The RubeTube

I talked to Ealden on YM last Thursday (?) and we discussed the possibility of me trying out the company he works for, Orange&Bronze, a relatively small consulting firm here in the Philippines whose core competency is Java EE solutions. I have a strong phobia of Java EE (from taking a tragically mishandled J2EE class) and I have doubts about the future of Java EE and Sun in general. (Former officemate Miguel also works at O&B now, as well as a bunch of notoriously well-known Pinoy geeks.)

But O&B and Java EE are not the subjects of this entry. During our chat, I described to Ealden the qualities I'm looking for in my next job, of which there are five (from most to least important):

1. Opportunity to learn. This may come in the form of formal training or in the kind of work that the company does. If I feel that my abilities will stagnate (i.e., not having learned much) with the company, then working there will just be a complete waste of time, regardless of the compensation. In the case that I decide to seek a job elsewhere, I want to be able to say that I've grown as an I.T. professional because of my stay in the company.
   
2. Good working environment. I'm a sucker for snazzy office set-ups. Pantries are a huge plus. Good lighting and ample work space is essential. And I look for small things like attention to cleanliness and good flooring and wallpaper. But it's not just the physical working conditions. I also include in this category the software development processes and tools that they use. The company should believe in rigidly setting standards for themselves. I want to experience working in a formal setup.
   
3. Opportunity to work with the best people. I want to work with the best people in the business because I'll get to learn from them. I admit that much of my skill is "raw" and needs a lot of work. Working with people whom I respect will greatly accelerate the process. Also, the people who work for a company says a lot about the company's dedication to quality. A good company knows that to be the best, you have to hire the best.
4. Opportunity to make an immediate impact. I know that I can contribute right away to any company with the skills that I currently have. And I want my next employer to recognize that. I guess this is a bit of arrogance on my part, but I need to be recognized for the years of effort I've put into distinguishing myself as one of the top prospects available.
5. Compensation package that will make me hard to say no. The reason this is at number five is because the first four really are more important, but compensation (base salary, future raises, other benefits) is still something that I will consider seriously in any offer. I've worked my butt off in college so I want to get what I've earned. Also, the compensation package should be one that will not only pay well in the short term, but also make me want to stay in the company.
   

Of course, other job-hunters out there will have their own priorities; these are just mine. You've got to understand that I've barely recovered from my traumatic experience with my last job and I'm looking to establish myself in the I.T. industry to make up for lost time. There's a time-limit to which I can look for a great job (that I really want to stick with) until my credentials will start losing their luster. If I wait too long or if I hop around jobs too much, potential employers will begin questioning the career decisions I've made up to that point.

I'll be giving a status report on my current jobhunt soon. In the meantime, wish me luck!

(10th post! Wahoo!)

Labels: employment, work