7 Years of Software Engineering Advice in 10 Minutes

Summary

In this video, the speaker, a Georgia Tech graduate and software engineer, shares valuable insights from their career to help aspiring tech professionals avoid common pitfalls. They emphasize that being well-liked, rather than just being a good coder, is crucial for career advancement. The speaker suggests taking on leadership roles, mentoring juniors, and being responsive to increase likability. They also discuss the steep learning curve in computer science and recommend daily practice on platforms like LeetCode. The video addresses the changing nature of the 9-to-5 job, the importance of internships, projects, and skills over GPA, and warns about the 'golden handcuffs' of big tech companies that can hinder entrepreneurial aspirations.

Takeaways

• 😀 Being a great coder isn't the only quality that defines a good software engineer; being likable and helpful can also lead to success.
• 💼 Intelligence or competence doesn't necessarily correlate with the highest pay; likability often plays a significant role in compensation.
• 📈 Taking on leadership roles, such as a scrum master, can increase your likability and visibility within a team.
• 🤝 Mentoring junior engineers and interns can enhance your reputation as a team leader and contribute to your likability.
• 📱 Responding quickly to work messages, even outside of working hours, can establish you as reliable and increase your likability.
• 🧠 The steep learning curve in computer science requires a shift in thinking and a commitment to daily problem-solving practice.
• 🔗 Utilizing resources like LeetCode and GeeksforGeeks can help beginners improve their problem-solving skills and coding abilities.
• 🕒 The traditional 9-to-5 work schedule is becoming less relevant, especially in remote work environments; working smart is more important than working long hours.
• 🏆 Prioritizing internships, projects, and skill-building over a high GPA can better prepare students for a career in software engineering.
• 🚀 Avoiding the trap of 'golden handcuffs', where high salaries and perks keep you tied to a company, is crucial for long-term career flexibility and entrepreneurship.
• 🌟 Treating your job as a place to learn and earn, rather than a lifelong commitment, can help you maintain a healthy work-life balance and open up opportunities for future endeavors.

Q & A

What is the main message of the video regarding software engineering careers?

The main message of the video is that being a good coder is not the only quality that defines a successful software engineer. The video emphasizes the importance of being likable, responsive, and focusing on building a strong professional network and skillset.

Why does the speaker suggest that learning many programming languages might not be as beneficial as one might think?

The speaker suggests that learning many programming languages might not be as beneficial because it can be a wasted effort. The video mentions a study by the Harvard Business Review indicating that the most competent individuals are not necessarily the highest paid, and being likable can be more advantageous in a team setting.

What role did the speaker take on their team to become more likable?

The speaker took on the role of a scrum master for their software engineering team, leading daily standups and helping to solve problems and coordinate tasks, which made them more likable.

How did mentoring junior engineers and interns contribute to the speaker's likability and career growth?

Mentoring junior engineers and interns allowed the speaker to demonstrate leadership and investment in the team's growth, which not only made them more likable but also helped establish their leadership within the team.

What is the speaker's stance on 'quiet quitting' and how do they handle after-hours work messages?

The speaker disagrees with 'quiet quitting' and believes in being responsive and reliable. They always reply quickly to work messages, even after hours, to demonstrate their commitment and reliability.

Why does the speaker recommend solving at least one LeetCode problem daily for beginners in computer science?

The speaker recommends solving at least one LeetCode problem daily to train the brain in problem-solving and to gradually improve coding and problem-solving skills, starting from easy to medium and then hard problems.

What advice does the speaker give about working hours and the traditional 9-to-5 job in software engineering?

The speaker advises that the traditional 9-to-5 job is not suitable for software engineering, especially with remote work becoming more common. They suggest working smart and finding the hours that are most productive for each individual.

What are the three things the speaker suggests focusing on during college to build a strong resume for software engineering?

The speaker suggests focusing on internships, projects, and skills to build a strong resume. Internships provide real-world experience, projects showcase practical skills, and skills like programming languages and methodologies are essential for a software engineering career.

Why does the speaker warn against the concept of 'golden handcuffs' in the software engineering field?

The speaker warns against 'golden handcuffs' because they can make it difficult for software engineers to leave their high-paying jobs with many perks to pursue entrepreneurial ventures or other career paths, due to the financial security and lifestyle they provide.

What is the speaker's advice for handling the potential trap of 'golden handcuffs' in a software engineering career?

The speaker advises not to get too attached to the job and its perks, but to treat it as a place to learn and earn. This mindset can help software engineers avoid being trapped by 'golden handcuffs' and maintain the flexibility to pursue other opportunities.

Outlines

00:00

💻 The Myth of Coding Proficiency in Software Engineering

The speaker, a Georgia Tech graduate and software engineer, challenges the notion that being highly skilled at coding is the most important quality for software engineers. They argue that being likable and able to work well with others is more valuable. The speaker shares their career journey and emphasizes the importance of soft skills over technical prowess. They also discuss how being responsive and helpful can lead to promotions and recognition within a team. The speaker suggests that new software engineers should focus on building relationships and being reliable rather than just coding skills.

05:01

🎓 Navigating the Software Engineering Career Path

The speaker offers advice for beginners in software engineering, emphasizing that the steep learning curve can be overcome by practicing problem-solving daily. They recommend using platforms like LeetCode to gradually improve coding skills. The speaker also addresses the changing nature of work in the software industry, noting the death of the traditional 9-to-5 job and the importance of working smart. They suggest that new engineers should be flexible and willing to work beyond standard hours to find their most productive work times. The speaker also warns about the 'golden handcuffs' of high salaries and perks that can make it difficult to leave a job and pursue entrepreneurial dreams, advising viewers to not get too attached to their current positions.

Keywords

💡Software Engineer

A software engineer is a professional who applies the principles of software engineering to the design, development, maintenance, testing, and evaluation of computer software. In the video, the speaker discusses the misconceptions about being a software engineer, emphasizing that being good at coding is not the only quality that matters. The speaker, a software engineer themselves, shares personal experiences and advice on how to succeed in the field beyond just coding skills.

💡Likability

Likability refers to the quality of being likable or being able to attract favorable feelings from others. The video suggests that being likable can be more important than technical competence for career advancement. The speaker shares how taking on a scrum master role and mentoring junior engineers helped them become more likable and consequently promoted within their team.

💡Scrum Master

A Scrum Master is a role in Agile project management, responsible for facilitating and ensuring the team follows the Scrum framework and its associated ceremonies. The speaker mentions taking on the Scrum Master role as a strategy to become more involved in team coordination and problem-solving, which in turn made them more likable and visible within the team.

💡Mentorship

Mentorship is a relationship in which a more experienced or knowledgeable person helps guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person. In the video, the speaker highlights the importance of mentorship in building a likable image and fostering a supportive work environment by mentoring junior engineers and interns.

💡Responsiveness

Responsiveness is the ability to react promptly and effectively to messages or inquiries. The speaker emphasizes the importance of being responsive, like replying quickly to work messages, as a way to be seen as reliable and likable, which can positively impact one's professional reputation.

💡Computer Science

Computer science is the study of computers and computing, including their theory, design, development, and application. The video discusses the steep learning curve associated with computer science and the importance of developing a problem-solving mindset, which is a core aspect of being a software engineer.

💡LeetCode

LeetCode is an online platform that provides a collection of coding challenges for aspiring software engineers to practice their skills. The speaker recommends solving at least one LeetCode problem daily as a way to train the brain to think like a problem solver, which is crucial for success in computer science and software engineering.

💡GeeksforGeeks

GeeksforGeeks is a computer science portal for technology enthusiasts that contains well-written, well-thought, and well-explained technical articles and tutorials. The speaker suggests using GeeksforGeeks as a resource to understand solutions to LeetCode problems, which can help in learning how to approach and solve complex coding challenges.

💡Golden Handcuffs

Golden handcuffs is a term used to describe a situation where employees are offered high salaries, benefits, and perks to stay with a company, making it difficult for them to leave due to the financial and lifestyle implications. The speaker warns about the dangers of becoming too attached to the benefits and salary provided by a tech company, as it can hinder one's ability to take risks and pursue entrepreneurial ventures.

💡Internships

An internship is a period of work experience offered by an organization for a limited period of time. In the video, the speaker stresses the importance of internships for building a resume and gaining practical experience in the field of software engineering, which is crucial for breaking into the industry and securing a job after graduation.

💡Projects

Projects in the context of the video refer to practical work or research assignments that students undertake to apply their learning and develop their skills. The speaker advises students to engage in projects, such as research assistantships, to build a strong portfolio and demonstrate their capabilities to future employers.

💡Skills

In the video, skills refer to the practical abilities and knowledge that a software engineer needs to perform their job effectively. The speaker encourages focusing on building relevant skills through coursework, projects, and internships, which are essential for a successful career in software engineering.

Highlights

Being exceptionally good at coding is not the most important quality for a software engineer.

Intelligence or competence alone does not guarantee the highest pay; likability plays a significant role.

Taking on a scrum master role can increase likability and team leadership.

Mentoring junior engineers and interns can enhance one's reputation and likability.

Quick responses to work messages, even outside of work hours, can demonstrate reliability.

For beginners, daily practice of coding problems can improve problem-solving skills.

Using resources like GeeksforGeeks alongside LeetCode can aid in solving complex problems.

The traditional 9-to-5 work schedule is no longer the norm, especially in remote work scenarios.

Working extra hours during the initial phase of a job can help identify the most productive working hours.

GPA is not a critical factor for most tech companies during hiring.

Internships, projects, and skills are more important for building a strong resume than high GPA.

Some classes that build foundational skills are essential, while others may not be as useful.

The concept of 'golden handcuffs' refers to the high compensation and perks that make leaving a tech job difficult.

It's important not to become too attached to a job that could limit future opportunities or entrepreneurship.

The video offers advice on how to break into big tech companies like Google.

Transcripts

you have been lied to software Engineers

do not code for a living in fact only

being really good at coding is one of

the worst qualities as a software

engineer if you're new here hi my name

is z I'm a computer science Ms graduate

from Georgia Tech I've been a big tech

software engineer for over 2 years now

starting at the age of 20 and now I talk

to over 400,000 students every single

day giving them advice on how to break

into big Tech in this video today I want

to compress my over 7 years of acemic

and work experience into one video and

I've made a lot of mistakes throughout

my career and so instead of repeating

those mistakes I'd rather give you guys

those as lessons so you can avoid them

and so if you like this video don't

forget to subscribe first smart people

do not get paid I always thought knowing

the most programming languages was

really good my freshman year of college

I made it my mission to learn Java

python Swift JavaScript as many

languages as possible but turns out that

was a wasted effort in fact there was a

study by the Harvard Business review the

people who have the highest intelligence

or competence they got paid only the

second highest On Any Given team so

naturally you wonder who actually gets

paid the most Well turns out it's the

people who are the most likable so learn

how to be likable like me so once I

figured that out my whole game plan

changed in fact I ended up getting

promoted from entry to mid-level

software engineer in under 2 years and

was I the best coder on my team

absolutely not but I did these three

things to become more likable one I took

the scrum Master role of our software

engineering team so I was in charge

every single day of leading a daily

standup this is a meeting in which

everyone would talk about their status

updates for the day and potentially any

challenges or blockers at they have and

then being the leader of this meeting I

would be like hey let me help solve this

for you or hey let me coordinate this

thing with this person to help unblock

you thus I would help them out and

become more likable two I Mentor Junior

engineers and interns so last summer we

had two interns on our team and I would

help them out throughout the summer give

them one-on-one meetings do code reviews

for them and provide any mentorship and

at the end of the summer I actually took

ownership of the project and got it

shipped out to production and this

Venture single-handedly established me

as a leader of my team three quick reply

so you know the term quiet quitting

where I'm not working a second after

5:00 p.m. because I'm only going to work

during this time and I'm not going to

let anyone take advantage of me well I

don't agree with that so personally what

I do is I have slack on my phone and

anytime anyone messages me from work

like let's just say my manager messages

me at 1000 p.m. and this rarely happens

by the way I would always be the first

one to respond I would get on it right

away why well it takes me 2 seconds to

acknowledge that I got the message it's

not much work for me to do but the

impact of that is I'm more reliable

responsive and people just like that

more no one likes getting ghosted the

next piece of advice is geared more

towards beginners and if you are a

beginner in computer science stuff like

this is very very common working on

coding for 6 hours and I haven't even

gotten one method done it I feel so

stupid this is what I call the Dark Side

of computer science so the learning

curve for computer science is extremely

extremely steep it's not like biology or

psychology where you just go around

memorizing terms root memorization in

fact the way that programmers think is

just fundamentally different than any

field I've ever seen before computer

science is more of like being a problem

solver in fact because the learning

curve is so steep that's why we see a

lot of first and seconde students really

struggle in this field because they

can't fundamentally change the way that

they think now if you are in this

position or you are a freshman or a

sophomore all hope is not lost trust me

there's a way out of this so what I like

to do or one of my friends told me that

this really helped them every single day

do one leite code problem if you don't

know leite code is like this software

engineering interview site to kind of

give you practice problems but slowly

chipping away each problem every single

day starting off with the easy going to

medium then hard you sort of train your

brain in the right way of thinking

because you start off every single day

being a problem solver now if you're

really lost and stuck and can't solve a

single problem on lead code then what I

recommend you do is pull up aite code

browser on one half of your screen on

the second half pull up a Geeks for

geeks article on the solution of that

leak code problem now why do I say Geeks

for geeks well Geeks for geeks is

actually an excellent guide to literally

answer every single leak code problem it

gives you a Brute Force solution an

optimal solution and an optimized or

best optimal Solution by the way this is

not sponsored but they should probably

sponsor me the third thing that I want

to say is the 9 to-5 software

engineering job is dead you see every

since Co hit in March of 2020 companies

realized two things it doesn't matter

when you work or where you work and me

personally I'm based in the east coast

but my team is based in the west coast

in California and so they 9 to 5 is

actually a 12 to8 for me but can you

imagine actually working a 12 to8 shift

like just just imagine how awful that

would be every single day you finish

work when the sun is set that would just

be terrible for your mental health and

so I don't do that I talked to my

manager and I was like I cannot work

those hours so instead I work some

semblance of a 10:30 to 6:30 but the key

thing is if you're a good software

engineer meaning you're getting all your

work done and you're getting your

meetings done no one actually cares when

you work the biggest piece of advice

here is if you are starting a new

software engineering internship or job

in the first two weeks work all hours

don't try to be the person where like oh

I'm only working 9 to5 don't do that

don't do that actually work potentially

even longer than 9 to 5 so you can

identify which hours actually work best

for you like for example if you work

really well between 8:00 a.m. to 9:00

a.m. that 1 hour could be worth maybe 4

hours between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

because you have a post lunch coma or

something like that at the end of the

day work smart not hard four it's okay

to skip class because GPA does not

matter with the exception of one company

no company has ever asked me to submit

my GPA when I was applying for a

software engineering job or internship

so why did I work during college so hard

to get a 4.0 GPA I have no clue it was

probably a big mistake so learn from my

mistake and so if you're going to

classes in which the teacher is not

teaching very very well and it's not

very important material and you can

potentially learn it online or through

like like resources or textbooks do that

option because I personally would much

rather have someone who has a 2.0 GPA

but has excellent projects and

internships rather than a person with a

4.0 GPA but nothing to their name and so

if you're in college here are three

things that you need to focus on right

now one internships internships are very

very important you need to stack up your

resume especially if you're a freshman

or a sophomore two projects one of the

biggest advantages of college is you

have access to so many research labs and

networking opportunities take advantage

of that when I was at Georgia Tech I

worked as a research assistant for the

lab of interactive Computing I used

genetic algorithms to solve a resource

allocation problem and the bright side

of all this was the research professor

at the end gave me a letter of

recommendation for my Master's program

and that master's program helped me earn

even more money when I started my

software engineering job three skills so

I lied you shouldn't skip every single

class there are some classes in your

computer science degree that actually

help you build your software engineering

Arsenal whether that teach you Java

python JavaScript or they do a lot of

Project based learnings those are

excellent classes that you should always

attend to and do the assignments 100%

honestly but other than that if they're

not directly building up your skills

they're kind of useless as you can see

internships projects and skills three

very critical sections onto your resumé

you need to focus on do really well on

and stack your resumé before you

graduate college number five the most

dangerous one on this entire list one

that I'm personally failing at

horrendously and this is the thing that

will crush the hopes and dreams of every

single software engineer out there

golden handcuffs so what are they so you

know how software Engineers earn a lot

of money like big tech software

Engineers can earn like $200,000 a year

just starting out right out of college

and on top of that if they join a

company like Google or meta they give

like free food free perks free gym free

massages and on top of all of that if

there's stock valuation which is a good

amount of their compensation goes up

they can actually start earning like

300K 400k at the age of like 242 5 so

ridiculous amounts of money but anything

nice comes at a cost you see as you

continue to progress through your career

letter and you get promotion raises and

all these nice things the whole golden

handcuff thing tightens meaning that the

tech company will give you a lot of good

golden stuff but they have a tight grasp

of you you are not leaving their company

no matter what you are at their Mercy

you have built a whole life centered

around the salary that they offer you

centered around the perks that they

offer you and this is really awful

because everyone I've talked to

including you probably right now want to

start a business at some point in your

life everyone wants to become an

entrepreneur but the problem is no one

has the guts to become an entrepreneur

no one wants to take that risk of

cutting their juicy big tech salary down

and this is especially worse for tech

people because there are so many ver

Venture capitalists right now that are

funding all these like simple GPT rapper

projects and so you can actually make

way more outside of your job than you

are in your big Tech job I mean like

think about it a senior software

engineer at Google probably can code on

average better than most people on this

world you don't think that they can get

like a GPT rapper project like this and

earn millions of dollars like this okay

maybe not like this but maybe like a

little while after that you get the

point it's not that difficult for them

but in order to do that they need to be

able to say Okay Google I'm quitting my

job tomorrow because I want to focus on

this and then they have to go through

like 6 months of not working a job which

is terrible because they're not going to

get hundreds of thousands of dollars

they're not going to get their free food

they're not going to get their free

massage as their whole lifestyle changes

and so the biggest piece of advice right

here is don't get attached to your job

treat it as a place to learn and earn

and that is it because anything beyond

that will actually ruin you in the long

term and also they can lay you off at

any time so those golden handcuffs they

can Chomp just like that well that's

about all I have in this video I really

hope that you guys enjoyed it and if you

did make sure to like And subscribe if

you haven't already and if you are

curious about how people actually get

into top companies like Google you might

like this video right here