Thank you for your candidness. Your experience matches my own. It's a bittersweet grace, I suppose.
That said, I come from an area where for whatever reason, there was a large population of undocumented or otherwise illegal immigrants. One of my good friends, then and still, was able to get a work permit through deferred action. Her experience transitioning into a legal workforce has been nothing but depressive frustration to the exploitative and apathetic practices that her employers are able and willing to get away with. We both agree that the same practices happen in and out of tech.
While her struggle is strong and her ambition gets around a lot of niggling motivation problems. I can't say the same for many of my other friends in the same situation whose lives are irrecoverably fucked before being adults, despite their bleeding passion for what they do and care for.
Point is - peoples' lives are complicated and others' apathy only makes it worse. Your paycheck every two weeks and the decisions that follow can make or break a person's life. Please grow some empathetic balls, consider the power you have over others and try to look past lines on resumes and try to see the person behind it. "That's life" is not an excuse for your selfishness.
From a personal standpoint, I always put family first and will go to bat with my manager all the way up to chain for anyone who has personal obligations that reports to me.
On the other hand, technology is more black and white. I don't expect anyone to know everything but I do expect a certain level of competence and being able to work independently based on your hired skill level - especially for contractors.
When I'm hiring contractors, I don't expect to have to handhold, mentor, etc. I'm not making a long term investment in them and they are getting a premium for it.
I don't see myself any differently. If I'm applying for a contract job, I know 90% of the job requirements. If I'm going in as a permsnent employee, I'll try to squeeze in with 50-70% of the requirements and bust my butt to get up to 90% proficiency.
That said, I come from an area where for whatever reason, there was a large population of undocumented or otherwise illegal immigrants. One of my good friends, then and still, was able to get a work permit through deferred action. Her experience transitioning into a legal workforce has been nothing but depressive frustration to the exploitative and apathetic practices that her employers are able and willing to get away with. We both agree that the same practices happen in and out of tech.
While her struggle is strong and her ambition gets around a lot of niggling motivation problems. I can't say the same for many of my other friends in the same situation whose lives are irrecoverably fucked before being adults, despite their bleeding passion for what they do and care for.
Point is - peoples' lives are complicated and others' apathy only makes it worse. Your paycheck every two weeks and the decisions that follow can make or break a person's life. Please grow some empathetic balls, consider the power you have over others and try to look past lines on resumes and try to see the person behind it. "That's life" is not an excuse for your selfishness.
Thank you.