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Coffee, Careers, and Connections: Learning from the Team

As I settle into my internship, I’ve been reflecting on career paths and how people get to where they are. I first thought of asking my manager for coffee, but I realized one perspective might be limited. So, I reached out to my mentor (a Senior Software Engineer), my manager, and someone from recruiting. I’m so grateful they all said yes. I am not gonna share their names just for privacy policies. No need to say that these past couple of weeks have been full of caffeine and insightful conversations.


Introduction: Expanding the Horizon

My original plan was just to ask my manager about their career, but then I thought: "Why stop there?" Tech and career paths are complex, so I reached out to others with different perspectives: my mentor (deep in the tech work), my manager (team leadership), and a recruiter (who shapes the workforce). Each chat offered a unique insight, and together, they gave me a much fuller picture.


Mentor's Point of View: The Senior Software Engineer's Craft

My coffee chat with my mentor, a Senior Software Engineer, was a deep dive into the life of a passionate technologist. He shared how his love for problem-solving led him to software engineering and emphasized the importance of continuous learning; spending time each week exploring new tech, reading, or building projects just for fun. He explained that moving from junior to senior wasn’t just about coding better but also about system design, mentoring, and owning complex work. His advice: stay curious, ask "why," and follow what excites you. Because that passion drives growth. His enthusiasm was truly inspiring.


My Manager's Perspective: Navigating Leadership and Impact

Next, I sat down with my direct manager. His journey was different, involving a gradual shift from a purely technical role into leadership. He was candid about the challenges of management, like balancing team needs with project deadlines, but also highlighted the immense satisfaction of helping team members grow and succeed. We talked about what "impact" looks like at different career stages. As an intern, it might be successfully completing my project and learning rapidly. For him, it's about enabling the entire team to deliver and fostering a positive environment. A key takeaway was his advice on communication and visibility—not in a showy way, but by clearly articulating progress, roadblocks, and learning. He emphasized that understanding the "bigger picture" of how my work contributes to team goals is crucial, even early on.


Recruiting Realities: Insights from Talent Acquisition

Finally, chatting with someone from the recruiting team was eye-opening in a completely different way. They shed light on what makes a candidate truly stand out in a competitive market. Beyond technical skills, they emphasized the increasing importance of soft skills: communication, collaboration, adaptability, and a genuine eagerness to learn. They shared how they look for passion projects or active engagement in the tech community as indicators of initiative. We also discussed how the hiring landscape is evolving, with companies looking for individuals who are not just skilled but also align with the company culture and values. Their advice was practical: tailor your resume, be prepared to talk about your experiences with specific examples (the STAR method is your friend!), and always, always ask thoughtful questions at the end of an interview.


Conclusion: Key Takeaway 

Each of these conversations added a valuable piece to my understanding of the professional world. It’s clear there’s no single "right" path, but a common thread was the importance of continuous learning, adaptability, and building genuine connections. I’m so glad I decided to reach out beyond just one person; the collective wisdom has been incredibly enriching.

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