/tags/ibm/ Recent content in IBM on ckp Hugo en-us Tue, 01 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000 /2017/08/01/2-years-at-ibm/ Tue, 01 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000 /2017/08/01/2-years-at-ibm/ <div id="two-years-at-ibm" class="section level1"> <h1>Two Years at IBM</h1> <p>On July 27th 2017 I reached my two year anniversairy at IBM. Coincidentally, I had an internal interview the day previous. In it, I was asked “If you could go back to the beginning, what would you tell yourself?”. I thought it was an interesting question (must be why it’s now a cliche).</p> <p>My two years at IBM have had highs and lows. I don’t think I could have avoided all of the lows, but I think with the right advice, I could have maybe shortened them. At the same time, there have been some lessons that I’ve heard before, but I haven’t learnt until I’ve had the weight of my own experience to drive them home. I suppose that’s the cruel part of learning from other people. You can listen, but you won’t understand always.</p> <p>I suppose my IBM career can be simplified into a few broad strokes</p> <ol style="list-style-type: decimal"> <li>Burning out on my first project</li> <li>Moving to become more technical</li> <li>Getting involved with the <strong>extracurricular activities</strong></li> </ol> <div id="burning-out" class="section level2"> <h2>Burning Out</h2> <p>I was on my first project for nearly a year. It’s only a year later that I can appreciate all that I learnt whilst on it. I took a lot of experience for granted at the time. TO try and avoid the experiences that taught me all of that would be silly, it’s who I am now. But if I could message myself, I would advise the following:</p> <ul> <li>Get help. Don’t suffer in silence. If something isn’t clear, ask. If they can’t help, ask someone else. Keep asking.</li> <li>Stand up for yourself. Everyone has an agenda (not in a machivellian aspect), everyone has their own problems, both in work and outside. People are great, but you shouldn’t rely on them to solve your problems, or look out for yourself. I was in my first project for far longer than beneficial because I went with the flow to support other people, rather than insisting to move on.</li> </ul> </div> <div id="becoming-more-technical" class="section level2"> <h2>Becoming more technical</h2> <p>Soon after joining IBM, I decided I wanted to become <em>technical</em>. I’d looked on longingly at those with the ability to code, but I never believed I could do it. Since then, I’ve started following my interests. It’s been stop-start, bumpy, disheartening, but slowly successful. I feel a bit like climbing to the top of the mountain, only to realise there’s another peak behind, that’s even further away. The more I learn, the more I discover I don’t know. Finding the time to learn more is difficult, but it’s taught me to start reflecting the quality and quantity of what I do. “Is this taking me towards my goals?”.</p> <p>I’d tell myself</p> <ul> <li>Yes you can do it! I wish I’d started earlier</li> <li>It’s okay to get distracted, feel overwhelmed. It takes time, practice and a bit of luck.</li> </ul> </div> <div id="getting-involved" class="section level2"> <h2>Getting Involved</h2> <ul> <li>Use giveback to my advantage.</li> <li>Find opportunities that interest me</li> <li>Mentoring</li> <li>Data Analysis</li> </ul> </div> </div>