Comment by geocrasher | Hacker News Reader

Comment by geocrasher | Hacker News Reader

I just did this, but not to the same extreme. My suggestion: Do the thing that worked the first time, and that thing is:

Be You.

I've been at my current job for three months. It's a small startup. I went from "where is the loo" to onboarding new employees in that time. Why? Because I'm an expert in my field. The landscape changes, but your expertise are going to carry you through. I'm having to re-learn a number of things I haven't had to think about in almost 20 years, but it's all there. Give yourself time to ramp up. And, one more thing:

Ask questions. Ask until you understand. DON'T BE AFRAID TO SOUND DUMB.

I tell new coworkers and managers this: I'm going to ask questions that may sound dumb- not because I'm dumb, but because I need to be able to relate information at its banging-rocks-together level. If they don't appreciate that, then I'm in the wrong place.

> Ask questions. Ask until you understand. DON'T BE AFRAID TO SOUND DUMB.

This is such good advice. If you don't understand something, chances are very good that others don't.

It is important to know when to take your questions "offline". That is, don't hold up a meeting with 10 people in it while you get an understanding of component X. Take a note and follow up with the component X team directly.

I'd add: document what you learn so that other employees can learn it without asking questions. Plus you'll understand it better. If it is not confidential, ask if you can share it publicly. That'll have the double benefit of increasing the world's store of knowledge as well as the profile of the company.

"Be you" is horrible advice for introverts. Be extroverted is the advice I always give. This isn't a hobby, this is capitalism, and your ability to put food on the table is going to be dependent on you faking a smile and pretending to care about other people.

The don't be afraid to sound dumb is also spot on though.

The strength of "Be You" was specifically for the OP. Being Them has worked so far- so keep doing it. As general advice, I also find it spot on, though. We can never be what we aren't. If you want to improve yourself, do that. But never try to be something you aren't. You're only lying to yourself and others. Instead, become what you wish you were, then the projection you're giving is authentic.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com