I published a pretty big article on Sunday on How to Build a Strong Career in Tech
Something I worked on for the past 3 months based on my 15 years of experience
Sharing my favorite ideas in this thread. 🧵
linkedin.com/pulse/how-buil…
Something I worked on for the past 3 months based on my 15 years of experience
Sharing my favorite ideas in this thread. 🧵
linkedin.com/pulse/how-buil…
*Part I - Definition of Career Success*
What do Professionals with Successful Career in Tech have in common?
*Ever-Growing Impact & Influence*
Impact of their ideas on a large number of people directly or indirectly. Success = Impact & Influence!
What do Professionals with Successful Career in Tech have in common?
*Ever-Growing Impact & Influence*
Impact of their ideas on a large number of people directly or indirectly. Success = Impact & Influence!
*Part II - Skillset Framework - The 4 Pillars to Grow Your Career*
What do Career Ladders from many different Tech companies have in common?
The 4PSs: The 4 Pillars of a Successful Career in Tech.
* 1- Platform
* 2- Product
* 3- Process
* 4- People
What do Career Ladders from many different Tech companies have in common?
The 4PSs: The 4 Pillars of a Successful Career in Tech.
* 1- Platform
* 2- Product
* 3- Process
* 4- People
"The most successful professionals that I know focus on getting better and increasing their impact and influence not only on the 1st P - Platform - but in all the 4Ps: Platform, Product, Process & People."
1st Pillar -> Platform - It is the Codebase, the Scripts, the Infrastructure, the CI/CD Pipeline, the Batch Jobs, the Architectural Patterns, the Databases, your Technical Skills with a particular Paradigm, Language, Framework, Tool or Library.
MASTERING is the core verb here.
MASTERING is the core verb here.
Mastering by LEARNING & BUILDING around solid engineering foundations & SELECTING & APPLYING the right practices, technologies, and tools.
1st P - PLATFORM: How do you get better at this?
1st P - PLATFORM: How do you get better at this?
The obvious advice is to focus on mastering one programming language at the time, go all the way in.
Read the Advanced Classical Books, Implement Different Design Patterns, Get Certified, Contribute to Multiple Open-Source Projects...
And that is not bad at all. BUT,
Read the Advanced Classical Books, Implement Different Design Patterns, Get Certified, Contribute to Multiple Open-Source Projects...
And that is not bad at all. BUT,
The not so obvious advice that has influenced my career more than 10 years ago was the idea of becoming a Generalizing Specialist. It helped me a lot to understand how to think about my "IT Career Skills" and to evolve as a professional focusing on being a T-Shaped Engineer.
Think about this as an ongoing effort to think about your next move while keeping in mind the overall shape of your most critical "IT Professional Skills Blocks" - or, your "Career Capital".
The mindful application and accumulation of expertise over the course of a career.
The mindful application and accumulation of expertise over the course of a career.
I’m not suggesting here for you to become a Generalist - a Jack of ALL trades and Masters at NONE. What I’m suggesting here is for you to try to be a Generalizing Specialist or a Specializing Generalist, basically a Jack of MANY Trades and Masters of SOME.
2nd Pillar -> Product Delivery. It is the app, the website. It is external. It is what the user is using, what it is being experienced, the features available, what the user is able to accomplish, and how quickly.
DELIVERING, especially, delivering value is the core verb.
DELIVERING, especially, delivering value is the core verb.
DELIVER must be focused on customer impact and incremental improvements.
Improving only the codebase (the platform), the same way that improving only the process or the environment for the people is not enough.
2nd P - PRODUCT DELIVERY: How do you get better at this?
Improving only the codebase (the platform), the same way that improving only the process or the environment for the people is not enough.
2nd P - PRODUCT DELIVERY: How do you get better at this?
The obvious advice here is to be more productive. Learn all the keyboard shortcuts, Automate everything, Create a System for your To-do lists, Maximize your Output. Set Reminders. Work longer-hours if needed. Get more done...
And that is not bad at all. BUT,
And that is not bad at all. BUT,
The not so obvious advice that I have learned and has influenced my career in the last couple of years is to Maximize the Work Not Done.
Maximize the number of lines not written.
"The Best Code is No Code At All” – Jeff Atwood.
Maximize the number of lines not written.
"The Best Code is No Code At All” – Jeff Atwood.
2nd Pillar -> Product Delivery. It is the app, the website. It is external. It is what the user is using, what it is being experienced, the features available, what the user is able to accomplish, and how quickly.
DELIVERING, especially, delivering value is the core verb.
DELIVERING, especially, delivering value is the core verb.
DELIVER must be focused on customer impact and incremental improvements.
Improving only the codebase (the platform), the same way that improving only the process or the environment for the people is not enough.
2nd P - PRODUCT DELIVERY: How do you get better at this?
Improving only the codebase (the platform), the same way that improving only the process or the environment for the people is not enough.
2nd P - PRODUCT DELIVERY: How do you get better at this?
The obvious advice here is to be more productive. Learn all the keyboard shortcuts, Automate everything, Create a System for your To-do lists, Maximize your Output. Set Reminders. Work longer-hours if needed. Get more done...
And that is not bad at all. BUT,
And that is not bad at all. BUT,
The not so obvious advice that I have learned and has influenced my career in the last couple of years is to Maximize the Work Not Done.
Maximize the number of lines not written.
"The Best Code is No Code At All” – Jeff Atwood.
Maximize the number of lines not written.
"The Best Code is No Code At All” – Jeff Atwood.
3rd Pillar -> Process & Culture. It is the HOW.
How scalable are we as an engineering organization?
How dependent are we of single points of failure?
Do we see some folks always working extra while a few always leave at 5 pm?
The core verb here is STRENGTHENING!
How scalable are we as an engineering organization?
How dependent are we of single points of failure?
Do we see some folks always working extra while a few always leave at 5 pm?
The core verb here is STRENGTHENING!
STRENGTHENING by adding flexibility on how we scale the product, the codebase, the infrastructure, how the people and teams interact.
3rd P - PROCESS: How do you get better at this?
3rd P - PROCESS: How do you get better at this?
The obvious advice here is to Get a Scrum Master Certification, Organize Meet-ups, Go visit different companies, learn from other cultures, learn how other companies under similar circumstances scaled.
And that is not bad at all. BUT,
And that is not bad at all. BUT,
The not so obvious advice, that has made me grow a lot in the last 5 years or so, is to get involved in your company hiring process. Be an interviewer! Try to improve how your company, department, or direct team do interviews.
4th Pillar -> People & Leadership
* How do we collaborate as a team?
* How do we collaborate across different roles & across different teams?
* Are people happy? Are people being heard?
The core verb here is SUPPORTING! Support & Empathy.
* How do we collaborate as a team?
* How do we collaborate across different roles & across different teams?
* Are people happy? Are people being heard?
The core verb here is SUPPORTING! Support & Empathy.
SUPPORTING the emotional well-being of group members in difficult times, celebrating their successes, Inspiring day to day with excellence, maximizing potentials, challenging the status quo in a compassionate way.
4th P - PEOPLE: How do you get better at this?
4th P - PEOPLE: How do you get better at this?
The obvious advice is to go to Leadership Training, Read books on Soft Skills, Give presentations, Do an MBA, ask for opportunities to lead small teams. Learn how to communicate effectively. Learn how to give effective feedback…
And that is not bad at all. BUT,
And that is not bad at all. BUT,
The not so obvious advice that recently made me see things more clearly is the concept of Being "The Glue Person” or Doing the Glue Work.
I knew it, but I didn’t know it had a name. Try to see everything as a system, see where things are falling to the cracks and pick them up.
I knew it, but I didn’t know it had a name. Try to see everything as a system, see where things are falling to the cracks and pick them up.
Do the Glue Work, be the Glue Person. Take Extreme Ownership over the entire project.
When you see that something needs to be done, but no one is doing, you jump in and do it. You don't wait for permission, you don't ask for approval. Seek forgiveness, do not seek approvals.
When you see that something needs to be done, but no one is doing, you jump in and do it. You don't wait for permission, you don't ask for approval. Seek forgiveness, do not seek approvals.
Want to Be a Better Leader? Put the effort into it.
How? Do the work that nobody is doing, but that is critical for success.
The more meetings you facilitate, the better you will be at it. The more critical communication you do, the better you will be at it.
How? Do the work that nobody is doing, but that is critical for success.
The more meetings you facilitate, the better you will be at it. The more critical communication you do, the better you will be at it.
*Part III - Career Accelerators "The Hacks":
CI - Continuous Interviewing:
Yes, always be open and always take interviews even - or especially when - you are super happy and engaged at your current job/company. At least once a year, accept that invite from that recruiter.
CI - Continuous Interviewing:
Yes, always be open and always take interviews even - or especially when - you are super happy and engaged at your current job/company. At least once a year, accept that invite from that recruiter.
I have a less controversial opinion than @AkitaOnRails on this, my recommendation: you should be changing at least one of the 4Ps - Platform, Product, Process or People - at least once every 2 years, not only during your 20s but actually during your entire career. 
Learning vs. Earning:
At what phase of your career are you now? Learning Phase or Earning Phase?
What is the most important thing for you right now? Learning (getting experience) or Earning (making more money)?
Regardless - Have a Safety Net.
At what phase of your career are you now? Learning Phase or Earning Phase?
What is the most important thing for you right now? Learning (getting experience) or Earning (making more money)?
Regardless - Have a Safety Net.
Short-term vs. Long-term:
All the 15 successful professionals I interviewed for my book had one thing in common. They shared a similar story.
They all "tasted" in some way or another “a new life” or “a vision” before they start to work seriously towards it.
All the 15 successful professionals I interviewed for my book had one thing in common. They shared a similar story.
They all "tasted" in some way or another “a new life” or “a vision” before they start to work seriously towards it.
My final recommendation: Spend a few minutes imagining and writing down your future, your “ideal” personal and professional life.
Great people create their lives actively, while everyone else is passively waiting to see where life will take them next.
Great people create their lives actively, while everyone else is passively waiting to see where life will take them next.
"All things are created twice; first mentally; then physically. The key to creativity is to begin with the end in mind, with a vision and a blueprint of the desired result." – Stephen R. Covey
When things are too easy, change the constraints of the game, try to play in the next level - not once or twice, but again and again - forever.
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading!
If you made this far, here is the video to the talk I gave at @theconfbr last year where I cover most of the above.
Sharing now some of my favorite quotes from my article:
"Career ladders are a starting point for shared expectations across an organisation. However, career ladders cannot be comprehensive, as people are unique, like snowflakes. ..." —@patkua
"Career ladders are a starting point for shared expectations across an organisation. However, career ladders cannot be comprehensive, as people are unique, like snowflakes. ..." —@patkua
"...At the end of the day, you don’t want either specialists or generalists, you want people who can go deep when it matters but you want those same folks to be able fluidly move to higher ROI tasks. This creates stronger adaptability – a key business imperative." @BrentMJensen
From "On Luck, Leverage, and You" by @gayle
"You can’t create your own luck, but you can leverage it. Say yes.” – Gayle Laakmann McDowell
"You can’t create your own luck, but you can leverage it. Say yes.” – Gayle Laakmann McDowell
When it comes to "honing your skills", focusing on the quantity of reps almost always will trump focusing on the quality of reps by @JamesClear
"The craft of programming begins with empathy, not formatting or languages or tools or algorithms or data structures." @KentBeck
"The difference between great people and everyone else is that great people create their lives actively, while everyone else is created by their lives, passively waiting to see where life takes the next." – Michael E. Gerber
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