I'm a software engineer - what next?

Welcome back to I’m a Software Engineer: What Next?This week we are joined by Kate Catlin, Senior Product Manager at GitHub, where she works on Copilot and the future of AI-powered developer experience.In this episode, we cover:• How Kate reinvented her career multiple times on the path to GitHub• What “good product intuition” really means for PMs and engineers• How AI is reshaping product work, and why evals matter for building trustworthy AI features🗒️ Show Notes• Venture For America• Le Wagon Bootcamp• CircleCI• GitHub Copilot• Find My Flock (Kate’s former startup)• Joseph Campbell – The Hero’s Journey• Philosophy of Technology (from Kate’s studies)🎙 GuestKate Catlin, Senior PM, GitHub CopilotLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-catlin/🎙 HostsMatt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsinclairJames: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-wilson-92170656🌐 More from ushttps://whatnext.dev/https://quantumfaxmachine.com/

Welcome back to I'm a Software Engineer ~ What Next? — the podcast for devs figuring out their next move. Hosted by James Wilson and Matt Sinclair, we talk honestly about what it takes to build a meaningful career in tech.In this week's episode, we cover:Why most engineers struggle with presenting and how to fix itStew's simple 5-step storytelling framework (hero, dragon, weapon, treasure, future)How to avoid jargon and make people actually listenPractical tips for presenting on Zoom without looking stiff or disconnectedWhy communication is becoming more valuable as AI gets betterA few great stories from Stew's coaching work with engineers and founders

S01E15 The One Where You Get Let GoLaid off? You’re not alone, and it doesn’t mean you're broken. In this week’s episode of I’m a Software Engineer ~ What Next?, we talk to Steve Jaffe, ad industry veteran and author of The Layoff Journey, about how to bounce back after losing your job — and how to find real clarity in the chaos.Steve's been through four layoffs — from the dot-com crash to 2023’s tech contraction. The difference? Now he knows how to handle it.Hosted by tech recruiter James Wilson and software engineer Matt Sinclair, this episode is all about:-Why most people handle layoffs wrong-The 7 emotional stages of being let go (and why you shouldn't skip them)-How layoffs can spark growth, renewal, and even joy-What hiring managers really think about CV gaps-How to turn a layoff into your career pivot moment-Advice for engineers, hiring managers, and anyone who’s felt lost after being let go.Show NotesSteve’s book The Layoff Journey - https://thestevejaffe.com/The Kubler-Ross Model – Stages of Grief - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_stages_of_griefThe "Bullsh*t Jobs" theory by David Graeber - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_JobsGuest: SteveHostsMattJamesMore from ushttps://whatnext.dev/https://quantumfaxmachine.com/

Welcome back to I'm a Software Engineer ~ What Next? — the podcast for devs figuring out their next move. Hosted by recruiter James Wilson and engineer Matt Sinclair, we unpack what it really means to build a career in tech today.This week, we sit down with Dan Moore — author of Letters to a New Developer, startup founder, DevRel leader, and all-round tech veteran — to talk about how careers really unfold when things don’t go to plan.In this week’s episode, we cover:Why writing a book can change your career (even if no one reads it)Crashing a national TV website — and what failure really teachesThe IC ceiling: when to pivot, when to manage, and why leverage mattersWhy opinionated engineers stand out (and fence-sitters fade away)How AI shifts the game: product sense > raw codingShow NotesDan’s book: Letters to a New DeveloperDan’s website: danmoore.orgFusionAuth: fusionauth.ioDan on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dmooreds🎙 HostsMatt: /matthewsinclairJames: /james-wilson-92170656🌐 More from ushttps://whatnext.dev/https://quantumfaxmachine.com/

So you're off to work at Anthropic? S01E14 The One Where We Wonder: What happens now that I have a job at one of the world's premier AI companies?Welcome back to I'm a Software Engineer ~ What Next? — the podcast for devs figuring out their next move. Hosted by tech recruiter James Wilson and software engineer Matt Sinclair, we unpack what it really means to build a career in tech today — from navigating interviews to scaling as an engineering leader.In this week's episode, we cover:- The remarkably compressed career of one of the new wave of AI-powered software engineers- What it's like to build multiple successful startups before the age of 21- What someone at the cutting edge of AI thinks the future of AI holds for programmers, and humanity🗒️ Show NotesAnthropic: https://anthropic.com Navigating the Jagged Technological Frontier: Field Experimental Evidence of the Effects of AI on Knowledge Worker Productivity and Quality: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=64700Gary's Economics: https://www.youtube.com/@garyseconomics🎧 45 minutes. Zero fluff. Tune in now.Whether you’re applying for your next engineering role or hiring your next dev, this one’s got real talk, practical advice, and a few rants.🎙 HostsMatt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsinclairJames: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-wilson-92170656🌐 More from us:https://whatnext.dev/https://quantumfaxmachine.com/