When I was in university, sometimes professors gave open book exams, so I could search for complex logic or functions to solve the questions. Still, for most exams, we needed to memorize everything and try to anticipate the questions we would be given. After graduation, I joined a company as a software engineer. Back then, I had no clue how to code well; I simply tried my best, read big red books, and looked for tutorials. Now that I am a hiring manager, I often have to find a way to assess candidates. One of the current trends is the so-called LC (LeetCode), which refers to brain teasers regarding algorithms, data structures, arrays, and sorting. Regardless of how skilled you are, job seekers often need to dedicate personal time to studying this. ...

Why is joining outsourcing companies not great for software engineers As a software engineer, if you want to find a job, you have several options. One of the paths would be joining an outsourcing company. While that is a somewhat easier path to start your career, I often see that there are some problems in this domain. Limited Learning: You might miss out on understanding how to create entire products, only focusing on specific tasks. ...

How to burn all your cash and get no results within 6 months. 1️⃣ Hire a person who speaks well but has no execution skills as a CTO. 2️⃣ Hire a product manager without a CTO and outsource all your product development. 3️⃣ Build a team with below-market rates and try to focus something else because you are too busy now. 4️⃣ Raise your salary because you are a founder, and you’ve just built a fantastic team(No 3) within your budget and secured funding. ...

Team Building in a Startup 😊🚀 When I first came to Singapore, I worked at NTU as a researcher and I was looking for my next challenge in a new country. Back then, there were quite a few new startups emerging every day, and every school and public institution provided lots of incubator programs. It was somewhat of a trend for young founders to attend these programs. Every week, a well-known incubator would host a Friday event where founders could network over drinks. 🥂🌟 ...

When I joined a startup as a CTO, I needed to conduct performance reviews, especially for outsourcing engineers and contractors from a recruiting site. One engineer was hired by the former CTO and was assigned to work on an admin dashboard alone. While the admin dashboard is essential for internal use, it may not always require a sophisticated UI or better UX. I had a conversation with her about her tasks, what she had worked on, and what she was capable of. Surprisingly, she was hired as a frontend engineer, and she clarified that she is not a backend engineer or a full-stack developer. ...

In today’s job market, companies often prioritize prior experience, which can present challenges for individuals with non-traditional backgrounds who are trying to enter the industry. It is not uncommon to come across job postings for junior positions that require several years of experience. While I understand the reasoning behind this preference, it raises the question of how someone without any prior experience, such as a fresh graduate, bootcamp attendee, or self-taught developer, can even acquire the necessary experience to meet these requirements.

Recently, I joined a startup program and met lots of founders. 😊 We exchanged our ideas and discussed potential collaborations. It is great, but it is often encountered. I am not sure what the idea is. 😕 It is indeed hard to explain something without any working prototype. 🛠️ But sometimes just one line of explanation gives us a clear understanding. 💡 It reminds me of when we start looking for a life partner. 💑 I still remember the first time I met my wife, and when I saw her, I could clearly sense that something special might happen. ❤️ And it did. 💫 ...