David Ngo

His Work: Build Engineer (within a large software company)

“I think what would be best is some sort of hybrid.”

Mr. David Ngo says “I would say I work best in a cubicle environment but also with the ability to work from home or at least work from an office when that needs to be done just because there are times I do need something and I would like to just go into an office and lock myself in there, just get it done and come back out and reintroduce myself to the world.” He likes the cubicle environment because of the accessibility “I like to work with people, I like to feed off of other people so I think the cube allows me to do that.” 

As one might expect Mr. Ngo says “it’s a lot harder sometimes with the distractions that do occur in the cube environment.” David Ngo tells me that “an office kind of drives how productive you’re going to be” and that if there are a lot of distractions that it might hinder what you can get done. Mr. David Ngo says “I think the way it is set up in terms of my workspace is good. Where its situated is not as good just being right next to the hallway, it’s kind of the busiest section where people are always walking by, lining up for the conference rooms going to the copy and supply room and bathrooms. So I would say if I was more towards the inside I would have less irks with it, but as is I’m ok with it right now.” He says that it’s the sound that is most distracting “other than that I’m fine with how things are right now.”

Throughout the interview Mr. Ngo seems to be torn between enjoying working in an open-plan cubicle environment and wanting to work in a closed office.  I ask David Ngo if he likes his workspace and he says “It works for me. It’s in a cube, I would probably, I think most people would agree that they probably prefer an office just because you just need to get heads down on your work and with all the distractions you can see people walking by. I’m really sensitive to movements so when I see something in the corner of my eye, usually someone walking by, I like to turn my head. I’m still typing and stuff I’m just checking what’s going on. The way its situated is that your back is to the hallway so that you kind of just get that feeling that someone’s creeping up on you all the time while you’re trying to do your work… and usually you’re right because people just walk by and just tap you on the shoulder” and ask for help with something.

When I ask him about possible improvements that he would make for a better workspace he says “for one I’d be facing the door so that when someone approaches it won’t be from behind. Two, it would be that you could shut the door and just zone out all the sound. And I think those two would be the biggest things, other than that I actually prefer an open environment just because of the fact that it’s a lot easier to yell over your shoulder to talk to the guy next to you so I do prefer that, but there are just times when you need an office.”

 Earlier in our discussion he tells me tells me “if I had to pick one I would say I work best in a cube environment” but he later says to me “I don’t want to contradict myself but if the offer came up I would move to an office just because of those times. But if I was in an office I’d be walking out a lot more, I’d leave my door open.” At first, during our conversation and the listening to our interview again I couldn’t quite tell which space he wants to work in but as I listened to the recording I realize that a single phrase stands strongly throughout the interview “I think what would be best is some sort of hybrid.” Mr. Ngo’s perfect workspace would be a hybrid with the social advantages of an open floor plan but also having the ability to be solitary in a focused and quiet setting when working on high priority projects with tight deadlines.

Mr. Ngo is the only person I speak with that mentions parking. He says “he parking itself I love, that’s just a big deal for me. It’s a small thing for most people but coming from most places where I’ve worked” “it was a trek through the snow and the rain and just kind of sucks.” He also tells me that he likes the green environment in the company and that “all the plates, forks and everything are biodegradable so you don’t have to throw anything away and I love that. It’s environmentally friendly.”