Soft Skills Engineering

The hosts dive into the career dilemma of a CTO feeling trapped in a stagnant role at a small startup. They tackle the emotional complexities of loyalty versus career growth, musing on the absurdities of management and the challenges of finding personal fulfillment. With a mix of humor and philosophy, they reflect on the burdens of leadership and the transition from being a founder to seeking new opportunities. The conversation is peppered with light-hearted banter, including whimsical anecdotes about geese, creating an entertaining atmosphere throughout.

The hosts tackle the emotional challenges of supporting employees facing layoffs, sharing insights on how managers can provide effective support. They discuss the delicate balance of maintaining morale in a company with a drastically changed culture post-layoff. Strategies for rebuilding trust and engagement among remaining employees are explored, along with tips on setting boundaries during job searches. The conversation emphasizes clear communication and the psychological impacts of layoffs on both affected individuals and those who remain.

The hosts tackle the tricky balancing act of managing a demanding tech job, family life, and personal projects. They share relatable anecdotes on the unique challenges remote workers face and the importance of strategic time management. The discussion takes a humorous turn as they navigate the frustrations of promised raises that never materialize, emphasizing clear communication in the workplace. Throughout, they offer valuable insights and encouragement for those striving to pursue their passions while juggling life's demands.

In a captivating discussion, the hosts tackle the emotional rollercoaster of adjusting to a hands-on manager after experiencing autonomy. They share strategies for maintaining independence while fostering a productive relationship. The conversation also reveals the frustrations of unrecognized accomplishments and the murky waters of workplace promotions, highlighting the hidden politics behind recognition. Listeners are encouraged to communicate openly about career aspirations and navigate the complexities of collaboration amid competing corporate dynamics.

The hosts tackle the intricate world of fintech startups, focusing on onboarding integration challenges and the fine dance of regulatory compliance. They dissect the obstacles of siloed teams and the impact of Conway's Law on data solutions. Intellectual property and ethical data management are also discussed, highlighting the role of AI in sharing knowledge. Plus, there's heartfelt advice on complimenting a colleague who undergoes a significant transformation, reminding us how to acknowledge personal growth without revisiting past mistakes.

Dive into the chaotic world of technical debt, where addressing issues often leads to more problems. Discover how communication and collaboration can ease the stress of constantly shifting codebases. Listen as experts tackle the common feeling of disconnection in tech roles and the importance of aligning with team goals. Get tips on fostering engagement for career growth and the nostalgic role of internal wikis in team identity. Sprinkled with humor, this discussion makes navigating the tech landscape relatable and entertaining!

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I am a senior software engineer in a big tech/faang company and this week is my first ever on call rotation. My team is doing a lot of CI work, monitoring pipelines and support queues during on call. It is probably not as much of a hassle as on call for product teams, but for me personally on call was the nearest I have ever been to hell. Our on call is not the regular getting pinged when something goes wrong, instead we have to manually monitor a dashboard 12 hours constantly for 7 days as the alarming is quite fuzzy. I am the only EU remote worker that has to adopt to the on call PST timezone. That means, my on call shift goes from 3pm-3am in my timezone. It is day 5/7 and I am down 24 energy drinks already, cause this was the only way to stay wake. Knowingly, that this would be just a short-term tradeoff against health, I am now living through the most explosive diarrhea I have ever had. On top, I am sleep derived, dizzy and every body part hurts. That would already be terrible on its own, yet I additionally have a young family, with a 4 year old and a toddler. The on call week, has not only been though on me, but especially also on my children and wife. I don’t have time for the kids at all and my wife is doing 100% of everything at the moment, including waking up, breakfast, bringing our son to kindergarten, cooking, cleaning, playing, everything. She is also quite exhausted therefore. Besides On Call, my job has been great and a huge monetary opportunity that is very rare in the EU, therefore quitting just because of 4-5weeks/year is not an option I am considering. Yet, I am wondering if there could be any way of smuggling myself out of the on call rotation. I have seen, that a staff level engineer on our team is not participating in the rotation, but that might be because he got a lot going on with other teams as well. A listener named bebop asks, Is your average “Big Tech” dev “better” than a random dev selected from a large non-technology company? I can’t help but feel that if I want to level up my career, I’m going to have to either move into big tech or some unicorn startup.

The hosts tackle the dilemma of venturing into crypto development, balancing fascination with innovation against an industry plagued by skepticism. They discuss how cryptocurrency skills are viewed in the job market, shedding light on potential career impacts. Transitioning back to coding after a management stint is also explored, addressing emotional challenges and practical strategies to regain technical proficiency. Insights on maintaining team relationships during job changes provide added depth, ensuring listeners feel equipped for their own career shifts.

This discussion dives into the quest for mentorship in UX design, highlighting the impact of frequent senior departures on growth. The hosts explore the balance between high-stress projects and the monotony of simpler tasks, revealing how these swings can affect job satisfaction. They also touch on the importance of collaboration between designers and engineers to create optimal user experiences. Humor and community engagement add a lively touch, making tough topics relatable and engaging.

This discussion tackles the challenges of measuring productivity in software teams, questioning the effectiveness of story points. The hosts explore the potential pitfalls of relying on AI like ChatGPT for corporate decision-making, especially when non-technical leaders misuse it. They address the fine line between motivation and accountability, emphasizing the importance of fostering collaboration over individual metrics. With humor, they share anecdotes about navigating AI's limitations and the essential responsibility of clear communication in management.