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What do you do at Facebook?
I am a Data Center Technician in our first data center outside of the US which is our most efficient and sustainable to date based in Luleå, Sweden.
As a technician we plan the rack positions in the datacenter according to the available power, network and sufficient cooling. Placing the racks in the datacenter involves multiple teams working together and our team takes the lead for the communication between these teams.
Racks are getting installed, put in production and after a while they might need a repair. When our repair technicians need help with issues that they can't solve with hardware swaps, they come to us and we will investigate and dig deeper into the problem. Therefore, we need very good troubleshooting skills and knowledge of how to diagnose hardware, upgrade both hardware and software, Linux OS and complex networks.
When we notice that we are doing repetitive work, we will find a way to automate the process. Our work covers multiple areas where we can be flexible in a complex and fast moving environment used by 1 billion daily active users.
Lulea Data Center
What was the most challenging aspect in making the decision to take the job with Facebook and relocate your family to Luleå?
I was so excited that I got an offer from Facebook, so I made my decision pretty fast. My family on the other hand were a real challenge to convince. My son was 6 months and my partner had a very hard time considering relocating as he started 2 years before as an independent electrician and he really didn't want to learn a new language.
We decided that we weren't going to move to Sweden and I should decline the job offer. My email was prepared: "Hi Recruiter, I'm very sorry to tell you that I have to decline due to family reasons...."
I saved this email and was going to send it the next morning.
My partner and I talked again and we realized we would regret it if we didn’t try. What if we would miss out on this opportunity and will never get a second chance? Then we made up our minds, we can always move back to Belgium if this doesn’t work out, without the regrets of not trying.
One year later he loves our new country, he is learning the language, our 2 year old son is now bilingual! Best of all, my partner really doesn't like the thought of moving back to Belgium.
What were your perceptions of Facebook before you came to work here and how do they differ to the reality?
For me, working at Facebook as a Data Center Technician was a like dream that would never come true. I imagined Facebook employees as very talented people with a lot of knowledge and I didn't see myself in that position however I got a message from a Facebook recruiter and he told me about the position they had at the data center in Luleå. I answered him that I was a new mom with a baby boy and told him that I didn’t feel confident about my knowledge as I already tried for a similar position a few years ago at a different company. The recruiter insisted to try anyway as it was a few years ago and he assumed that I had gained more experience since I was working in the tech industry and also showed a lot of interests in technology outside of work.
How wrong could I be? I had been underestimating myself, I am a talented person with a lot of knowledge. I discovered that I knew more than I realized when I answered their questions at the interviews. They invited me onsite and I was allowed to visit a datahall. I wanted to start working in this environment right away!
Facebook gives you the opportunity to discover what you are worth and where you can make a change. When I started I assumed that I needed to come up with crazy ideas and suggestions but honestly, these crazy ideas and suggestions come naturally when you can be yourself and give your best.
What impact have you had since joining?
When I started I was an introvert and my confidence got hit by previous jobs. At Facebook, I got a chance to find out what I'm good at and what I really like. I'm not there yet! My manager pushed me to get out of my comfort zone, he knew I was capable of running a meeting myself but I would have never asked for this opportunity. He noticed I started to speak up in meetings and as a result I'm running meetings and feel very confident to take a lead in this.
A few months ago, I volunteered to give a technical talk in London to an audience of several hundred people. I put a lot of energy in to the preparations but it was time well spent; I felt more energized and much more confident than before.
Working on repairs
Have you found a diversity community in Luleå?
During a festival for families last summer I found out about “MakerSpace”. MakerSpace is getting children together and getting them involved with technology. I used to be a CoderDojo coach back in Belgium and I wanted to continue this type of work in Luleå.
Starting January 2016, I will work together with MakerSpace to get girls/women involved in tech. We will have sessions where girls/women learn how to program and they can visit the Luleå data center. The tour will show them what type of work we are doing and in what different areas they might work in the future.
How have you found the flexibility at Facebook?
It found me! As a Data Center Technician I have different tasks and I'm meeting different teams sometimes in different time zones. From day 1, I could see that my journey is not a straight line into the future. It's a road to opportunities with many paths and I take them as they come. My family and especially my son has an important place on this road. I have the flexibility to choose my own working hours. When my son is sick, I can go home to take care of him. At Facebook, family is very important, when we feel good at home, we bring this feeling to the workplace. When I found out that I was pregnant with my second child, my manager was so happy for me. He put me in contact with HR to make sure that I’m using all the benefits as a new mom to be. I can reduce my working hours and there is generous parental leave for both moms and dads.
After all I will always be a mom who happens to work as a Datacenter Technician.
For more information about Facebook Luleå and to check out all our career opportunities visit http://ow.ly/X6x2u
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