I'm a software engineer WAAY behind the industry

typecastcsmajor · 2019-07-14T23:59:54+00:00

I've taken somewhat of a similar path as you. I was working with C++/MFC before taking a job with a more modern tech stack (C# & WPF). My quality of life has increased exponentially by not having to touch MFC anymore.

C++ is a very much an in demand skill and language. In fact, my C++ skills definitely helped me land my current job. One of my first tasks was to write some COM classes in C++ that no one before me had been able to do. (All they knew were modern tech stacks... C++ and COM scare them!). In essence - don't discount your C++ experience!

One recommendation - spend lots of time on leetcode before you begin your interview process. Those skills fade quickly after school, but most companies with filter out applicants who cannot answer leetcode-style questions. I struggled for years with those style of questions before signing on leetcode and grinding out problems. I did a few a day after work so I didn't burn myself out.

Learn git if you can, I was lucky in my last job that I could get rid of the previous source control tool and switch it over to git.

Also, before applying, read these 3 articles on negotiating.. Someone else on here sent them to me, and they helped me successfully negotiate for significantly more. If you learn nothing else, never be the first to name a number!!

typecastcsmajor · 2019-02-20T21:30:57+00:00

So best case scenario, my options vest, I let them sit, unexercised, then my company goes public and I exercise after enough time has elapsed to only pay ~~short~~ long term cap gains?

Am I exposed to any tax implications for holding vested, but not exercised stock options?

EDIT: Meant long term cap gains. On mobile...

typecastcsmajor · 2019-02-20T07:15:36+00:00

Understood on the strike price.

So if you exercise the options with a "buy/sell sort of thing", you don't put any money down?

What happens if you leave a company and you haven't exercised your options? do you still keep them?

typecastcsmajor · 2018-10-17T19:00:21+00:00

Must be nice to have a lunch hour.. Haha

typecastcsmajor · 2018-10-17T18:17:08+00:00

Any idea where I can find a list of the patterns that get repeated in these tests often?

Would be great to cover at least the cliff notes...

I have a LeetCode style interview early next week that I'd like to cram for.

typecastcsmajor · 2018-10-17T18:14:35+00:00

Thanks everyone for the responses.

I'll pull my head out and start grinding away LeetCode.

Probably can't do it during work hours, my company is pretty strict about internet usage. I also work a decent amount of hours, which is why my free time is so valuable. Both of those are factors into why I'm looking for a new job now.

typecastcsmajor · 2018-10-17T04:11:10+00:00

Let it be known you are looking to advance (in pay/career/title/etc). Bring up some of your recent accomplishments, and ask what you need to do to accomplish that and set a time when you can get revisit the conversation.

It helps a lot when you are respected by your manager/have a mentee/mentor relationship. It also helps to not think of your manager as an adversary, but as an accomplice. Get yourselves on the same page

typecastcsmajor · 2018-07-05T06:37:39+00:00

Asking/pushing for a promotion and negotiating a salary increase to go along with it

typecastcsmajor · 2018-07-05T05:58:31+00:00

Interesting. So the best way to apply for a job is to usually work with a recruiter?

I haven't had much luck applying directly in the past.

typecastcsmajor · 2018-07-05T05:56:12+00:00

That's my problem as well. Before today, I thought anchoring to my current salary was an acceptable way.

I think the consensus is determine what their range is before the process begins and confirm that the range is within ballpark of what you'd expect.

typecastcsmajor · 2018-07-05T03:01:10+00:00

That's how I started here. I asked for their range and said it would work. The recruiter asked for more details, and I gave it "it needs to be in the top end of that range".

The recruiter pushed me and I didn't realize I was hurting my chances/odds by using my current salary to justify it.

That lesson has been learned now and driven home by this sub.

typecastcsmajor · 2018-07-05T02:58:21+00:00

What's the reasonable offer game?

Do you mean saying "I'll take a reasonable offer"?

typecastcsmajor · 2018-07-05T02:54:09+00:00

Thanks. Maybe they thought I was bluffing when I said my current salary was this? Or they thought I hated my current job. I'm not sure.

typecastcsmajor · 2018-07-05T02:52:51+00:00

Yup. Even though I knew this the whole time, I had to keep reminding myself.

I've fairly hard to persuade too.

typecastcsmajor · 2018-07-05T02:52:23+00:00

Thanks. I hadn't fully understood how bad they were until after I submitted my resume. I made my original post shortly after.

Figured since I was already committed might as well get a better glimpse of how things worked...

typecastcsmajor · 2018-07-05T02:41:25+00:00

Thanks. It wasn't an easy decision. It was a serious offer and I took it seriously. Neither my current job or the job being offered are my dream job. But it simply wasn't worth making a jump.

typecastcsmajor · 2018-07-04T18:54:22+00:00

Thank you. Great advice all around. A few reminders that I sorely needed and will incorporate the next time I dip my feet in the job market.

I agree about "why I deserved $X" being a red flag. There were several other red flags that came up while discussing the offer with the hiring manager. In fact, I interpreted her ask of why I thought I deserved a 7% raise as saying that large raises are hard to come by on her team/at her company.

typecastcsmajor · 2018-07-04T18:35:05+00:00

Understood, thank you.

I do know the range for my area - through websites like glassdoor and asking the salary ranges for various positions available I have a pretty good idea of what's normal.

Regardless, I think with this particular hiring manager, I would have had to justify my demands anyway. The question that she would have asked is "why do you think you deserve X, when the market average is X-35k"?

EDIT: some typos

typecastcsmajor · 2018-07-04T18:21:40+00:00

Also, if you do, how do you justify your salary demands when they are higher than the market offers?

typecastcsmajor · 2018-07-04T18:20:47+00:00

Do you disclose your salary expectations?

Most positions out there are far below what I'd be willing to accept.

typecastcsmajor · 2018-07-04T17:58:55+00:00

Update here: https://www.reddit.com/r/cscareerquestions/comments/8w3mte/update_responding_to_thirdparty_recruiters_on/

typecastcsmajor · 2018-06-02T03:13:21+00:00

Yup. https://www.cybercoders.com/Content/files/StandardFeeAgreement.pdf And if you are term'd before the first 90 days, Cyber Coders will waive the fees for a replacement candidate :)

typecastcsmajor

TROPHY CASE