SWE Accelerator Podcast

In this discussion, Kevin Zhu, a former quant at Citadel and a developer at Palantir, reveals his unconventional journey into tech. He shares how he overcame early struggles with innovative study methods and landed internships at top firms. Kevin dives into life at Citadel, revealing the intense work culture and contrasts it with his pivot to meaningful AI research at Algoverse, a mentorship program he founded. He also weighs the value of quant roles against personal fulfillment and warns about the imminent challenges of AI in society.

Today, I talk with Kelly — a former BCG Project Leader who worked at Goldman Sachs and BCG before walking away at 25 after managing teams most people don't lead until their mid-30s. We dive into the strategies that helped her break into elite consulting: from leveraging coffee chats to land accelerated offers, to the communication frameworks and interview techniques that separate candidates who get hired from those who don't. We also break down what management consulting actually is, how AI is reshaping the industry, what it's really like working 60+ hour weeks with hourly deadlines, and why software engineers should consider consulting as a career path. If you're a CS student, software engineer, or anyone looking to accelerate their tech career through networking, interviewing, and strategic positioning, this episode of the SWE Accelerator Podcast is a must-listen.Computer science students, new grads, and software engineers…want to land your dream software engineering job or internship? Click here 👉  https://www.amanmanazir.com/coaching/?utm_source=transistor&utm_medium=podcasts_description&utm_campaign=BCGConsultant_SWEOutsmart_TechRecession&video=Cnt9ljDyUdU🚀 Get my free Software Engineering Crash Course – https://www.amanmanazir.com/7dayengineer🎧 Listen to all episodes of the Software Engineering Accelerator Podcast on YouTube: youtube.com/AmanManazirListen to our new podcast, @TheEntropyShow: https://youtu.be/MDJQXbXPngg?si=vQqITmNzy3fhfcV1I’m Aman Manazir, a career coach and software engineer. I interned at companies like Amazon, Shopify, and HP in college, and the day I graduated I landed a $168,000/year* full-time software engineering job. I help you make it as a computer science student & software engineer and get your dream job offer.📄 Get my free resume template – https://www.amanmanazir.com/resume🧠 Get my free LeetCode Roadmap – https://www.amanmanazir.com/leetcode💌 Free weekly productivity insights/advice – https://amanmanazir.com/newsletter📕 All my free Notion templates – https://www.amanmanazir.com/notion📝 Sign up for Notion – https://affiliate.notion.so/2nh3pjr6l5l6📷 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/amanmanazir/🐦 Twitter – https://twitter.com/amanmanazir—⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Intro 01:18 – Kelly's Background: From Canada to Goldman Sachs04:03 – What is Management Consulting? Breaking Down BCG05:54 – Types of Companies Consulting Firms Work With06:54 – Can Anyone Get Into Consulting? Background Requirements07:58 – Why Computer Science Majors Should Consider Consulting10:00 – AI's Impact on the Consulting Job Market12:59 – Software Engineering Accelerator 13:53 – How Consulting Projects Actually Work (Entry-Level Perspective)16:35 – ChatGPT Deep Research & The Future of Consulting Work17:58 – Day in the Life of a Consultant21:09 – The Reality of 55-70 Hour Work Weeks23:25 – Hourly Deadlines & Same-Day Delivery Culture24:51 – Managing 1000s of Messages Per Day as a Consultant26:30 – Managing a Team at 25: Kelly's Fast-Track Promotion Story28:22 – What is a Coffee Chat? (Definition for Tech/SWE Students)30:19 – Coffee Chats: The "LeetCode" of Networking for Consultants34:59 – Why SWE Students Are Under-Utilizing Coffee Chats35:49 – How to Stand Out to Hiring Managers (From Someone Who Interviewed 200+ Candidates)37:27 – Tactics to Maximize Your Coffee Chats40:04 – Making People Feel Like Experts: The Interview Approach42:09 – Networking for People Who Hate Small Talk44:12 – How to Ask Smart Questions Even When You're Lost46:55 – What Separates Candidates Who Get Offers from Those Who Don't49:09 – The STAR Method: Common Mistakes to Avoid50:37 – Beyond STAR: Adding Impact & Philosophy to Interview Answers52:44 – Communication Frameworks Consultants Use (That SWE Students Should Learn)55:07 – Zoom Out, Zoom In, Zoom Forward Framework58:31 – What Do You Think About Quiet Quitting?58:53 – The Great Lock-In: Gen Z's Shift from Quiet Quitting to Locking In1:00:43 – Gen Z in the Workforce: A Millennial's Perspective1:02:15 – Millennials vs Gen Z: Different Approaches to Work & Rules1:04:42 – Social Media's Impact on Generational Work Styles1:05:52 – Advice for Burnt-Out 22-Year-Old Software Engineers1:08:57 – Where to Connect with Kelly (Sunday Chats on Instagram)1:09:40 – Outro

A LinkedIn engineer shares her journey to a six-figure job offer in a tough job market. She reveals five standout strategies, including the power of return offers and mastering the art of networking. The discussion highlights the importance of exceeding expectations and fostering strong relationships during internships. Tips on leveraging LinkedIn effectively, overcoming the fear of posting, and navigating early career challenges provide valuable insights for new grads. Plus, the impact of AI on future careers sparks an intriguing debate.

Helen, a 24-year-old quant, shares her journey of making over $900K after a dramatic layoff from Meta. Discover how her viral TikTok exposed Meta's rescinded intern offers and the HR fallout that followed. She discusses her transition to trading firms, the high-stakes world of quant jobs, and her strategies for landing interviews. Helen also reveals the perks of her Meta internship, the realities of burnout in quant roles, and her aspiration to create a movie recommendation app. A must-listen for anyone eyeing a career in tech!

Steve, a former Amazon engineer and popular YouTuber with over 170,000 subscribers, shares his transition from corporate life to empowering others. He discusses how many engineers misprepare for interviews, focusing too much on traditional coding tasks instead of real-world skills. Steve highlights the transformative potential of AI, presenting it as a tool for enhancement rather than a threat. He emphasizes the importance of personal branding, adaptability, and leveraging negative experiences for growth, making this conversation a goldmine for aspiring software engineers.

Computer science students, new graduates, and bootcamp grads…want to land your dream software engineering job or internship? Click here 👉 https://www.amanmanazir.com/coaching/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast_description&utm_campaign=neetcodeToday, I talk with NeetCode ( @NeetCode ) — a software engineering YouTuber with over a million subscribers who completely changed how the world learns LeetCode. We talk about how he built his channel, what most people get wrong about LeetCode, how AI is changing interviews, and whether computer science is still worth it. If you’re a CS student, bootcamp grad, or anyone trying to land a top-tier software engineering job, you need to listen to this episode of Liftoff. Hope you enjoy!🎧 Listen to all episodes of Lift Off with Aman Manazir on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/2BAbr5KDWtI1nhmkwXczl9?si=8752638b2fa1459d&nd=1&dlsi=e29d5a5436cc47d0https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lift-off-with-aman-manazir/id1742843726Listen to our new podcast, @TheEntropyShow : https://youtu.be/MDJQXbXPngg?si=vQqITmNzy3fhfcV1I’m Aman Manazir, a career coach and software engineer. I interned at companies like Amazon, Shopify, and HP in college, and the day I graduated I landed a $168,000/year* full-time software engineering job. I help you make it as a computer science student and get your dream job offer.📄 Get my free resume template – https://www.amanmanazir.com/resume🧠 Get my free LeetCode Roadmap – https://www.amanmanazir.com/leetcode💌 Free weekly productivity insights/advice – https://amanmanazir.com/newsletter📕 All my free Notion templates – https://www.amanmanazir.com/notion📝 Sign up for Notion – https://affiliate.notion.so/2nh3pjr6l5l6📷 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/amanmanazir/🐦 Twitter – https://twitter.com/amanmanazirTimestamps:00:00 – Intro: How NeetCode Rewired LeetCode00:34 – Is AI killing software engineering jobs?05:40 – Why the job market feels impossible for new grads16:19 – What NeetCode really did at Amazon23:00 – Google vs Amazon: the truth about big tech32:00 – The moment NeetCode knew he had to quit37:14 – The real reason NeetCode started uploading LeetCode40:16 – Is LeetCode still worth your time in 2025?49:49 – Why LeetCode might be dead in 5 years52:00 – How Roy Lee and AI are rewriting tech interviews59:02 – The fastest way to become interview-ready1:07:08 – How long it actually takes to master DSA1:19:53 – Final thoughts: is comp sci still worth studying?Let me know if you want a shorter version for Spotify or a custom pinned comment too.

Today, I talk with Amy Wang ( @wamyy5 ) a Caltech graduate with a degree in arguably the hardest major, Chemical Engineering. Learn how she got a 4.0 at one of the hardest universities in the world while battling severe migraines, balancing a social life and starting a YouTube channel with 600k+ subscribers. She shares her tips and tricks on how to succeed academically and socially on this episode of Liftoff. Hope you enjoy! Computer science students, new graduates, and bootcamp graduates...want to land your dream software engineering job/internship? Click here 👉 https://www.amanmanazir.com/coaching/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video_description&utm_campaign=amy_wang 🎧 Listen to all episodes of Lift Off with Aman Manazir on Apple Podcasts and Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2BAbr5KDWtI1nhmkwXczl9?si=8752638b2fa1459d&nd=1&dlsi=e29d5a5436cc47d0 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lift-off-with-aman-manazir/id1742843726 Listen our new podcast,  @TheEntropyShow  : https://youtu.be/MDJQXbXPngg?si=vQqITmNzy3fhfcV1 I'm Aman Manazir, a career coach and software engineer. I interned at companies like Amazon, Shopify, and HP in college, and the day I graduated I landed a $168,000/year* full-time software engineering job. I help you make it as a computer science student and get your dream job offer. 📄 Get my free resume template - https://www.amanmanazir.com/resume 🧠 Get my free LeetCode Roadmap - https://www.amanmanazir.com/leetcode 💌 Free weekly productivity insights/advice - https://amanmanazir.com/newsletter  📕 Get all my free Notion templates discussed here - https://www.amanmanazir.com/notion 📝 Sign up for Notion - https://affiliate.notion.so/2nh3pjr6l5l6 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amanmanazir/ 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/amanmanazir 00:00 - Introduction 00:45 - Amy’s 4.0 GPA /Being Your Own Cheerleader 07:36 - The Yin & Yang Mindset 13:52 - Getting A’s The Cool Way 15:59 - The Software Engineering Accelerator 16:40 - What is The Point of Getting A's? 22:02 - Screen Time is Killing Your Social Life 31:38 - Social Media Addiction 41:56 - The Parasocial Relationship With Your Fans 44:49 - Practical Tips To Get That 4.0 51:45 - Battling Migraines 57:25 - Amy’s Childhood 1:04:04 - The Stanford Rejection 1:12:34 - The Caltech Experience 1:14:26 - Thoughtful Thursdays 1:14:43 - Amy’s YouTube Career 1:30:49 - The Plagiarism Outbreak on YouTube 1:47:02 - When Was It Time to do YouTube Full Time? 2:00:56 - Balancing Relationships & Career 2:07:10 - Conclusion *location-adjusted

 Today, I talk with my brother Aadil who landed a $600,000 quant offer and decided to turn it down. We talk about why he made that decision, what got him there, and what a day in the life of a quant trader is actually like. Hope you enjoy! Computer science students, new graduates, and bootcamp graduates...want to land your dream software engineering job/internship? Click here 👉 https://www.amanmanazir.com/coaching/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video_description&utm_campaign=shouldn't_be_engineer I'm Aman Manazir, a career coach and software engineer. I interned at companies like Amazon, Shopify, and HP in college, and the day I graduated I landed a $168,000/year* full-time software engineering job. I help you make it as a computer science student and get your dream job offer. If you're a dedicated programmer who wants to land your dream internship or job in 2025 without spamming LeetCode, spending hours at career fairs, or applying to thousands of positions, join the Software Engineering Accelerator and work directly with me. Click this link to book a call: https://www.amanmanazir.com/coaching/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video_description&utm_campaign=shouldn't_be_engineer 📄 Get my free resume template - https://www.amanmanazir.com/resume 🧠 Get my free LeetCode Roadmap - https://www.amanmanazir.com/leetcode 💌 Free weekly productivity insights/advice - https://amanmanazir.com/newsletter 📕 Get all my free Notion templates discussed here - https://www.amanmanazir.com/notion 📝 Sign up for Notion - https://affiliate.notion.so/2nh3pjr6l5l6 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amanmanazir/ 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/amanmanazir 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - Aadil College Background 04:38 - Internship History 14:37 - Software Engineering Accelerator 15:06 - Getting The 600k Offer 26:52 - Aadil's Dream Job (Spoiler: It's Not Quant) 31:00 - Why Aadil Turned Down The Offer/Entrepreneurship 35:50 - What Would A Day In The Life Be For Quant? 43:42 - The Risks of A 9-5 45:57 - Thoughtful Thursdays 46:14 - Why Did You Leave Quant? 52:17 - Where Are You Now? 1:00:51 - Aadil's Next Step, Dating 1:03:36 - The Truth of Being in Quant 1:11:30 - Being In A Slump 1:15:59 - In What Situation Would You Go Back To Quant? 1:19:22 - Our Big Announcement 1:21:18 - Conclusion *location-adjusted

Today, I talk to my best friend from college, Vithi Peters. We talk about how to make friends in college, red flags in friendships, and if Vithi secretly hates me. Enjoy!Computer science students, new graduates, and bootcamp graduates…want to land your dream software engineering job/internship? Click here 👉 https://www.amanmanazir.com/coaching/ 🧠 Get my free LeetCode Roadmap - https://www.amanmanazir.com/leetcode I’m Aman Manazir, a career coach and software engineer. I interned at companies like Amazon, Shopify, and HP in college, and the day I graduated I landed a $168,000/year* full-time software engineering job. I help you make it as a computer science student and land your dream job. If you’re a dedicated programmer who wants to land your dream internship or job in 2025 without spamming LeetCode, spending hours at career fairs, or applying to thousands of positions, join the Software Engineering Accelerator and work directly with me. Click this link to book a call: https://www.amanmanazir.com/coaching 📄 Get my free resume template - https://www.amanmanazir.com/resume 💌 Free weekly productivity insights/advice - https://amanmanazir.com/newsletter 📕 Get all my free Notion templates discussed here - https://www.amanmanazir.com/notion 📝 Sign up for Notion - https://affiliate.notion.so/2nh3pjr6l5l6 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amanmanazir/ 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/amanmanazir   00:00 - Introduction 00:26 - Our First Time Meeting 01:56 - The Second Time Meeting 05:00 - Why Vithi Hated Aman 08:14 - The Difference Between A Discussion And An Argument 09:02 - The Heated Dinner Party Argument 10:46 - What Changed In Our Friendship 12:05 - Q1: How Do You Approach New People Without Coming Off Weird 22:38 - The Software Engineering Accelerator 23:08 - Q2: How Easy Is It To Make Friends At The Workplace? 33:45 - Q3: How Many Friends Are Optimal? 36:46 - Q4: Do You Feel Like You Fall Out Of Friendships? 38:14 - Q5: When Can You Be Vulnerable With Someone? 41:38 - Sign Up For Thoughtful Thursday 41:55 - Q6: How Do You Make Friends Without Drinking? 52:07 - Q7: What Did You Learn From The Friendships That Ended? 58:54 - Q8: How Do You Choose The Friends In Your Close Circle? 1:09:38 - Q9: How Do You Know The Friend Group You’re In Is The One You Want To Stay In? 1:16:40 - Q10: How Do Friendships Change As You Get Older? 1:19:18 - Conclusion *location-adjusted  

Today, I talk to Karen Bello. We discuss how she started as a personal assistant making minimum wage to starting her own Air BnB empire with millions in revenue. Enjoy! 💌 Free weekly productivity insights/advice - https://amanmanazir.com/newsletter 📕 Get all my free Notion templates discussed here - https://www.amanmanazir.com/notion 📄 Get my free resume template - https://www.amanmanazir.com/resume 📝 Sign up for Notion - https://affiliate.notion.so/2nh3pjr6l5l6 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amanmanazir/ 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/amanmanazir 0:00 - Intro 0:45 - How Did She Become a Personal Assistant? 3:54 - What Did She Study in College? 4:07 - How Did Her Mindset Change? 6:02 - Rich Dad Poor Dad 7:40 - Transition After Being a Personal Assistant 9:22 - What Made Her Think She Could Start A Business? 10:25 - Working as a Therapist 16:00 - Airbnb Business 21:55 - Growing her Business in The First Year 23:18 - Getting The Confidence to Start 26:20 - Rental Arbitrage 30:53 - Managing Time Working Two Jobs 32:05 - Scaling Her Business 34:05 - How Does Cohosting Work? 40:02 - Profit From Year One 41:04 - Cohosting vs. Rental Arbitrage 45:05 - Balancing Two Full Time Jobs 46:10 - Where Did She get her Drive From? 48:30 - The Value of Networking 51:07 - 3rd Year Numbers  54:50 - How is The Business Now? 58:45 - Where Does She Want to Take The Business? 1:00:00 - What Does The Team Look Like? 1:01:27 - How to Find an Assistant 1:04:15 - What Does an Assistant do? 1:09:04 - Advice for Airbnb Businesses 1:12:30 - How Does an Advanced Person Learn? 1:16:15 - What's The Next Step? 1:20:52 - Focusing on Your Niche Karen's Contact Information: bhstr.com karen@bellohomesstr.com 336-459-9756 I'm Aman Manazir, a career coach and former software engineer. I make videos about making it as a computer science student and landing your dream job. I post new videos regularly, run a tech interview podcast, and run an email newsletter (https://amanmanazir.com/newsletter).