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Getting Credit for Programming Accomplishments?

Posted by timothy on from the where-it-is-due dept.

An anonymous reader writes "I am a college student new to corporate culture. For the last few weeks, I have been working on a very large project: revamping our customer service website with tons of new tutorials and information. Recently, I got an e-mail forwarded from my supervisor of improvements that HIS supervisor requested. I am fine with compliments and complaints about my work. However, I realized in the e-mail that my supervisor took credit for the development of this content. I have been under his direct supervision in this whole process; much of the new content was his idea that I ended up implementing. Is it out of line to request that in the future I get mentioned for my work?"

5 of 148 comments (clear)

  1. Well... by Oxy+the+moron · · Score: 5, Informative

    Out of line? Maybe... it depends on your corporate culture. I would never make the suggestion at my current employer, but YMMV.

    Generally, though, it doesn't make any sense to do so. Even if you're successful in getting your supervisor to mention you, his supervisor is more than likely going to response with "Who?" or "That's nice..." or something equivalent.

    In my relatively short career, I've learned to appreciate recognition when it comes by, but to never expect it.

    --

    Proudly supporting the Libertarian Party.

  2. Re:Pretty normal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    You shouldn't do the work for the credit, you should do it for the sake of the company and the greater good. That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Everything you do in your professional life should be geared toward promoting your career and your career interests. Passively letting others take credit for your work is not just a bad way to advance, it's also unfair. Why should others get the credit and benefits due to you for your hard work? The very idea is crazy. Now, I understand as well as anyone that it can sometimes be politically unwise to stop a superior from taking credit for your accomplishments but to state that you shouldn't seek credit for your work is absolute madness. If you don't get credit for your accomplishments how can you expect to be fairly evaluated or fairly compensated? You can't. Oh, and I don't buy that nonsense about how you'll just magically - somehow, in spite of any level of passivity and meekness on your part - one day get recognized for all the good you do the company. That's a fairy tale that nobody who isn't hopelessly naive will believe. We should all damn well at least try to get credit for our accomplishments. After all, we're due it.
  3. Good points here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    I am the original asker. I know it's hard to trust ACs but I speak the truth :)

    I want to clarify this has nothing to do with programming, it's adding tutorials etc. to a website. The programming thing must have been added by editors.

    Many have mentioned how he would take the heat if something bad happened under his supervision. I have definitely seen him do this and can recognize the tradeoff a lot better now. I see what you all mean, my recognition is eventual promotion/raise from my direct supervisor, not some guy who's seen me twice reading my name in an e-mail. However, 7 bucks an hour for this work seems kinda small but that's another story :)

  4. Re:Although Pretty Normal He Can Change It by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    I'm the asker, I know it's hard to trust ACs but I speak the truth (see my other response below).

    To clarify, he just told me "make tutorials for x, y, and z program." I then went on to go through the process, take screenshots, and carefully explain everything just in case the user was very new at this. I agree that it's not worth it to ask for the credit, I got some really good answers in this discussion that helped me see the bigger picture. I just wanted to clarify that I wasn't merely translating a Word doc into html or something similar.

  5. India & $10 an hour by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    If you have ever seen code come back from India- most especially web code - then you know why it's $10 an hour.

    There must be talented web developers over there, but I have never run across any of them in any project I've been associated with.

    Instead we've gotten back code that included ( unapproved ) javascript libraries with CC non-commercial licenses ( did I mention they were working on corporate tools ), sometimes with all the licensing and identifying comments removed... but method names and file names unchanged.

    600K CSS files with class names like 'myClass', and multiple - stacked - browser hacks. Php with references like 'myVar' , 'var1' and 'foo'.

    Companies learn, but they have to learn the hard way. Hiring two contractors to rewrite an app so we can have a prayer of maintaining was a bitter pill, but now I get to say what gets outsourced and to whom :o)

    Oh, and so I'm not completely OT - I'd say bite your tongue. If he's a decent guy, you will get credit - even if not in every email. If he's not, do your time, fluff the resume and move on. If you are looking to be a developer, you will almost certainly end up moving a few times before you find your niche anyway.

    I'm ( finally ) very happy where I am now, but it took a few times to find the right language, the right environment, and the right people.

    ,