The Tech Industry Finally Broke the Spirit of Its Last Great Employee

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the story of "Sheila", a talented and dedicated software developer who has finally given up on her job due to the spirit-crushing environment at her tech company. It explores the challenges faced by the "Last Great Employee" in the tech industry and provides advice on how to handle such situations.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Last Great Employee

1. What are the key characteristics of Sheila, the "Last Great Employee"?

• Sheila is a close friend of the author who has developed into an amazing technical talent over the last 10 years
• She has worked her way up to become the second-to-the-CTO at a relatively well-known tech company
• Sheila never complains, comes to work every day, fights the good fight, and manages her own work-life balance
• She can code, lead, and handle product and vision work
• She has opinions but asks questions rather than makes statements

2. Why is Sheila considered the "Last Great Employee" at her company?

• Sheila's company is supposed to be a good, great, and wonderful place to work, but things are not as they seem
• Despite her talent and dedication, Sheila is now working without direction, reason, or motivation
• She doesn't have the resources to meet delivery dates, and there is no patience or tolerance when she misses those dates
• Her boss is paranoid because morale is low, and everyone on her team is looking for other jobs

3. What advice does the author provide to Sheila based on their own past experiences?

• The first mentor advised to fight first and then quit if the company still resists the employee's cogent arguments
• The second mentor advised to find "any port in a storm" and leave the company, even if it means trading the "devil you know for the one you don't"
• The author suggests that Sheila should put AI on her resume and LinkedIn, as the algorithms may prioritize that over her skills, talent, and experience

[02] The Tech Industry's Impact on Employees

1. How does the article characterize the tech industry's impact on its employees?

• The tech industry is "killing its golden geese" and Sheila is likely the "last goose" at her company
• The industry is creating a spirit-crushing environment for its employees, leading to widespread "quiet-quitting" and low morale

2. What does the article suggest about the broader challenges faced by tech industry employees?

• The spirit-sucking environment is not limited to just Sheila's company, but is a widespread issue in the tech industry
• Employees need to be cautious when leaving their current company, as they may be "trading the devil you know for the one you don't"