An actionable plan for the next 6 - 12 months that is based on what truly lights you up & is in total alignment with your career vision!

Career Clarity Program

Gain the right mindset and the know-how to achieve your career goals

Career-related questions

Here are some of the commonly asked questions from people I work with which demonstrate why having a career plan is important and helpful. 

How do you get a role that you’re interested in without prior experience?

Why do you think employers prefer people with experience over those with qualification? Because experienced people are able to get the job done using their prior knowledge and experience. So if you haven’t got any experience in the role that you’re interested in, you need to think creatively about how you might be able to demonstrate the skills that are required for the role. You could do an unpaid project work, you could do pro-bono work, you could gain transferrable skills first in your current role and then slowly make the switch through connection, demonstration of capabilities and willingness to start from a less senior role, especially if the role that you’re after is in a different craft/discipline. One thing I know for sure though is that, it’s not going to happen over night, and it is not going to happen by itself without you being intentional about what you do and what actions you take.

How do I rapidly grow in my career as a software developer?

I see the two keywords in this question as “rapidly” and “grow”. To grow, you need to have a vision - you need to know what it is that you are going after. What does growth look like for you? Is it gaining new skills? Is it climbing the corporate ladder? Is it getting financial rewards? Once you know what you want, growing it “rapidly” will come from learning from those who have obtained what you wanted, being strategic and working smart.

What should be the career path of a software engineer?

When it comes to finding a career path, there are two main career paths for any profession - lattice career path and linear career path. Lattice career path is one where you work across adjacent disciplines such as moving from software engineering craft to data science craft and become a well-rounded professional. Linear career path is one where you work up your way on the corporate ladder in your craft, such as being a software engineer, senior software engineer, principal software engineer, architect, software development manager and so on. Both career paths are valid so you need to spend some time trying to understand which path excites you more and which path is more aligned with your career vision.

How do I know if becoming a manager in software development is what I want?

The telltale sign is this - Are you excited by helping others solve problems instead of solving problems yourself? Do you often mentor junior developers and find it more rewarding than writing code? If you answer yes to both questions then you are likely to enjoy being a manager. However, in reality, not everything is black and white like that. You’ll only really know if you like being a manager after you’ve given yourself a chance to explore the role.

How do I get more support from my manager?

While everyone would like to think managers and supervisors have the best interest in them, unfortunately, it’s not always the case. Reasons may vary - sometimes, managers don’t know how to be a good manager, other times, they are pre-occupied with their own lives and responsibilities, and in rare but not totally impossible situations, they have insecurities and are too power-hungry to be a good person and manager. So to get more support from your manager, try to understand them personally and the situations that they are in, first and then if you believe that they have the best interest in you but are just not sure how to support you, connect with them, help them be successful and help them help you.

How do I let my manager know that I am ready for a promotion?

Whether you like it or not, you don’t get to make that decision. Yes, you can influence it, but you are not the decision maker. So work with your manager to understand their perspective, what they think are the gaps you need to close, what kind of opportunities are available in your company and so on. Good managers want to see their people to grow and take on new heights - so let them know your aspirations and work with them.

What’s the biggest career mistake that people in tech make?

The #1 mistake that people in tech make is that they stay in their comfort zone for too long. They don’t hate their job, they get along with their colleagues, they like the pay check, but they feel stagnant in their career. And yet, they don’t do anything about it. My advice in 7 steps:
Step 1: Assess your current situation
Step 2: Identify your options
Step 3: Set career goals
Step 4: Get out of your comfort zone
Step 5: Be at the service of others
Step 6: Take a good break
Step 7: Review your progress