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Comment by codingdave | Hacker News Reader

> I'm someone who has a big say in your career prospects.

No, you have a big say in their progression within one specific organization. Their career prospects overall are up to them. Frankly, I will quit a boss who acts like they own my career.

(Separately: Your undergrad degree is what you make of it. There is no worthless education, only worthless application of that education into your life.)

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I've seen plenty of bosses who will try to improve someone even if they know they are leaving in a couple years, telling people to make sure to get on LinkedIn so they can rate them up, etc.. There's much less loyalty to companies nowadays, but people do have loyalty to their superior if the superior is setting them up for success no matter what. So I think a good boss does have some traction on a person's career, not just their advancement in a single organization. Companies and management that push to make their employees better overall and not just for themselves often brag about it too.

True -- but GP's comment didn't sound like a mentoring relationship to me. He was saying he expects people to watch what they say around him, implying that open and transparent communication is not part of their culture. Had he said that he took the person aside later and talked through office communications and culture, THAT would sound like mentoring.

Neither quitting in a fit of pique nor being fired look good in an interview. You can get away with a prima donna vibe - but only if you're really good - and sometimes not even then.

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