Code or People
I joined MS recently and one of the first things I had to work on was my commitment form. The last section in that form is about setting your career goals, which basically translates to "What do you want to do at MS". For SDE's this means either your way up as Architect or as a Manager. For me the choice was more or less clear the day I chose to get interviewed at MS and that is to become an Architect.
As my friends would vouch, I always keep saying this - You don't plan to apply and land at MS just because you think you like the company or because they have tons of cash or for any more umpteen reasons not having to do with software. The few reasons which prompted me to apply for MS are
- Oppurtunities galore when it comes to software development
- No dearth for challenges
- Be in the company of and learn from one of the best intellectual wealth of the world all under one roof.
During my not so long career as a software develeper I have found one or the more of the above missing at different times. There was a growing unrest within me which kept me thinking that software development was not what I had envisioned at school and I didn't find the challenges and oppurtunities which I was looking forward to. I even initiated conversations with my Professor about me coming back to school. Then when I heard about all the good things about MS from one of the insiders, it seemed like a university in the garb of a private enterprise. Maybe this is exactly what I was looking for and here I am 3 months old and I am enjoying every bit of it.
Anyway, what prompted the title and hence this blog post is this other blog post: Everybody Wants to Rule the World. I agree to a large extent with the author and personally believe that the choice is between what you really want to do: develop and manage code or people. Since my entry into software development was more out of the urge for the former, I hope to contine doing that and I am sure I couldn't have chosen a better place than this institution for the same.