Quiet Quitting
I finally &#x27;quiet quit&#x27; when I realized being a minority in tech means I&#x27;ll never break the glass ceiling past senior engineer regardless of how hard I work or how visibly I help. Even in school I was shoved into secretarial work until I finally convinced professors to let me work solo and would smoke entire groups.<p>People for some reason think I am good enough to interview for lead or architect then seem surprised when I show up and saw &quot;Ooo, hmm. I think you are a better fit for senior.&quot; or &quot;Hmm. I think we&#x27;ll hire you as a second or third hire instead&quot; or when I am inside, I am told for years &quot;you&#x27;re up for a promotion&quot;.<p>I am disregarded and mistreated, treated like a pariah. I thought if I worked hard enough, people will like me and see my value; a meritocracy! Nope. It&#x27;s got nothing to do with actual skills and everything to do with who you are and who you schmooze.<p>It&#x27;s weird as fuck that they are interested and crawling over me until they talk to me as a person. I am doubtful it is my abilities. It&#x27;s likely because I am autistic and a little eccentric (talk fast &#x2F; ADHD &amp; a little overwhelming to talk to if I am being honest). I am well-spoken and fairly clear to speak to, I actually give talks about my work. I just chalk it up to wanting a square when I am pretty clearly and happily a circle.<p>I can either bury myself and personality to become a grey corporate square or I can shut my mouth and disregard the dudebros that seem to only promote fellow dudebros that ask me how to solve their problems then pretend they didn&#x27;t.