Soft Skills Engineering

Episode 307: Side hustle or new job and tell me when you're stuck

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I work for a big bank. I recently found out I am severely underpaid. I have only re...

Episode 306: Sabbaticals and betray my team

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Listener Þór asks, Dear fellow binary smiths! I’m a Nordic software d...

Episode 305: About that raise and *you're* not fired

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I recently told my boss I thought my comp was below market value and that, while I ...

Episode 304: My subordinate is smarter than me and confused in meetings

16 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I just hired someone as my direct report who is very, very smart, and has a great b...

Episode 303: Should I stop coding and off to the field

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I’ve been a Staff Software Engineer at my company for 1 1/2 years. We have about ...

Episode 302: Bad boss movies and well-written emails

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: My boss keeps recommending bad movies. I watch most of them but I feel bad because ...

Episode 301: I forced the framework and product stealing credit

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Listener Casey asks, My team has built an internal framework for continuous de...

Episode 300: Manager move and cultural or personal

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We are celebrating our 300th episode by publishing unique songs about the podcast. To get access to the songs, join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/S...

Episode 299: Neophyte estimates and forced framework

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I’m a new team leader running a new project and when asked for a delivery date I ...

Episode 298: Thanks, and goodbye and fessing up

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Earlier I decided I would quit my corporate engineering job in 2022. I’d stagnate...

Episode 297: Flat decisions and pointy-haired boss

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Liam asks, I was the second hire in my team and worked with one lead engineer ...

Episode 296: Low performer and frantic manager

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Hi! long time listener first time caller. i am the CTO of an early startup with 15 ...

Episode 295: Underleveled at FAANG and lazy tech lead

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Love the podcast, love the banter and jokes, keep up the great work! Now, for my p...

Episode 294: Unqualified internal applicant and speculative specs

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I work in a squad that has been slow in delivering. Squad leadership (including my...

Episode 293: Moving TOO fast and following my manager

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Is it possible to move too fast and do you believe in too much enthusiasm? I am one...

Episode 292: Haunted by former co-worker and awkward manager endorsement

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I recently joined a new company that pays me much better and has much better engine...

Episode 291: Hyper-productive team lead and hyper-unproductive senior engineer

14 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Hi! Thanks so much for all the work you do to put this show out, it’s kept me san...

Episode 290: Past offers and from QA to PM

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I wanted to know if listing past offers (as a brand name signal) on your resume wil...

Episode 289: Sharing wisdom nicely and too many raises?

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Hey guys, a long time listener here, I love the show. I’ve recently joined a...

Episode 288: Too excited about learning and furious boss when quitting

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I am working at my first job as a software engineer for 2 1/2 years now. I really e...

Episode 287: Informal favoritism and post-hoc finger pointing

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Listener Sara asks, How can I deal with favoritism towards informal leaders in...

Episode 286: I don't care about borkchain and morning procrastination?

10 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I keep hearing about Web3, DAOs and Smart Contracts. Part of me wants to get excite...

Episode 285: Staying technical as a manager and skill over seniority

03 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: In the past couple of years I transitioned from a freelancer, to a full-time softwa...

Episode 284: Slow mentee ramp-up and quit before new job?

03 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I started working at a new company last month. I’m just under senior level (I-II-...

Episode 283: Jealousy and burnout

20 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Jealousy - as bad as it is, it still happens. I was the first employed programmer a...

Episode 282: Setting boundaries late and junior joy

13 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Listener Rafael asks, If you’ve already been working at a company for severa...

Episode 281: Contractor is sus and too much job hopping?

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Zach asks, A few weeks ago, I interviewed and recommended we hire a...

Episode 280: Async communication and how to quit not nicely

29 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Starting to work on a team that is split across time zones. With a major...

Episode 279: (Rerun of 220) Premature leadership push and credit and status

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is a rerun of episode 220. In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hello, I know you said you don’t...

Episode 278: PM to engineer and pressure to stay after quitting

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Many engineers want to go into product management, but I’m the reverse...

Episode 277: Super long code reviews and replacement laptop

08 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions My company recently had a kerfuffle where some teams felt that reviewing...

Episode 276: Startup or big company and negotiating your exit?

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hi guys, I’ve been listening for a few months now and am dissatisfied ...

Episode 275: Take-home tests and doing my own recruiting

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I’m a developer responsible for hiring other developers for my company...

Episode 274: Announcing resignation too early and why are my ideas rejected?

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I’m a technical lead and I’m planning to take the usual advice and q...

Episode 273: Influencing people and getting a raise in a flat org

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Listener Anonomomonous asks, How do you influence people and change...

Episode 272: Consistent or shiny

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions A few years ago my team chose a niche SPA framework (Aurelia) for the fr...

Episode 271: Too quiet and quitting too much?

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Listener Lisa asks, Hi Dave and Jamison! How do you answer the stat...

Episode 270 (rerun of 227): Junior expectations and manager flakiness

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions What should I expect from a junior develop, and how can I help them grow...

Episode 269: A bad product and running the meter down

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions How should I deal with the product I am building being called “the wor...

Episode 268: Title inflation and solo remote engineer

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I have a question about ‘title inflation’, where you get promoted fa...

Episode 267: Cheap promotion raise and live coding blues

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I work for an all-remote company and I’m about to get promoted. The co...

Episode 266: Switching tech stacks and awkward zoom silence

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Should I change tech stacks every few years in order to not get pigeonho...

Episode 265 (rerun of 216): One-on-ones and inter-team power struggles

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I have a weekly one-on-one with my manager. What should I talk about in ...

Episode 264: Finger pointing and getting recognition

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hi Mr.Smith and Mr.Dance, I’m a software engineer at a big softwa...

Episode 263: Why am I bored and ver-boss-ity

05 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I’m feeling bored and disengaged with my job lately, but I’m pretty ...

Episode 262: I'm too popular and too much turnover

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hello!! This is maybe the opposite of a problem, but I’ve found myself...

Episode 261: Anxious about work and senior imposter

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hello, I have been working as a software developer for 10+ years now and...

Episode 260: Pay cut after hired and new job ramp-up

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hey guys! I’m a long-time listener and like many of your other listene...

Episode 259: Moving up to meetings and will remote work stay a thing?

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions This question came with a delightful ASCII-art diagram that I will now d...

Episode 258: Addicted to scrolling and underpaid with equity

03 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Listener “Scrolly McScroll-Face” asks, Hi Team! Love the show. ...

Episode 257: Oops I didn't negotiate and really another raise question

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I’m currently in my first job as a software engineer. Before working f...

Episode 256: No degree ceiling and reverse whippersnappers

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hiya, thank you for the show. It’s very insightful and both of you are...

Episode 255: Only positive feedback and overworked and siloed

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hey there! Thank you so much for the amazing podcast. In my current...

Episode 254: Code makes my body hurt and level madness

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hi I just listened to your most recent podcast and you mentioned having ...

Episode 253: Not coding after 2 years and fake data scientists

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Thanks for the show, I absolutely love getting awkward glances from peop...

Episode 252: Impossible documentation and unexcited coworkers

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions How do I incentivize people to maintain documentation? Getting anyt...

Episode 251: Working with real live developers and the royal we?

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I’m not a developer, and have never worked with developers. I have fou...

Episode 250: The management track and active listening

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I’m a Tech Lead at a decent sized corporation. If I want to grow towar...

Episode 249: Settling the Wild West and credit for self-study

22 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I recently took over to manage development at a small company that has b...

Episode 248: Non-private slack channels and expectations

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Our engineering manager keeps sneaking/creeping on our private slack cha...

Episode 247: Estimates and hotdesking

08 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions What is your opinion about estimates. Is it a good practice? Are they he...

Episode 246: Humanitarian salary conundrum and family benefits

01 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I listen to the show while I’m working out and wanted you to know I’...

Episode 245: Sweating the small stuff and quit my first job?

25 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hello soft skills audio, love the show and your great advice. My qu...

Episode 244: Quitting telephone and recommendontion

18 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions My coworker Alice reached out to me in confidence to say that another co...

Episode 243: Saying no and conference

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Quite often my manager writes me in the morning: hey, can you help the t...

Episode 242 (Episode 131 re-run): Stinky feet and high salary expectation

05 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s one more re-run before we are back with new stuff! Enjoy this episode from November 2018, back when Tiger King didn’t yet exist. In this epi...

Episode 241 (Rerun of 184): Indispensable and IT cold war

28 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions How do you quit when you’re indispensable to the team? I am the l...

Episode 240: Under-leveled in the big leagues and pushing back

14 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I became a software engineer 4 years ago after graduating from a bootcam...

Episode 239: Hustle and patents and toxicity

07 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Really love the podcast. Keep it up! I’m in a senior role at a softwar...

Episode 238: Naughty team and quitting after 2 weeks

30 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions A few years ago, my current company did a big no-no which turned into a ...

Episode 237: Salary vs tech stack and how to quit an ad agency

23 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I am REALLY into music. I mostly get paid to listen to Spotify. With thi...

Episode 236: Making mistakes and Lowball offer

16 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Can you talk about making mistakes at work? How do you handle it, how do...

Episode 235: Bus factors and toxic time bomb

09 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I work as an IC in a team which owns 3 very different and large parts of...

Episode 234: Job hopping and untenable counter-offers

02 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions How can I stay at a job for a long period of time? I’m on my seco...

Episode 233: Manual unit testing and WFH demotivation

26 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions My (very large) company has an alternative definition of “unit testing...

Episode 232: "Junior" developer and NDA'd

19 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions First I want to say thank you and I really love the show and all your he...

Episode 231: Freedom for me not for thee and optimizing for growth

12 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hey Dave & Jamison, I have a problem with a more senior enginee...

Episode 230: Not seeking promotion and taking code

05 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Taylor asks, Is it frowned upon to not want to be promoted and get ...

Episode 229: Other people's code and moving into product management

28 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I have been working at a large tech company for two years now, after I g...

Episode 228: Unpaid team lead and banking hours

21 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I’m a team lead right now, but I’m leaving the company. When I discu...

Episode 227: Junior expectations and manager flakiness

14 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions What should I expect from a junior develop, and how can I help them grow...

Episode 226: Declining job offers and being the outside hire

07 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions How do you politely decline job offers that you never intended to accept...

Episode 225: Stuck on the ladder and can't say no

31 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I have noticed the majority of the managers get stuck at a mid-managemen...

Episode 224: Bad review from conflicted boss and questioning my career choices

24 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hi Dave and Jamison, I’m in my mid twenties working at a large company...

Episode 223: Feedback rage and making up for lost time

17 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hello. Thanks for hosting such a great podcast. I recently finished bing...

Episode 222: Cowboy CTO and underpaid after promotion

10 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hey, long time fan of the show! Our current CTO came in as the resu...

Episode 221: Current boss reference and getting paid to do nothing

03 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I’m in the process of quitting my job. I’ve been a developer here f...

Episode 220: Premature leadership push and credit and status

27 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hello, I know you said you don’t read the compliments on air most...

Episode 219: Remote crickets and Manager Careering

20 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I took the cult’s advice and quit my job at a start-up!! Now I’m at ...

Episode 218: Referral underperforming and take a tech lead role

13 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hey Dave and Jamison, really wish I found your podcast sooner as it has ...

Episode 217: Quitting words and double COVID internship

06 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Hi Over time I have heard many different terms that all seem to equ...

Episode 216: One-on-ones and inter-team power struggles

29 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions I have a weekly one-on-one with my manager. What should I talk about in ...

Episode 215: Many jobs in one and junior git stickler

22 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions Listener Ryan asks, I am the only full-time software engineer at a ...

Episode 214: Jumping ship and saying "I can't"

15 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Questions We have just today been told that we may or may not have a job in 1 week...

Episode 213: Interviewing your future boss and screwed by private equity

08 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: My manager has left, so I have the task of interviewing candidates for my future bo...

Episode 212: Turnover and self-inflicted complexity

01 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I’ve been working at a big software company for two years. Since joining, 10 peop...

Episode 211: Biorhythm and coworker roommate

25 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Hi there Dave and Jamison! I am a tech lead in a small team of 5 people. 4 of them ...

Episode 210: Study time and caring less

18 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: My question is regarding studying and learning new material. Before I got my job as...

Episode 209: Glue and Covid ghost job

11 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Is a “glue person” valuable on a software team? Someone who isn’t the stronge...

Episode 208: Toe-stepper-on-er and high leverage work

04 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Hi Dave and Jamison, my name is Bob Marley. I am a senior software engineer at a te...