The hottest Professional Growth Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

Behavioral Interview Question Bank Categorized into 8 Themes

Behavioral OS for Techies • 419 implied HN points • 05 Sep 24
🚌 Education Career development Interview Preparation Skills Training Job Searching Professional Growth
  1. There are 40 behavioral interview questions split into 8 themes, which can help you prepare for interviews.
  2. For each theme, think of your personal experiences or create hypothetical scenarios to practice your answers.
  3. Identifying areas where you lack experience can focus your personal development and improve your interview skills.

Career choices: What to focus on?

Wednesday Wisdom • 151 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
💼 Business Career development Job Market Professional Growth Skills Training Employment Trends
  1. Focus on core skills, like coding, that are still necessary for landing a job. Make sure to practice your coding skills regularly, even if your job isn't primarily about coding.
  2. Identify what you enjoy and have some skill in, but also recognize if it has career potential. It's important to like what you do, but the market needs to support it too.
  3. Don't stress too much about making the perfect career choice. Instead, commit to understanding your field deeply and adapt as new opportunities arise.

🔐 TPM Microguide On Interview Preparation - v1.0

Building Rome(s) • 9 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
💼 Business Program Management Interview Prep Technical Skills Career development Professional Growth
  1. Preparation is key for Technical Program Management (TPM) interviews. You should practice personalizing your answers based on your experiences rather than just memorizing them.
  2. Understanding the types of questions you'll face can help a lot. Interviews often include hypothetical scenarios and technical questions, so being ready for these can make you feel more confident.
  3. Having a strong elevator pitch is important. This is your chance to introduce yourself and explain what you bring to the table in a quick and engaging way.

An introvert’s 3 secrets to networking

amivora • 6 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
💼 Business Networking Career development Professional Growth Work Relationships
  1. Use work tasks, like hiring, to connect with others. It's a good way to meet people while doing something you need to do anyway.
  2. Set specific goals to talk to new people at events. This can help ease the stress of networking and make it more enjoyable.
  3. Practice politely excusing yourself from conversations. It allows you to meet more people without feeling rude.

The 3 top mistakes of managers under 30

Leading Developers • 103 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
💼 Business Management Leadership Career development Workplace culture Professional Growth
  1. Young managers often worry about their age and try too hard to prove themselves. It's better to ignore age and focus on maturity and confidence.
  2. Trying too hard to be liked can backfire. It's important to give honest feedback and set clear expectations without being overly apologetic.
  3. Making quick decisions can be risky. It's wise to consult team members, especially those with more experience, before deciding on important matters.
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Do you have career blues?

Elena's Growth Scoop • 1474 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
💼 Business Career development Professional Growth Job Satisfaction Career Change Personal Development
  1. Career blues are real and can leave you feeling tired, unfulfilled, and restless.
  2. Regularly reevaluate your job and career options to ensure you're in the best possible position.
  3. Explore different avenues like public speaking, newsletters, contracting work, and advising to complement your full-time job and avoid career stagnation.

Start meeting more people: Salvaging your career in a GenAI world

FutureIQ • 3 implied HN points • 02 Jun 25
💼 Business Networking Career development Personal Branding AI Impact Professional Growth
  1. Networking is really important for your career. Meeting new people can help you find great opportunities and gain insights into what others are doing.
  2. As technology changes, knowing the right people becomes more valuable than just having degrees. Your network and personal brand will matter more as information becomes easily accessible.
  3. Don't stay in a job where you don't like the people. If you're not enjoying your work environment, it's ok to look for something better.

Spotify Technology Career Steps

It Depends / Nimble Autonomy • 19 implied HN points • 25 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Career development Work Culture Human Resources Professional Growth Corporate Structure
  1. At Spotify, career growth is flexible and based on your interests. You can explore different roles and skills without being stuck on a strict path.
  2. Career steps at Spotify focus on teamwork and impact. Employees are encouraged to prioritize team success and think about how their work affects the business.
  3. Promotions at Spotify depend on consistently showing a higher level of impact and behavior. They aren't tied to a specific timeline, so discussions with managers are key.

The curse of conscientiousness

Optima & Outliers • 219 implied HN points • 04 Apr 24
💼 Business Career development Work Culture Self-help Psychology Professional Growth
  1. Being very organized and responsible can sometimes be a hindrance, especially if it makes you stick to a job that isn't right for you. It's important to know when to quit and move on.
  2. Young people should be open to exploring different jobs instead of sticking to one path just because it's familiar. Trying new roles can lead to greater happiness and success.
  3. It's better to think of your career like a scientist experiments: test a job for a while and see if it fits you. If not, don't feel bad about quitting and finding something that works better.

Dealing with Stress, Anxiety, and Hardship in the Workplace

Data Engineering Central • 275 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Stress management Workplace Challenges Personal Development Professional Growth Communication Skills
  1. Stress, anxiety, and hardship are common in the workplace, including in Data Teams.
  2. Focus on personal well-being to reduce stress at work: Manage finances, exercise, get fresh air, control news intake, have personal development, and eat better.
  3. Address work-related stress by facing workload, improving communication, and pursuing professional growth and development.

Asking for mentoring

Sunday Letters • 79 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🚌 Education Mentoring Career Advice Personal Development Professional Growth
  1. Many people are shy about asking for mentorship, but it's important to overcome that fear. Asking for help is a good move, and usually the worst that can happen is a 'no.'
  2. When reaching out for mentorship, have specific and thoughtful questions ready. It shows you're serious and helps the mentor know what to expect.
  3. Mentoring should be beneficial for both parties. Prepare to make the conversation valuable, not just for yourself, but for the mentor too.

Are You Going Through A Mid-Career Crisis? Avoiding Setbacks While Moving Forward

High ROI Data Science • 317 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
💼 Business Career development Professional Growth Personal Development
  1. The post discusses navigating a mid-career crisis and avoiding setbacks while moving forward.
  2. The author offers courses for career advancement in areas like Executive Leadership, Product Management, and Technical Strategist.
  3. Access to the full content of the post is reserved for paid subscribers.

Welcome to Upon Reflection!

Upon Reflection • 39 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership Strategy Culture Teams Professional Growth
  1. This space focuses on topics like personal and professional growth, executing strategy, evolving company culture, and building high-performing teams relevant to modern-day leaders.
  2. The platform is intended for those pursuing meaningful work, leading authentically, feeling stuck, or first-time leaders looking for a fresh approach.
  3. Subscribing offers insights gathered from numerous sources like books, coaching clients, and case studies to equip leaders with tools and mindsets for effective leadership.

Identifying and Expanding your Leadership Style

The Leadership Lab • 59 implied HN points • 21 May 23
🚌 Education Leadership Development Personal Development Professional Growth Self-awareness
  1. Identify your natural leadership style and the polar opposite adaptive style; aim to integrate and balance both for enhanced leadership capabilities
  2. Recognize the limitations of being overly attached to your natural leadership style; embracing the adaptive style can expand your leadership toolkit
  3. Practice self-awareness to notice when your default leadership style is ineffective, and experiment with leading from your adaptive style in specific settings to cultivate a more balanced approach

The importance of mentoring in engineering leadership — part 1

The Healthy Engineering Leader • 19 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership Mentorship Professional Growth Employee Development Engineering
  1. Mentorship comes in many forms, both structured and informal, and is valuable for growth in your career.
  2. Trust is key in a mentoring relationship; the more trust there is, the more you can benefit from the mentor's advice.
  3. Sometimes, the lessons from a mentor may not be clear right away, but you often realize their value later as you gain more experience.

How to be an amazing Junior Developer/Intern [StoryTime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 15 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Career development Coding Tech industry Professional Growth
  1. Standing out in your early career stages can speed up your personal and professional growth significantly.
  2. Making a strong impression at work can lead to better opportunities, save you time, and provide protection against layoffs.
  3. Actions that help junior devs/interns stand out include turning an internship into a return offer and moving quickly up the career ladder.

Building CAUSL - Episode 11: The Network Garden

CAUSL Effect • 39 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
💼 Business Networking Entrepreneurship Professional Growth Personal Branding
  1. Building a strong network is essential for success. It's like a garden that needs to be tended to flourish.
  2. Networking requires both active and passive engagement. This means reaching out to others and also creating valuable content that attracts them.
  3. The key to a thriving network is mutual exchange. It's not just about taking; you also have to give support and share knowledge.

Directions for the UX Profession

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 21 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Design AI Professional Growth Problem Solving Ethics
  1. AI is viewed as a valuable tool in UX, enhancing designers' capabilities while keeping core principles intact.
  2. UX design practice is evolving towards decentralization, embracing generalist approaches, and integrating with business strategy.
  3. Continuous learning, adaptation, and leveraging personal strengths are crucial for professional growth in the UX field.

My (new) perspective on creating content as a strategy for driving new business

Nate is Learning • 19 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
💼 Business Marketing Content creation Business strategy Professional Growth Industry Trends
  1. The author no longer believes creating content is necessary for driving new business.
  2. In-house professionals in B2B companies might not have time or interest to consume content on platforms like LinkedIn.
  3. For B2B buyers, methods like peer recommendations, social ads, search, and cold outreach are more effective than personal branding.

Six Career Moves that Young Data Scientists Dismiss too Quickly as Boring

Mike Talks AI • 19 implied HN points • 10 Sep 23
💼 Business Career development Skills Professional Growth Job Satisfaction Work-life balance
  1. Don't underestimate the value of solving real problems even if it means using older technology.
  2. Repeating tasks can help you become an expert in a specific area, leading to career advancement and satisfaction.
  3. Understanding and exploring different roles like sales and management can provide valuable lessons and career growth opportunities.

How to think about a new role

Through Curious Eyes • 2 implied HN points • 12 Oct 24
💼 Business Career Advice Management Personal Development Workplace culture Professional Growth
  1. Accept the recognition of your new role and recognize your own achievements. It's important to validate your success and understand that you are deserving of this new opportunity.
  2. Communicate your needs and wants clearly with your manager. Sharing what support you need will help set a strong foundation for your new relationship.
  3. Keep an open dialogue and create a shared document with your manager to outline expectations. This will help both of you stay aligned and monitor your progress in the new role.

How I got a Referal by getting Strangled [Storytime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 24 Apr 22
💼 Business Career development Networking Entrepreneurship Professional Growth Online presence
  1. Having a strong LinkedIn profile can make recruiters reach out to you, increasing your chances of getting past initial screens during job applications.
  2. Engaging online with the right people, like industry experts, can help you build a network and get referrals to top firms.
  3. Meeting people in person can be a direct and effective way to form strong connections for referrals and other support in your career.

Two key areas to focus on to get promoted and do well in your job. Practical advice from Luca Rossi of Refactoring.

Askwhy: UX Research, Product Management, Design & Careers • 33 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
💼 Business Career development Management Advice Collaboration Professional Growth
  1. Great engineers deeply understand tradeoffs and communicate well with others, not just master technical skills.
  2. Invest in talking with mentors and peers for high ROI in learning and growth.
  3. Effective collaboration involves continuous back and forth between engineering, product, and design, not following a linear pipeline.

Your Top 5 Development Areas Backed By Research 🧪

PeopleStorming • 19 implied HN points • 10 May 22
💼 Business Career development Skills Professional Growth
  1. McKinsey identified 56 key elements essential for professional success across cognitive, interpersonal, self-leadership, and digital categories.
  2. Research showed that qualities like confidence, adaptability, deliberateness, motivation, and synthesis are crucial for employment, high income, and job satisfaction.
  3. Skills from the world of improvisation, such as adaptability, confidence, and synthesis, are highly valued in the business world and can be beneficial for personal and professional development.

Reading the Room

Perspectives • 10 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
💼 Business Interpersonal Skills Career development Communication Emotional Intelligence Professional Growth
  1. Reading the room is a crucial interpersonal skill that helps you understand what others are saying and contribute meaningfully.
  2. Learning to read the room is a skill that can be developed through practice and self-awareness.
  3. To become a better communicator and collaborator, try placing yourself in others' shoes, understanding their motivations, reflecting on your biases, and learning their language.