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The Coding Career Handbook
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Getting Started
Preface: Real Talk
Part I: Your Coding Career
Introduction: Your Coding CareerPrinciples Over TitlesCompany TypesCareer LayersDiversityThe Five Career StagesQuiz Yourself on Your Coding Career
Code Newbies
Introduction: Code NewbiesExplore Podcasts and ContentBuild CommunityGain Team Experience
The (First) Job Hunt
Introduction: The (First) Job HuntDo the MathDo the WorkStaying Motivated While You SearchGetting the InterviewTypes of InterviewsOutside the InterviewQuiz Yourself on the (First) Job Hunt
Junior Developer
Introduction: Junior DeveloperFinding Your GrooveMaking MistakesAdding ValueGrowing Your KnowledgeQuiz Yourself on Junior Developer
From Junior to Senior
Introduction: From Junior to SeniorActing for the Job You WantMarketing Yourself as a Senior EngineerJunior Engineer, Senior EngineerTo Stay or to GoQuiz Yourself on From Junior to Senior
Senior Developer
Introduction: Senior DeveloperSolutions vs. PatternsVelocity vs. MaintainabilityTechnical DebtPrudent DebtReckless DebtMentorship, Allyship, and SponsorshipBusiness ImpactQuiz Yourself on Senior Developer
Beyond your Coding Career
Introduction: Beyond your Coding CareerEngineering ManagementProduct ManagementDeveloper RelationsDeveloper EducatorEntrepreneurshipQuiz Yourself on Beyond your Coding Career
Part II: Principles
Principles
Learn in Public
Private vs. PublicGetting StartedBut I’m ScaredTeach to LearnMentors, Mentees, and Becoming an ExpertWhy it WorksQuiz Yourself on Learn in Public
Clone Open Source Apps
Why Clone Open-Source Apps?Make it Better
Know your Tools
Introduction: Know your ToolsAvoid Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)Beyond the ToolQuiz Yourself on Know your Tools
Specialize in the New
Introduction: Specialize in the NewTechnology ComplementsLindy CompoundingQuiz Yourself on Specialize in the New
Open Source Your Knowledge
Introduction: Open Source your KnowledgeOpen KnowledgeOpen-Source KnowledgePersonal AnecdoteWhy Open Source YOUR KnowledgeTipsQuiz Yourself on Open Source your Knowledge
Spark Joy
Introduction: Spark JoyWhy it WorksSparking Joy in CodeSparking Joy in PRs and IssuesSparking Joy in DocsSparking Joy in Demos and ProductsThe Extra MileQuiz Yourself on Spark Joy
The Platinum and Silver Rules
The Platinum RuleThe Silver RuleQuiz Yourself on the Platinum and Silver Rule
Good Enough is Better than Best
Introduction: Good Enough is Better than BestThe Problem with Seeking “The Best”The Dangers of False ConfidenceQuiz Yourself on Good Enough is Better than Best
First Principles Thinking
Introduction: First Principles ThinkingLogicEpistemologyApplicationsQuiz Yourself on First Principles Thinking
Write, A Lot
Introduction: Write, A LotWhy Developers WriteDocumentationCareer CapitalWhat Writing Does for YouHow to Become a Good Public WriterGoing PublicThe DIY Ph.DCommitting to WritingQuiz Yourself on Write, A Lot
Pick Up What They Put Down
Introduction: Pick Up What They Put DownWhat happens when you do this?Why does this work on them?Why does this work on you?Quiz Yourself on Pick Up What They Put Down
Part III: Strategies
Strategies
Intro to Strategy
Strategy in Your Coding CareerWhat is Strategy?How Do I Use Strategy?Quiz Yourself on Intro to Strategy
Learning Gears
ExplorerSettlerConnectorMinerWhy GearsQuiz Yourself on Learning Gears
Specialist vs. Generalist
Introduction: Specialist vs. GeneralistLeverage vs. Self SufficiencyThe “Full-Stack” Developer“T Shaped” and “Pi Shaped”Look Inside, Not OutWhen in Doubt, SpecializeQuiz Yourself on Specialist vs. Generalist
Betting on Technologies
Introduction: Betting on TechnologiesData-Driven InvestingHow to be EarlyThe Value of ValuesQuiz Yourself on Betting on Technologies
Profit Center vs Cost Center
Introduction: Profit Center vs Cost CenterDefinitions: Profit, Cost, and Investment Center“Close to the money”Profit Center, Cost CenterThe Developer’s ChoiceQuiz Yourself on Profit Center vs. Cost Center
Engineering Career Ladders
Introduction: Engineering Career Ladders
When and Why to Ladder
What Companies Want
Individual Company Ladders
Quiz Yourself on Engineering Career Ladders
Intro to Tech Strategy
Introduction: Intro to Tech StrategySoftware is Eating the WorldHorizontal vs. VerticalBusiness ModelsPlatforms and AggregatorsOther Strategic PerspectivesQuiz Yourself on Intro to Tech Strategy
Strategic Awareness
Introduction: Strategic AwarenessConcern vs. InfluenceLevels of ConcernBias to ActionUnderstanding Technology AdoptionTechnology Value ChainSystems ThinkingOther Strategies for Strategic AwarenessQuiz Yourself on Strategic Awareness
Megatrends
Introduction: MegatrendsDefinitionsExamples of MegatrendsBuilding Your List of MegatrendsQuiz Yourself on Megatrends
Part IV: Tactics
Tactics
Negotiating
Introduction: NegotiatingGeneral AdvicePatrick McKenzie on Salary NegotiationHaseeb Qureshi on Ten Rules for NegotiatingJosh Doody on Fearless Salary Negotiation
How to Learn in Private
Introduction: How to Learn in PrivateImproving What You ConsumeGetting More Out of What You ConsumeGo MetaQuiz Yourself on How to Learn in Private
Design for Developers in a Hurry
Design for Developers in a HurrySpark Joy RepoLayoutTypographyColor Palette and BackgroundsIcons and IllustrationsEaster Eggs
Lampshading
Introduction: LampshadingWhen You’re Very SeniorWhen You’re NewStorytime!LampshadingThe Stupid Question Safe Harbor
Conference CFPs
Introduction: Conference CFPsWatch a lot of TalksPick a ConferencePick a TopicPick a GenrePick a TitleWrite an AbstractBuilding a CFP ProcessExample CFPs and Peer Review
Mise en Place Writing
Mise en Place WritingWriting isn’t Just WritingComponents of Pre-WritingThe Pre-Writing WorkflowThe Infinite KitchenImprovisation is OkayQuiz Yourself on Mise en Place Writing
Side Projects
Introduction: Side ProjectsCode-Life BalanceProject IdeasProject AdviceFurther Inspiration
Developer’s Guide to Twitter
Introduction: Developer’s Guide to TwitterGetting StartedWhat Do YOU Want?What I Want from TwitterYour Twitter FeedJoin the ConversationBeing Helpful on the InternetTwitter as a Second BrainDealing with HatersDefinitely Bad IdeasFinal Thoughts
Marketing Yourself (without Being a Celebrity)
Introduction: Marketing YourselfYou Already Know What Good Personal Marketing IsPersonal BrandingPersonal Anecdote Time!Brand TemplatesConsistencyYou Need a DomainPicking a DomainBloggingMarketing Your Business Value vs. Your Coding SkillsMarketing Yourself in PublicMarketing Yourself at WorkThings That Do Not MatterAppendix: Marketing Hacks
The Operating System of You
Introduction: The Operating System of YouCoding Career HabitsYour “Hardware”Your “External Devices”Your "Scheduler"Your “Kernel”
Conclusion
The Emotional Journey of Your Coding Career

Individual Company Ladders

Let's explore the individual ladders of some companies.

We'll cover the following
  • Fog Creek from 2009
  • Rent the Runway (spreadsheet from 2015)
  • Artsy
  • CapGemini UK
  • Basecamp
  • Thumbtack (spreadsheet from 2019)
  • CircleCI (spreadsheet)
  • Envoy
  • Financial Times (webapp)
  • Patreon
  • Meetup
  • Socialbakers
  • Medium (gist)
  • Starling Software
  • Kickstarter
  • Brandwatch
  • Spotify
  • Chuck Groom
  • More ladders

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