I will be joining Google soon as T4. By nature I am pretty introverted and take my own time to open up. I suck at small talks and generally hesitate in openly speaking up in casual setting. It takes time for me to build rapport . And feel like I am being initially judged. Related to technical stuff I can communicate well. Infact my reviews have been topmost in my time at Amazon and did not have any issues as such. And technically I am also able to drive meeting and discussions. I am freaking out, since it is your peers who rate you in Google. Maybe I am overthinking , but how important is for your peers to like you? What if initially I just do my assigned job as T4 (and try to add more value if possible) but dont immediately hit it off with peers. Any thoughts, also any other tips unrelated to my dilemma for new Googler. Thanks!
You’ll be good. I hate those stupid small talks and love the time when I can finally eat alone and read something on the phone instead of discussing some BS with colleagues. Yet, get top reviews.
What you are describing is not introversion. You may also be an introvert, but what you’re describing is social awkwardness and maybe even anxiety. Introvert/extrovert is about where you get your energy and refuel. Is it from being around other people or is it being alone? You may get refueled by being around close friends but have anxiety around strangers or new, casual acquaintances. As it pertains to professional success: you will need to push yourself some, but a lot of engineers are on the autism spectrum or exhibit behaviors that are consistent with it if not. This includes a lot of socialization issues. You won’t be the one weird one. I have found a lot of this related to self worth. May not be the case for you, but something to consider. If you feel like you have something of value to offer any person speaking to you, it makes it a lot easier to engage and not feel like all you can do is fail and embarrass yourself. I am probably projecting so this may not be the issue for you, but this is a life skill not just a professional skill. You aren’t broken because of this, and it will serve you to find some strategies to deal. You can thrive and succeed without, but politics are important. Breaking the weird basement dweller stigma to those outside of tech is a big deal. We deserve a seat at the adult table, but do have to earn it.
You will be the only introvert here 😂😂😂 JK, congratulations and relax, you will do great
You will have no problems. Introverts at Google like other introverts
Did you think you can survive Amazon without peers liking you or at least thinking you bring value? I thought Google was less aggressive in that way as it has no LPs and many more introverts than Amazon.
Google has its fair share of social retards. In addition, introvert is the norm, especially on more backend/infra teams. Engineers love to whine about how they hate socializing and just want to be left alone. But yeah, regardless of the amount of social awkwardness and introversion , everyone is able to communicate their technical ideas and stuff affectively As long as you're not an asshole and you make efforts to socialize at the lunch table/TGIF snack, etc., you'll be fine
Only a social retard would call others social retards
Only a social retard would call others social retards for calling others social retards