hard to do as it's your first workspace, you just don't know what's considered "normal", where to look for help, and such.

So, speaking with folks, sharing stories, and asking questions should help to get footing in the profession.

Show threadPascal20h ago

@ellyxir "Climbing the ladder is no problem when you can sleep well and work less than 35 hours. If you climb the ladder for ladders sake you're doing it wrong".

Something like that...

Show threadEllyse20h ago
@lechindianer yupppp where were you when i needed you! 😭
Show threadCara5h ago

@ellyxir I thought about this way too long. I think I'm too far removed from the job market conditions today to give advice.

It used to be that knowledge and practice was enough. Now it feels like anyone who cares too much about the engineering of things will get labelled a detractor while the market sucks value out of everything until we're left with s truly dead internet. I have no idea what to do about it in my own professional capacity let alone what to tell others.

Show threadCara5h ago
The personal side might extend a bit easier. If we're outside of traditional job roles then I'd say, learn what *choices you actually have* or that could exist if you change perspective and explore them rather than lean on conventions/rulesets you're taught. There are so many layers of creativity and self determinism that we're told to give up in order to conform/produce. True in life, software, pretty much anything which may seem to be a matter of labor over creativity.