IT: Game of Credit

If we consider IT was a game, then I am still a starter in this game. Every person has his own way of playing this game i.e. different strategy and this blog is about one such strategy of taking Credit for work. I learnt this game hard way. 

I still recall my earlier days, when I was started fresh. My first job was not very exciting and interesting. I joined this company for a break, when IT industry was still recovering from 2001 recession after effects. I came onboard for Java, but due to lack of project I was put on Delphi project. Being starter and new in the game, I worked sincerely and gave more than 100% to learn and understand the technology. I was working on this module which involved both design and development. At the end though this module was my baby, team lead took it to management and took complete credit. I came to know about this only after my co-lead told me about it. I was new in the game then, it did not bother me a lot. I felt this is how things work. This was my first encounter with game of credit. Within 4 months I left that job, not because of the Credit Theft, but because of future prospects (that’s what I said in my exit interview). 

I had similar experience in my 2^nd. This company was slightly bigger than previous and I hoped for better professional environment. As I was just 4 months old in industry, I was still fresher. I had to prove myself again. I worked selflessly and hard enough to stand out from the bunch of trainees. We had project based performance bonus. After my first project, performance bonus was distributed and I was given any bonus. Now the game of credit begins. Starting from Resource planner, Project Manager and Project leader started giving excuses and blaming someone else. Allocated bonus was distributed and what I got was verbal diarrhea of appreciation. I did not fight for the bonus then, but learnt my lessons. There are always people to take what you deserve; so identify them and be careful with such people. 

My 3^rd job till date is the best I have had. In this job I realized that there are good people in industry. Bollywood dialogue “Agar meine yeh job nahi kiya hota, to mera is industry pe se vishwaas udgaya hota.” 

My 4^th and current job taught me lot about this game and I would say I am still learning. Probably now I understand the game better. I joined this company as a reference of my ex team lead. I started working in his team. As I had already worked under this guy before, I sort of trusted him blindly. When project pressure started building up, I got to see real colors of this guy. All good work is mine and bad or shoddy work is yours, was the attitude. Being team lead, he was interacting with client and in the process he was taking complete credit of others work. I knew this game and before it was too late, I started interacting with client directly. Now my work had more visibility and recognition. I learnt very important lesson, trust has its own boundaries. When things are at stake, everyone changes colors. 

To summarize the game of credit:

1. This game is always played one sided. Person lower down the ladder is always the underdog and in this game underdog never wins.
2. You always don’t get what you deserve. Sometimes you have to fight for that.
3. Trust has its boundaries. Depend on nobody. This is not team game but single player game.