alex.polvi.net

Recently big blue approached me, offered an internship, I accepted, and it was done. We were to be working on Xen doing proprietary value added components. They told me it was pretty much a three month paid interview to see if I was worth hiring once I graduated. I was getting a chance to do some serious low level development and that excited me.

About a week after I accepted with IBM the Mozilla Foundation contacted my boss, Scott, saying they wanted to hire me over the summer. He forwarded the note to me and I replied to Mozilla with:

This situation really puts me in a pickle. In one hand, I have been offered (and verbally accepted) an internship at the IBM Linux Technology Center doing kernel level programming. In the other hand there is this offer… where I would be able to interact with the community directly, instead of through a large cooperation. The community stuff is what I really really enjoy.

I honestly expected them to reply with, “Lets try again next summer”. But instead it was:

It would be great to have you come work at the Foundation this summer. I think I can do a bit better than the offer you received from IBM.

After Mozilla sent me the official offer this situation turned into a genuine hard decision. Do I honor my commitment? Or do I take the risk, blow off IBM, and see what happens? I asked this question to everyone with ears. I asked professors, co-workers, friends, and family. The responses were mixed. As I asked people I noticed more and more that I wanted them to tell me to go to Mozilla. The scale really tipped once my brother pointed out the obvious and told me to just follow my gut. So I did.

After telling IBM about the situation, and sleeping on it for many nights, I told them this:

It’s been a long week. I have come to the decision that it would be more beneficial for me to work with the Mozilla Foundation. For that reason I request to be relieved of my commitment to IBM. Thank you again for the very generous offer.

Then I waited for a reply. After a week of not hearing anything back I got on the phone. Had to call about 5 times, but I finally spoke with my would be manager. I knew at the end it was my decision and I did not need to follow up with him. I was simply trying to make it right. When we talked he did not make the situation any easier by saying, “Well, as long as you are comfortable starting your career like this.” There was no possible way this situation was comfortable, but I made the decision.

Back at the OSL I was told that while they support my decision 100%, I should really take some time to nurse IBM. Well, I disagree. IBM is no baby that needs nursing. Losing an intern (bottom of the food chain) THREE MONTHS before I was even going to start did not even cause a bump in the road for them. Sure, I may never be offered a job from IBM again; however it does not really bother me. I will continue to be professional with IBM but I will not go out of my way to give anyone a back rub (just as before this situation). By the time I graduate I should be at full pace with my own ventures.

The whole situation was a real eye opener. I had to put some serious thought into my future and am very glad to have such a safe, win win, decision. IBM made me a great offer, and I am very very grateful for that. Maybe in 10 years I will be kicking my self over this, but I doubt it.

So far I have learned that most things work out for the best. Furthermore, I have grown to trust my judgment. Even though I will never know “what if” I truly feel Mozilla will be far more beneficial to my future.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 20th, 2005 at 1:15 am and is filed under Personal.