Significance in the Workplace

My first corporate job was an entry-level computer programmer position. A month after landing the job, I had a chance to de-brief with my boss on his interview and selection process. As a new entrant into the IT world, I knew that my programming skills and qualifications were probably not as solid as the other candidates vying for the position. Still, I got the job.

My boss told me that despite my weaker resume, he chose me over 20 other candidates. He said I stood out because the questions I asked in the interview process were very different from those asked by other candidates. I recall those interviews clearly. I asked my potential new boss to explain how the Information Technology group fit in the overall organization. I asked where and to whom IT reported. I wanted to know the strategic importance of IT to the company’s infrastructure–after all this was an oil company, not a technology company. I spent considerably less time in the interview asking about the specifics of the job itself. What I needed to determine for myself was whether the job was going to provide me a feeling of significance. After all, I was looking at IT as a starting point for my career, not a destination.

I actually took the job because the answers my future boss gave me stood out as well. First of all, I was encouraged that IT reported up to a leader that was well-respected and ultimately to the CFO. My boss was a new MBA and his way of thinking was broader than the usual technical managers I had come across. He spoke about strategy and politics of countries in which the company operated. We talked about negative press, of corporate raiders and the company’s rich 100-year history. Through the interview process, I also determined that the company was lagging behind its competition in technology so the early years of my career were a time of great security, activity and opportunity.