All good things must come to an end. This is also the case when it comes to your team members deciding they should leave your company. However, that decision should not be taken personally by the management, since people decide to leave their employers because of various reasons. Since our colleague, Radovan Adamov, decided to leave BrightMarbles, we wanted to do a public exit interview and chat about his reasons for making this decision.

How well were your talents and skills used in the completion of projects?

Since I worked only for half a year in BrightMarbles, I’d say that my skills and talents were used and improved significantly for that time. I learned a lot from older colleagues and got the opportunity to apply the newly gained knowledge to an exciting project.

What would you suggest to management to make BM a better place to work?

I think the hiring process should be slightly faster. Also, I think it would be a good idea, to offer potential employees a choice for either full-time or part-time working hours. I would also suggest to management to consider one working day to be fully dedicated to individual skill improvement.

What advice would you give your replacement?

Be practical and read a lot, embrace the challenges, focus on business mindset, think about the bigger picture you’re just a part of.

Would you recommend BM to others as a place to work? Why or why not?

I would, definitely. Sure, the salary is competitive on a local level, and the deal about the raise is achieved easily, but it’s just among the other things. I find the fact that the board is reasonable and very approachable to employees essential for an aspiring young company. The lack of micromanagement is another thing I’d point out, as a good thing – there are no unnecessary meetings taking away time from getting the job done. And in the end, I’m very grateful for the support and help from BrightMarbles when I decided to start my own business. It means a lot to know that the BrightMarbles’ doors will always be open for me.

What did you enjoy most while working in BrightMarbles?

I had the opportunity to engage in the decision-making process, businesswise. It made me feel included in the company’s business model, so I could get a better grip on what it means to run a business. It’s very important to learn the corporate culture, and not just be another wheel in the mechanism. Also, suggestions regarding the activities in the company are always welcome – that’s how we started the BM library project. I can only say I am satisfied with the amount of progress I made for 6 months in this company.

Why did you decide to leave BrightMarbles?

The main motivation for me leaving BrightMarbles is the desire to be at the top of the business hierarchy and develop my own products, as well as the freelance spirit I maintained. Also, the fact I left the company doesn’t mean we are ceasing every opportunity for collaboration, in fact, I’m looking forward to it in the future.

How would you compare working in a bigger system to BrightMarbles, which is a small company, since you worked for over two years prior to BM in a much bigger software development company?

I have the impression that it’s much easier to adopt the knowledge and use of new technologies in a smaller company. In my opinion, it’s not so easy to achieve the same result in big companies since they’re more complicated systems and rely too much on formalities. I especially appreciated there are no forced team-buildings, non-business activities are optional, and your private time is respected more. In bigger companies, suggestions and the ideas of the employees rarely reach the board which is a bit demotivating, but still understandable, considering the much more complicated company organization.

Is there any advice you’d like to give to your (now former) colleagues in BM?

Try learning something new every day. If you’re not learning anything new each day, consider that day not successful. Programming is just a tool.

Was there anything you found unsatisfying during your time in BM?

I’m a person who likes to work when inspired, and sometimes it was difficult for me to stay productive for 8 hours. However,  I had to respect formalities, which I personally find sometimes obsolete if the work is done the way it should be. We don’t all function in the same way, and while I understand the formalities and rules must exist, I think it’s a good idea to be ready to bend them from time to time if that would contribute to the productivity of a team member. Personally, I think, that if I had the absolute freedom to organize my time, I would have been more successful. For example, I’m more productive when I get up in the morning, do the work and then go and train for a bit (running or any other sport). After that, when I return home, I’m more eager to continue working on a project. Mens sana in corpore sano, so to speak.

If you found yourself in the situation sometime in the future where there’s a possibility for a collaboration with BM (which we wish you with all of our hearts), would you consider it?

Definitely. It depends mostly on how the process of my business development will look like. I’ve discussed this idea with the BM board, and the different options for collaboration and we agreed that it would be a good idea. Hopefully, I’ll manage to finish what I started and will find myself doing some amazing stuff on my own and together with BM.

At last, what are your last words before you pull up your sails and sail into the unknown?

Always be aware that, apart from getting your job done, you must never forget the enthusiasm and desire to learn and discover new things. Remember the curiosity and the thrill you felt as a child when you learn something new. You might find yourself with the bruised skin on your palm from falling off a bike, but once you learn to ride it, you’ll forget the falling down part but always remember how to pedal.