A little color and a little character in the concrete jungle.
Not bad for early March...sure beats the rain/snow/wind of Boston!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
My Neighborhood
A little color and a little character in the concrete jungle.
Not bad for early March...sure beats the rain/snow/wind of Boston!
The Job
Over the past few weeks I’ve tried to explain to friends/family how much my life has changed since the move out west here. It has been quite challenging for me to express just how much I love it out here as many times I have found myself at a loss for words as to what it is exactly that makes San Francisco so great, and more specifically, what makes Facebook so great. So this post is my attempt to articulate this all….
Shifting gears away from consulting where established methodologies and standard ways of thinking/doing things are the norm, I thought I knew how different things would be at FB based on what I had heard - but I had no idea it would be like this. Was it the free food? The perks? The people? The work environment? Turns out it’s none of these things and all of them at the same time.
The energy and excitement I have felt thus far is almost inexplicable and a complete departure from anything I had become accustomed to in previous work environments. Countless times over the past 14 days I’ve found myself looking around for anyone else that is as amazed by the way things are done around here and how “uncorporate” it is as I am. I have happily struck out so far because, as I have learned, it’s just how it is! I attribute most of this to the fact that the company is still so young and still learning about itself as well as what the future holds. The buzz is ubiquitous and absolutely contagious. I think it’s impossible to walk through the halls of the 1601 California Ave and not feel passionate about the work we are doing and inspired to push the boundaries even further.
What is even more impressive is the youth that is driving this operation. I’d say about 90% of the workforce is 35 yrs old and younger, with most of us landing in our mid-to-late 20’s. This provides such a sense of empowerment for me as my peers, and myself included, are driving projects and leading teams that only someone with 5-10 yrs experience would be trusted to do in any other industry.
So I guess to summarize, there are no 2 or 3 specific things that stood out thus far as the whole experience has been great. What I can say with absolute certainty is that Facebook is ever-moving and ever-evolving and I am so thrilled to be a part of it all and can’t wait to see where it takes me.
Shifting gears away from consulting where established methodologies and standard ways of thinking/doing things are the norm, I thought I knew how different things would be at FB based on what I had heard - but I had no idea it would be like this. Was it the free food? The perks? The people? The work environment? Turns out it’s none of these things and all of them at the same time.
The energy and excitement I have felt thus far is almost inexplicable and a complete departure from anything I had become accustomed to in previous work environments. Countless times over the past 14 days I’ve found myself looking around for anyone else that is as amazed by the way things are done around here and how “uncorporate” it is as I am. I have happily struck out so far because, as I have learned, it’s just how it is! I attribute most of this to the fact that the company is still so young and still learning about itself as well as what the future holds. The buzz is ubiquitous and absolutely contagious. I think it’s impossible to walk through the halls of the 1601 California Ave and not feel passionate about the work we are doing and inspired to push the boundaries even further.
What is even more impressive is the youth that is driving this operation. I’d say about 90% of the workforce is 35 yrs old and younger, with most of us landing in our mid-to-late 20’s. This provides such a sense of empowerment for me as my peers, and myself included, are driving projects and leading teams that only someone with 5-10 yrs experience would be trusted to do in any other industry.
So I guess to summarize, there are no 2 or 3 specific things that stood out thus far as the whole experience has been great. What I can say with absolute certainty is that Facebook is ever-moving and ever-evolving and I am so thrilled to be a part of it all and can’t wait to see where it takes me.
Monday, March 1, 2010
I've Arrived!
After my arrival in San Francisco last week I've spent the majority of my time wandering around the city checking out the different neighborhoods and adamantly searching craigslist for an apartment. Thus far it has been unsuccessful, yet I am optimistic that I will find one in the coming weeks. I have also been lucky enough to have a generous friend in Luke and his hospitable girlfriend Gabby, with whom I am staying with until I can find a place of my own. Ideally I would like to find a place and settle in before my March 8th start date at Facebook, but I don't see that happening.
I can't say enough about how great the city has been so far, and how friendly the people have been. The general vibe out here is so different than Boston and I am looking forward to meeting people at work and around the city once I establish myself here. Oh yea...it also doesn't hurt that the weather has hovered around 55 degrees and either overcast or sunny since my arrival. I'd say that's an improvement from the "Snowicane" that the Northeast experienced a few days ago!
Though it has been a long 5 months of unemployment, I think it was the best thing that could have happened to me. It seems almost fate that I landed in SF, checked my voicemail, and had a congratulatory message from Facebook with a job offer. The timing couldn't have been better and with almost nothing but my hat in hand, I've reached a new chapter in my life and things are lookin' up!
I can't say enough about how great the city has been so far, and how friendly the people have been. The general vibe out here is so different than Boston and I am looking forward to meeting people at work and around the city once I establish myself here. Oh yea...it also doesn't hurt that the weather has hovered around 55 degrees and either overcast or sunny since my arrival. I'd say that's an improvement from the "Snowicane" that the Northeast experienced a few days ago!
Though it has been a long 5 months of unemployment, I think it was the best thing that could have happened to me. It seems almost fate that I landed in SF, checked my voicemail, and had a congratulatory message from Facebook with a job offer. The timing couldn't have been better and with almost nothing but my hat in hand, I've reached a new chapter in my life and things are lookin' up!
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