Path: csiph.com!v102.xanadu-bbs.net!xanadu-bbs.net!feeder.erje.net!eu.feeder.erje.net!weretis.net!feeder4.news.weretis.net!rt.uk.eu.org!newsfeed.xs4all.nl!newsfeed2a.news.xs4all.nl!xs4all!newsgate.cistron.nl!newsgate.news.xs4all.nl!post.news.xs4all.nl!not-for-mail Return-Path: X-Original-To: python-list@python.org Delivered-To: python-list@mail.python.org X-Spam-Status: OK 0.076 X-Spam-Evidence: '*H*': 0.85; '*S*': 0.00; 'subject:: [': 0.04; 'deadlines': 0.07; '-people': 0.09; '-there': 0.09; 'marking': 0.09; 'sure,': 0.09; 'subject:How': 0.10; 'crud': 0.16; 'frankly': 0.16; 'perceived': 0.16; 'should.': 0.16; 'sorts': 0.16; 'stupid,': 0.16; 'subject: \n ': 0.16; 'subject:when': 0.16; 'to:name:python list': 0.16; 'hire': 0.16; 'wrote:': 0.18; 'do.': 0.18; 'app': 0.19; '-the': 0.19; 'work,': 0.20; 'subject:] ': 0.20; 'helpful': 0.24; "haven't": 0.24; 'question': 0.24; "i've": 0.25; 'nearly': 0.26; 'header:In-Reply-To:1': 0.27; 'tried': 0.27; 'am,': 0.29; 'hiring': 0.29; 'message-id:@mail.gmail.com': 0.30; "i'm": 0.30; "company's": 0.31; 'subject:what': 0.31; 'worked': 0.33; 'bugs': 0.33; 'there,': 0.34; 'subject:with': 0.35; 'basic': 0.35; 'beyond': 0.35; 'but': 0.35; 'received:google.com': 0.35; 'there': 0.35; 'really': 0.36; 'crazy': 0.36; 'culture': 0.36; 'patient': 0.36; 'subject:one': 0.36; 'subject:?': 0.36; 'question,': 0.38; 'to:addr:python-list': 0.38; 'track': 0.38; 'little': 0.38; 'anything': 0.39; 'ability': 0.39; 'sure': 0.39; 'to:addr:python.org': 0.39; 'enough': 0.39; 'either': 0.39; 'company': 0.60; 'most': 0.60; 'new': 0.61; "you're": 0.61; 'you.': 0.62; 'back': 0.62; "you'll": 0.62; 'making': 0.63; 'information': 0.63; 'happen': 0.63; 'places': 0.64; 'stand': 0.64; 'more': 0.64; 'different': 0.65; 'afraid': 0.65; 'here': 0.66; 'duty': 0.68; 'started.': 0.68; 'where:': 0.68; 'anyone.': 0.74; 'eight': 0.74; 'day': 0.76; 'fan,': 0.84; 'idiot': 0.84; 'subject:find': 0.84; 'absolutely': 0.87; 'lazy': 0.91; 'subject:OFF': 0.95 DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id:subject:from:to :content-type; bh=iQ03NfWMYaXdW4cHrrLVwFL7+iOIdpI1GqzBh2r+L9A=; b=W21M1uHgH8o3QCVo5K1XntbqQWNSmnAId8+giCv6qzVqWdS/N2yJQ0n7IC8emZEJ3c 7V0vdQJHbsvhmbT8ZG9/BdJIJsOHchjsCbMLJYVz5+lnxcmiNVSkf92ZJseKOu58lNaq Zy6pJyBptODDoMRzVGdfXp656HQ1dVIdMIcyBNsNCioiazD9y8+25/iiofhGkdZ9eHq9 BapKZ75jPWRyUo4ASRDP2CcW9DERxpMVekj760AlTlfFXUsqvI+xWPuUihStX2XQiWl2 m8Vop9sxo/lfEgRTvcCuGLqWiGylFs5HEjfNKX3LJEWT4+qw02oewxCPFT5eO3x1lwVf 10wg== MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Received: by 10.194.92.81 with SMTP id ck17mr4292103wjb.14.1396967301543; Tue, 08 Apr 2014 07:28:21 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: References: Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2014 10:28:21 -0400 Subject: Re: [OFF-TOPIC] How do I find a mentor when no one I work with knows what they are doing? From: Larry Martell To: Python List Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 X-BeenThere: python-list@python.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.15 Precedence: list List-Id: General discussion list for the Python programming language List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Newsgroups: comp.lang.python Message-ID: Lines: 48 NNTP-Posting-Host: 2001:888:2000:d::a6 X-Trace: 1396967309 news.xs4all.nl 2928 [2001:888:2000:d::a6]:46023 X-Complaints-To: abuse@xs4all.nl Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.python:69868 On Tue, Apr 8, 2014 at 3:07 AM, James Brewer wrote: > I'm sure there will be a substantial amount of arrogance perceived from this > question, but frankly I don't think that I have anything to learn from my > co-workers, which saddens me because I really like to learn and I know that > I have a lot of learning to do. > > I've been employed as a software engineer for about eight months now and I > feel like I haven't learned nearly as much as I should. Sure, I've picked up > little tidbits of information here and there, but I'm no more confident in > my ability to build anything more complex than a basic crud app than I was > the day I started. I don't know where you work, but there are all sorts of different working environments. I've been at this for 35 years and I think I've seen most of them. I've worked at places where: -People were afraid you'll take their job and they won't answer questions or spend time to bring you up to speed on the company's systems -People who you're working with either were against hiring you or were not involved in the hiring process and won't work with you. -People are on crazy deadlines and have no time to work with you. -People have tried to work with you, but don't want to anymore because ______ (fill in the blank: you're arrogant, you're stupid, you smell, you don't learn fast enough for them, you like the Yankees and they're a Red Sox fan, ....) -People make you feel like an idiot when you ask a question and they intimidate you so you don't come back and ask more. -The culture requires some 'trial by fire' where you stand up to people and/or make it known you're not going away and won't take crap from anyone. -The new hire sits around and waits for things to happen instead making things happen themselfs. -There is absolutely nothing interesting going on at the company - no new development, no hard bugs to track down - and the people they work there are lazy and slothy, just marking time until they can retire. -People are super patient and helpful and they answer all your questions and go beyond the call of duty to help you. Do any of these apply to your situation?