The hottest Career development Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Data Leadership Done Right: Focusing on Work That Matters

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 506 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
💼 Business Career development
  1. Focus on what really matters in your work to create an impact, rather than just completing tasks. It's important to understand the value of what you do.
  2. As you grow in your role, ask yourself what projects move the needle for your organization. This questioning mindset helps drive meaningful change.
  3. To advance in your career, be proactive in identifying valuable projects instead of waiting for your manager to tell you what to do. Taking initiative is key to success.

Breaking Into Data: How to Land A Job in a Competitive Market

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 459 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
💼 Business Career development
  1. Focus on your skills rather than specific job titles. Job titles change all the time, so search by what you can do instead.
  2. Prepare well for interviews ahead of time. Make a study plan and find out the topics to focus on, so you don’t get stressed last minute.
  3. Build real connections with people in your field. Attend events, follow up with new contacts, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn to create opportunities.

Not Technical Enough

QUALITY BOSS • 159 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Career development
  1. Feeling like you're not 'technical enough' often comes from biases and stereotypes, especially in gender. It's important to remember that everyone's skills and roles can vary greatly.
  2. Your worth and skills in tech should be measured by how well you understand your job, not just by coding abilities. Everyone has different strengths that contribute to success.
  3. Confidence in your abilities is key. Feedback can sting, but it's crucial to assess it within context and not let others' opinions define your self-worth.

Open Thread: The American Job Search

The Recovering Academic • 336 implied HN points • 11 Aug 23
💼 Business Career development
  1. Networking is crucial in the job search process, building relationships can open doors that skill acquisition or a polished resume cannot.
  2. The American job market is tough, especially without relevant industry experience, it's essential to show yourself compassion during this challenging time.
  3. The idea of meritocracy in the workplace faces challenges, where personal connections sometimes matter more than hard work alone.

How to Flounder Mode with Brie Wolfson

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 156 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Career development
  1. Flounder Mode is about exploring your interests and curiosity rather than following a strict career path. It's a messy but rewarding way to build your career.
  2. It's important to differentiate between Flounder Mode and laziness. Flounder Mode involves creating and learning, while laziness is just consuming without producing.
  3. As AI takes over basic tasks, more people may find freedom to explore their curiosities. Embracing this less conventional path can lead to deeper satisfaction in one's work.
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The Making of a Senior Engineer 💡: Guest Post by Addy Osmani

High Growth Engineer • 1238 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💼 Business Career development
  1. To transition into senior engineering roles, you need to shift from hands-on work to systems thinking, focusing on strategic leadership and fostering team autonomy.
  2. Senior engineers lead through influence rather than pure authority, emphasizing building trusted relationships, setting vision, and empowering teams.
  3. Developing critical leadership skills as a senior engineer involves improving empathy, communication, collaboration, systems thinking, and execution orchestration, while overcoming common pitfalls like losing sight of the big picture and excessive control.

Quick Answers

Human Capitalist • 79 implied HN points • 14 May 24
💼 Business Career development
  1. More repeat founders are starting new businesses than before. They learn from their past experiences and want to keep creating.
  2. The role of Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) is changing or declining as companies use AI and become more efficient with fewer employees.
  3. Many banking analysts might not be following the traditional path to becoming associates. They might be switching to other sectors before completing the usual years of experience.

EXIT

Becoming Noble • 299 implied HN points • 26 May 23
💼 Business Career development
  1. The EXIT project aims to end reliance on corporate employment by providing various support systems and resources.
  2. Consider spending time at elite progressive institutions to learn and transition to a place of independent strength.
  3. Listen to the podcast for insights on how dissidents can use big tech companies as a launching point for their ambitions.

How to Stop Worrying and Start a Company

The Generalist • 1140 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
💼 Business Career development
  1. Consider seeking advice and permission from trusted individuals before making a big career move.
  2. Spend time with other founders to learn from their experiences and normalize the risks of entrepreneurship.
  3. Assess your market value and consider entrepreneurship as a way to capitalize on your true worth.

Grow Your Software Engineer Career

Tech Ramblings • 19 implied HN points • 21 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Career development
  1. Many young software engineers make common mistakes that can hold back their careers. It’s important to recognize these traps early on.
  2. Good communication skills are essential for solving problems and sharing ideas effectively. Learning to articulate your thoughts can make a big difference.
  3. Experience in different domains, like academia and tech companies, can provide valuable insights. Be open to learning from various industries to grow your career.

What Does It Take To Create Longevity And Stay Relevant In The New Work World?

High ROI Data Science • 178 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
💼 Business Career development
  1. Success in the new work world requires being forward-looking and prescriptive, not just reacting to trends.
  2. Manufacturing luck involves positioning early in emerging trends to have more opportunities and be better prepared.
  3. To stay relevant, focus on upskilling in areas that align with future trends and combine vision, follow-through, and productivity.

Navigating the Software Engineering career ladders

system bashing • 275 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Career development
  1. Software engineering career paths differ based on company size and age, so titles like "Senior Software Engineer" can vary widely.
  2. In early-stage startups, titles like "Senior" may simply imply a higher level of autonomy, not necessarily a specific rank.
  3. As companies grow, the tech team pyramid evolves, introducing new levels and roles like SDE1, SDE2, SDE3, VPs, and EMs.

Recommending Kent Beck: 2011

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1170 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
💼 Business Career development
  1. Kent Beck's role in enhancing engineering teams for growth and prosperity by working on product features and tool building.
  2. Kent Beck's impact through research and publication on software design, attracting new recruits and revolutionizing design ideas.
  3. Kent Beck's personal relationships and pair programming sessions significantly improving engineering skills and career prospects of individuals.

A Good Science Manifesto

The Good Science Project • 26 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
🔬 Science Career development
  1. Science funding should prioritize producing reliable, useful knowledge and reward being right, supporting both risky exploratory work and goal-oriented projects.
  2. Funders must cut heavy administrative burdens and require open sharing of data and methods so others can verify and build on results quickly.
  3. The funding system should be more flexible and diverse: experiment with new funding models, provide stable support for infrastructure and staff scientists, and distribute support more evenly across career stages.

New Layer of Abstraction, Not the End of Software Engineering

Adam’s Notes • 255 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Career development
  1. AI tools will enhance software developers' productivity and create new possibilities.
  2. Historically, productivity increases in software engineering have occurred with advancements like high-level programming languages, open-source culture, and cloud computing.
  3. Lower barriers to coding will attract more people to software engineering, leading to new opportunities, growth, and products.

8 Signs Your Startup Is a Zombie and 3 Things to Do About It ! | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 159 implied HN points • 22 Dec 23
💼 Business Career development
  1. Recognize the signs of a 'zombie' startup, like stagnant growth and constant need for funding, to avoid being unattractive to investors.
  2. Decide whether to accept failure, pivot the business model for exponential advantage, or explore opportunities for acquihire when a startup is struggling.
  3. Knowing when to quit or pivot is essential for startup success - sometimes failure can lead to growth opportunities or valuable lessons learned.

When Creatives Quit

The Intersection • 217 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
💼 Business Career development
  1. Quitting can be a complex decision, especially for creatives tied to visas or seeking new challenges.
  2. As managers, it's important to listen and not react immediately when creatives want to quit.
  3. Offering value beyond monetary incentives, nurturing like flowers, and accepting when it's time to let creatives go are key to managing a creative team.

The software engineering "squeeze"

Leading Developers • 109 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Career development
  1. Software engineering was once an easy path to a high-paying job, but many engineers are now feeling the pressure due to high competition and the rise of AI.
  2. There are a lot of average engineers in the field, which is causing a squeeze; companies are looking for those who truly stand out and have a mix of skills beyond just coding.
  3. It's important for engineers to continuously improve their skills and take initiative instead of waiting for job offers, as the demand for great engineers remains strong.

Why it's Better To Raise Less Capital In The First Funding Round? | Finding Early Adopters For Your MVP! | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 139 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
💼 Business Career development
  1. Start Small, Stay Nimble: Raising less capital early on gives flexibility for strategic adjustments while retaining control.
  2. Small Beginnings, Bigger Rewards: Raising less initially leads to diluting fewer shares later as the startup's valuation naturally increases.
  3. Grow Smart, Grow Strong: It's not about the amount of capital raised but how strategically it is used for smarter growth.

How to align your values with your work

The Recovering Academic • 178 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
💼 Business Career development
  1. Self-exploration is important to align your values with your work. Take time to understand what truly matters to you.
  2. Transitioning from academia to industry can be challenging but rewarding. Soft skills and practical tools are valuable in various job fields.
  3. Embracing change and exploring different industries can lead to personal growth and fulfillment. There isn't just one path to a meaningful career.

TBM 272: The Biggest Opportunity (Part 2)

The Beautiful Mess • 661 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💼 Business Career development
  1. Skilled pragmatists in companies can represent a major opportunity for improvement. They are reliable and capable but may not go above and beyond due to skepticism about the value of extra effort.
  2. When trying to improve behaviors in a team, it is crucial to be specific about the desired actions and outcomes. Vague terms like 'drive' or 'passion' can lead to misunderstandings.
  3. Listening to individuals in different categories can provide valuable insights for understanding motivations and barriers to certain behaviors in a team. Embracing diversity in perspectives is key to achieving more together.

From Customer Success Leader to VP of Product

Suzan's Fieldnotes • 98 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
💼 Business Career development
  1. María de Antón transitioned from Head of Customer Success to Product Manager by following her instincts and overcoming imposter syndrome.
  2. Transitioning from customer success to product management involved a shift from talking with customers to creating joyful product experiences.
  3. As a leader considering switching functions, trust your cross-functional skills, seek necessary training, and have confidence in yourself.

The Backdoors.

box. • 319 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
🚌 Education Career development
  1. Instead of waiting for permission to lead or create, take initiative and show what you can do. Just start doing what excites you without waiting to be chosen.
  2. Chasing validation from others can hold you back. Focus on what you want to achieve instead of playing by someone else's rules.
  3. Hearing 'no' can spark creativity and innovation. Embrace challenges and think of ways to reach your goals without needing approval.

Be a competent engineer, not just a coder

🔮 Crafting Tech Teams • 99 implied HN points • 03 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Career development
  1. Being a competent engineer involves more than just coding; it requires skills in communication, architecture, and understanding the customer's needs.
  2. Engineers are not born, they are inspired by different aspects of the field like code snippets or games.
  3. Seasons in an engineering career can be likened to the spring where inspiration and growth begin.

Spotlight: Harriet Brettle – Head of Market Analysis and Business Intelligence at ESA’s Connectivity and Secure Communications

Space Ambition • 239 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Career development
  1. You can switch careers to the space industry, even if your background is in finance or another field. It’s important to follow your passion and explore new opportunities.
  2. Joining space-related communities can help you build connections and gain valuable experience. Volunteering and participating in events are great ways to get started.
  3. Sustainability is key in the space industry, and it's vital to consider the environmental impact of space activities. Every industry needs to be more responsible and think about the future.

Movers, Shakers, & Money Makers (7/8)

Human Capitalist • 19 implied HN points • 09 Jul 24
💼 Business Career development
  1. Several big job changes happened recently, with people moving to new positions at notable companies. This shows a lot of activity in the job market.
  2. One interesting move is Taylor Perkins going from Paramount to X as Partnerships Lead, showing a focus on regaining partnerships for the platform.
  3. Amit Srivastava's new role at Capital Rx as Head of AI highlights how important artificial intelligence is in various industries today.

AI and productivity: Year-in-review with Microsoft, Google, and GitHub researchers

Engineering Enablement • 13 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Career development
  1. Lines of code is a poor measure of AI’s value — more output doesn’t equal more impact. Use broader measures like satisfaction, performance, collaboration, and efficiency to judge whether AI actually helps.
  2. AI is changing the developer role from code producer to director and validator of AI-assisted work, so hiring, career paths, and training must prioritize AI fluency, systems thinking, and judgment. Juniors might learn end-to-end problem solving faster, but only if teams preserve mentorship and opportunities to collaborate.
  3. The real wins come from enablement and focusing AI on real bottlenecks or tedious work, not from constantly switching tools or models. Also, don’t trust simple headlines — dig into context, and design tools to boost creativity and meaningful automation rather than just raw speed.

#39: The AI Job Roles Hiding In Plain Sight

OSS.fund Newsletter • 18 implied HN points • 04 Dec 25
💼 Business Career development
  1. AI job opportunities are growing fast in roles that help evaluate and manage AI systems rather than just building models. These roles focus on proving that the AI is safe and effective.
  2. There is a high demand for skilled professionals in AI evaluation, but many companies struggle to find enough talent. Workers with these skills can expect better job growth and higher wages compared to other sectors.
  3. The EDSO model breaks down AI evaluation roles into four key positions: Echo (strategist), Delta (engineer), Sigma (operator), and Omega (partner). Understanding these roles can help individuals identify career paths and companies to build strong AI oversight teams.