

#137 Rahul Pandey quit his $800,000/year FAANG developer job to build a startup
20 snips Aug 16, 2024
Rahul Pandey, a former FAANG software engineer, shares his bold leap from an $800K job to launching his startup, Taro. He discusses the challenging post-layoff job market and reveals strategies for standing out in developer interviews. Rahul argues the existence of 10x, 100x, and even 1000x engineers and emphasizes the importance of soft skills in tech. The conversation also covers venture capital shifts affecting startups and effective job-seeking practices tailored for tech, showcasing the evolving landscape for developers.
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Coding Journey
- It's never too late to learn to code; focus on persistence and having a system to avoid discouragement.
- The software field is still early, and opportunities will increase, so work smart and hard.
Early Years and Education
- Rahul Pandey's parents emphasized education, creating a dichotomy between his Indian heritage and American schooling.
- He focused on academics and math competitions without a clear career path until college.
College Applications
- Apply to many good universities instead of focusing on one dream school to increase chances and reduce stress.
- Top universities offer valuable peer groups that open up possibilities.