Which Kind of Person you are?

In our lives we have to work with different kind of persons.

Actually there are two kind of people you are dealing with.

First type of people will greet you like this after dealing with them

“It is a great pleasure to dealing with you…”

Second type of people will greet you in this way after dealing with them.

“It is a great pressure to dealing with you…”

Which kind of greeting you prefer from others. Think...

Happiness

Happiness is like a butterfly. If you follow it, it goes away from you. If you follow faster it will disappear. If you calm and wait, it will come to you. But I don’t know when, where and What time it happens.

You cannot buy happiness. But when you spend lots of money, some time you can grab it. But not for ever, just for the short while.  You cannot catch it. If you catch it, it disappears like bubble.

Just for thought. Nothing Special.

Are Software Engineers, Engineers?

When I was in my university first year first semester, I have a subject called Software Engineering. That was the early beginning of the new millennium and the software industry also growing up at that time.  In that time all the batch mates have a dream about Bachelors of Science Honors degree. After graduating them they have to work in Software Engineering field.

When we are at our primary schools, everyone have a dream ambition about Doctors, Engineers and Accountants. (Hopefully no one has an ambition of being a driver, coconut pluckier, a marketing person on the road or even a businessman.) At least they are not thinking about the secondary level of higher position such as Nurse, Technical Officer, banker or a teacher.

But after higher school they have to change their ambitions. So I choose a Software Engineer profession as my career.

In our first lecture of Software Engineering subject first slide contains with a topic called "What is Software Engineering?" Mrs. Pradahini teaches us what is that. Then the second slide was "Are Software Engineers, Engineers?" . I remembered she teaches us it is yes. We learned lots of logics and apply those into practical level and develop final product to users to increase their efficiency so that's is a part of an engineer, so Software Engineer is actually Engineer. (That's all about theory).

After working in industry, I feel that is true. I feel always I'm an Engineer. Did lots of massive projects. But later I feel that I can believe I'm an Engineer but others cannot.  I will tell you some funny examples (but it's actually not funny) to prove it.

One year back, I attend to an alms which we organize. Before the alms, Buddhist priest talk with me and get some information about me. My name, occupation, day today works, Education level and so on. In that conversation he knows I'm an Engineer and also I'm one of main contributor for the alms. At the end of alms, in his speech he mention all the contributors to the alms. All the doctors, accountants, bankers and businessmen are there. But no Software Engineers. He just mention my name only. Not the profession :)

One day I went to meet a doctor to get medicine for my mother.  So he is asking who am I? so my mother told him my son is an engineer. Then he asks which kind of engineer. So I told him I'm Software Engineer. He says "oh there are lots of Software Engineers are there" and stop talking with me.

I assume doctors think that private universities cannot provide good Software Engineers because at that time they are not "Manufacturing" doctors from private universities.  But now they have a competition too.

One day my friend needs to get his passport and he applies with employer letter to prove his designation as software Engineer. But authorities reject it and set his profession as none. The reason they give to rejection is they doesn't know whether is actually an Engineer. What the hell?

When I was at one of my cousins house, cousin has private tuition. I cannot remember the exact lesson  That tuition master teaches them. But he says for man power hiring Software Engineers are the most less expected infrastructure people.  In that lesson he mention that Software Engineer does not bother about his appearance. They can code 2-3 days without change their clothes. They aren't expected social respect like doctors and other engineers. He told many shameful things about Software Engineers. So I feel so upset about my profession. It's actually not about the profession. Other people's view of my profession.

I know he is telling truth. Software Engineers does not bother about the dress. They are not smart wearing people. They just put a denim and t-shirt as a dress. Not a difference between rascal / robber or School leaver. I'm not insulting any other profession. But I'm weeping about my profession.

When I was a banker 10 years back, Most of the people recognized me as a "Banker".  I was a trainee at that time. But I have gentlemen look. I wear a long sleeve shirt and a tie with matching color combinations. Even I don't have a job, people will recognize me as a gentlemen when I wear like that. But this is not applicable for Software Engineer.

Most of the software engineers does not care about job security. They can start work another place easily when lose his job. So when a software engineer has 5 years experience in his career, at least he works for 3 places for those 5 years.

In this field maximum working expectation is 5 years at a place. If you work more than that in a one place that is your fault. (Most of the time, company will treat you as a time waster.)

in current society people will measure you from your dress. A doctor can identify as his clean suit with a tie and stethoscope. Engineer can identify his suit and his helmet. Mechanic can identify as his trouser and the other equipment. Even nurse or a teacher. But how to identify Software Engineer? An old torn denim with a t-shirt and wearing rubber slippers with a Laptop. May be without combing hair or long hair.

How can we get the respect from others. Think first. I think this is the time to change people's attitude about  SOFTWARE ENGINEERS. 

Photo  

I know the Subject!!!

Before we went to the school, at home we learn behavior basics at home. How to sit on the chair, How to eat, How to drink and even how to pee without split everywhere. Then we all went to school. In the school we learn lots of subjects like science, mathematics, and many languages, aesthetic subjects and so on. (But no one learn social studies well. Because most of the people does not know what is the society)

In the school also students learn discipline from teachers. How to work together, How to divide work load, how to treat others and how to win and how to bare up lost etc. Finally you got all distinctions and passed examinations.

Then you went to University or Medical College. Start hard life. You learn Calculus or Differentiation of mathematics. You learn rocket science instead of college science.  In medical college you learn patterns. Finding results for specific patterns. (If pattern is like human temperature > 37C, human has indicate vomiting or headache, and those symptoms lasts for more than one day – Yes that is Fever. One anti-biotic one Paracetamol vitamin C for 3 days) If I’m wrong correct me. Some are doing sports, not for university glory. But for their personal.

After your graduation you are about to start work. You went to interviews, talk politely show your talents according to the subject knowledge. No one asks about your attitudes. Your hobbies or behaviors. At least they won’t ask “Do you know how to behave in the office?”

Some times 1% of employers asks this question. Then you reply with a polite answer to get the job. (1% of Employees asks that 99% replies fake answer for get the job)

You will get the job. Then face to the new world. Start with office politics then gossips. Later start ball passing. Start bad habits with gangsters in the office. Divide to small parts and create lots of enemies.  No unity in the office. Had work stress. Start of bigger disaster.

But you still know the Subject.

You forget all the things which you learn at home, in the school or the university. No communication between colleagues. No more team work. No more other stuff.

Then what?

3^rd party company needs to develop and train your kind of skills. They charge from us. Those skills already in your blood. But why need to train from another 3^rd party?

Keep remember. They will not train your Subject knowledge. They are focusing on your not trained skill.

Keep Remember. You are know the subject. But you don’t train your skills and attitude (which already you have)

Are You Vegetarian?

This is my 3^rd Blog post in English. Still I don’t have any comment on my blog. But it has more than 250 views. I don’t know why. There can be following reasons.

•          All the stories based on my boasting stories. People don’t like those kinds of stories.
•          People cannot read my English
•          People like my Sinhala Posts other than the English ones
•          People hate English (Because we are colonial of them)
•          People have inferiority complex about my write-ups

Those are the knowing facts for me. I don’t know any others J

But I know one thing very well. Today post is about that. That is If you think out of the box, or make something creative or make something new or make something difference than others people always trying to find a bug of your finding. If they cannot at least they will laugh at you without any reason. 

I’ll tell you few examples which me and my close friends facing.

 One of my friends is a Vegetarian. I met him many occasions especially on Parties. When we all are at the buffet he seeks vegetarian foods. Then the first question will rise.

“Are you a vegetarian?”

The answer is “Yes”. After that there are plenty questions. Now those are by heart for me.

“That means you are not eating Chicken?”
“No”
“Fish or Sea food?”
“No”
“Even Maldives Fish”
“No”
“Do you eat cake?”
“Yes Sometimes!!”
“Ho ho. That means you are not a vegetarian. Eggs are using for making cake. What a cheater!!!”
“No I’m eating only coconut cake”
"!@#$%^&*("

That is like that. No one will appreciate his policy or commitment. Everyone try to prove he is not a Vegetarian.

This is another example. When we are in the party people are drinking and there are some nonalcoholic people also. Here is the normal conversation between the alcoholic and non-alcoholic as following.

“Why aren't you drinking?”
“I don’t like the smell” or “It is my policy”
“Really!! That means you haven’t drink before”
“Nope”
“Are you drinking Coke?”
“Yes of course!!!”
“Ha ha!!! That means you are not a non-alcoholic person. Coke contains alcohol!!!”

No one appreciate his effort. But everyone trying to prove he is alcoholic.

Think if you bought a Maruti car. And some of your friends saw it.

“Shit!! That is Maruty!!!”
“Why!!”
“Less comfortable. Is this car has AC? Can you see the road.?”
“But this has great fuel economy, economically I can buy this. Parts are lesser than other vehicles, I can park this car in small space”
“Hooo!! If you think economical vehicle you can buy a Japanese vehicle. Not a bloody Indian one. See the vehicle color. It doesn’t have that much shine like BMW. People cheating you”
“Yes! If I can buy a BMW, I do. But I have to spend more than 20 Maruties for buy a BMW.  It is ok. By the way where is your vehicle?”
“Mmm actually I don’t have one!!” :D

This is Sri Lankan Reality. That’s why we have idiom called “කතාව දෝලාවෙන් ගමන පයින්”

Most of the Sri Lankan has this kind of attitude. Everyone knows this is very bad. But no one stop this. Its mixed up with the jeans. That’s the disaster in future.

Photo curtesy