My Failed Career at Huawei: Lessons Learned
Hi everyone, today I want to share my experience of a failed career at Huawei, hoping to offer some insight for others. I joined Huawei immediately after graduation in April 2014 and left in April 2018 to join Alibaba. My main reason for leaving was the lack of promotion opportunities. Let me elaborate on my experience.
Initial Placement and the Platform Department
I joined Huawei through an early recruitment program. We were promised that early recruits wouldn't be randomly assigned positions, but that turned out to be untrue. Random assignment is a common practice at Huawei. They don't heavily focus on your technical background as a graduate. Instead, they allocate you to whichever department is lacking staff.
I was assigned to the Software Platform Development Department. In larger companies, these platform departments are often not considered desirable since they serve various product departments. This means less direct revenue and less influence, essentially working as support for other teams. This was my first setback. However, the good news was that I was assigned to the APP Development Team within the Software Platform Department.
The iOS vs. Android Dilemma
This was 2014, right before the mobile internet boom. I felt fortunate to be in the mobile internet field. However, I soon fell into an even bigger trap. Within the APP Development Team, I had to choose between Android and iOS development. I thought iPhones were cool. Back then, iPhone users on WeChat Moments had a special "Sent from iPhone" tag, which Android phones didn't have. So, I chose iOS development.
In other internet companies, this choice might not have been a mistake. However, at Huawei, choosing iOS was a critical error. At that time, Huawei had already launched its flagship phone, the P7, and established its Android ecosystem. To thrive within Huawei, you needed to be in the Android camp, and this proved to be true.
Android Prioritization and Resource Allocation
Our managers primarily used Huawei phones and were familiar with Android. They would frequently provide feedback and bug reports for the Android app. In contrast, the iOS app was barely used, except for testing. This led to the leadership focusing more on Android projects. The Android app was deeply integrated with Huawei's operating system, securing more resources for the Android team. This affected performance reviews, promotions, and salary increases, favoring the Android team.
This bias became more pronounced over time, especially after several organizational restructurings. Before I left, our department was incorporated into Huawei's phone operating system division. Our Android app was pre-installed on Huawei phones, giving the Android team access to even more resources. The iOS team was essentially marginalized, as reflected in the team sizes: around 40 people in Android (including developers, testers, and product managers) versus only four or five iOS developers. This clear lack of support for iOS led to my eventual departure.
Reportedly, after I left, some event happened between US and China, and the iOS team was disbanded and the work was outsourced.
Key Takeaways: The Importance of Choice
My failure at Huawei boils down to two main reasons: working in a less-than-ideal department and choosing the wrong technology. My four years at Huawei taught me that "choice is more important than effort." Many of my peers who joined the Software Platform Department chose Android development, while others chose iOS. After four years, everyone on the iOS side had left (I was the last to go), while those on the Android side remained, progressing well in their careers.
This made me think about the idea that individuals have limited chances to change their fate. People fail to recognise opportunities due to limited awareness. The mobile internet boom was one of my missed opportunities. I focused on improving my technical skills, working hard, and getting promoted. I didn't break free from the employee mindset early enough. I should have explored independent development or creating my own apps. Developing my own products would have given me more chances.
Huawei's Work Culture and Policies
Overtime Culture
Many know Huawei has a heavy overtime culture, but it's hard to meet the minimum required hours without working extra. Huawei's attendance system mandates that clocking in from 8 AM to 12 PM and 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM counts as working hours. Developers typically start at 9 AM. If you want to leave at 6 PM, you will be short of the required 8 hours per day. Therefore, you either work weekends or stay at least until 7 PM to avoid owing work hours.
Overtime Pay
Huawei compensates for working on the last Saturday of each month at double the normal rate. This is paid out at the end of the year. However, you will be penalized if you don't have sufficient overtime hours and need to take time off. The system prioritizes deducting from the end-of-month overtime hours before deducting your regular pay, ultimately costing you two days' worth of salary.
Colleague Relationships
Colleague relationships at Huawei are distant. Simple greetings and interactions are minimal. For example, discovering wedding sweets at your desk with no personal announcement was common. This lack of social interaction stood out.
Security Policy
In 2014, employees couldn't bring their phones into the office. We had to store them in lockers outside, undergo security checks entering and leaving the office, and have bags inspected. If security failed or if you accidentally brought your phone inside, security would confiscate and format the phone before returning it. We could forward calls to desk phones, but there was no caller ID.
Huawei's Benefits
Huawei has spacious cubicles with wardrobes for storage. The large campuses offer running tracks and fitness facilities. The culture promotes mid-day nap, where you pull out a foldable bed, lay under the desk, turn off lights, and relax during lunch break. These were my experiences at Huawei. Thanks for watching!
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