Career growth strategies in software engineering: start-ups vs bigtech

Coding Chats episode 48 - John Crickett and Gilad Naor explore the differences between working at startups and big tech companies, discussing the pros and cons of each environment. They delve into career growth, the importance of mentorship, and the balance between specialization and generalization in tech careers. The discussion also covers the management track versus individual contributor roles, the role of managers in creating positive change, and the significance of interview preparation. Additionally, they highlight the value of side projects and the necessity for managers to build empathy through understanding various roles within their organizations. The conversation concludes with advice on taking ownership of one's career and the importance of continuous personal development.

Chapters

00:00 Startups vs. Big Tech: A Comparative Overview

03:19 Navigating Career Growth in Tech

06:08 The Reality of Big Tech Work

09:06 Specialization vs. Generalization in Tech Careers

11:39 The Management Track: Leadership vs. Management

14:28 Creating Positive Change as a Manager

17:14 Interview Preparation for Managers

20:33 Choosing the Right Stories for Interviews

26:59 Navigating Conflict in Technical Leadership

29:12 Addressing Gaps in Management Experience

32:15 Interview Strategies for Senior Roles

35:17 Demonstrating Depth of Experience in Interviews

38:52 The Role of Side Projects in Personal Development

42:02 The Importance of Technical Empathy in Management

47:32 Taking Ownership of Your Career

Gilad's Links:

Gilad's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giladnaor

Gilad's Website: https://managementdeltas.com/

John's Links:

John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/

John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett

John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett

John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social

Check out John's software engineering related newsletters:

Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.

Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.

Takeaways

Working at startups allows for a broader range of experiences.

Big tech offers more mentorship opportunities for career growth.

The term 'startup' can encompass a wide range of company sizes and structures.

Career growth in tech often requires navigating internal mobility.

Specialization can provide a competitive advantage in tech careers.

Management and leadership are distinct roles that require different skill sets.

Interview preparation is crucial for both managers and individual contributors.

Building empathy as a manager involves understanding various roles in the organization.

Side projects can help maintain technical skills and foster personal development.

Taking ownership of your career is essential for success.