Hacker News Reader

Comment by angstrom | Hacker News Reader

As a Millenial...I resent people like him that create a weak image of this generation.

I'm reminded of this blog post by Eric Sink: http://www.ericsink.com/Career_Calculus.html

It sounds like this kid is spending way to much time managing people's perceptions of him rather than just managing his career.

View on HN

Although I do think this guy is naive and should reserve judgement until he has had real time to reflect, I don't think there is a tremendous difference between managing people's perceptions vs. managing a career. As it has been since ancient times, much of your success will be based on family and social ties, which are themselves mostly built on perception. We as techies like to imagine the world as entirely merit based, but of course business remains an inherently human enterprise.

I don't know what kind of career you're talking about, but as a software dev, you just come to an interview, get a job and earn a living. No family or social ties are involved.

That's too short-sighted.

Even if you expect to be a software developer the rest of your working life, there are a lot of job opportunities that won't be available if you don't network - even if you're brilliant, there might be another guy just as good as you, but who got the referral instead of you (and that's being optimistic and a bit naïve and believing that it's all merit-based).

Networking is nice bonus but not depending on it for making a living gives you even more leverage.

Networking is a form of leverage as well.

Your (raw) talent is also a leverage.

Your skill is also leverage.

Depending on any of them individually is a disaster.

Being able to get along with just one is a huge advantage. Which actually increases the value of other ways.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com