The state of the 2023 tech market (Changelog & Friends #23)
Dec 1, 2023
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Gergely Orosz joins the hosts to discuss the tech hiring market, the impact of AI on software development, Neon's serverless Postgres for developers, OpenAI's success and leadership, Socket's solution for security concerns with open source dependencies, hiring trends in the tech market, the rise of social media influencers, and a conference with fake female speakers teased for future discussion.
Increased hiring and concerns about the impact of pass/fail grading on recent graduates' skills.
The rise of influencers and the importance of authenticity in building a social media following.
The entrepreneurial mindset among young people and the accessibility of technology for starting businesses.
Deep dives
Hiring trends and job market
Companies like Facebook are starting to increase their hiring, while other big tech companies are slowly returning to normal hiring practices. New grad hiring has been down, and there are concerns about the impact of pass/fail grading during the pandemic on the skills of recent graduates.
The rise of influencers and authenticity
There is a growing desire among young people to become influencers and gain large social media followings. However, this can be a risky path as it relies heavily on algorithm changes and can be unpredictable. It is often more successful for individuals to have a small business or area of expertise and share their knowledge and experiences authentically.
Generational differences in the workforce
Gen Z, or the generation growing up with iPhones, is generally seen as highly engaged and bright. They come into the workplace with a strong customer focus and are quick to switch between tasks. They are known for protecting their time and prioritizing their own interests outside of work while still being productive.
The impact of technology on entrepreneurship
Technology has made entrepreneurship more accessible to younger generations, allowing them to start businesses at a younger age and gain a better understanding of how the world works. This increased access to entrepreneurship has created a more entrepreneurial mindset among young people and a greater understanding of business and product development.
Beneficiaries of AI Tools
Experienced developers who have mastered AI tools and can quickly identify and correct errors benefit from AI tools. They are able to work more efficiently and see significant productivity gains. Additionally, individuals who enter the workforce with a strong understanding and utilization of AI tools can quickly get up to speed and make use of them, potentially surpassing those with more experience who are not actively leveraging AI technologies.
Software Engineer's Guidebook
The podcast discusses a recently published book titled 'Software Engineer's Guidebook' written by the guest. The book aims to provide valuable insights for software engineers at different career levels, including entry-level and mid-level engineers, as well as experienced engineers who have not worked in big tech companies. It covers a wide range of topics, including promotions, expectations in large tech companies, stakeholder management, team dynamics, and important software engineering concepts. The book is intended to be a practical reference guide to help software engineers navigate their careers and improve their professional skills.
Gergely Orosz is back for our annual year-end update on the tech market, writ large. How is hiring? Has AI really changed the game? What about that OpenAI fiasco?
We also talk in-depth about Gergely’s self-published book, The Software Engineer’s Guidebook, which has been four years in the making.
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