In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, we sit down with Shashi Lo, Senior UX Engineer at Microsoft and the founder of the Gridiron Survivor project. Shashi shares his approach to mentoring junior developers by helping them bridge the gap between boot camp and their first job in tech. We cover the challenges of onboarding, the importance of code reviews, and how companies can better support new talent by investing in mentorship and training. Shashi also talks about his experience with building a community of learners, the process of de-risking junior candidates, and why companies should be more proactive in nurturing the next generation of developers.

00:00 - Meet Shashi Lo

02:25 - The Gridiron Survivor Project

05:02 - The Importance of Code Reviews

07:25 - Teaching the Basics of Project Communication

09:47 - Code Reviews as a Learning Tool

12:06 - Why Shashi Mentors: Giving Back to the Community

14:26 - The Importance of De-Risking Junior Candidates

16:41 - Building in Public: Transparency and Learning

19:00 - Assessing Candidates for the Gridiron Survivor Project

21:25 - The Power of Simple Coding Tests

23:45 - Scaling Up Skills: From Small Tasks to Big Projects

26:07 - Should Companies Be Doing This?

How to Invest in New Software Engineering Talent with Shashi Lo