The Developing Dev Industry Secrets We Wish We Knew Before Graduating | Staff Eng Talk @ UCLA
May 2, 2025
Discover industry secrets that aren't taught in college, from navigating software engineering career levels to handling imposter syndrome. Learn about the importance of self-advocacy and how to measure your impact in tech roles. The discussion delves into the differences between big tech and startups, plus insights on college recruiting. Explore whether an MBA is essential for engineering management and the evolving role of AI in the job market. This conversation equips aspiring tech professionals with valuable advice for career success.
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Succeeding as an Intern
- To succeed as an intern, finish your project early and propose improvements or new projects afterward.
- Communicate your progress clearly and aim for high-quality code with minimal revisions by the end.
Winning with Quality Over Quantity
- Ricky's Google internship involved low code output but a deep understanding shown in a detailed design doc.
- This approach won him a return offer despite writing far fewer lines of code than peers.
Promotion Through Next-Level Projects
- To get promoted, focus on doing projects at the next level, not just many tasks at your current level.
- Understand and exhibit the behaviors expected at the next level to accelerate promotions.