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


    • Jun 2, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 247 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Develop Yourself

    #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

    #216 - Take-Home Coding Challenges Suck. Here's 3 ways to Beat Them...

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 10:59


    Send us a textI might be in the minority on this one but I cannot stand these types of interviews.IF you must participate, you might as well give it your best shot.Let's go over 3 ways I've personally seen mentees at Parsity crush the take home assignment so you can do the same.Here's a short unit testing course that yours for free: Grab it here.

    #215 - Building Software with AI: Dr. Robert Toth on the Future of Coding, Cursor and True Prompt Engineering

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2025 31:36


    Send us a textI used to roll my eyes when someone talked about "prompt engineering."Then Dr. Toth showed me what's possible in a video where he created facial recognition software in under 9 minutes.Toth is the CEO of an AI Medical Tech company with decades of coding experience. He's a smart cookie.He schooled me on how to use new coding tools like Cursor, writing better prompts and what he sees in the future for software developers.Here's his Cursor file for you to steal: https://github.com/Theta-Tech-AI/llm-public-utils/blob/production/system_prompts/cursor.mdYou can read his articles here: https://substack.com/@thetatechrob or find him on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robtoth/Shameless Plugs

    #214 - A step by step guide to building a really good side project

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 20:36


    Send us a textLet's cut to the chase.Here's the video for building a side project: Watch on YTGrab the cheat sheet for side projects here.Here's the waitlist for the AI Mentorship Program: Apply hereSee ya!Shameless Plugs

    #213 - The Google Interview: Luck, LeetCode, and What Actually Matters

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2025 37:08


    Send us a textCan you believe I never asked Zubin about his interview at Google?I failed the Google interview a couple times (so far) but Zubin crushed it.And he did it without studying hundreds of LeetCode problems, using an approach which no one really talks about.I hope you find this episode useful whether you're trying to nail the big tech interview or get a job at the local startup.Here's the article mentioned in the episode

    #212 – Learn Fast(er): The Uncomfortable Method That Actually Works

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 14:29


    Send us a textYour most powerful skill as a software developer isn't how many languages you know or what technology you've used.You're real power is in how fast you can learn.Tech changes quick. You got to keep up.I break down a method I've used to learn that you might not like. It's effective as hell.Here are the tools I mention in this episode:Loom.comExcalidraw.comShameless Plugs

    #211 - 5 Things Salespeople Know About Getting Hired (That Developers Don't)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2025 32:08


    Send us a textWant to get hired faster? Start thinking like a salesperson.Developers often struggle with the job search—not because they lack skills, but because they don't know how to sell themselves. Meanwhile, ex-salespeople seem to land jobs faster, even with less experience. What's their secret?In this episode, Jeremy Smith shares how his background in sales gave him an unfair advantage when breaking into tech (without a CS degree or even a high school diploma). From handling rejection like a pro to networking the right way, we break down five key lessons that can help you stop spinning your wheels and finally land a dev job.Why rejection is just part of the process—and how to get over itThe “numbers game” of job hunting (most devs quit too soon)Why networking beats cold applications every timeHow to position yourself as a top candidate—even if you're self-taughtWhy urgency & persistence will get you hired faster than perfect codeYou can connect with Jeremy here:InstagramShameless Plugs

    #210 - Why You Keep Failing Tech Interviews (And It's Not Your Fault)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 18:25


    Send us a textA student at Parsity recently bombed a tech interview—and it wasn't just their fault. The hiring process in tech is broken, with endless interview rounds, AI filtering out candidates, and companies that don't even know what they're looking for. In this episode, we break down why tech interviews are so flawed, what really happens behind the scenes, and how you can play the game to win.Shameless Plugs

    #209 - Zuckerberg, Rogan, and the AI Takeover: Should Engineers Be Worried?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 29:36


    Send us a textZuckerberg went on JRE and told the world that AI will replace mid-level engineers soon.Are we talking about the same mid-level engineers here?AI fear mongering gets lots of engagement but how real is this threat?Zubin and I talk about what mid-level engineers do, why NO ONE is safe and what developers still do better than AI.Here are the resources Zubin mentioned in this pod: https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/why-career-changers-have-an-advantage/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfh6j_7pBO4&list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj&index=17&t=8sShameless Plugs

    #207 - From Addict to Software Developer: A Story of Habit Stacking

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 12:56


    Send us a textLearning to code didn't change my life.Getting sober and exercising did however.10 years ago I was lost in addiction and headed on a path to jail or death. I think there are some lessons from my failure that may help you on your own journey.Shameless Plugs

    #206 - You Asked, We Answered: No BS Advice for Thriving as a Developer in 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 49:48


    Send us a textAlex Lau has nearly 2 decades in software and even wrote a book to help developers avoid the pitfalls that nearly derailed his career.What I like about Alex is that he keeps it real. We answered questions from you in this episode with no BS.- Mass applying vs networking vs building in public- How to negotiate your salary and what hiring managers don't tell you- What to do about that nagging voice in your head that tells you you're not good enoughYou can connect with Alex here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexlau/Shameless Plugs

    #206 - Real Developers Barely Code: What Your Job Will Really Be Like

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 20:24


    Send us a textThink developers spend all day writing code? Think again. A recent study from Software.com reveals that developers actively code for just 52 minutes per day—about 4 hours and 21 minutes per week. So what the hell do software developers actually do?In this episode, I break down 2 actual assignments I've been given at both a small startup and a large company to illustrate the reality of work as a software developer.It's not all coffee breaks and big bags but I think it's interesting work. Maybe you will too.Shameless Plugs(NEW) Parsity's The Inner Circle Program - a highly customized roadmap to take you from 0 to hired. For career changers who want to pivot into software. ​

    #205 - 5 Steps to Solving (nearly) Any Coding Problem

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2025 18:43


    Send us a textIn this episode of the Develop Yourself podcast, we walk you through my 5-step process for solving coding problems. If you've ever found yourself staring at a problem, unsure of where to start, this episode is for you. I'll show you how to break down problems, test your assumptions, and leverage patterns to find solutions that work.I also show you exactly how I use this process to tackle problems in real time. If you're curious to see it in action, check out the video in the show notes where I demonstrate the entire process step-by-step.Watch the video: https://youtu.be/1u3AyP5L--cShameless Plugs(NEW) Parsity's The Inner Circle Program - a highly customized roadmap to take you from 0 to hired. For career changers who want to pivot into software. ​

    #204 - AI Is Coming for Your Dev Job (But Not Really): AGI, o3 and Fear Mongering

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 15:02


    Send us a textHow cooked are we now that OpenAI is getting closer to AGI (artificial general intelligence)?It feels like AI is inching closer towards making software developers obsolete but how much of this fear is real and how much is complete hype?The answer shouldn't surprise you if you write code for a living...Shameless Plugs(NEW) The Inner Circle - a highly customized program to take you from 0 to hired

    #203 - Breaking into Tech: Self-Taught Success Stories with Vanessa and Wilfredo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2025 44:30


    Send us a textIn this episode, Vanessa and Wilfredo share their inspiring journeys of breaking into tech as self-taught developers. Learn how they avoided tutorial hell, built standout portfolios, and reinvented themselves online to land their first jobs in software engineering. Packed with practical advice on overcoming imposter syndrome, choosing the right learning path, and navigating the job hunt, this episode is a must-listen for anyone considering a self-taught route into tech.Connect with WilfredoConnect with VanessaApply to join Parsity 

    #202 - The Best Books for Developers (That No One Talks About)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2025 17:16


    Send us a textBefore you read "Cracking the Coding Interview" or "Clean Code", I want to offer a few books that you should read at every stage of your developer career from not-yet-hired to engineering manager.Me, sponsored? No.I just like sharing what's worked for me in the hopes it can work for you.If you have some good recommendations I didn't mention please let me and the rest of us know in the comments!Shameless Plugs(NEW) The Inner Circle - a highly customized program to take you from 0 to hired

    #201 - Your Practical Guide to Learning JavaScript in 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 22:16


    Send us a textWe're going to go through a very hands-on, practical process for learning enough JS to be dangerous.From the tools and services you will need as well as challenges to complete and small projects to make, you will have a clear idea of what to do and build to go from zero to noob.Shameless Plugs(NEW) The Inner Circle - a highly customized program to take you from 0 to hired

    practical guide js learning javascript
    #200 - Tech Predictions for 2025: What Career Changers Need to Know to Stay Ahead

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2024 16:11


    Send us a textHumans are notoriously bad at predictions, but I'm going to make some anyway. Based on what I've seen this year and what's happening in the current market, I believe there are a few key things you're going to need to know to stay ahead in your career. Some of these predictions I'm making are bets I'm taking myself, and I figured I should share them with you here. In this episode, I'm diving into what's on the horizon for tech in 2025, and how you can leverage these trends to future-proof your skills and take your career to the next level.Shameless Plugs(NEW) The Inner Circle - a highly customized program to take you from 0 to hired

    #199 - Are Coding Bootcamps Dead?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 34:21


    Send us a textThe coding bootcamp model is need of a serious face-lift.Aggressive marketing has created unrealistic expectations for career changers. Interviews are more difficult and developers are increasingly expected to do more.It feels like things are changing faster and faster.It's not all doom and gloom.Career change has always been difficult. That shouldn't discourage you, you just need a different approach.Zubin, an ex-lawyer turned software engineer at Google shares what's changed, what's stayed the same and the future of coding bootcamps.Shameless Plugs(NEW) The Inner Circle - a highly customized program to take you from 0 to hired

    #198 - The No-Nonsense Guide to Coding Careers: 3 Things I Wish I Knew

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 23:37


    Send us a textI have been working as a software developer for over a decade.These are the 3 simple (but effective) pieces of advice I'd give anyone starting out, including maybe not just starting at all!Shameless Plugs(NEW) The Inner Circle - a highly customized program to take you from 0 to hired

    #197 - Your Guide to Nailing the Non-Technical Interview in Tech

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 14:54


    Send us a textA few students at Parsity.io have interviews coming up. I gave them the same advice I'll share with you in this episode.The weird thing about technical interviews is they might not be so technical at all. While you're grinding LeetCode or CodeWars or if you're just learning to code - you need to be prepared for the non-technical interview. It's way more common than you think.Shameless Plugs(NEW) The Inner Circle - a highly customized program to take you from 0 to hired

    #196 - Your First Day as a Software Developer: What to Expect and How to Not Suck

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 18:49


    Send us a textNearly a decade ago I started my first day as a developer.The night before the first day, I was barely able to sleep.Would I be found out as a fake developer and fired immediately?Would they give me a task I couldn't figure out?How long before they realized they made an error in their hiring process?Well, I never got “found out” and I took on more than a few tasks I couldn't figure out… yet.If you're learning to code or recently got hired - I lay out a plan to help you tackle your first day as a real deal developer, stand out and maybe even impress your teammates.Shameless Plugs

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