Significant Career Lesson From A Senior Technical Program Manager At Microsoft
Kartik, a Senior Technical Program Manager at Microsoft, learned the critical importance of precise writing through experiences as a civil engineer and in their current role. The impact of poorly worded emails, as illustrated by a project delayed "by three months" due to unclear phrasing, underscores the significant role clear communication plays in a successful career.
Project Management, Communication, Professional Writing, Precision, Technical Communication
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kartik Atyam
Senior Technical Program Manager
Microsoft
UCLA
UC Berkeley
Engineering - Civil
Architecture, Construction & Design, Technology
Real Estate
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Precise writing is crucial for engineering and technical roles, impacting project timelines and outcomes.
2. Strong writing skills, especially in emails, are essential for clear communication and avoiding costly misunderstandings.
3. Engineering writing differs from other forms of writing; it demands precision and objectivity, which requires dedicated effort to master.
Transcript
What is one lesson you have learned that has proven significant in your career?
Writing is important. As an engineer, I hated writing, especially report writing.
I learned this through two instances. As a civil engineer, I had to write investigation and construction reports. It’s crucial to be precise in engineering writing, which is very different from fiction or academic writing.
It requires a level of precision and a lack of empathy in the words that I hadn't been trained for. I learned through hard lessons and lots of red ink from my bosses.
More recently, writing in emails is critically important for clarity. I had a colleague send an email with slight inconsistencies in phrasing. For example, the difference between "recommended" and "required."
This changed our project implementation by three months. Our partners thought it wasn't necessary, and they wouldn't hold it against the contract. They decided to do it only if it was convenient.
We then had to inform them they were late and that the cost was theirs. So, precision in every single email you write is extremely important.