S4E2 - DSA doesn't adequately prepare you

Industry Insight; with Melica Moshiri, Founder of SkillTorch. This episode's guest shines a light on the current state of the market, and what a candidate can do to increase their chances of getting hired. If you've been laid off or currently looking for a new role, this episode is not to be missed!

Many software engineers over-optimize their study and interview prep for DSA Platforms like Leetcode/HackerRank, and while they are fantastic learning tool - they're not a good indicator of a real-world developer. A developer's Leetcode or HackerRank score often has little to do with their ability to deliver in a commercial environment, and indeed over-focusing on DSA platforms can mean a considerable skill-gap when it comes to working in a business and capping your employability. In this episode we discuss the missing pieces that DSA Platforms don't give you, and how you can learn them!

A big part of my work is mentoring, guidance and career advice, and amongst the many different things that I get asked, the one I get asked most is: What is the 1 single thing you recommend that I can do that will have the biggest effect on my career? The answer? Start a learner log!

There are very real and very fixable reasons why many technology professionals don't see advancement or good/frequent salary bumps. I've seen many talented developers who have become stuck in their careers. And it sucks! These people were exceptional coders but just couldn't make any traction up the career ladder. The worst part is that they weren't even sure why; despite their hard work and talent. It's not a mystery though folks! In this episode we’ll walk through my top 5 reasons why, and how to get passed them. Show notes and script available here: https://www.speakingsoftwareshow.com/episodes/s3e6-why-youre-not-advancing-in-your-career

In the first part of our series on Industry Insights, we're joined by Steve Orrin; the Federal CTO of Intel Corporation. Together we talk about the changing financial and technological landscape, and what a Developer can do do stay ahead of the curve! Show notes and script available here: https://www.speakingsoftwareshow.com/episodes/s3e5-industry-insight-changing-landscape-with-steve-orrin

In this episode we take a look at the Top5 Technical Mistakes that Junior Developers make. Mistakes are fantastic, and an essential part of the learning process! However there are some mistakes that Junior Developers make that hinder their career, and can be incredibly difficult to recover from. We’ll discuss those here, as well as how to remedy them so you can level up and become a stronger software engineer! Show notes and script available here: https://www.speakingsoftwareshow.com/episodes/s3e4-the-top-5-technical-mistakes-that-junior-developers-make

In this episode we talk about Integration vs Impersonation, and how to not to screw up starting a new job! Have you ever felt that you had to change to fit in with your new coworkers, or boss? Or ever gotten up a 6am on a weekend to play golf or go hiking in order to impress, or blend in with, your peers? If so, this episode is for you! Show notes and script available here: https://www.speakingsoftwareshow.com/episodes/s3e3-turning-up-as-yourself

Nearly anyone you talk to in technology will agree that tech-hiring is broken. There are many reasons for this, probably the most controversial is the usage of DSA-style problems to test a candidates technical ability. Today we'll talk about what DSA tests do, and don't, cover. We'll also discuss a better approach, that's a new twist on an existing method... Show notes and script available here: https://www.speakingsoftwareshow.com/episodes/s3e2-dsa-tests-are-ineffective-theres-a-better-way-to-do-tech-hiring

Bit of an unexpected hiatus, but we're back with a bang! What's the bang? It's a book that I wrote, called "Your Dream Developer Job". Today I'd like to talk about my first internationally published book. It's about everything you need to position yourself as the ideal candidate for your perfect role in the tech industry. It is now available worldwide; in Paperback, Kindle and DRM-Free eBook formats. You’ll find it on the show’s website https://www.speakingsoftwareshow.com/yourdreamdeveloperjob, or you can search for it on your local variant of Amazon, like here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSDTVNK8 Show notes and script available here: https://www.speakingsoftwareshow.com/episodes/s3e1-your-dream-developer-job

In this episode we talk about what makes a Senior Developer.  It is Experience?  Is it Merit?  Is it Office politics?  The answer to each of these can easily be both ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Let's dive in! Show notes and script available here: https://www.speakingsoftwareshow.com/episodes/s2e7-what-makes-a-senior-developer