Pratik Guharay’s Post

🚀 Navigating the Path to Career Advancement in Software Engineering: Insights from Caleb Mellas 🚀 In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, progressing in your software engineering career can seem daunting. Caleb Mellas, a former engineer at the hyper-growth startup Wisely, shares transformative advice on breaking through career plateaus. Here are key takeaways from his journey to success: 1️⃣ Embrace the Mindset of Your Next Role: Striving for a promotion? Start by understanding the expectations and responsibilities of that role. Think and act as if you've already stepped into those shoes. This proactive approach not only prepares you for the position but often accelerates your progress towards it. 2️⃣ Master the Art of 'Managing Up': Reflect on how you can be a more effective team member from your manager's perspective. This means streamlining communication, taking initiative in project management, and providing timely updates. Excelling in these areas can significantly enhance your performance evaluations. 3️⃣ Learn from Those Ahead of You: Surround yourself with colleagues who are a few steps ahead in their careers. Their insights into prioritization, problem-solving, and mentorship can be invaluable. Remember, your professional growth is influenced by the company you keep. 🔑 Key Tips for Aspiring Software Engineers: - Communication is Key: Clearly articulate your ambitions and collaborate with your manager to map out a pathway to success. - Think Like a Leader: Even if you're not in a leadership role, adopting a leader's mindset can make a significant difference. - Expand Your Network: Interact with professionals at various levels. This exposure can offer fresh perspectives and opportunities. Caleb’s journey is a testament to the power of strategic thinking and proactive career management. Follow these steps to unlock your potential and soar to new heights in your software engineering career. Let’s discuss your thoughts and experiences in navigating career advancement! #SoftwareEngineering #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #TechIndustry #Leadership #Networking #Mentorship #CareerAdvice #Inspiration

The 5 best pieces of best career advice I’ve learned in over a decade at Google. A few weeks ago I had the great pleasure of sharing my career journey and advice with a class of eager students from U of Ottawa. Here is what I shared: 1️⃣ Your career doesn’t have to be linear. As long as you are getting out of your comfort zone and learning then long term progression will be positive, even if you don’t see it right away. 2️⃣ Don’t stress (too much) over short term steps. Sometimes you’ll go forward, sometimes backwards. Sometimes you’ll go sideways. And sometimes you’ll go fast and other times you’ll go slow. Try not to worry too much about what is happening in the next few months. I’ve been laid off, been passed up for jobs and missed out on promotions. It sucks in the moment, but try to stay focused on your long term trajectory. 3️⃣ Being smart doesn’t matter as much as you think. Don’t get me wrong, being smart is good. But it isn’t nearly as important as our high school teachers would have us believe. Focus on how you collaborate with others, build relationships and your work ethic. These will have a much bigger impact. EQ > IQ. 4️⃣ Take the least valuable 50% of your job and get rid of it. Every job has its fair share of boring crap - the stuff that needs to get done, but is low skill and low value. Find ways to get rid of this - delegate, automate, or just stop doing it. This will free up your time for the work that truly drives impact. 5️⃣ Regardless of what your job is, make it the job that you want. Figure out what you want to be working on, and find a way to do that. When I was in consulting, I went out of my way to become the ‘digital guy’. I asked to be on those projects, I spoke at events, I launched the corporate blog. I worked on the things I wanted to, and after I established myself in that area I was asked to be on all of those things. Of course, you can only do this if you are nailing the core of your job. What do you think? Any great advice you’d add here? #Growthmindset #CareerAdvice #Leadership

How I became a Tech Lead at Google is simpler than you think. I became a Tech Lead first in my head, and later in reality. Here is the story. Picture this: I was a fresh Eng 2 at Google, just returned from a leadership training fueled by a newfound sense of purpose. Right after I came back, I expressed to my manager: "I want to help you build this team and become a Tech Lead, whenever the opportunity presents itself". The role wasn’t available yet though. The training taught me that anyone can be a leader, regardless of their title. Leadership is not about a specific role, but about how you behave. So what I did was to start acting like a tech lead even before officially having the role. I was the TL of a team of one (myself!), so I communicated like a leader, gave feedback, asked great questions, and initiated problem-solving. And guess what? It paid off and got me the role within a few months. The moral of the story is: to get what you want you first have to ask for it. Second, to get leadership roles, start embodying leadership qualities and behaviors. That’s what will inspire confidence in your manager that you can be trusted with the responsibilities of the role. Do you want to learn more about the Tech Lead role? Check out this article: https://lnkd.in/gPDFCrUU How did you get your first leadership role? ♻️ Please repost if you found this useful #softwareengineering #careeradvice #growth

Have you ever been passed over for a promotion? Rather than dwell on what might have been, it's best to move on and think about what you can do to improve your chances next time, says Katie Delgado, vice president of engineering at Forbes Media. To ensure you move up the ladder, start with a strong strategy for marketing yourself, writes Delgado, in her Hey Tech Lady column. "In other words, promote yourself and the promotions will follow." These are some of her tips for building a case for promotion: 👥 Shadow a leader: Be direct and ask someone higher up in the company to be a mentor. Even if they decline, they'll see you're taking the initiative. 🛠 Problem solve: Look around for what needs improvement on your team — too many meetings, siloed information — and work to find a solution, rather than escalating to management. 📣 Be visible: There's no use doing more to prove yourself worthy of promotion unless leadership knows about it. Keep your manager abreast of any wins or accomplishments, brag about meeting goals. 💬 Use your review: Be clear with your manager about the work you are doing when your next review comes around. Ask what you need to be doing to get to the next level and where you need to improve. 🗣 Ask: Once you feel you've reached the next level, if your manager hasn't suggested a promotion, just ask for it straight out. Before you do, have your case ready to prove it. What are your promotion pointers? Have you made a case for yourself after being passed over previously? Share your story in the comments. ✍ Jennifer Ryan 📸 Getty

People would be surprised at how infrequently people have great attitudes. It can make a big difference. Enthusiasm can enable you to take advantage of opportunities like stretch assignments and training programs because you’ll feel more confident stepping out of your comfort zone and trust that you can tackle any challenges that arise.

🌟 The 95/5 Rule to Maximize Your Professional Career Ever heard of the 95/5 Rule? It's a transformative approach to advancing your career. Here’s how it works: 🔑 95% Giving, 5% Asking 1. Give More: Dedicate 95% of your efforts to giving value to others. Share your expertise, mentor colleagues, offer support, and contribute to team success. By being a consistent source of value, you build a strong professional reputation. 2. Ask Less: Keep your asks to just 5%. When you do need support or a favor, others will be more inclined to help because they recognize your ongoing contributions. Real-Life Examples: Mentorship: Jane, a marketing manager, spends her time mentoring junior team members. She offers guidance, shares her knowledge, and helps them navigate challenges. When she needed support for a new project, her team eagerly pitched in, recognizing her ongoing contributions to their growth. Networking: John, a software engineer, consistently shares industry insights and helpful resources with his LinkedIn network. He actively participates in discussions and offers assistance whenever possible. When he was looking for a new job, his network quickly responded with referrals and job leads, appreciating his continuous value addition. # Applying the 95/5 Rule can lead to: - Stronger professional relationships - Increased trust and respect from peers - More opportunities for collaboration and growth - Focus on giving more than you ask, and watch your career soar! 🚀 #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #Networking #Leadership #GiveAndTake

#sundaymorning #Google reminded me of the time I chose to switch careers from consulting to sales !! Have only grown every single day since then… met the best people , learnt from the best minds and having the best experiences 🌟 Career Ownership: Your Path, Your Choices and Your Responsibility! 💼 Taking the control of your career is pivotal for growth and fulfillment. It's about more than just a job—it's about enjoying a journey that aligns with your passion, ambitions and causes one would stand for . 🌠 ✅ My two cents to Foster Career Ownership: 1️⃣ #SetObjectives: Clarity of choices is a function of time but define your professional aspirations and create a roadmap to achieve them. 🗺️ 2️⃣ #ContinuousLearning: The hustle never ends …Stay hungry for knowledge and explore opportunities for growth and development. 📚 3️⃣ #ExpandYourNetwork: Build meaningful connections, seek mentors, and engage in collaborations that propel your career forward. 🤝 4️⃣ #AdaptandEvolve: Embrace change, be agile, and be open to evolving roles and responsibilities. Change is the only constant 🔄 5️⃣ #OwnYourMistakes: There is nobody who hasn’t failed . Fail fast , fail cheap - Learn from failures, take accountability, and use setbacks as stepping stones towards improvement. 🛠️ 6️⃣ #ShowInitiative: Demonstrate proactive behavior and take on new challenges to showcase your capabilities. 💪 Keep in mind, each step you take paints a unique stroke on the canvas of your professional journey. 🎨 Own it, sculpt it, and craft your very own masterpiece! 🌟 After all every artist is unique in his own sense… #CareerOwnership #CraftYourPath #CareerOwnership #ProfessionalEmpowerment #OwnYourJourney

Have you ever wondered why I didn't grab Apple stock when it was dirt cheap, below $20? Well, we can't change the past, but we sure can shape the future... Let's talk about the new buzz in career land: Portfolio Careers. It's not new, but more folks are catching onto it. Here's my story: I started off as a software developer like a gazillion others. But after 13 years, I realized my strengths weren't just coding and project management, giving status updates...#!#$@#@... Nope, I realized my real power in storytelling, simplifying tough problems, leadership, and coaching... Let me be clear... I rocked at Software... I aced managing projects and clients... I was good, no doubt, but those skills were just paying my bills, not filling me up with joy.... Year after year, my fulfillment levels were going down So, even before I knew the term "Portfolio Career," I invested extra hours—10 to 20 a week—into honing my strengths... everyone around me thought I was going crazy going to all these conferences, investing a bucket load of $$$$$ into my personal development programs... Now I see those were not personal growth programs, I invested in my Portfolio Career... And boom! Suddenly, I started seeing recognition at work; I was getting invited to speak at events, and people were lining up for my guidance at work, and I started my coaching business on the side. And then? I just burned the boats... I ditched my cushy software gig... and created Make More Leaders... Now, we are serving thousands of people under this brand... The old-school idea of sticking to one job forever is fading fast. We're all about the "Portfolio Career" now. Mark my words: This approach will be everywhere in 5 to 10 years. Just like wishing we'd bought Apple stock early, we'll be kicking ourselves for not jumping on the "Portfolio Career Concept" train sooner. Curious? Follow me for more insights! 🚀. https://lnkd.in/e5MSedCJ Have a fantastic weekend!! Love, Vamsi On a mission to help 1 million people to achieve greatness 👍

What would you do if you knew you could not fail? As we embark on our job searches and step into the corporate world, we often hear that jobs pay us enough to forget our dreams. While this might hold true in some aspects, it doesn't have to define our entire journey. Many founders and innovators around the world began their careers by gathering knowledge and experience at established companies before venturing out with their own ideas. Others started their entrepreneurial journeys even before graduating from college. Both paths are valuable, and neither is superior to the other. The key is to pursue something that makes you passionate. Is there something that wakes you up every day, something that drives you? It might sound cliché, but yes, it's that drive that gets you out of bed to build the dream you're pursuing. It’s what makes you excited to check your emails for responses or see how many new orders your product has received. Go out and find what makes you passionate. Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments. Wall of books written by MIT Sloan Graduates

A resolution will be forgotten, instead, turn your professional development growth into a bucket list. Develop a list of five career-oriented goals you want to accomplish by the end of the year. What are some ways you can grow professionally this year? https://lnkd.in/ejsMnWqZ