SHIFT’s Post

Hot take: Your growth isn’t hindered by new senior hires I often hear engineers complaining that they cannot grow because their company hires too many senior engineers and that it should instead grow its current employees. If you work in a growing tech company, new hires aren't the reason you can’t get promoted. In a growing company where staffing is the most scarce resource, there are tons of unstaffed opportunities for you to grow and get you to the next level. For every projects, there are also different ways to do execute them, e.g.: - A junior engineer might just implement a brittle hack for the problem - A more senior engineer might refactor some code to build a more robust solution - A even more senior engineer might solve the problem for the whole company with zero/low maintenance cost To address the second point (the company should grow current employees), mentoring and growing someone takes time and until they are ready, you can’t assign them tons of critical and hard projects – it’s also not obvious that people will be able to grow to the next level in the first place. You need senior engineers to mentor junior ones, so having new senior hires is a good thing for you. Practically speaking for you, it will have a stronger promo packet because of senior feedback. Last but not least, tech companies hire senior engineers from FAANG (or some big tech companies) when they start running into issues related to their scale. These are hard problems that are time sensitive and costly to address – so companies want to make sure they solve them right the first time. Again this is an opportunity for you to learn from more senior people and grow faster – it’s much more efficient than trying and failing multiple times. #softwareengineering #growth #newhire #promotion

Have you ever thought, about how our mindset changes with experience? As a junior engineer, we only think "How do I solve this problem?" As a mid-level engineer, the thought changes to "What's our next priority?" Then, you start asking the right questions as a senior "Why are we tackling this issue?" And as a staff engineer, your contributions happen at a different level "Here's an opportunity we haven't considered yet." While these approaches are valuable at any career stage, understanding how to think like the next level up can accelerate your growth. So regularly challenge yourself to approach problems from different perspectives. It's not just about doing your job well. It's about expanding your impact. At what stage you have reached and what strategies have you found effective for professional growth in tech? Share your thoughts below! 👇

How to Plan for the Future as a Software Engineer   Planning for the future is essential for growth and success in our careers as software engineers.   1.    Set Clear Goals: Define where you want to be in the next few years. Whether it's mastering a new technology, leading a team, or starting your own project, having clear goals will guide your path. 2.    Stay Informed: Keep up with industry trends and emerging technologies. Knowing what's coming next helps you stay relevant and prepared. 3.    Network with Peers: Build and maintain connections with other professionals in the industry. Networking can open up opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and career advancement. 4.    Balance Work and Personal Life: Make sure to take care of yourself. A healthy work-life balance ensures long-term productivity and happiness. 5.    Document Your Achievements: Keep a record of your projects, milestones, and accomplishments. This not only helps in self-reflection but also comes in handy when updating your resume or LinkedIn profile. Remember, planning for the future is about setting yourself up for success.

📈 Making the Leap: From Code to Leadership Many software engineers aspire to grow into managerial roles, but making that leap takes more than technical skills—it requires self-reflection, skill-building, and the right mindset. In this blog, Victorino, one of our engineering managers, shares their personal journey from a technical position to management, offering valuable insights on making a successful transition. #miCoach, ITJ's digital talent development platform, is here to guide IT professionals on paths like these—empowering them to grow, learn, and achieve their career goals. Read the full blog here 🔗 https://bit.ly/4fyApIL #CareerTransition #LeadershipJourney #TechToManager

As I reflect on 2024, I’ve taken on new professional responsibilities and embraced the challenge of wearing multiple hats: Senior DevOps Engineer, Scrum Master, and Technical Project Manager. During this journey, I came across an insightful article, The Engineer/Manager Pendulum, which perfectly captures the contrasting demands of engineering and management roles. One quote, in particular, resonated deeply with me: “Management is highly interruptive, and great engineering — where you’re learning things — requires blocking out interruptions. You can’t do these two opposite things at once.” This quote highlights a key challenge I’ve faced this year: balancing these opposing roles. Rather than striving to excel in both simultaneously, perhaps the idea of intentionally swinging between engineering and management — focusing on one at a time — might be a more effective approach for my 2025.

After 20 years of doing what we do it’s extraordinary how the construction and real estate sectors have woken up to the importance of creating a sustainable built environment.

Winning the Talent War: How Foreign Companies Can Compete in Japan’s Evolving Market In my previous post, I highlighted a trend our team Meshd has observed: English-speaking Japanese engineers, particularly in sectors like robotics, mobility, and smart cities, are increasingly returning to domestic companies after gaining experience with foreign firms. In this post, I will discuss a few strategies that foreign companies can adopt to compete in this war for talent. Foreign companies once dominated the competition for top talent, but Japanese firms are now offering opportunities that align more closely with the cultural values and long-term goals of these professionals. To succeed, foreign companies must adapt their strategies to retain these engineers. Tailored benefits and compensation packages are essential. While competitive salaries remain attractive, Japanese companies are catching up by offering similar financial incentives. To stand out, foreign firms need to offer more than just money. Customized benefits like flexible working hours, skill development, and family allowances can be powerful differentiators. Long-term incentives such as stock options and retirement benefits are particularly appealing to engineers seeking stability. Bridging the cultural gap through mentorship programs is another important initiative. Foreign companies can implement mentorship that pairs Japanese engineers with senior leaders who understand both Japanese work culture and International business environments. This can help engineers navigate the challenges of working in a global environment, providing the support they need for long-term career growth. Emphasizing innovation and cutting-edge projects is another strategy. Foreign companies have a competitive advantage by offering engineers the opportunity to work on groundbreaking technologies that may not yet be fully developed in Japan. Highlighting these opportunities can attract top talent. Offering global mobility with local roots is also crucial. Short-term international assignments and collaborative projects abroad can provide global exposure while allowing engineers to remain in Japan. Finally, creating inclusive, culturally respectful environments and leveraging hybrid work models will help attract talent. Collaborating with universities and tech hubs can also position foreign firms as thought leaders and give access to emerging talent early. As we've seen at Meshd, with our clients adopting some of these strategies, foreign companies can once again tip the balance in their favour when it comes to successfully competing for top engineering talent in Japan’s evolving market. I'd love to hear your thoughts! #meshd #TalentShift #GlobalMobility

🌐 **Improving Skills Through Feedback: The Vital Role for Network Engineers** 🌐 Feedback is the lifeblood of growth, especially in the dynamic field of network engineering. Here’s why: 1️⃣ **Refinement of Technical Proficiency**: Constructive feedback helps identify blind spots and refine technical skills. Whether it's troubleshooting, network design, or implementation, targeted feedback guides engineers toward excellence. 2️⃣ **Enhanced Problem-Solving Abilities**: Different perspectives from peers and mentors can illuminate new approaches to solving complex network challenges. Feedback fosters innovative thinking and sharpens problem-solving abilities. 3️⃣ **Adaptation to Evolving Technologies**: In networking, adaptation is key. Feedback provides insights into emerging technologies and best practices, ensuring engineers stay ahead of the curve. 4️⃣ **Soft Skills Development**: Effective communication, teamwork, and client interaction are as crucial as technical prowess. Feedback helps engineers hone these soft skills, fostering better collaboration and client satisfaction. 5️⃣ **Continuous Learning Culture**: A culture of feedback nurtures a mindset of continuous learning. Network engineers can stay agile and resilient in the face of industry changes and technological advancements. As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of networking, let’s embrace feedback as a catalyst for growth. Share your experiences on how feedback has shaped your journey as a network engineer! #NetworkEngineering #FeedbackCulture #ProfessionalDevelopment #ContinuousLearning #TechIndustry

🚀 Aspiring engineers, take note! In a market where a staggering 80% of professionals deem career progression pivotal to job satisfaction, it's crucial to highlight not just your technical prowess but also your adaptability and thirst for continual learning. 🛠️💡 In our 40 years of experience, we've seen the landscape of engineering careers evolve. The most successful professionals are those who remain agile, embracing new technologies and methodologies with open arms. They're lifelong learners, always seeking to refine their skills and expand their knowledge base. So, what's the secret sauce to propelling your engineering career forward? 🤔 ✅ Embrace change - The tech world moves fast, and so should you. Stay ahead of the curve by keeping up-to-date with industry trends. ✅ Be a problem-solver - Show that you can think on your feet and devise innovative solutions to complex challenges. ✅ Communicate effectively - Technical know-how is vital, but so is the ability to convey your ideas clearly to non-technical stakeholders. ✅ Network - Connect with peers and industry leaders. The relationships you build can open doors to new opportunities and insights. Looking to climb the career ladder or seeking the right talent that thrives on growth and learning? 🌟 Let's chat! Drop me a message, and let's explore how you can leverage these insights for your next career step or to attract top-tier talent to your business. 🔍 Discover more about how we connect exceptional engineering talent with leading technology companies at versorecruitment.com. #EngineeringCareers #CareerProgression #ContinuousLearning

Through recent interactions with recruiters, I've gained valuable insights into how technical professionals are evaluated in the job market. While innovative ideas and product development are important, the true measure of value comes from: 1. User Adoption 2. Measurable Impact My experience with a Tokyo-based enterprise, particularly during the first three rounds of interviews, highlighted the importance of comprehensive technical documentation. The team lead's thorough review of my GitHub repositories demonstrated how different stakeholders assess technical capabilities from various angles. However, as expected, I got questioned at stage four, and no news since then. Therefore, my goal next year would be to act as a product owner to push my idea and product like Blender to the market, validating skills in project management, technical skills, and soft skills. 文章の最後で日本語を読むたら、私も日常会話ができます。来年は日本語力はビジネスレベルを向上させ、日本でのキャリアの道をさらに開拓してのように頑張ります。 #Software #Recruitement #Product #UserAdoption #Metrics #Skills #Technology #ProductOwner