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Ask HN: If you work in infra, how's the social situation?

6 points by civicsquid ↗ HN
I work in a large infra organization at one of the big tech companies. I like almost everything about my job and I feel like the infra space is right for me.

But one thing I really don't like is the social situation. Pretty much everyone in the org has a family and/or isn't interested in the social aspect of work. They are all personable and kind, but they aren't there to socialize -- it's just their job.

As someone who doesn't have a family and is only a couple of years out of college, this lack of socialization has been pretty tough. I wonder if it's this way everywhere or if big tech infra just attracts people who are working for the money and don't particularly care about socialization.

So I wonder: if you work in infra, does this resonate with you? How do you deal with it (or do you)?

4 comments

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yuppie_scum
Bud there’s been a global pandemic on, there hasn’t been a lot of work socialization. It’s going to take a while for work socialization to approach it’s old levels, and things are going to look different when we really do reach the new normal.

And you should consider yourself goddamn lucky to work at a place that puts a value on work life balance. Come back and read this in ten years when you have a family and you’ll probably cringe.

Sevii
You need to build a social circle and engage in more out of work activities. Especially with the remote work situation these days you can't rely on work for socialization.
8b16380d
For 99% of people, a job is simply a means to support themselves/their family. Sure, you can make friends along the way, but as you get older and start accruing more responsibilities, life outside of work starts filling up and you no longer will have the bandwidth to be a social butterfly at work.

Take a cue from your coworkers and look outside of the workplace to fulfill your social needs.

f0e4c2f7
I used to work with a great infra team that I would wind up at the bar with frequently. I think you're onto something with people having families, maybe intentionally seek out a workplace with younger people who are still partying a lot. All those people I worked with back then don't hit the bar too much anymore (including me now I guess).

Part of it is just covid too I think. Not just the current situation but the muscle memory built up of not going out.