[EN] What I've Learned From Working at My First Company

Putri Dewi Purnamasari

4 years is just too long to call it quit. But that was worth it.

I'm no longer an 18 years old kid that is coming for her first interview anymore. Now I know a thing or two. I'm ready for what's coming next. But looking back, here are things that I didn't know until I learn how to do it and honorable experience from it:

    1. Learn as you go, just take it

    Everyone's got their first time. Most people are reluctant to take their chance to learn something new, that is what prevents them to be one that is we define as success. Grab that course, apply for that job, do that show. You can do it.

    "Sir, what is that? Is that C crash?" one day, I asked my branch manager when he's doing his code.

    "Haha, no, it's called C#."

    I nodded, "Ohhh... it's pretty. (I mean the syntax is pretty and neat)"

    Then for the next three years, they allocated me to Desktop programming. It's actually pretty common in a consultant company, when they asked you to try any new technologies or known technologies that no one ever used it before within the company. So it's understandable why I know some (or bit) of Python, OpenCV, Delphi, GIS, C#, Arduino, Flutter, even some of Linux commands. Yes, I don't randomly add it to my CV.

    2. Patience, a lot of it but don't be afraid to say no

    Contradict point one, you must know when to say no when someone asks things that are actually ridiculous. I was known as a yes-man for years whenever they asked me to do something. Even when it's outside my job description, I manage the development, not so coding-related like freshly installing things in the production server, deploying applications, making banners, testing apps, etc.

    "Can you make a banner?" Ok.

    "Can you learn this and finish it by next week?" Ok.

    "Can you submit this new task in the next two hours?" Ok.

    "Can you overtime again this weekend?" I've gone mad.

    I've exhausted both my body and my mind just because I believe I can do it (and yes, I can), and overestimated myself to the extent sacrifices my well-being just so I can fulfill my ego; that I can be dependable, I can do it, I'm capable enough.

    Don't get me wrong, that mindset "you-can-do-it" is not fully wrong and the company isn't the only one to blame when you are the one who always says yes.

Learn to say no, be useful but never being used.

    3. Be useful and helpful to others

    I remember the last day that I worked there, I wrote anything that can be helpful to whoever will continue the development. Any resources, recommendations, knowledge, and tools that can be helpful to others, don't need to keep them yourself.

    You can always respect boundaries and believe their capabilities to solve their own problems, but be a hand that is offered for help. Any act of kindness will pay you back in the future.

    "Did I helpful and useful enough for this company?" I asked my branch manager when I'm about to leave the company.

    "Yes, you did well. Thank you."

    I can finally go with ease.

    4. Last but not least, don't be afraid of changes

    Every decision that you made, will affect things in the future indirectly, whether you realize it or not. Will it go wrong, will it be fruitful? You can always measure the reward while considering the risks.

    My decision for leaving after 4 years of working there, wasn't really hard. I realized after so many years that is passed, this is not what I wanted, I had enough, so why do I need to stay? I sent a resignation letter and fill the survey form.

    "I want to make a real application." is what I said when they asked my reason, "I want to deliver a real application with quality, I don't want to deliver a half-made application, with a lot of bugs, not optimized, and a lot of security vulnerabilities. I want things that I made to be assessed carefully, I want to have time to do the best for whatever I do, not overworking myself to do something that is outside my job description."

    Everyone tried to prevent me to do so, but I believe and predicted positive results and it happens. They are now hiring for Quality Assurance, and I'm moving forward, one step closer to my dream.

    Things are better now.