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Want an unfair advantage in your tech career? Consume content for other roles

matthewgrohman.substack.com

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Re: Want an unfair advantage in your tech career? Consume content for other roles

#151

Post by ren_engineer »

scarface74 wrote: post #11

Maybe I’m either a cynic or a realist. But in my old age (49) I would tell in CS grad who wanted to optimize their compensation 1. “Grind LeetCode and work for BigTech” (c) r/cscareerquestions 2. Read through the leveling guidelines and figure out the politics of the organization. 3. Get on the right teams so you can show “scope” and “impact” 4. Get good at system design and behavioral interviews while you keep your…

AI might make this advice outdated, if AI is able to handle a decent chunk of common coding tasks then the people who understand business impact and where to focus efforts will be the most valuable engineers, not the leetcode grinders. Google's huge issue with launching stuff nobody wants and then shutting it down is a prime example of what happens when you keep rewarding algorithm/CS specialists over engineers who dedicated time to other things

Re: Want an unfair advantage in your tech career? Consume content for other roles

#152

Post by hobs »

tmnstr85 wrote: post #8

The PowerShell Podcast had Doug Finke on back in mid February of this year, he made a great point at the end of the discussion. Don't be afraid to drive in another lane. Take the opportunity when you see it. In a previous life, I had a management who told me to, "stay in my lane" and this led to a series of events where I ultimately left. Anybody who tries to keep you down or limit you ability to learn and think need…

Love his ImportExcel module!

Re: Want an unfair advantage in your tech career? Consume content for other roles

#154

Post by eastbayjake »

serjester wrote: post #113
nixpulvis wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But just like at state parks, tread lightly. I've gotten in trouble before while exploring and then being accused of putting my nose where it shouldn't be. It can look like you're wasting your time looking for distractions, or trying to dig up dirt. Not everyone in all parts of your company is going to like you poking around. You also risk picking up new responsibilities if people catch wind that you might be offerin…

I think this far more likely is influenced by your demeanor going into it. If you come off as arrogant or condescending people will rightfully be skeptical of your intentions. They'll assume you're trying to micro manage them and obviously you'll get pushback. On the other hand if you come off as genuinely interested in what other people are doing with no ulterior motives, 95% of the time you'll get warm feedback. I…

Asking "how can I be helpful?" is a huge unlock: almost everyone has too much to do and not enough time, and thus almost everyone will welcome help from someone else. (And if the way you're "poking your nose in other departments" is perceived as value-destructive instead of helpful, that is probably the root cause.)

Re: Want an unfair advantage in your tech career? Consume content for other roles

#155

Post by throwaway280382 »

JohnFen wrote: post #84
throwaway280382 wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Read/Watch/Listen" are what you think you are doing. "Consume" is what the people who want to make money from you think (Entrepreneurs, Media executives, bloggers etc).

That's why "consume" is a red-flag word along with "content". They're both dehumanizing, and look to be intended to reduce people to economic units. Their use signals to me that I'm being exposed to a particular type of source that disrespects their audience and tends to produce substandard work.

I agree with this assessment. Thats why I always turn off all recommendations and only read/watch/listen to things I have been exposed offline

Re: Want an unfair advantage in your tech career? Consume content for other roles

#156

Post by steponlego »

hobs wrote: post #153
steponlego wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It really is, almost to the point that it reads like a parody.

"read stuff written for other job titles" - happy now?

Nah I already decided not to click. It’s constructive criticism, take it or leave it. I just can’t even imagine a more bland, tired phrase than “consume content.”

Re: Want an unfair advantage in your tech career? Consume content for other roles

#157

Post by epolanski »

Honestly I don't think you need to go as far as starting to read all of that content, besides of the labels that might be identical, two EMs in the same org might be doing very different things, let alone in different organizations.

But do ask, listen and be curious and empathetic of other's work.

Re: Want an unfair advantage in your tech career? Consume content for other roles

#158

Post by Apfel »

bartvk wrote: post #125
idopmstuff wrote: post #63

This is a great article, and my only issue with it and my only issue with it is that I think it's too limited. This isn't just a tech thing - the world we live in is one where having more context in a professional environment is almost always useful. If you spend time learning about how HR functions, it'll help you understand how things like promotions work. Spend time with marketing, and you'll learn lessons about h…

I have the feeling that I'm missing something here. Reading the headline, I expected a real, genuine and directly applicable advantage for a software engineer. But I couldn't find it. While it leads to an interesting life for sure, I don't see how the writer's suggestions (or your suggestions) make for an unfair advantage for any particular role in tech. Your examples also don't map to a direct advantage in a tech ca…

As a barely competent Dev who just became senior by actively helping out people who looked like they were struggling in the org slack, I firmly disagree.

It's led to friendships with many many people (and their managers) and a broader understanding of lots of things and is definitely the key to my own career progression.

It's most definitely not my code!

Re: Want an unfair advantage in your tech career? Consume content for other roles

#159

Post by fsckboy »

HWR_14 wrote: post #134
nixpulvis wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But just like at state parks, tread lightly. I've gotten in trouble before while exploring and then being accused of putting my nose where it shouldn't be. It can look like you're wasting your time looking for distractions, or trying to dig up dirt. Not everyone in all parts of your company is going to like you poking around. You also risk picking up new responsibilities if people catch wind that you might be offerin…

My friend got fired from his job for sticking his nose in other departments. Which is very strange because his boss told him to look at transferring into another department because he would have to transfer in the next six months or get fired. And the department he stuck his nose into offered him a lateral job. But because he failed to keep the bosses of each department apprised of where he was in the process, he tro…

the superficial way it played out isn't necessarily the reason, could have been on the chopping block already, and then whoever wanted him there found their excuse
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