Each month, we will interview one employee to get their opinions on the publishing industry, hear what it’s like to work at Technica, and learn a little bit about them. This month we are interviewing Harry Weisbecker, who is currently working his first publishing job here at Technica. He has enjoyed the two-plus years of experience he has received and owes it all to a wonderful editorial team.
This is your first job in the publishing industry. What have you learned about publishing since working at Technica?
Every day is a new learning experience. I didn’t imagine how interconnected the whole industry was until I was training and realizing what my job was going to be like. I’ve learned that this is the kind of job where you have to work as a team, especially with your coworkers, but really with everyone you interact with — editors, authors, reviewers, production, technical support teams — everything is intertwined. Also, I have learned the importance of double-checking work, because everyone makes mistakes, and people count on you. I’ve learned a lot from making mistakes and people letting me know.
Is there anything you have picked up here at work that has carried over to your life outside of work? Like when you are reading for fun?
Oh yeah. I definitely am more aware of typos and errors in online articles and things like that. I have also had discussions with people I know in scientific research who are starting to submit papers to journals. It’s interesting hearing about their side of the publication process.
What is your favorite thing about working at Technica?
Feeling like I’m part of a team. We are all trying to get things done and we all need to work together to make that happen. It doesn’t matter if it’s with a coworker or an editor, working together is something I really like because I love teamwork.
What has been the most rewarding part of your job here?
Getting feedback from editors, authors, and reviewers saying that I have done a good job and helped them out. That is the most rewarding thing, people being happy with the work you’ve done and going out of their way to acknowledge that you have done a good job.
What inspires or motivates you? What are you passionate about?
Carolina basketball.
Yep, winning national championships…
Yep. But in terms of work, I’m motivated by my coworkers and how good they are at their jobs, trying to get as good as they are, trying to get better and better every day.
What do you like doing when you aren’t at work?
I love to go fishing with my friends. There’s nothing quite like it. I also like hanging out in my yard with my cats. I have also been really getting into bird-watching and keeping track of birds that I’m seeing at places I go to. I occasionally play video games, although I’m not as into them as I was when I was a kid. I also enjoy camping and reading.
What is the most exciting bird that you have seen since you started bird-watching?
That would have to be the local Eastern bluebird that moved into the bluebird house I put up in my backyard. It will stick its head out of the hole in the birdhouse occasionally to say hello.
What is your favorite place to fish?
My favorite place to fish is without a doubt Lake Phelps in eastern North Carolina. Wade-fishing on the south side of the lake there is quite the experience. It’s beautiful. The water is crystal clear, you can see fish swimming around you. There are tons of birds, different types of herons, raptor birds flying around and scooping up fish, really cool osprey.
If you could only recommend one book, movie, TV show, or album to someone, what would it be and why?
For a book, I would recommend The Old Man and the Sea, because that was one of the first books I ever read and it’s the only book I’ve gone back to multiple times to read because as I get older and, I guess, wiser, there are a lot of things that stick out to me and make more sense. For a TV show, I would recommend Game of Thrones —
Obviously. Jon Snow forever.
Yep, Jon Snow forever. I see similarities between his character and me in terms of how I grew up. I love being able to connect to characters on personal levels, going through hardships and slowly but surely getting out of them.
