Develop Yourself

I chat with Carly, a former Parsity student who learned to code, didn't quit her job and instead decided to become a freelance web developer. I love stories like hers. Carly talks about the reality of joining a coding bootcamp program, finding time to code with a full time job, her externship experience with Parsity and advice for early career coders. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free...

My son just turned 18 and graduated high school. I started my career in coding at 30 and I often wonder where I'd be if I started earlier. Terrible habit. If I had full control over my kids' lives - this is how I'd structure their careers as software engineers so they would be much further along in the game than I am at my age. None of them want to be coders however so maybe this ad...

Let me tell you about t he WORST interview I've ever had when I made it on site at Google back in 2019. My worst fear came true in this interview with the single worst interviewer I've ever had. It also exposed some serious knowledge gaps that led me to finally learn how to conquer tech interviews, increase my confidence and my boost my salary. This is NOT a lesson on how to beat Google&...

Sometimes, developers and content creators use too many personal stories to make big claims. This creates an echo chamber online, making you believe things that might not be true. Here’s what the real world looks like for most developers: Most developers don’t work for big tech. You’re more likely to fix old code than build new features. Even the best developers fail interviews. Your next intervie...

We dive into the world of over-employment with our special guest, the Secret Developer.  🤫 Discover how he transitioned from a non-traditional background into tech, managed to secure multiple contract roles and successfully juggles his responsibilities across various jobs.  The Secret Developer breaks down his interview experience, finding jobs outside LinkedIn and how his life has changed since...

There is an overwhelming amount of information available for aspiring software developers, let's explore a structured strategy called reverse engineering to simplify the path towards landing a job. We will look at the ONLY project you need to build on your way towards becoming a software developer as well as an opinionated list of technologies you should learn. Send us a text Shameless Plugs...

Learning to code is hard. Getting a job as a developer requires an entirely different approach. David Roberts is a software developer and recruiter with decades of experience. He explains the game of getting hired from a recruiters perspective, how you can make it easier to be "discovered" on LinkedIn and thoughts on job guarantees. You can connect with David at Crushing Digital to check...

I've started too many failed businesses to count.  First there was the diary app. Then there was the 3 years I worked on a startup for real estate transactions. The real-time CSS tool. A learning management system. The SAAS app for actors to upload their auditions. I finally found some success with a small business I created which made me around 20k last year. If you're a software engine...

Could there be a worse time to learn to code? I was nearly 30, had been sober for less than 2 months and had a 1 year old and 8 year old at home. I worked an office job which I just started and drove Lyft and Uber on the side. There was no time. So I had to create time. In the process of learning how code, I learned the 2nd most important skill as a software developer (right after coding): the art...

In today’s episode, we chat with another Brian, a founder, mentor, and recurring guest at Parsity. Brian shares his fascinating journey from being a self-taught developer to working as an engineering manager at IBM I asked Brian what he would do if he was a bootcamp grad in today's job market and he has some practical and actionable advice that has worked for him and others he has mentored. ...

4 little letters almost got me fired. LGTM. "Looks good to me" As a software developer you'll be reading code much more than you will be writing it. Part of your role will almost certainly include looking over your peers' code and giving them feedback. These are called PRs or peer reviews. I sucked at PRs until our lead developer called me out! In this episode we will learn how...

For the last 10 years I've been writing code for a living and also worked at several bootcamp programs. I now own Parsity, a coding bootcamp. I also went to 2 bootcamps myself! I know they can work wonders and change lives. I've also seen a lot of people who failed to make the transition to software engineer. That sucks. Let's explore 3 reasons why I've seen people fail and mor...

I met a junior developer with 7 years experience.  His resume actually looked pretty good.  When we started the interview though… oof. He struggled with a simple problem that required iterating over an array and merging some objects. How was this possible? Let's explore how to avoid a similar fate and how you can shorten your path to senior developer. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free...

Ryan Talbert, author of 101 Tips: TypeScript, React, and JavaScript has a hell of a developer origin story: Part 1: Went to school for entrepreneurship Part 2: Scammed by a shady developer who stole his life savings Part 3: Learned to code from tutorials Part 4: Becomes a software engineer and LinkedIn personality Part 5: This interview 😎 Ryan breaks down a very unconventional path from administr...

I’m going to break down the strategy that took me from an underpaid, mediocre developer to an engineering leader through a series of strategic job hops. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp...

React is the single most popular framework for the world's most popular programming language: JavaScript. Yes, you must learn it. In this episode we go over: - What is React, why you care and changes to know in 2024 - How much JS is enough before you learn React? - Server side rendering vs client side rendering - What the heck is Next. JS and why you need to learn it - Resources you can use t...

As an engineering manager I've had the privilege of promoting engineers on my team and offering people their first role in tech. It's one of the most rewarding parts of the job. Besides all the meetings of course... that's the icing on the cake 😉. Unfortunately, I've also had the not so fun task of promoting people OUT of the team 😬. I've also spoken to a few junior deve...

This week, I interviewed Vanessa Vun who switched careers at 35 and went from clinical lab scientist to software engineer. She doesn't have any hacks or shortcuts to landing her first role in a tough market, just practical advice that you're probably not reading online. You can connect with her here: Vanessa's LinkedIn ​ G ​​ ot an idea for the podcast? Share your suggestion here an...

Could AI ever replace the entire software development industry? Should you still learn to code? Lets tackle the misconceptions and fears head-on, demystifying the hype around AI tools like Devin AI, and shining a light on the importance of critical thinking.  In a world where sensational headlines blur the lines between fact and fiction, we walk you through the reality of AI's capabilities an...

Here's a scary realization: there is no 1 path to learn coding. There are many and not every one will work for you. Guest Ilya Dorman challenges conventional coding education and some of my opinions on how to learn to code. We talk about how understanding your own learning process and aligning your personal and professional expectations can transform your approach to coding and lead to true c...

Congratulations! You landed your first software engineering role. Now an entirely new and much longer game begins. I remember the feelings of joy when I got hired and then my anxiety kicked in: "What will they expect me to know?" "Will I get laughed out of the room?" "Am I gonna get fired?!" Let's explore what you can expect on your first day, week and month as a...

Stack Overflow interviewed 90,000 developers to understand the software developer landscape. This survey is a goldmine for developers who are wondering what they should learn next and what current professionals are using to pick up new skills, write code and share their software. You can check it out here: Stack Overflow 2023 Developer Survey If you're ready to build complex software, then ap...

You want to build an amazing side project but you don’t know where to start. ❌ TODO app? ❌ Clone of that other app that you use? ❌ Tutorial project? When I’m not sure what I want to build, I do this: Start with the data - what API can you use which may have some interesting information? What features can you construct around the API? For example, a real time stock API could be used to trigger a...

Everybody and their mother, including me, has been telling you to just learn in public. Anna Miller is co-founder of Code Career Mastery and has a different take on creating a brand online, making genuine connections and shortening your path to HIRED. Honestly, this was one of the most refreshing takes I've heard on building a personal brand online. We discuss: - why you don't HAVE to on...

In the last 2 years alone, I’ve read through at least 100 resumes for open positions at my current company for junior developers. In addition, I’ve done around 500 calls with developers from around the world and seen hundreds more resumes and LinkedIn profiles. As an engineering manager, when I get sent a stack of resumes to look through, I will divide them into 3 categories: 🔴 NO! 🟠 Maybe… 🟢 Y...