Chapter 1: First steps, baby steps

6. Another first day

When I finally received the job offer from the telecommunications company to install and fix PBXs adjunct software, I couldn’t say no. Little did I know that my first day would be filled with interesting encounters and a dialogue with my manager that would make me feel like I’d hit the jackpot.

Walking into the office that morning, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. My boots clacked on the carpet floor, and the soft hum of computers filled the air. The employees, mostly men in drab suits and ties, turned their heads to look at me. Their eyes widened, and I couldn’t help but notice some raised eyebrows and hushed whispers as I walked past cubicles.

As I approached the front desk, a receptionist gave me an odd look. “You must be the new engineer,” she said with a touch of surprise in her voice.

I smiled, my sarcasm already creeping in. “So, it seems, unless I picked the wrong elevator floor, and this is indeed a marketing company?”

Her startled expression quickly shifted to a forced smile as she handed me a visitor’s badge. “Welcome. I’m sure you’ll do great.”

I nodded and headed toward the office of my new manager, Mr. F. He was considered a total guru as in his previous job he was asked to travel to the USA and work on building the telephony cards for the Italian market, so I was already in awe. I rapped my knuckles on his open door to announce my arrival.

“Ah, welcome, Paola! He said, extending his hand.

I shook it firmly, never letting my confidence waver. “I’m here finally! Ready to tackle whatever technology you will throw at me.”

Mr. F. gave me an appraising look, one that was somewhere between curiosity and skepticism. “You’re quite young for this job, aren’t you?”

I leaned against the edge of his desk, grinning. “Age is just a number, Mr. F. I know what I am doing and I’m willing to work hard.” Inside I was shaking like a leaf trying to not make it too obvious.

He chuckled; a bit taken aback. “Well, that’s the spirit, I suppose. We have a Solaris system that needs some attention. Follow me, and I’ll introduce you to the team.”

We walked through the maze of cubicles, and I couldn’t help but feel the weight of judgmental eyes on me. The guys in the office whispered to each other, and I could hear the word “girl” thrown around in hushed tones. It didn’t faze me one bit (or so I pretended). If anything, it fueled my determination to prove them wrong.

In the office room, Mr. F. introduced me to the team, and I couldn’t help but notice their surprised expressions. The resident “tech expert” was usually a stereotypical bespectacled nerd, but here I was, a redhead with a confident smirk.

I have something to show you,” Mr. F said with a mischievous grin.

I raised an eyebrow, curious. “What’s that?”

He led me through a series of winding corridors until we reached a door marked “Laboratory.” . He pushed it open, and my jaw practically hit the floor. Inside was a paradise for any tech enthusiast. Rows of computers, stacks of gadgets, and all sorts of cutting-edge equipment filled the room. It was a techie’s dream come true.

My eyes widened with excitement. “Is this…?”

Mr. F. nodded. “This is your playground, your testing ground. Feel free to experiment, innovate, and create to your heart’s content. We’ve been looking for someone with your skills and passion, and I have a feeling you’ll make some remarkable discoveries here.”

I couldn’t contain my enthusiasm. “This is amazing! I can’t believe you’re giving me access to all of this.”

The room eventually got a handwritten sign on the door “il Bel Lab” which means the “pretty” lab, but also referred to THE Bell laboratories that were our constant source of awe with their patents and inventions.

I rolled up my sleeves and began assessing the boxes and parts that were amassed in the room: this was paradise! One of the first assignments was in fact, to build one of the adjuncts, called the CMS. This was a Solaris machine, and understandably everyone was scared to just enter the password.

As the day went on, I was able to install the software and connect it to the PBX to get the stream of data from it. The initial skepticism of my colleagues began to fade, and they started coming to me with their questions on the CMS, seeking my expertise. The office atmosphere had shifted, and I reveled in the change.

By the time the day was winding down, I had earned the respect of my coworkers and had a sense of accomplishment that was almost tangible. As I packed up my tools, Mr. F approached me.

He patted me on the back. “You’ve proven yourself today. We believe in you, and we want to see what you can do. Take your time, familiarize yourself with everything, and let your imagination run wild.”

I felt like a kid in a candy store. This was more than I could have ever hoped for. “Thank you, Mr. F. I won’t disappoint you.”

As he left me in the laboratory, I was practically dancing with excitement. I couldn’t believe my luck. Here I was, a young woman who had just been given access to a treasure trove of tech wonders. It was a dream come true.

Over the following weeks and months, I dived headfirst into my work, often spending late nights in the laboratory, most of the time with the help of my fellow coworkers who helped me on the PBX side. I experimented with new software, tweaked hardware, and came up with innovative solutions to improve the installation process. I collaborated with the rest of the team, and they soon realized that I was an invaluable asset.

I wasn’t just the “new girl”; I was the computer wizard who could fix anything and improve everything. My confidence and my wit had won them over.

I was now an engineer working for a giant American telecommunications company, responsible for handling mission-critical servers, often in the wee hours of the night or on weekends. The job had its ups and downs, but it was a time when we were on the forefront of technology, ensuring that essential communication systems remained up and running. In the next posts, I will share a few anecdotes that capture the essence of those moments, accompanied by the witty and sarcastic tone that defined our work culture.

It’s 1997. you are a 23-year-old girl with great computer skills. you are hired by a telecommunications company to go install and fix PBXs and adjunct software. describe your first day of work with wit and sarcasm as people act a bit funny seeing you are a woman and not the usual eyeglassed nerd stereotype. Add a dialogue with your manager when he shows you the laboratory where you can play and test as much as you want and it’s your dream come true.