Soft Skills Engineering

The hosts discuss transitioning from engineering manager to software developer and address employer concerns. They also talk about misconceptions about tools and technologies and returning to writing code. The dynamics of engineering management jobs are explored, including competition and challenges in the job market. Finally, pay scales and negotiations for software engineers in staff augmentation companies are discussed.

The podcast discusses the contradiction of a job description that emphasizes leading as a peer but not writing code. They also explore the challenges of communication and non-technical work in a tech company, and provide advice on overcoming skill gaps and anxieties.

Finding mentorship and learning resources for engineering management in a small company. The hosts discuss the challenges of mentorship and offer advice on seeking specific feedback. They explore the importance of finding mentors and peers, self-mentorship, and hiring a coach. The podcast also delves into the listener's experience with 'mob programming' and concerns about constant Zoom collaboration. They discuss different levels of collaboration in the workplace and tools like virtual rooms, extreme programming, pair programming, and mob programming.

Topics covered include balancing work and personal life, requesting reduced work hours, lightening up stress habits, challenges of getting a job reference from a toxic workplace, and the potential benefits and challenges of implementing a four-day work week.

The podcast discusses the frustration of a non-technical manager making uninformed technical decisions and its impact on motivation. They explore challenges in decision-making and working with non-technical managers. They also highlight the difficulties of explaining technical concepts to non-technical people.

The hosts discuss frustration over undermining and lack of feedback, explore the concept of 'click ops' versus infrastructure as code, address the challenge of convincing teams to invest in preventive measures, praise Red Hat's Compiler podcast, and discuss the impact of solving tech debt on one's career.

The podcast discusses topics like managing an ML team while wanting to code, the challenges of returning to an individual contributor role, leadership challenges, balancing technical knowledge with managerial responsibilities, transitioning between leadership positions, and strategies for overcoming awkward silences in Zoom meetings.

Advice on securing a promotion despite short tenure and reducing reliance on luck, creating a personal data store and finding impactful problems, factors influencing promotions in big tech companies, challenges of feeling unproductive in a remote job, importance of meeting expectations for job security.

The hosts discuss the return to the office and quitting tech. They explore the challenges of commute time and paycuts, as well as the uncertainty of layoffs. They also touch on parking allowances and perks in tech companies, burnout in the tech industry, and navigating personal and professional growth.

Visa rejection and its impact on professional competence. Dealing with a co-worker's constant mistakes and opposing mindset. Creating a comprehensive guide to software engineering mistakes. Navigating the Daily WTF blog and addressing the challenges of working with Bob.