[This is a fiction story]
In a busy bus station, a man walked slowly toward a bus. It was a regular service from St. Stelton to Denube. The 80 km journey would take about one and half to two hours.
Denube was one of the country's IT hub cities, with factories and companies everywhere. It was like the Silicon Valley of the modern world.
James, a 28-year-old, had graduated in software engineering in his early twenties. He was among the brightest students, with a promising future and high expectations.
He was one of the youngest to graduate from a prestigious university and had secured a high-paying placement thanks to his brilliance and hard work. His professors were proud and congratulated him.
After two months on the job, however, he realized the harsh reality of the IT sector. Regular meetings, pressure from higher-ups, strict project deadlines, and occasional scolding for delayed work had become routine.
He remembered the first time he failed to submit a project on time. It was only a one-day delay, yet his manager scolded him harshly, used abusive words, and even threw files at him in front of everyone. Colleagues watched silently. How humiliating it was to face their eyes.
James had frozen on the spot, unsure of what to do. It felt as if his brain had stopped working.
"Ah, life of everyone is the same — struggle, struggle, struggle," he thought as he walked toward the bus.
He boarded the bus and found a vacant seat.
The bus conductor approached and asked for his ticket. Although online booking exists, some buses still allow passengers to buy tickets directly from the conductor. This was one of them.
James purchased the ticket and paid. As the conductor handed it over, he glanced at a man in a white shirt, black tie, and black pants — a young man with a vacant expression, slightly furrowed brow, and flat, pale complexion. He said nothing and moved on to the next passenger.
Nearby, an older man in his fifties observed silently. Having seen a lot in his lifetime, it had become his routine to notice two or three people like this every day for the past thirty years.
The bus departed at 7:00 a.m. and arrived at Denube by 8:30 a.m. James then took a taxi to the IT complex. Today was his interview.
Since being fired from his last job, he had been unemployed for three months. Finding a new position after being fired was never easy. Despite his strong profile, James struggled to secure a role. His diligence and completed projects spoke for themselves, but the "fired" label worked against him.
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Hierarchy in IT Sector
Typical Hierarchy in an IT Company:
Entry Level
Intern / Trainee / Junior Developer: Works under close supervision. Limited decision-making authority. Focuses on learning and completing assigned tasks.
Mid-Level
Software Engineer / Developer: Handles modules/projects independently. Reports to senior developers or team leads.
Senior Software Engineer: Leads critical modules, mentors juniors, sometimes interacts with clients.
Team Lead / Manager Level
Tech Lead / Team Lead: Manages a team, makes technical decisions, and acts as a bridge between developers and management.
Project Manager: Handles timelines, client communication, and resource allocation. Less hands-on coding, more management.
Senior Management
Engineering / Development Manager: Oversees multiple teams or projects, handles hiring, budgets, and strategy.
Director of Engineering: Oversees the entire engineering division, responsible for strategic decisions and coordination.
Executive Level
VP of Engineering / CTO: Sets technology vision and strategy, works closely with the CEO and board.
This is the typical hierarchy in an IT office.
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Office Politics
Even more stressful than hierarchy is office politics, which exists everywhere but varies by company culture. Common patterns include:
Influence & Networking: Relationships with seniors affect promotions and project allocation.
Credit & Recognition: Some employees claim credit for others' work.
Project Allocation: Favorable projects go to preferred employees; less interesting projects to others.
Conflict Between Teams: Different departments may clash over priorities or deadlines.
Promotion & Appraisal Politics: Reputation, visibility with managers, and interpersonal skills often matter as much as performance.
Bootlicking & Complaining: Some employees please seniors or complain about colleagues for favors.
These methods keep office management aware of day-to-day conditions. It's common in every office.
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At the IT Complex
Today was his interview. Upon arrival, he reported to the receptionist and submitted his file.
After some time, she said, "You are 14th in line. The interview will start at 9:30 a.m. Please wait in the cabin. You will be called when your number comes."
While waiting, two women approached. From their conversation, it seemed one had come to support her friend.
James glanced at them. The girl who had come to support looked cheerful. Anyone seeing her would forget sadness or nervousness; she seemed naturally talkative.
She held her friend's hand and said, "Hey, don't be nervous. I know it's your first interview, okay? If you look like this, they might reject you. Look, your hand is shaking, hahaha. I'm telling you, you'll get this job. Tonight we'll celebrate with Hannah and the others, okay?"
Her friend whispered, "Sailey, please talk softly. People are watching us."
"So what?" Sailey replied.
"Do you have a problem if I talk like this?" she asked James, who was sitting nearby.
"N-no," James stammered.
"Look, they don't mind," Sailey said to her friend.
"Sailey, please," her friend murmured.
"Okay, I won't talk," Sailey said.
After sometime she whispered something to her friend that he didn't hear well. James, already nervous, struggled to follow.
It was clear her friend's nervousness had lessened, and a rosy flush appeared on her cheek.
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Interview Call
After some time, candidates were called one by one. His number came at 11:20.
James stood, took his file carefully, and walked toward the interview room. At the door, he knocked three times and waited.
After a moment, a voice said, "Come in."
It sounded like a middle-aged woman. He entered the room.