Conference 7.286::digital

    Ok, serious answers:
    
    First, I like the people I know here.  Good conversations
    at lunch are important to me.  It's not as much like graduate
    school as it was in '82, but it's often still intellectually
    interesting.  Many of the people I know are smarter than I
    am, which is a good thing in my opinion.
    
    Second, I'm learning a lot about an interesting area of
    computer science in my work.  The last two years I got 
    familiar with distribution in general, DCE RPC in particular,
    C++ and OO design.  I'm going to be doing more on distribution.
    Even if DEC goes under or kicks me out, I can only benefit
    by being more experienced in C++, etc.  But I've been very
    fortunate in my work assignments--others haven't (e.g. the
    job I have is in advanced development, doing work I proposed).
    
    As far as pride and helping the company: if what I have 
    been doing and am going to do works out, Digital will have
    good CASE tools with which users can build distributed
    applications.  Admitedly this is an area which is getting
    more crowded every day, so I can't promise my stuff will
    catch on, nor that AD work will be transitioned to product,
    nor that product will be adequately funded.  I think the
    area is important, and I'm doing my bit to push it.
    
    Third, I've been here for eleven years.  I get four weeks
    a year of vacation.  I pay a mortgage on a local house.  I
    have kids in a local day-care.  I like the area (ok, I don't
    like all of the winter).  Moving would be a pain, and a
    longer commute would be a pain.
    
    But those negative waves are getting to me, too.  They're
    based on negative facts, too.
    
    		-John Bishop

    I get to play on the other side of the fence every day (I work
    in the field doing short term delivery) in many different
    pastures, and the grass is not greener.  I also love what I do,
    so why change?
    
    Brad.

    I'd side with most of .1, plus I like a challenge.
    
    And a challenge it is! 
    
    I still think Digital has the best products. I like them. 
    I still think Digital has LOTS! of good people. I like (most of) them ;-)
    
    Second way of looking: why not working for Digital? Whats the
    alternative? 
    
    There is a proverb (maybe, but not very likely, invented by me)
    
    		small is butifull,
    		but big is POWERFULL
    
    so you can rule out most of the companys. What is left does not "feel"
    right (IBM is to arrogant, HP is to "sneaky"...) exept Digital.
    
    Call me a dreamer, a hopless optimist if you like, but thats it.
    Christoph                                      

    After 14 years, I still feel good about getting up real early and
    getting into the office at about 6:00 am, reading mail, notes, etc.
    Obviously some days are better than others, but on the whole, I'm
    doing okay.  What I continue to be amazed about, and look forward to,
    is understanding the incredible amount of knowledge many people
    have, how they are willing to share that knowlege, and I enjoy
    learning.  There are many folks I deal with who are clearly lacking
    in skills, knowlege, and ability to share, but for every one of these
    "duds", there are many more excellent people always willing to help
    me understand just a little bit more about life, business, etc.
    
    And also because every day there is a new challenge or crisis created
    by those who live just to do that, there has to be someone willing to
    point that out and help prevent/solve these problems.
    
    Mark
    

    Two reasons.
    
    1. I never run away from a challenge
    
    2. The people I work with are the best.
    
    
    		-Jim-

    	I personally have not been inside a notefile for a couple of years,
    with the exception of work (directly) related for info sharing,etc.
    
    	I started reading this and the jobs note only to watch for
    opportunities and to learn how others feel about what is happening,
    before our very eyes.... 
    

    Well, I used to like the learning new things, using stuff before
    customers got it, excellent facilities and innovation. Most of all, I
    liked the people who had become friends.
    
    Now, I haven't learnt anything new (technical) for more than 2 years,
    I'm stuck in Support because the knowledge I have is too valuable to
    lose, I even offered to bring in my own PC and I can't, and innovation
    is an anachronism. My friends? Well, most of them are gone.
    
    Why do I stay? I like Brussels, and the money's handy. The company? I
    liked working for DEC, Digital doesn't seem to suit me the same.
    
    Laurie.

	Most of my friends work for DEC, although that is rapidly 
	changing.. At 32 years old, I still feel like I'm in college.
	We all hang out together and go places together..

	I get lots of toys to play with. (Just got a DECpc486/66MT)
	My office has 6 tubes in it.. I'm "learning NT" on my own
	time.

	I know I've helped do my share of quality improvements to
	VMS.

	I get 4 weeks a year and have over 7 weeks saved up.

	I'm still looking to see if I can find something that is
	challenging on the outside. I haven't found that yet so
	I'm still here.

	When the right opportunity comes along or if I get TFSO'd, I'm
	outta here.

							mike

    
    
    Basically, I too still enjoy the challenges of my position.  I believe
    that DIGITAL will turn around as a company.  There are days when things
    can get kind of rough here, but on the hole I can survive.
    
    I work with the Trade Show group so things are constantly changing and
    moving.  I have the opportunity to work with different organizations
    in trying to meet their needs for show, seminars, trainings and so
    forth.  I am not a person who is on the trade show floor, but rather
    a behind the scenes support person.  I have GREAT satisfaction in
    knowing that I in alot of are helping DIGITAL to deliver their message
    about their products.  In addition, I too get to see the latest and
    greatest of equipment and where technology is heading.  I can say that
    after 15 years here I still enjoy and most of the time can still get
    excited about being here.  I have many friends who have left and are
    really finding it tough to find anything that comes close to what
    their skill levels and $$$ that the were making here.
    
    Summary, I'll coin a pharse from a song that we used to do in a band
    I was in....
    
    "I am here and you are over there", what that means to me...Right now
    the grass is greener here and HERE is where I prefer to be.
    
    Bob Montville

This is precisely the question that I am struggling with.  There are
obvious reasons, including the fact that I do not wish to disrupt my
family by moving.  But in spite of some bad experiences with a variety 
of our upper level managers, I still have some reasons to stay:

    1)  Lots of great people.  I've spent 13 years getting to know
	folks who know a lot and are great to work with.  Many of
	them are even still here.

    2)	Some interesting projects.  Not as many as there might be --
	my last several have all been cancelled, primarily for 
	organizational reasons.  But there are some things going
	on right now that I'd like to keep working on.

    3)	Well, I'm having trouble coming up with #3.  Which is too
	bad, because in past years I would have cited a lot of
	stuff about Digital being a company to believe in, a
	place where integrity and excellence is valued.  Sure, 
	there were problems, but I always saw them as exceptions.
	It's like one of those dark/light patterns:  which is the
	real picture and which is the background?  I now see too
	much of the bad stuff (which is discussed thoroughly in
	other notes) to have any feeling left for Digital's
	upper management.  The Digital that I still care about and
	believe in is composed of the workers, not the management.
	I thought Palmer would change things.  I don't see it.
	It's not that I think that all of upper management is bad.
	It's just that my experience leads me to see the good ones
	as the exceptions now.  

		Larry Seiler

PS -- It isn't necessary to do evil deeds yourself to be evil.
All that is necessary is to watch evil being done that you could
act to stop, and choose to do nothing...

    ALPHA is a killer - if you don't trust me, just call INTEL and
    see their reaction.
    
    My be wrong, by DEC will make the 'next wave' of technology with
    the 64 bit ALPHA machines.   As soon as we achieve critical mass
    (Qtr. 2 FY'94) we are on the way to become (maybe) the standard.
    Then its going to be a lot of fun again (just like to good old
    time of when the 11-780 was first released as the first 32 bit
    machine).

I joined Digital 12 years ago because it offered me a better job than the
one I had at the time.  I joined as a Sales Support Specialist, and loved 
the work because I could learn new things as fast as I could absorb them.
I worked with customers every day, and knew the sense of satisfaction that
one gets from solving a customer's problem, or closing a competitive sale.

I'm still with Digital because:

o I have the privilege of managing and working with the best team of system 
performance analysts in the industry (I'm not kidding).

o the organization that I'm in (Systems Engineering) sits in the vortex 
formed by the activity of customers, Sales, Marketing, Services, and 
Engineering.  New challenges continuously present themselves in the form
of new applications, new technology, and new customer problems. I am learning
new things as fast as I can absorb them.

o I work on customer problems every day

Thanks to .0 for posing the question.  I needed that.

MS

    I'm here because I'm insane, and love to be abused!  8-)
    
    Seriously, it's hard to define.  This company is one of the best
    companys to work for if your into the technical aspects of computers. 
    You just have to put up with the political BS.  The reason I'm insane
    is I've turned down a customers offer for a HELL of a lot more money!
    
    I must love this place, why else would I be here?
    
    - Mike

    I'm here because IT'S GOING TO TURN AROUND! Maybe not tomorrow, 
    or next week, but it will turn around. Soon. You heard it here 
    first...
    
    Greg

    I have been here close to twelve years, and am here because I
    choose to remain, and haven't been TFSO'd yet.
         With all the changes, DEC/Digital, senior leadership team,
    products, services, BP, I can only continue to give this company
    my best efforts, for they have supplied me with twelve years of
    financial comfort.  The grass is NOT greener on the other side.
    Digital is going places.  It takes time to turn a big ship in a
    different direction vs. a small speedboat.  This next fiscal year
    is the most important year for Digital.  It is do or die!
         I love the four weeks a year vacation, and great health benefits.
    I love the people I work with, the customers I deal with, and my
    manager.  Sure there is alot of crap floating around Digital still,
    but just brush it off and keep going.  Even whale sh#$ sinks to the
    bottom of the sea.  I would like to see the ceiling on the 401k raised,
    and Digital contribution to it as well.  But getting paid fairly for
    an honest day's work is good for me.
    
    Bob
    

	re. 1.  thanks for starting this note.

	
	Here since 1979 and it still feels "right"

	

	Mikki Nikoloff

    I am here because I love working for YOU Joe!!  ;-) ;-)  You have the
    best toys and the most interesting stories!

re Note 2565.0 by HIBOB::KRANTZ:

> 	Why do you want to work here?
  ...
> 	What reasons other than a continued paycheck, health care, and

        For me it is for a continued paycheck and benefits.  I have
        three children, two in private school, one with a private
        special needs tutor.  Although my wife works very hard, she
        does not draw a pay check at this time.  At my age (44),
        level (consulting engineer), and salary (a recruiter told me
        that I had better be willing to accept at least a 10%
        decrease in pay), the package just isn't good enough to allow
        me to meet my responsibilities for long enough to find a
        comparable job.

        I did find a good job two weeks ago within the company, and I
        took it.  But I do worry mightily for the health of the
        company.  Software engineering, which I left, is so
        disorganized and so demoralized.

        This company has lacked a viable vision, one in which its
        people really believed, for many years now.  It still lacks
        vision.

        Bob

    i owe... i owe... so it's off to work i go!

    	It would have been more fun to answer this a few years ago. Then I
    had a lot of reasons. Now I have very few...and fewer all the time. I'm
    still "comfortable" here...maybe too comfortable. I like the people,
    the facility, living and working in N.H., the convenience of the
    Wellness Center here in ZKO, the work challenges. The other things I
    liked have all been eliminated or are about to be (more recent
    rumblings concern the Wellness Center). With stagnating pay, decreasing
    benefits, and the fact that we seem to either be getting out of the
    software business (if we're not already), it will soon be time to face
    the discomfort and truly seek new opportunities.

>Why are YOU here?

I think it's Newtons first law   :-)

    I like what I do.
    
    I am very good a what I do.
    
    I am 52.5 years old and simply don't want to "start over again".
    
    I like who I work with.
    
    tony

    DEC's style of personnel management is quite different from what you
    usually find here in Germany; if you are determined, you can really
    have a challenging and rewarding job. No matter what the jokes on
    Instructors are (and I know many of them ;-)), I love my job.
    
    Even though many of the former Goals and Objectives seem to be not
    valid any more, DEC's "culture" is still attracting to me.
    
    I like the people I work with, both by their personality and
    professionalism.
    
    After five years there is still excitement, suprises (yeah, also a few
    negative ones lately) and no boring day-today routine.
    
    This is why I'm here, and I hope to stay.
     
    Felix Bapistella
    LS FRN