SlideShare a Scribd company logo
CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR
CAREER DEVELOPERS
PATRICK MCKENZIE
BOARD MEETING
KALZUMEUS
SOFTWARE
A BLOG POST
MOST USEFUL THING I SHIPPED IN 12
YEARS AS A SOFTWARE DEVELOPER
THREE STAGES
“LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR
FUTURE WITH THE COMPANY.”
SCARIEST WORDS IN ANY LANGUAGE
JUST WATCH BRANDON HAYS’ TALK FROM KEEP RUBY WEIRD 2015.
A BRIEF TAXONOMY OF DEV CAREER PATHS
▸ Go broad : Senior engineer -> Software architect
▸ Go deep : Senior engineer -> Staff Engineer
▸ Go management : Team Lead -> CTO
▸ Go lateral : Growth Team / Risk / Ops
▸ Go business : Consultant / Founder
ASIDE: WHERE
SHOULD I WORK?
THREE RULES
WORK WHERE PEOPLE
CAN SEE YOU.
SOFTWARE
ENGINEER
NOT GREAT VISIBILITY
DEVELOPER
EVANGELIST
KEITH CASEY
WORK ON SOMETHING
YOU CAN SHOW.
GITHUB IS
OVERRATED.
Twilio Signal 2016 Career Development for Developers
Twilio Signal 2016 Career Development for Developers
YOU CAN READ THE STRONGEST
ATTACK ON DR WRIGHT IN THIS
POST ON GITHUB
THE BBC
THANKS FOR DOING THAT HIGHLY TECHNICAL ORIGINAL REPORTING
“I GAVE ONE RATHER MEDIOCRE
TALK AT A REGIONAL TECH
CONFERENCE …AS A DIRECT
RESULT I NOW WORK AT TWITTER.”
CURATE YOUR BEST WORK
ON YOUR OWN PLATFORM.
WORK ON SOMETHING
YOU CAN KEEP.
A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE
“TYPICAL” HIRING
PROCESS
FAIRLY REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE
OUR STANDARD HIRING PROCESS
▸ Resume screening
▸ Phone screen (non-technical)
▸ Programming screen (technical)
▸ On-site
▸ Interview #1
▸ Interview #2
▸ Interview #3
▸ Lunch With Team
▸ CEO Interview
▸ Decision
YOU SHOULD AVOID
THIS PROCESS.
TO PREVENT ENGINEERS
FROM GETTING JOBS
WHY THAT PROCESS?
Twilio Signal 2016 Career Development for Developers
NON-TECHNICAL HEADS OF
RECRUITING WILL SCREEN OUT
DONALD KNUTH FOR INSUFFICIENT
KNOWLEDGE OF C.
ENGINEERS ARE MOST MARKETABLE FOR
THE THINGS THEY ARE ALREADY DOING;
THIS IS GENERALLY WHAT THEY LEAST
WANT TO DO AT A NEW JOB.
Dillon Forrest
ONE OF SMARTEST THINGS I’VE EVER HEARD ABOUT CAREER PLANNING
COLD EMAIL OUTREACH TO
A HIRING MANAGER DOES
THEM A FAVOR.
WHAT A GOOD COLD EMAIL CONTAINS
▸ A real human clearly sending one-on-one email.
▸ Demonstrated value you’d bring to a conversation.
▸ An explicit ask for what you want.
I’M STUDYING CS AT $UNIVERSITY. YOUR
COMPANY CHAIONE IS DOING SOME REALLY
COOL THINGS THAT I AM INTERESTED, I
WONDER IF WE WOULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO
TALK.
Did Not Get A Job Interview
I WATCHED YOUR PRESENTATION ON
PRODUCTIZING TWILIO APPS. GREAT STUFF
— I WROTE ABOUT IT HERE. CAN WE TALK
FOR 15 MINUTES ON TUESDAY ABOUT WHAT
STARFIGHTER IS DOING THESE DAYS?
A Much Better Cold Pitch
THE BEST COLD
EMAIL ISN’T.
MISSION: UPGRADE EARLY COLD CONTACT TO WARM INTERNAL REFERRAL
AGENDA FOR COFFEE DATE OR SKYPE CALL
▸ Demonstrate you’re not an axe murderer.
▸ Listen about what the company is doing.
▸ Give evidence that you’d be interesting to work with.
▸ Do recon on what their hiring process is.
▸ Ask explicitly for them to get the ball rolling for you.
ENTERPRISE SALES 101:
TALK ONLY TO PEOPLE
WHO CAN SAY YES.
CONDUCTING YOURSELF AT A JOB INTERVIEW
▸ You should know their format cold before you go in. Ask.
▸ Coding tests: answer correctly and concisely then refine.
▸ The job interview is about their needs, not your skills.
▸ Demonstrate enthusiasm and engagement with the mission.
▸ Do not negotiate until you have achieved Yes-If.
JOB INTERVIEWS
ARE TERRIBLE.
DODGING THE DREADED
SALARY QUESTION.
TRY ONE OR MORE OF THESE ON FOR SIZE
CLASSIC DODGES THAT OFTEN WORK ON SALARY QUESTION
▸ Defer: “I want to make sure we’re a good fit first.”
▸ Redirect: “I’d like this job to be a big step forward for me in
terms of responsibility, impact, and salary.”
▸ Invert: “You’d know better than me. I just want to do great
work and know you’ll treat me fairly.”
▸ Consider: “It would depend on the full context of the offer.”
▸ Range: “It sounds like you’re trying to qualify me for a range.
If you tell me it, I’ll tell you if we’re in the ballpark.”
ROLEPLAY THIS WITH
YOUR FRIENDS.
IMPLEMENT A
COMMITMENT STRATEGY.
TRADE FOR WHAT
YOU WANT.
I LOVE TALKING ABOUT THIS STUFF. CAN I HELP YOU?
▸ patrick@starfighters.io or @patio11
▸ https://www.stockfighter.io <— If you like the Twilio API, you will
enjoy playing with this.
▸ https://www.starfighters.io <— We can help you hire pre-vetted,
extremely talented engineers.
▸ You absolutely cannot waste my time by talking to me or reaching
out. This is my vocation and my passion.
▸ Shoutout to Josh Doody’s Fearless Salary Negotiation. Buy a copy
(or get one from us).
PERSONAL NOTE
FRANZ APOSTOL
IN MEMORIAM
BECAUSE IF SOFTWARE PEOPLE DON’T RESPECT COPYRIGHT THEN WHO WILL?
PHOTO CREDITS
▸ Cubicles: (CC) https://flic.kr/p/7yV6B3
▸ Keith Casey: Silicon Hill (nominative use) http://
www.siliconhillsnews.com/2014/01/23/keith-casey-
developer-evangelism-has-been-both-the-best-and-worst-
job-in-my-career/
▸ Barbed wire: BBC (CC-BY-A) https://flic.kr/p/kYhdCi
▸ Franz Apostol: Keith Perhac

More Related Content

PDF
There are no bad clients, just bad project managers
PPTX
MozCon 2013 Recap - Day Two
PDF
Amongst the Natives
PPTX
Product and Design Strategy Goals
PPTX
SearchLove London 2017 | Cheri Percy | Digital Witness: Tales From the Charit...
PPTX
The Subtle Dynamics of Leading Without Authority as a Technical Lead - Oren E...
PDF
Link building case studies, myths and fails - SearchLove 2017
PDF
What I Learnt From Event Organising
There are no bad clients, just bad project managers
MozCon 2013 Recap - Day Two
Amongst the Natives
Product and Design Strategy Goals
SearchLove London 2017 | Cheri Percy | Digital Witness: Tales From the Charit...
The Subtle Dynamics of Leading Without Authority as a Technical Lead - Oren E...
Link building case studies, myths and fails - SearchLove 2017
What I Learnt From Event Organising

What's hot (13)

PDF
Learn Reflect Repeat
PPTX
Social Proof Tips to Boost Landing Page Conversions
PDF
Building A Freelance Empire
PDF
Better Together: Content Strategy and Design #CSFORUM16
PDF
The art of sales by Luca Bovone
PDF
Motivate Design Presents the What If Technique
PPTX
Creating a World-Class, Performance-Based Culture
PPTX
Advancedinterviewing
PDF
5 Things We Learned from Our Biggest Mistake
PPTX
User journey looking for a security company in leeds
PPTX
15 lessons from failing startups
PDF
10 Practical Ways to Be More Efficient at Work
PDF
Top Productivity Working Hacks by Jan Rezab
Learn Reflect Repeat
Social Proof Tips to Boost Landing Page Conversions
Building A Freelance Empire
Better Together: Content Strategy and Design #CSFORUM16
The art of sales by Luca Bovone
Motivate Design Presents the What If Technique
Creating a World-Class, Performance-Based Culture
Advancedinterviewing
5 Things We Learned from Our Biggest Mistake
User journey looking for a security company in leeds
15 lessons from failing startups
10 Practical Ways to Be More Efficient at Work
Top Productivity Working Hacks by Jan Rezab

Similar to Twilio Signal 2016 Career Development for Developers (20)

PDF
Get SET: "Getting Hired" with Rachel Beisel
PPT
Persuasive Essay
PPTX
a journey in making sense of big data (part 4: Partnership and Trust)
PPTX
Startupfest 2017: Tom Williams (BetterCompany)
PDF
How to land a Great Job In Videogames
PDF
Co-Founder Ka Funda!
PPTX
The Big Turn On 2015: The Key to Engaging Employees with Internal Storytelling
PPTX
Why do you want this job
PDF
How to Kill It at Your Next Interview!
DOC
Interview question
PDF
"Rework"-change the way you work forever
PDF
Writing For Money J Fleming
PDF
Infographic 25 Tricky Interview Questions
PPT
Top10 Questions
PPTX
Top 10 interview questions
PDF
What Separates the Best From the Rest: What Makes Great Agencies Great
PPTX
5-Star Customer Service 06-2014
PDF
Pitch Imperfect: A Swystun Communications Paper
PDF
Salary Negotiation Workshop by Natalie Cernecka
DOC
Few interview tips
Get SET: "Getting Hired" with Rachel Beisel
Persuasive Essay
a journey in making sense of big data (part 4: Partnership and Trust)
Startupfest 2017: Tom Williams (BetterCompany)
How to land a Great Job In Videogames
Co-Founder Ka Funda!
The Big Turn On 2015: The Key to Engaging Employees with Internal Storytelling
Why do you want this job
How to Kill It at Your Next Interview!
Interview question
"Rework"-change the way you work forever
Writing For Money J Fleming
Infographic 25 Tricky Interview Questions
Top10 Questions
Top 10 interview questions
What Separates the Best From the Rest: What Makes Great Agencies Great
5-Star Customer Service 06-2014
Pitch Imperfect: A Swystun Communications Paper
Salary Negotiation Workshop by Natalie Cernecka
Few interview tips

More from Twilio Inc (20)

PDF
Building Blocks for Next Generation Contact Centers
PDF
Create an IVR that Keeps Up with Your Customers
PDF
Salesforce’s Andy Kung on the Power of CRM Integrations
PPTX
All Web Leads’ Lorena Lauv on How to Scale a Virtual Call Center
PDF
Why Mobile Messaging Works?
PDF
Understand How Consumers Use Messaging
PDF
What Can You Do With Twilio
PDF
How To Track Calls Using Twilio?
PDF
Twilio Contact Center Overview
PDF
Twilio Signal 2016 WebRTC Reborn
PDF
Twilio Signal 2016 Using Add-ons
PDF
Twilio Signal 2016 Technical Blogging
PDF
Twilio Signal 2016 Serverless Contact Center
PDF
Twilio Signal 2016 Robots-IoT-Watson-Cognitive + Twilio
PDF
Twilio Signal 2016 Leading An Open Hardware Revolution
PDF
Twilio Signal 2016 IoT Using LittleBits and Twilio SMS
PDF
Twilio Signal 2016 Chaos Patterns
PPTX
Twilio Signal 2016 How to Impact Non-profits
PDF
Twilio Signal 2016 Bringing P2P to the Masses with WebRTC
PDF
Twilio Signal 2016 Listing Services and Lead Generation
Building Blocks for Next Generation Contact Centers
Create an IVR that Keeps Up with Your Customers
Salesforce’s Andy Kung on the Power of CRM Integrations
All Web Leads’ Lorena Lauv on How to Scale a Virtual Call Center
Why Mobile Messaging Works?
Understand How Consumers Use Messaging
What Can You Do With Twilio
How To Track Calls Using Twilio?
Twilio Contact Center Overview
Twilio Signal 2016 WebRTC Reborn
Twilio Signal 2016 Using Add-ons
Twilio Signal 2016 Technical Blogging
Twilio Signal 2016 Serverless Contact Center
Twilio Signal 2016 Robots-IoT-Watson-Cognitive + Twilio
Twilio Signal 2016 Leading An Open Hardware Revolution
Twilio Signal 2016 IoT Using LittleBits and Twilio SMS
Twilio Signal 2016 Chaos Patterns
Twilio Signal 2016 How to Impact Non-profits
Twilio Signal 2016 Bringing P2P to the Masses with WebRTC
Twilio Signal 2016 Listing Services and Lead Generation

Recently uploaded (20)

PPTX
CHAPTER 12 - CYBER SECURITY AND FUTURE SKILLS (1) (1).pptx
PPTX
history of c programming in notes for students .pptx
PPTX
VVF-Customer-Presentation2025-Ver1.9.pptx
PPTX
L1 - Introduction to python Backend.pptx
PDF
Why TechBuilder is the Future of Pickup and Delivery App Development (1).pdf
PDF
Claude Code: Everyone is a 10x Developer - A Comprehensive AI-Powered CLI Tool
PPTX
Agentic AI Use Case- Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM).pptx
PDF
Raksha Bandhan Grocery Pricing Trends in India 2025.pdf
PDF
Navsoft: AI-Powered Business Solutions & Custom Software Development
PDF
Odoo Companies in India – Driving Business Transformation.pdf
PDF
Adobe Illustrator 28.6 Crack My Vision of Vector Design
PDF
SAP S4 Hana Brochure 3 (PTS SYSTEMS AND SOLUTIONS)
PDF
medical staffing services at VALiNTRY
PDF
Internet Downloader Manager (IDM) Crack 6.42 Build 42 Updates Latest 2025
PPTX
Oracle E-Business Suite: A Comprehensive Guide for Modern Enterprises
PDF
How to Migrate SBCGlobal Email to Yahoo Easily
PDF
PTS Company Brochure 2025 (1).pdf.......
PDF
AI in Product Development-omnex systems
PDF
How to Choose the Right IT Partner for Your Business in Malaysia
PDF
Nekopoi APK 2025 free lastest update
CHAPTER 12 - CYBER SECURITY AND FUTURE SKILLS (1) (1).pptx
history of c programming in notes for students .pptx
VVF-Customer-Presentation2025-Ver1.9.pptx
L1 - Introduction to python Backend.pptx
Why TechBuilder is the Future of Pickup and Delivery App Development (1).pdf
Claude Code: Everyone is a 10x Developer - A Comprehensive AI-Powered CLI Tool
Agentic AI Use Case- Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM).pptx
Raksha Bandhan Grocery Pricing Trends in India 2025.pdf
Navsoft: AI-Powered Business Solutions & Custom Software Development
Odoo Companies in India – Driving Business Transformation.pdf
Adobe Illustrator 28.6 Crack My Vision of Vector Design
SAP S4 Hana Brochure 3 (PTS SYSTEMS AND SOLUTIONS)
medical staffing services at VALiNTRY
Internet Downloader Manager (IDM) Crack 6.42 Build 42 Updates Latest 2025
Oracle E-Business Suite: A Comprehensive Guide for Modern Enterprises
How to Migrate SBCGlobal Email to Yahoo Easily
PTS Company Brochure 2025 (1).pdf.......
AI in Product Development-omnex systems
How to Choose the Right IT Partner for Your Business in Malaysia
Nekopoi APK 2025 free lastest update

Twilio Signal 2016 Career Development for Developers

  • 1. CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR CAREER DEVELOPERS PATRICK MCKENZIE
  • 3. A BLOG POST MOST USEFUL THING I SHIPPED IN 12 YEARS AS A SOFTWARE DEVELOPER
  • 5. “LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR FUTURE WITH THE COMPANY.” SCARIEST WORDS IN ANY LANGUAGE
  • 6. JUST WATCH BRANDON HAYS’ TALK FROM KEEP RUBY WEIRD 2015. A BRIEF TAXONOMY OF DEV CAREER PATHS ▸ Go broad : Senior engineer -> Software architect ▸ Go deep : Senior engineer -> Staff Engineer ▸ Go management : Team Lead -> CTO ▸ Go lateral : Growth Team / Risk / Ops ▸ Go business : Consultant / Founder
  • 16. YOU CAN READ THE STRONGEST ATTACK ON DR WRIGHT IN THIS POST ON GITHUB THE BBC THANKS FOR DOING THAT HIGHLY TECHNICAL ORIGINAL REPORTING
  • 17. “I GAVE ONE RATHER MEDIOCRE TALK AT A REGIONAL TECH CONFERENCE …AS A DIRECT RESULT I NOW WORK AT TWITTER.”
  • 18. CURATE YOUR BEST WORK ON YOUR OWN PLATFORM.
  • 20. A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE “TYPICAL” HIRING PROCESS
  • 21. FAIRLY REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OUR STANDARD HIRING PROCESS ▸ Resume screening ▸ Phone screen (non-technical) ▸ Programming screen (technical) ▸ On-site ▸ Interview #1 ▸ Interview #2 ▸ Interview #3 ▸ Lunch With Team ▸ CEO Interview ▸ Decision
  • 23. TO PREVENT ENGINEERS FROM GETTING JOBS WHY THAT PROCESS?
  • 25. NON-TECHNICAL HEADS OF RECRUITING WILL SCREEN OUT DONALD KNUTH FOR INSUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE OF C.
  • 26. ENGINEERS ARE MOST MARKETABLE FOR THE THINGS THEY ARE ALREADY DOING; THIS IS GENERALLY WHAT THEY LEAST WANT TO DO AT A NEW JOB. Dillon Forrest ONE OF SMARTEST THINGS I’VE EVER HEARD ABOUT CAREER PLANNING
  • 27. COLD EMAIL OUTREACH TO A HIRING MANAGER DOES THEM A FAVOR.
  • 28. WHAT A GOOD COLD EMAIL CONTAINS ▸ A real human clearly sending one-on-one email. ▸ Demonstrated value you’d bring to a conversation. ▸ An explicit ask for what you want.
  • 29. I’M STUDYING CS AT $UNIVERSITY. YOUR COMPANY CHAIONE IS DOING SOME REALLY COOL THINGS THAT I AM INTERESTED, I WONDER IF WE WOULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO TALK. Did Not Get A Job Interview
  • 30. I WATCHED YOUR PRESENTATION ON PRODUCTIZING TWILIO APPS. GREAT STUFF — I WROTE ABOUT IT HERE. CAN WE TALK FOR 15 MINUTES ON TUESDAY ABOUT WHAT STARFIGHTER IS DOING THESE DAYS? A Much Better Cold Pitch
  • 32. MISSION: UPGRADE EARLY COLD CONTACT TO WARM INTERNAL REFERRAL AGENDA FOR COFFEE DATE OR SKYPE CALL ▸ Demonstrate you’re not an axe murderer. ▸ Listen about what the company is doing. ▸ Give evidence that you’d be interesting to work with. ▸ Do recon on what their hiring process is. ▸ Ask explicitly for them to get the ball rolling for you.
  • 33. ENTERPRISE SALES 101: TALK ONLY TO PEOPLE WHO CAN SAY YES.
  • 34. CONDUCTING YOURSELF AT A JOB INTERVIEW ▸ You should know their format cold before you go in. Ask. ▸ Coding tests: answer correctly and concisely then refine. ▸ The job interview is about their needs, not your skills. ▸ Demonstrate enthusiasm and engagement with the mission. ▸ Do not negotiate until you have achieved Yes-If.
  • 37. TRY ONE OR MORE OF THESE ON FOR SIZE CLASSIC DODGES THAT OFTEN WORK ON SALARY QUESTION ▸ Defer: “I want to make sure we’re a good fit first.” ▸ Redirect: “I’d like this job to be a big step forward for me in terms of responsibility, impact, and salary.” ▸ Invert: “You’d know better than me. I just want to do great work and know you’ll treat me fairly.” ▸ Consider: “It would depend on the full context of the offer.” ▸ Range: “It sounds like you’re trying to qualify me for a range. If you tell me it, I’ll tell you if we’re in the ballpark.”
  • 41. I LOVE TALKING ABOUT THIS STUFF. CAN I HELP YOU? ▸ patrick@starfighters.io or @patio11 ▸ https://www.stockfighter.io <— If you like the Twilio API, you will enjoy playing with this. ▸ https://www.starfighters.io <— We can help you hire pre-vetted, extremely talented engineers. ▸ You absolutely cannot waste my time by talking to me or reaching out. This is my vocation and my passion. ▸ Shoutout to Josh Doody’s Fearless Salary Negotiation. Buy a copy (or get one from us).
  • 44. BECAUSE IF SOFTWARE PEOPLE DON’T RESPECT COPYRIGHT THEN WHO WILL? PHOTO CREDITS ▸ Cubicles: (CC) https://flic.kr/p/7yV6B3 ▸ Keith Casey: Silicon Hill (nominative use) http:// www.siliconhillsnews.com/2014/01/23/keith-casey- developer-evangelism-has-been-both-the-best-and-worst- job-in-my-career/ ▸ Barbed wire: BBC (CC-BY-A) https://flic.kr/p/kYhdCi ▸ Franz Apostol: Keith Perhac