The Software Engineering Accelerator Podcast I Asked a Principle Engineer at Amazon How to Get Hired (ft. @ALifeEngineered)
13 snips
Jul 30, 2025 Steve, a former Amazon engineer and popular YouTuber with over 170,000 subscribers, shares his transition from corporate life to empowering others. He discusses how many engineers misprepare for interviews, focusing too much on traditional coding tasks instead of real-world skills. Steve highlights the transformative potential of AI, presenting it as a tool for enhancement rather than a threat. He emphasizes the importance of personal branding, adaptability, and leveraging negative experiences for growth, making this conversation a goldmine for aspiring software engineers.
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Steve's Academic Comeback Story
- Steve was kicked out of University of Washington for poor academic performance but identified what changed to get readmitted.
- He reversed engineered the admission petition, got back in, made the Dean's list, and landed a job at Amazon.
Motivation Needs Push and Pull
- Negative stimulus motivates fleeing a bad situation but without a direction, that energy can be wasted.
- The strongest motivation combines fleeing from something bad and pursuing something positive.
Prepare Behavioral Interviews More
- Think of interviews as mutual dating, not tests, where both sides assess fit and problem-solving.
- Spend more time preparing behavioral interviews because they heavily influence hiring decisions beyond coding skills.
