Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

There are numerous guides and articles on how to interview.  They all provide some great suggestions.  However, I rarely see an essential recommendation for technical interviews.  Some technical interviews require dry and detailed answers.  Nevertheless, you will make a better impression when you focus on stories instead of buzzwords. We Solve Problems The most important aspect of our skills is how they are used to solve problems.  While a series of buzzwords can be useful for a job search, that is not the best way to show your skills.  It is good to include those buzzwords in your answers to technical questions, but not sufficient.  Turn the simple responses about your skillset into stories about how you used them. For example, when asked how much Java experience you have, do not leave the answer at a number of years.  Instead, talk about your most recent Java project.  You can keep it short, but make sure you let the listener know that you have used those skills. You might even talk about a group of projects you have done and how you used those skills to solve problems prevalent in the industry. Application Is Better Than Coding We are approaching the point where much of the code creation process can be done by automation or templates.  While there is still a demand for raw coding skills, those are becoming a commodity and not a path for a career.  The competition and compensation make it not worthwhile.  Therefore, avoid getting into a conversation about your skills.  Focus on how you apply that knowledge.  Think about it.  Do you ask an auto mechanic about how good they are with a wrench?  Why should we waste more than a passing mention of skills instead of how we apply them? The Future Is Stories Instead of Buzzwords We have seen a steady increase in lampooning the buzzword culture.  Dilbert cartoons made Scott Adams rich from this form of ridicule.  There is no reason for us to get sucked into that trap.  Likewise, people are starting to see that technical interviews are not as effective when they only focus on raw skills.  Softer questions about how you work with a team, communicate or approach problem-solving are becoming far more common.  Make it easy for the interviewer and try answering questions with stories instead of buzzwords to show your technical prowess. Episode Challenge: Convert your resume summary into more of a story and less a dry list of skills. Read more about advancing your career.

We are asked questions every day.  Also, part of the expectation of our job is that we will have an answer.  However, we do not have to answer immediately.  It is acceptable to say that I can find that out or let me get back to you for that answer.  Do not rush into a solution when you have time to think through a response or ping others. Experience Is Half The Battle Experience is one of the best teachers.  When we are not clear on an answer, we often know where to start looking.  This approach may utilize search engines, reference materials, or co-workers.  The method we take is not as important as the results we get.  Therefore, do not hesitate to take advantage of every source available in pursuing a solution.  Proper research takes time, so buy some of that resource with a simple answer like "let me get back to you." Correct Later Is Better Than Partial Sooner I know I jump to an answer too quickly at times.  It is sort of an 80-20 rule I have to fight against.  When I am fairly confident in a solution, I have times where I have been too quick to provide that one rather than utilize the option to confirm my instincts.  This situation is not uncommon in my experience.  We want to be able to help sooner rather than later.  However, that inclination can sometimes lead us to provide a partial or incorrect solution too quickly rather than a complete solution later.  This approach can cause communication and expectation setting problems.  Thus, it is better to bite your tongue or provide an answer that you think you know a solution, but you want to verify it.  Patience and the "I'll find that out" response happen to be signs of experience.  There is a reason we have a saying that refers to fools rushing in. We Have a Lot To Provide All of this steady work on becoming a better developer leads to being a better source for solutions.  We should have confidence in our ability to research and learn new things.  That leads to us being an excellent resource for answering questions and solving problems even if we do not always provide an immediate response.  We know it takes time to learn and improve.  Use that knowledge to slow your approach, say you will find that out, and allow yourself to craft the best answer possible. Episode Challenge: Spend the next week listening for problems to solve in your daily conversations.  Maybe pick one and see if you can provide a solution. Read more about advancing your career.

Part of advancing our career includes accepting or rejecting job offers.  It may come as a surprise to you that we do have a choice.  We might even reject an offer without having another option.  There are considerations to keep in mind throughout this offer process. The Counter Offer Both sides can always take or leave an offer and then make adjustments.  This process works the same for jobs as it does anything else we negotiate.  For example, you can conditionally accept an offer and say you also require another week of vacation.  There may be a change in your salary, or the bonus structure, or even your workspace.  Do not limit your negotiations to simple things like salary and health benefits.  There is much more that can be included in an offer. There is also no reason to wait to set some of these expectations.  Feel free to mention (at appropriate times) during an interview process what your needs are.  These often include concerns like childcare, flex hours, or remote work.  Feel free to craft your unique job offer.  They can only say "no."  You want to stay within reason.  However, you may be surprised at how flexible some organizations can be. No Time Like The Present A job offer is an act of setting expectations.  Both of the parties involved will walk away, expecting things based on that agreement.  You will provide work deliverables and expertise while they will compensate you.  Thus accepting or rejecting job offers comes down to being comfortable with the job as the contract defines it.  It is hard (and sometimes self-defeating) to re-open negotiations on an agreement.  Therefore, you should air all of your concerns before agreeing on an offer.  It will help you avoid kicking yourself later. All Things Are On The Table Any part of your job can be negotiated.  Some companies may have limits, but you can ask for all manner of benefits.  Think about the rock stars that are known to require odd things like a bowl of green M&Ms.  It is best to avoid the appearance of being a prima donna.  However, it is also good to set yourself up for a job you love. Episode Challenge: List three non-salary items that would be good to ask for in your next job offer. Read more about advancing your career.

Rules are meant to be broken, and sometimes there is a reason for veering from standards.  We often do this to build a one-off or maybe a proof-of-concept.  These are situations where we have a form of excuse to try out a new language or create something quickly instead of "correctly."  The rules are different for these projects, so what should we include in our planning? Avoiding POC Problems A critical flaw in some proof-of-concepts projects is that it is too good.  There are times where the powers that be want to move forward quickly and build on that POC.  While that may be feasible, it is often a wrong decision.  There are short cuts taken for a POC that need to be addressed before moving to production.  Therefore, it is often cleaner to start from scratch and use the POC as a reference instead of source code. This need is where doing a POC in a different tech stack can be a plus.  When you are a specific tech stack shop, it is going to be difficult to change gears to another one.  That means a POC in another stack has a built-in excuse for being done from scratch rather than extending it.  This approach may seem a bit sneaky, but sometimes you need to provide a little insurance against an overzealous sales or marketing group. A Shorter Solution Path Some technologies are best suited for larger projects.  We have looked at tools like scripting languages that can be a way to produce a result quickly.  When you need a solution fast and will only need it briefly, it is a perfect opportunity for veering from standards.  We often see this occur with migrations and upgrades.  By definition, you are not going to migrate or upgrade more than once (or maybe a few times), so the tools for that are throw away.  The shortest route to building those tools will usually be the best. The MVP As Pivot A POC has some good reasons for a different tech stack.  An MVP is not the same.  One of the essential features of an MVP is that it is a starting point for the product.  When you build an MVP and do not extend it, you are not creating a proper MVP.  Thus, creating an MVP by veering from standards may cause an unintentional pivot from your tech stack.  I have seen this happen when a consulting group is brought in to jumpstart a new product.  They build an MVP but do so with their core competencies.  The end result is an organization that is forced to support multiple tech stacks.  While that is feasible in some situations, it is rarely recommended. Episode Challenge: Consider the last time you did a POC or one-off.  Did you stick to the normal tech stack or use it as an opportunity for something different? Read more about advancing your career.

Sooner or later, most of us have a desire to search for a new job.  This situation can arise from negative things like personal conflicts and lack of challenge or can be looking for a better position.  In any case, there are good and bad reasons and timing for a job search. The Obvious Timing We will quickly get the most apparent situation out of the way.  There are times the market is perfect for getting a job, and times when it is not.  These tend to be highly visible (a lot of people looking for the same type of job, or a lot of unfilled positions) and not under our control.  The market is what it is.  However, we do want to avoid searching for a job in a bad market.  Sometimes we have to be patient and suffer a little longer to get a new job that is a positive move. Keeping An Ear To The Ground The best way to keep your options open is to stay current with the market.  This approach is one that we take in our efforts to be a better developer.  Our skills are current, and we have been exposed to some of the new ideas out there.  When we do this, we are better positioned to see when a new technology wave is coming that may be an opportunity for us to advance. Run Towards, Not Away One of the critical things in thinking about when to search for a new job is in our control.  We will always be better off when we move to something new rather than flee a bad situation.  We do not know when things can turn into a bad situation.  However, when we keep our eyes out, we are more likely to be aware of the potential steps up in our careers. I feel a need to point out that we should not always be chasing greener pastures.  That is a fool's errand.  Instead, we should have our career roadmap with goals.  Then we should be prepared for opportunities where a new job can move us forward on that roadmap.  Have specific, career-based goals that drive your move to a new job.  Avoid getting distracted by shiny things like a simple raise or avoiding a problematic project.  Sometimes the best way out is through, and desperation is never good in a job search. Episode Challenge: Take a brief look at the current market and your career roadmap.  Is now a good time to step into your next goal? Read more about advancing your career.

When we build a personal brand, there is a certain amount of "bragging" we need to do.  This form of marketing can be seen as pure narcissism at times.  While that is not a concern as much as we may think so, it is still an area worth considering.  Sometimes you can go too far, and then is it marketing or narcissism? Donald Trump and Oprah Winfrey Two perfect examples of over-the-top marketing are Donald Trump and Oprah Winfrey.  The political nature of Trump has brought out those that accuse him of narcissism, but that is more recent.  There is a difference between these two personal brands. However, both trumpet their features and successes steadily and often.  I think it also gives us examples of how we can find a level of comfort between marketing or narcissism.  It may also help us feel more comfortable with mentioning our accomplishments in a resume, brand, or interview. Oprah Everywhere I am not sure anyone has accused Oprah of being a narcissist.  However, when you look at her content, you will see her name and image everywhere.  That could imply she thinks highly of herself.  On the other hand, look at any brand site like Nike, Coca-Cola, or similar huge brands.  You will see logos everywhere, and the product names mentioned heavily.  That is a part of marketing and building a brand.  Make it synonymous with your goals.  Oprah uses her name all over because it is content created by her organization. She wants everyone to associate her with what she produced.  That builds brand awareness, and it has worked for her.  Who would not want to see a stamp of endorsement from Oprah to help their product? Subtle or Flagrant We all know the hard sale person that is continuously driving towards a close.  I think Trump is that guy.  He is always on message trying to make his name synonymous with high quality or success.  Oprah has the same goals.  However, she surrounds herself with things and people that point to her rather than doing it herself.  Both of these approaches have pros and cons. On the other hand, one approach seems to be less polarizing.  While the approach of letting your work stand on its own may not always be feasible, there is a strong message it can give.  Keep these personal brand masters in mind as you work on yours. Episode Challenge: Review your site and resume.  Do these tell a story about you that is what you want readers to know? Read more about advancing your career.

Technology moves fast and is not likely to slow down.  Therefore, cutting-edge knowledge we have today can quickly lose its value.  Nevertheless, just as a car that loses a lot, but not all, of its value when you drive off the lot.  We also still have value in those old and rusty skills from our past.  There are modern needs and baseline knowledge that can be assumed from those past projects.  Do not ignore them in an interview or resume. Migration Is Forever An essential part of technology moving forward is that we always have migration projects available.  There is a steady stream of new and start-up companies that can dive into new technology from scratch.  However, there is also a significant number of organizations that see a need to move old technology to something new.  This process often requires knowledge of both the past and the new platform.  That is a niche into which you may fall.  It has its own challenges, but can be lucrative. The Value of a Firm Foundation There are work and experience that come from learning and mastering anything.  Even though the platform you learned last year has lost its luster, there are fundamental skills you showed.  This situation is most evident with a version upgrade.  While there are watershed releases that can nullify prior version knowledge, that is rare.  Even big leaps in functionality are almost always built on those past versions.  That means you may have old and rusty skills, but those are still useful in the modern version.  They might even be close enough for you to be instantly productive. Staying Current You do not need to work in a specific technology every day to stay current.  Once you have "mastered" a technology, it can often be enough to keep up with release changes.  One or two versions are often close enough to your core experience when you supplement that knowledge with things like conferences, reading blogs, and watching videos.  An added benefit of this approach is that you will likely have a go idea of what you do not know.  The more substantial changes in any version will tend to be primary topics for this sort of content.  Thus, even though you may not have used the new features, you can still talk intelligently about them. Episode Challenge: Add a section to your resume or brand site that addresses podcasts, blogs, or tutorials you follow and maybe the type of things you learn from it. Read more about advancing your career.

We spend a lot of time doing the work that makes us a better developer.  Nevertheless, there is still some work we need to do as part of selling those skills.  Research and preparation for a job or interview are highly valuable tasks for us to take on.  These steps can help us feel comfortable and impress in an interview or as part of our brand site. Answering Questions - Solving Problems You will not spend much time looking at marketing heavy sites without seeing answers to unasked questions.  That is a technique that is highly effective in drawing in prospects.  Think about it.  When you are looking for an answer to a question, and someone starts a conversation implying they will provide a solution, they will have your attention.  This fact plays into our research and preparation work.  We will be looking for likely problems so we can lead the conversation to how we can provide solutions. Understand the Business The number one outcome of our research should be an understanding of the business.  Yes, it is helpful to understand the titles and fundamental background of the interviewers.  However, it is more valuable to have a solid foundation of knowledge about their organization and competition.  These pieces of information will help you determine their pain points and problems they have already solved.  That allows you to spend your time selling them on what you can add rather than what they already know. Ask Questions, Be Proactive The goal of this research is not to keep you from asking questions.  Instead, you should be in a position to ask well-informed questions.  These will ideally lead the interviewers to see where you add value to their requirements.  When you can show them areas that you will exceed expectations, you will quickly separate yourself from the competition.  You will be seen as useful and that much more memorable.  In the best situations, you will be able to imply that your position with their company will be invaluable. Episode Challenge: Do some research on an upcoming project or company even if it is a vendor meeting. Read more about advancing your career.

We often overlook the non-professional work we do in our life.  It is easy to throw work experience on our resume when we got paid.  However, what about volunteer work or maybe even side-effects of living our life?  There is life experience we can lean on at times that will even put us ahead of the competition for a job or project. Scheduling and Managing There are a lot of people in the technical world that are either not good, or they do not like management tasks.  That means the experience you have managing people and projects can be a way to separate from the pack.  These skills can come from running a large family, scheduling reunions, or managing a sports team.  You likely will have experience with "difficult conversations," whether it was telling a child "no" or cutting someone from tryouts. These are everyday tasks and roles among all of us.  However, many people fail to mention them.  That is an opportunity for you to highlight your skills and how you see them applying to a job.  These are areas where you can start a great conversation as well.  Throw a bit of your personality into those descriptions of your experience. A Place Of Its Own While these types of experience and skills are valuable, they still should be differentiated from professional experience.  It is always better to do something within your career.  On the other hand, we want credit for all we have done.  This obstacle is easy to overcome by providing a section on your brand site or resume that highlights your hobbies, pastimes, and non-professional work.  You can treat these as a job and give a description of the skills learned and used. Life Is Hard When I hear stories from others, I am often amazed at what they have overcome.  These challenges can make us a better employee in many ways.  Yes, some of your experiences can be held against you.  Nevertheless, those can often be a way to distinguish yourself and even impress those that are evaluating you.  Surviving a deadly disease or winning a blue ribbon for your culinary skills are among those things that are easy to leave off a resume.  However, they may be the extra edge you need. Episode Challenge: Update your resume or branding site with a personal section (hobbies, pastimes, sports, etc.). Read more about advancing your career.

We have looked at our professional experience and addressing it on a resume or personal branding site.  In this episode, we look at the other major area of our background and how to handle listing education.  Degrees are easy.  However, there are also many different forms of knowledge that we want to include. Partial Diploma and Post Degree Work We first look at the cases where we have done work in pursuing a degree.  These situations arise from life getting in the way or when we are in progress towards a goal.  The work has been done (to some extent), so do not be afraid to list it.  Yes, there is more work to be done before graduation.  On the other hand, we have made some (maybe significant) progress towards that achievement that can make us a more attractive prospect to employers. Professional Training We have covered certifications.  However, there is also a broad range of professional training classes we can take that do not end up in a certificate.  These educational experiences are valuable.  We spent time and learned in a focused environment, so there is an expectation we know more than those that did not.  This area includes professional training but also may be a course taken at a local college or as part of a conference. The Online Experience There are entire degree programs that come from online learning.  While most of these include multiple students and a virtual classroom environment, some are self-study.  Similarly, there are sites like Udemy or LinkedIn Learning that provide top-notch education and classes.  The lack of fellow students does not negate your ability to learn.  You have put in the time and effort, whether you receive a grade or not, so own it and claim it. Episode Challenge: Update your resume or branding site with education beyond your degree(s). Read more about advancing your career.