Why is it that people are so grateful to their first employers? These guys did nothing special, they just hired you. It is normal to hire inexperienced people and train them. One should be reasonably grateful for that but understand that employer also benefits from it (hi Captain Obvious). If a person is reasonably smart he/she will be able to produce useful work after a month of poking around. And being grateful for not being fired? Come on!
Be grateful to friends and lovers, not to governments and corporations.
I can understand this POV but I don't think it's the case every time. I feel grateful all the time because I was the only person hired in the tech dept that had no experience. Everyone else is either principle or has about 5-10 years experience. I've checked our job boards and the requirements involve standards I was no where near at the time. Yes they want to train you, but they want to train you because they believe in you as a person and what you can do...yes for them...but also for yourself. My boss isn't a cold dude, he's young, has tat sleeves, and was helped along the way by others...just like I am...minus the tats.
You are right that everyone's situation is different and it looks like your boss really went an extra mile for you. Did you share some common background with him, like went to the same school?
Keep in mind, though, that the situation when some (or all) current employees would not be hired under current job requirements for outside hires is more common than people think!
We did not, he actually give's me crap for my school (UT Austin) because he went to USC (look up Rose Bowl 2006). We did share common backgrounds. He went to school for creative writing and I went for Film. He was essentially given a chance at being a programmer and I'm assuming I've rec'd that same treatment.
Be grateful to friends and lovers, not to governments and corporations.