Develop Yourself

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To change careers and land your first job as a Software Engineer, you need more than just great software development skills - you need to develop yourself. Welcome to the podcast that helps you develop your skills, your habits, your network and more, all

Aaron Hayslip & Peter Elbaum


    • Aug 4, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 268 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Develop Yourself

    #262 - 12 Months to Hired: A No-Fluff Roadmap to Becoming a Software Developer

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2025 34:37 Transcription Available


    If I lost everything today—no job, no network, no portfolio—and had to start over in 2025 as a software developer, I wouldn't be looking for a 3-month miracle. I'd be planning for 12 months. That's how long it really takes now.We cover:what tech stack you should learnnetworking as a developer using BFSa capstone project that is actually impressivean interviewing strategy3 books I'd read as a new developerAt Parsity, we cover all this and much more. Apply here. Send us a textShameless Plugs

    #261 - I Used to Suck at Coding Interviews. Then I Started Doing These 4 Things

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2025 17:33 Transcription Available


    Five years ago, during an interview for a senior dev role, I had a panic attack. It was one of my worst interview experiences. It also taught me a lot about what I was doing wrong.In this episode, I'll break down the process that took me from under-paid developer to passing interviews and 4x'ing my salary.Here's your worksheet to help you create a solid story for an interview: worksheetIf you know you suck at interviews - I'll be working with a few people to help them crush their next interview and increase their salaries. Apply here: Fill out application

    #260 - From Lead Engineer at MongoDB to Fashion Tech: On Hiring, Remote Teams, and Start-Up Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2025 24:21 Transcription Available


    Harish, former lead engineer at MongoDB and current co-founder of Flaire, takes us on a journey through his unusual career path—one that didn't involve grinding LeetCode or chasing FAANG.Instead, he got deep into cybersecurity, built large-scale systems, and eventually started his own company that's redefining how small businesses use software.We talk about:What it's actually like to work on database internals and secure infrastructureWhy most engineers shouldn't become founders—and why he did anywayHow to use AI for real business workflows (not just ChatGPT hacks)The rise of “cybersecurity as product” and how ops teams still run on spreadsheets and WhatsAppWhy learning to code isn't just about DSA and bootcamps—it's about solving real problems“A lot of tools are built for enterprises, but most businesses are duct-taping together spreadsheets. We built for them.”“You need to understand how your workflows actually function before throwing AI at them.”“Don't overbuild. Build just enough to learn something, then improve.”If you're newer to tech and want to understand what actual engineering careers can look like—this episode will open your eyes to what's possible.Connect with Harish here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scharish/Send us a textShameless Plugs

    Office Hours: Answering Your Coding Questions EP 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2025 18:56 Transcription Available


    Are junior devs cooked?How can I scaffold a solid MERN stack app?What's the best way to stick with a tutorial?We got some great questions this episode and my answers might surprise you.Got a question you want answered? Drop it here: https://form.typeform.com/to/Q499M9klSend us a textShameless Plugs

    #259 - The Minimum Effective Dose of JavaScript You Need to Learn

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2025 19:59 Transcription Available


    Learning JS is tough.And you're probably making some of the same mistakes I did in the past.In this episode you'll get a path and a small project to make to teach you the minimum effective dose of JavaScript necessary to move forward in your learning journey.Here's the challenge I mentioned which includes some short videos: Your Form ChallengeSend us a textShameless Plugs

    #258 - Should You Use AI While Learning to Code? A Senior Developer's Take

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2025 17:28 Transcription Available


    A junior developer who got hired at a startup used AI non-stop to keep up.It worked for weeks until he crashed and burned.He'd built a house of cards that he couldn't keep up. The AI tools went in doom loops or just added more sloppy code that his team wouldn't accept.Turns out they hired a prompt engineer instead of a coder.We're in uncharted territory my friends.You can't just NOT use AI but when should you start? How much is too much?Let's explore a path to learning code with AI that won't make you another prompt engineer.PS - If you're already a software developer, I'm working with a few people to crush their next interview. Apply here.Send us a textShameless Plugs

    #257 - Career Landmines: Three Developer Traps to Avoid

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2025 20:49 Transcription Available


    3 traps to avoid in your career, that I nearly fell for:1. The Framework Developer Trap2. The Developer in a Hoodie Trap (might be the most surprising revelation for many aspiring programmers)3. The Hype-Driven Development TrapGot a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here: https://form.typeform.com/to/Q499M9klSend us a textShameless Plugs

    #256 - The Rise of the Product Minded Engineer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2025 36:34 Transcription Available


    Matt Watson, who scaled VIN Solutions to a $150 million exit, shares his journey from coding to building products that make a real impact in the business world.We talk about:Why most developers fail at launching productsWhat it means to be a product-minded engineerHow AI is exposing weak developersThe importance of sales, customer empathy, and learning in public“Your code isn't the product. Solving real problems is.”“If I have to write requirements down to the detail… I might as well just give it to AI.”Want to develop the product engineer's mindset? Grab Matt's book here : http://productdriven.com/bookMatt's newsletter for product driven engineers: https://newsletter.productdriven.com/Send us a textShameless Plugs

    #255 - Your First Open Source Project: A Weekend with Kyle Simpson's Code

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2025 12:43 Transcription Available


    This episode introduces a weekend project that will give you authentic experience working with existing code—a crucial skill that most tutorials and coding platforms simply don't teach. Using Kyle Simpson's YouPeriod GitHub repository, you'll learn to navigate a codebase written by someone else, which is exactly what you'll do in your first development job. This particular project is perfect for beginners because it uses fundamental web technologies (HTML, CSS, and vanilla JavaScript) rather than complex frameworks like React or TypeScript.Here's the Github repo: https://github.com/getify/youperiod.appThis weekend project will teach you more about real development work than weeks of guided exercises. If you're completely new to JavaScript, check out our Dev30 program at dev30.xyz, where you can learn the fundamentals and beyond.Send us a textShameless Plugs

    #254 - What Do Data Scientists Actually Do? A Candid Conversation with Ryan Varley

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2025 37:27 Transcription Available


    Have you ever wondered what data scientists and engineers actually do all day? Forget what you've seen in movies – it's not all neural networks and fancy algorithms.Ryan Varley, Engineering Fellow at Magnite and experienced data leader, pulls back the curtain on the rapidly evolving world of data science and engineering. The real work often involves what he colorfully describes as "really complex plumbing" – making processes more efficient, reliable, and scalable in ways that directly impact business outcomes.Whether you're considering a career pivot into data, trying to understand how these roles fit within your organization, or simply curious about the mechanics behind today's AI revolution, this episode provides an accessible window into a complex and increasingly crucial field. Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn .Read Ryan's Newsletter for engineering leaders facing the hardest problem in scaling their impact: https://newsletter.ryanvarley.com/Send us a textShameless Plugs

    #253 - The Real-World Step-by-Step Guide to Tech Interviews (Not for Google or Meta)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2025 33:00 Transcription Available


    Interviewing is arguably the highest paying skill you can have as a developer.I don't think this is fair but it is reality.I've taken part in well over 100 interviews both as an interviewee and interviewer. I've worked with dozens of developers to ace their interviews and increase their salaries by tens of thousands of dollars.This is not for developers looking to get into Big Tech. This episode is for the 99%.We're going to cover the 4 most common stages of the tech interview from recruiter filtering to technical interview to "tell me about yourself" and finally the offer stage.Here's the unit testing course I mentioned in the episode that you seriously need to check out if you don't know how to write a test: https://github.com/CodeCoachJS/js_pro_unit_testingSend us a textShameless Plugs

    #252 - 3 Coding Principles That Will Save Your Codebase (that most bootcamp grads don't know)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2025 14:53 Transcription Available


    These principles don't just create pretty code—they reduce bugs, simplify updates, and prevent real-world problems like the $10,000 mistake I made early in my career.Yeah, that was not a fun one.Check out https://www.dofactory.com/javascript/design-patterns/adapter if you want to learn more patterns.PS - I write unfiltered advice for early career developers here:

    Office Hours: Answering Your Coding Questions EP 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2025 15:01 Transcription Available


    In this Office Hours Q&A, I got some pretty interesting questions:Should you lie on your resume to trick the ATS and get more interviews?If you're building websites with tools like Squarespace, does it count as real experience—or are you cheating yourself?Is a master's degree in computer science worth it if you already have some tech skills?I also share thoughts on how to get experience that actually helps you land a dev job and why every learner should have a side project that they control.Whether you're self-taught, in school, or just figuring things out, this one's packed with advice you won't hear in most coding bootcamp brochures.Send us a textShameless Plugs

    #251 - 8 truths no one tells you about becoming a software developer in today's market

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2025 23:39 Transcription Available


    The software development market didn't die, it's just unrecognizable.Let's go over 8 harsh pieces of advice that will help you as a career changer to make a successful switch into a career as a software developer.PS. If you're a front-end developer looking to expand your skills, grab the Node Express Starter Kit here.Have a question for the Friday Q&A show? Submit it through the form in the show notes, and I'll shout you out or keep you anonymous.Send us a textShameless Plugs

    #250 - Delivery Driver to Developer: Jacob's Journey into Tech as a New Dad

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2025 41:10 Transcription Available


    Whatever you do, don't learn to code.The market is over-saturated.AI took your job.There is no hope.But then you meet someone like Jacob, a young dad who was delivering food a year ago and just landed his first dev job without submitting a single application.Is his story typical? No. But then few stories are.At Parsity.io, we've seen CS grads take up to a year to get hired. We've seen people go from zero to hired in 6 months or less.There is no formula. What works for one person might work for you and it might not.Not a great marketing tactic eh? It's just the truth.Jacob shares how he landed a role with ZERO applications and juggling a tight schedule as a new father while learning to build complex software. Send us a textShameless Plugs

    Office Hours: Answering Your Coding Questions EP 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2025 21:08 Transcription Available


    Got a question you want answered on the show?Drop it here: Ask Your QuestionOn today's show:"I'm currently a mid-level product manager thinking of switching to software engineering. Is that too ambitious?"“Where do I get good at interview practice? Leetcode seems unrealistic. Is there something more practical?”“Should I go all in on C# or .NET instead? Or maybe get a CS degree from WGU?”“As an early career dev, should I be building side projects with AI tools like Cursor—or is that risky before I know how to code well?”Send us a textShameless Plugs

    #249 - Data Structures and Algorithms for Beginners (Replay)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2025 26:10 Transcription Available


    Learning data structures and algorithms (DSA) isn't JUST a smart interview skill, it will boost your confidence as a software engineer, give you a deeper understanding of computer science fundamentals and they can even be fun once you know how to use them.If you're self teaching or just starting out with code, they can be intimidating.They don't have to be.I break down a pretty comprehensive guide here for learning DSA as well as a video on Binary Search Trees (BST)DSA Study Guide  My popular guide to DSAVideo on Binary Search Trees (Source Code included in the comments)PS. Zubin and I are building stuff for Parsity. What should we build next? Take 15 seconds and tell us here: Quick SurveySend us a textShameless Plugs

    #248 - The AI Productivity Myth: Reality vs. Hype

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2025 23:31 Transcription Available


    Check out this beginner project to use AI with HTML and JS

    #247 - I Was the Worst Developer on the Team... Again

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2025 11:27 Transcription Available


    Have you ever felt like the weakest link on your development team? You're not alone.The moment you land your first developer job, you're likely to face the crushing weight of comparison. Your teammates seem to know everything while your mind fills with doubts about your abilities. Seven years ago, this pressure nearly drove me out of the industry despite earning more money than ever before. The stress was paralyzing - I faced panic attacks each morning and received direct feedback about my inadequate skills.I developed a powerful three-step system that transformed my approach to professional growth that I want to share with you.Shameless Plugs

    #246 - Coding Bootcamps, Burnout, and the Hard Truth About Breaking Into Tech: An Engineering Manager's Perspective

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2025 27:18 Transcription Available


    What do engineering leaders really think about bootcamp grads?Why are so many developers so stressed?Is it even worth learning to code in 2025?Michael Greenspan pulls back the curtain on the realities of engineering leadership, interviewing and the state of the industry, drawing from his extensive experience as both a software engineer and engineering manager before becoming a coach for burnt-out tech professionals."Moving into management is a job change," Michael emphasizes, describing how this transition often comes with minimal guidance and significant imposter syndrome. Both Michael and host Brian share their personal experiences of feeling lost when first stepping into leadership positions.Find Michael at TheCompleteEngineer.com or connect with him on LinkedIn.Shameless Plugs

    #245 - What Developers Get Wrong About Interviews

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2025 35:57 Transcription Available


    I spent a few years as an engineering manager, and my buddy Zubin, a former Google engineer, is currently hiring developers at his company. Between the two of us, we've seen the good, the bad, and the totally avoidable when it comes to technical interviews.In this episode, we pull back the curtain on what really happens during interviews. What are hiring managers actually looking for? What are the most common mistakes that cost people the job? And how can you stand out even if you're early in your journey?Interviews are high stakes, high pressure, and if done right, high reward. We cover:Why trust matters more than being perfectHow AI has changed the interview processWhat to do when you don't know the answerHow likability can make or break your chancesThe worst way to prep, and what to do insteadAs always - hope it's helpful!Shameless Plugs

    #244 - From Zero to Software Engineer After 30: My Journey and What You Need to Know

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2025 18:43 Transcription Available


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    #243 - The 70% Problem: When AI Coding Falls Short

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 34:46 Transcription Available


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    #242 - How Anne Got a Developer Job WITHOUT LinkedIn or LeetCode

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2025 33:48 Transcription Available


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    #241 - The Bootcamp Era Is Dead — And That's Great News for Developers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 17:56 Transcription Available


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    #240 - Navigating the Front-End Landscape: A Senior Developer's Perspective on AI Tools, Front End interviews and What Makes You "Senior"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 24:29 Transcription Available


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    #239 - Is Learning to Code Still Worth It? An Senior Developer's Perspective

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 14:06 Transcription Available


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    #238 - My Experience in Vibe Coding Hell

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 20:31 Transcription Available


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    #237 - Don't Learn to Code for the Money, But If You Do...

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 23:24 Transcription Available


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    #236 - Developer Internships: The Good, The Bad, and The “Wait, They Threw Out My Code?”

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 26:27 Transcription Available


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    #235: 2 Skills You Don't Need Anymore In the AI Era and 3 More You're Going to Need

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 18:21 Transcription Available


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    #234 - Coding Isn't Enough: 3 Weird Traits That Predict Success in Tech

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 16:24 Transcription Available


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    #233 - How Mindi Navigated ADHD, Bootcamp Burnout, and Landed a Dev Role

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 39:14 Transcription Available


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    #232 - The Harsh Truth About Coding, AI, Bootcamps, and Breaking in to Tech

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 16:09 Transcription Available


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    #231 - Roasting A Listener's Resume, LinkedIn and GitHub Profile

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 14:21 Transcription Available


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    #230 - AI Will Replace Most Coding: What Chief Scientist Laly Bar-Ilan Says Developers Should Learn Next

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 29:54 Transcription Available


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    #229 - The 2025 Tech Job Market Sucks? Here's How You Beat It

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 17:51 Transcription Available


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    #228 - The 3 Stages of Learning Javascript: What to Build && What to Learn

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2025 14:31 Transcription Available


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    #227 - How Busy Professionals Can Learn to Code (Without Losing Their Minds): A 3 Step Process

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 15:42 Transcription Available


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    Special Episode: Answering Fan Mail

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 14:55 Transcription Available


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    #226 - New Coders Can't Code?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2025 28:36 Transcription Available


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    #225 - The 3-Month Coding Bootcamp Myth: 4 Things You Actually Need to Get Hired

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 17:30 Transcription Available


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    #224 - How Jeremy Went From Tutorial Hell to Front End Developer at Apple

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2025 37:18 Transcription Available


    Send us a textJeremy spoke with a couple mentees at Parsity which led to a conversation where I learned about his unusual (and long) journey into software.If you're a career changer and you're dealing with impostor syndrome or tutorial hell and need some practical advice on breaking into tech, you're going to get a lot out of this episode.Connect with Jeremy here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrobinparker/Shameless Plugs

    #224 - Should You Still Learn JavaScript in 2025?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 20:01 Transcription Available


    Send us a textWith the rise of AI and Python's dominance, is JavaScript still worth learning?In this episode, I break down why JavaScript remains the best starting language for new developers, how it sets you up for success in web development, and even why it's still relevant for AI. Plus, I introduce a new AI developer course for those looking to leverage AI in real-world projects.Sign up hereShameless Plugs

    #223 - AI for JavaScript Developers: What You Actually Need to Know

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2025 19:58 Transcription Available


    Send us a textI started off 2025 knowing jack sh*t about LLMs besides how to ask Chat-GPT questions.Since then, I've built a multi-agent app for work, learned some linear algebra to understand how LLMs work at a basic level and started using a new tech stack for working with these LLMS. In this episode, I lay out the technologies you need to learn to keep up with AI as a full stack JavaScript developer and a project to up skill yourself.Resources mentioned:3Blue1Brown's Linear Algebra seriesLLM Engineer's HandbookBuilding a Large Language Model (from scratch)I'll be working with 20 developers in a 30 day style cohort to up-skill with AI.Apply here: https://www.parsity.io/ai-developer

    Has Cursor Cooked Junior Developers for Good?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 15:28 Transcription Available


    Send us a textCursor is an AI-powered text editor for coders. Let me be honest - if I was a junior developer, I'd feel a little nervous looking at what it's capable of doing.But I'm not. So I'm not.Let's explore why Cursor is an amazing tool that will cause a ton of headaches when used improperly and what you can do as a junior developer to to create a technical moat to be "AI-proof."Shameless Plugs

    #221 - How AWS Used AI to Save 4,500 Years of Work – with AWS's Director of Generative AI Applications

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2025 31:39 Transcription Available


    Send us a textI've been using AWS Q Developer for a few months now but it turns out I've barely scratched the surface.Srini, Director of Generative AI Applications and Developer Experiences at Amazon Web Services, who leads the team behind Q, agreed to be interviewed by me.We discuss:• How AWS Q Developer helps software engineers with coding, testing, and debugging• How Amazon used AI to save 4,500 years of development time• Why AI won't replace developers—but developers using AI will dominate• The future of AI in software development and how beginners can stay ahead

    #220 - Real-World JavaScript: Why Loops and Arrays Are the Backbone of the Internet

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 13:09 Transcription Available


    Send us a textYou're learning about JavaScript arrays all wrong.For loops, zero-indexing, blah blah blah.But WHY? What makes arrays so damn important?Let's break down why arrays and objects are the backbone of the internet and a couple common problems that JS beginners should work towards solving.A video on using APIs with JavaScript: https://youtu.be/4naH4qczQCgShameless Plugs

    #219 - The 3-Step No-BS Guide to Getting in Shape After 30

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2025 28:16 Transcription Available


    Send us a textDon't worry - this won't become a fitness podcast... or I dunno, maybe it will.Seriously, I know how much exercise has changed my life and directly contributed to my ability to debug code, stay sane during stressful periods and make me feel a bit more confident.Next episode we'll be back to tech focused content but I sincerely hope you find this show useful.Grab Your simple fitness guide 

    #218 - The 3 Worst Developers I Ever Worked With

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 17:13 Transcription Available


    Send us a textThere are enough stories out there about how to be a 10x developer, whatever the hell that means.I want to share with you the 3 worst developers I ever worked with and what made them so awful.The names have been changed to protect the innocent.Except for the first one…Shameless Plugs

    #217 - How to Get Your First Tech Job - Straight from a Recruiter

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 24:31 Transcription Available


    Send us a textHenry Ngo is a tech recruiter who wants to see you win the game of job hunting. We chat about:• The Importance of a compelling hero section in resumes• Utilizing technology and AI in the recruitment process• Tips for effective communication during interviews• Addressing myths about the competition in job applicationsYou can connect with Henry on LinkedInShameless Plugs

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