Don't Ask, Don't Get—Professional advice.

Computer programmers, by nature of their job, need to tend towards being very candid in opinions and factual knowledge, as well as critical and honest when it comes to facts. As a result of the kind of work we do, we typically take written word very literally and very seriously.

But that doesn't always work in the professional world. For example, when it comes to job postings. When it comes to being a professional, there is one lesson that's sat with me always, since my dad first told it to me:

Don't ask, don't get.

Of course, his other favorite quote was from a Rolling Stones song, but let's not go there for now. For now, I'll discuss the lesson, then exposit my recent professional progress, and then discuss how it relates to this very valuable lesson.