Career Path -- Part 1

Derek had enjoyed his first week at his new job. Really, his first job at all, well, first real job. He had interned a couple of places while in school but now that he had graduated he had a real job for the first time in his life. And after a week at it, he was very pleased with his choice, liked what he was doing so far and it seemed they like him. Not a bad start to a career he thought as he drove in that morning.

It was good company and it seemed like a good fit for him. He liked the fact it was just a small group of guys -- six counting him -- and he liked the camaraderie. Having graduated with a degree in marketing from USC with an emphasis in Internet Marketing, he felt like he was bringing skills to the job the company needed.

Mongrel Inc. A good name for relatively new software company which focused on taking existing applications combining them with other applications to create more powerful, more versatile and more user friendly applications. The five who had started the company a few years ago were now ready to start selling to a larger range of customers than they had and they wanted someone to develop their on-line marketing strategy. And that's where Derek fit in.

He was surprised at how easily he got the job. As he was approaching graduation he knew he was going have to prepare a killer resume, send lots of copies out, hit the streets, fill out lots of applications, go in for many, many interviews. Then one day he got an email from Mongrel Inc. They said they had been in touch with the USC Marketing Department to find some good applicants and his name was suggested. Would he come in for an interview? Of course he would!

The interview went well. He met first with the President "Please don’t call me Mr. Huntington. It makes me sound old! Call me Barry . This is an informal place." "Sure…ah...Barry!"

Apparently Barry liked what he saw and introduced him to the other four -- Tom, Steve, Jerry and Rick. None wanted to be called Mr. anything. All on a first name basis. Nice guys all. Friendly, obviously liked each other. Liked what they were doing. Asked him lots of questions. Laughed and joked. Great group of guys!

He went back a week later and took the battery of tests they wanted him to take. Some marketing oriented. Some personality oriented. A couple of aptitude tests. Apparently, the personality and aptitude tests were ones Mongrel Inc. itself had devised for some of their clients.

They asked him in for a third interview, this time at dinner with all five of them. They asked him about his life. He told them he grew up in Omaha, that his mother had died when he was in 5th grade and his grandmother raised him. Because of her age, he had to do a lot of the work around the house. She also did not have a lot of money, so he had several part time jobs while in school. She pushed him hard in school. She was determined he would do well in life. He had little time for a social life and so did not have many friends, Just not enough time between work, helping out at the house and hitting the books.

It had worked. When he graduated from high school, he had gotten a four year scholarship to USC and, encouraged by his grandmother, off he went to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, she had died just last year and so now he had no family to speak of and still had not made many friends. But he was self confident, optimistic about the future and ready to start and build his career and take on the world!

The interview process went well and they offered him the job. Told him to take a month after graduation to celebrate and party and then get started. That's what he did.

He had started last week. His impressions this Monday morning as he drove to work? Overall, it was a helluva a great place to work! He liked the guys. He liked the informality -- hell, it was more than informal! It was like a bunch of friends sitting around watching Monday Night Football. No one put on airs. They all helped each other, did favors for each other. Even Barry, the President, had chided him when he said he'd get him a cup of coffee. "No need for that! I can get my own."

He also liked the fact the offices were hidden away and secured. Necessary because they were working on cutting edge stuff and they did not want to be too conspicuous. Needed to maintain the trade secrets. Doors were always locked, no direct access from the street. Quiet, peaceful, no hassles from customers or people just wandering in.

Plus, they had set up one large room as a gym, which they all used everyday. 11:00 to Noon, and then they had a healthy lunch together. All stopped whatever they were doing and worked out at the same time. Derek did not have to take time in the evening to get in his regular work out

Yea, a good place to get started on my career, thought Derek. Damn! A great place to get started.

He used his security pass card to unlock the door and as he walked in Steve saw him. "Derek! You decided to come back," he laughingly said. "Glad you did!" They both laughed. "Once you are settled, saunter into my office. It's time to get you focused on the job ahead."

Derek got his stuff in the office, through his gym bag in the corner, grabbed a cup of coffee and went into Steve's office.

"OK, what do you want me to do?"

Steve explained that they had been researching various websites of companies they saw as competitors as well as other websites they liked. He wanted Derek to get online, check them out. Check the format, the layout, the design. Check the type of information they had, the links they had. Checking the links was really important -- "See how they network," Steve explained. "Do a thorough analysis of all of them."

He handed Derek a list of the websites. Derek thanked him, said he'd get right on it, and went into his office.

He studied the first one on the list, taking notes, saving screen shots, critiquing it from as many angles as he could think of.

He was well into the second site when he clicked on a link. A spiral of some sort came up. It was just in the middle of the screen, but slowly expanded to cover the entire screen. Derek was mesmerized by it. He couldn't take his eyes off of it. He noticed there was also a voice over, but didn’t really focus on what was being said. He just watched the spiral, round and round, colors it seemed, maybe not, turning into the center, then out from the center. Round and round and round.

An hour later, Barry called him into his office. "How's it going?" Derek respond "Well, Sir." Barry smiled to himself. "Good boy." Derek smiled inside, knowing Barry was happy with him. "Get me some coffee, boy," Barry said firmly. "Yes, Sir." Derek walked over and got the coffee pot, walked back to Barry's desk and poured him a cup of coffee, then returned the pot. "Good boy." Derek smiled inside again. "OK, back to work!" "Yes, Sir!"

Derek started reviewing the websites again. Clicked on another link. The spiral came up again. The faint voice too. Derek just stared and watched the spiral go round and round and round.

At 11:00, Rick came in. "Time for the workout, boy." "Yes, Sir!" Rick smiled. Derek grabbed his gym bag and followed Rick.

It was a good workout. They all pushed each other hard. But also laughed and told jokes as they always do. God Derek liked these guys! It was really fun working here. Such nice guys! As each encouraged him to push harder and harder, he answered with a firm "Yes Sir!" each time. When he said this, they all gave knowing looks at each other and smiled . And when he pushed harder as he was ordered to do, he always heard "Good boy!" and he always smiled inside knowing they were happy with him.

They all showered together as they always did. Then they all got dressed. Derek, as well. He put his boxers on, pants, socks shoes. But he put his t-shirt and shirt into his gym bag and walked back to his office bare-chested. Seemed perfectly normal to him and none of the others said anything as they buttoned their shirts and tucked them into their pants.

At lunch, The Five sat around the table and Derek served them, making sure they each had enough to eat, enough to drink, and were comfortable. When they were done eating, they left, Derek cleaned up and then he ate. As he walked back to his office, he passed Jerry. "Everything cleaned, washed and put away boy?" "Yes Sir". "Good boy!" Derek smiled inside.

He got through a couple more websites in the afternoon. He also got cokes and snacks for each of The Five when they called out "Boy! Come here!" because they wanted something. They always complimented him "Good boy!" And he always smiled inside.

About 5:30 Barry came in an told him it was time to go home. "Yes Sir!" Derek took his t-shirt and shirt out of his gym bag, and put them on. "Good boy!" "We'll see you tomorrow, boy." "Yes Sir!"

And Derek went home. Yea, he really liked this place. Even more so today than last week! He also knew he needed to be there. Where else would he feel so welcome and so at home.