The Software Engineering Times

The Software Engineering Times focuses on career development, management skills, and technical insights for software engineers. It covers overcoming personal and professional fears, the journey from junior to senior roles, emotive leadership, team dynamics, interview preparation, and balancing technical excellence with practical decisions.

Career Development Software Engineering Management Technical Skills and Insights Team Dynamics and Life Cycle Interview Tips Work-Life Balance Leadership and Growth

The hottest Substack posts of The Software Engineering Times

And their main takeaways

Should You Stay In Your Current Job or Move For A Promotion?

3 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
💼 Business Career development Human Resources Workplace culture Salary Negotiation
  1. Internal promotions are usually easier because you already know the company culture and people. You can quickly get to work without a big adjustment period.
  2. External promotions often come with higher salaries and a chance to start fresh. You can look for roles that fit your career goals better.
  3. Consider your personal career goals and timing when deciding to stay or move. Your choice should match what you want for your future.

5 Rules for Software Engineers to Live By

5 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
  1. Question everything to understand the value a proposed priority brings to the organization or team goals.
  2. Always work closely with the Product team to align team goals with business priorities.
  3. Keep things simple in code, communication, and decision-making to avoid unnecessary complications and focus on delivering value.

Fearless Growth: How Overcoming Fear Fuels Professional Success

5 implied HN points • 15 Dec 23
  1. Fear is a natural human response, which can be both healthy and protective.
  2. Recognizing fear and understanding its role can lead to effective decision-making and team growth.
  3. Fear should be assessed to determine if it is protecting or blocking opportunities, and it can be a valuable guide for personal and professional growth.

The 5 Stages of a Software Teams Life Cycle

2 HN points • 23 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Teams go through 5 stages in their life cycle: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.
  2. During the storming stage, teams face hurdles, disagreements, and lower performance, but overcoming these challenges is progress towards improvement.
  3. In the adjourning stage, a team may feel a mix of accomplishment and sadness as they complete their goals and may disband as members move on to other projects.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

From Failure to Growth

3 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
  1. The newsletter will focus on learning and growing from failure.
  2. Topics will include tips to advance your career from junior to senior engineer, software engineering management, interview tips, and company culture.
  3. Expect content on building strong teams, emotive leadership, and the differences between a manager and a leader.

Applying 3 lessons from Star Trek to Software Engineering

2 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
  1. In software engineering, balance technical excellence with practicality.
  2. Celebrate team successes and learn from them for future improvements.
  3. Always prioritize transparency and accountability in decision-making.

From Senior to Staff Software Engineer... A managers perspective

2 HN points • 28 Nov 23
  1. Focusing on impact and visibility is crucial for getting promoted to Staff Software Engineer and beyond.
  2. Impact involves having a vision, leading projects, and demonstrating a high-level view of architecture.
  3. Visibility is important for showcasing your influence, engaging with various stakeholders, and ensuring promotion discussions go smoothly.

3 Differences between Software Engineers and Engineering Managers

1 implied HN point • 17 Nov 23
  1. Decision making differs between Software Engineers and Engineering Managers. Engineers make technical decisions, while Managers guide the team without deciding for them.
  2. To get promoted, Software Engineers need impact and visibility, primarily through technological advancements. Engineering Managers focus on team impact, making sure the team delivers business value.
  3. Gratification is quicker for Software Engineers as they see immediate results, while Engineering Managers might have delayed gratification as they measure success over people, which takes time.

Breaking Silos: Why Software Engineers Benefit from Departmental Dalliances

0 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
  1. Having solid domain knowledge as a software engineer is key for delivering business value, growing, and serving your team.
  2. Enhance domain knowledge by spending direct and quality time with various departments regularly.
  3. Departmental dalliances, like shadowing different departments, can provide valuable insights, build relationships, and increase long-term business value.