How Much Are People Willing to Bet on You?
If you are known for owning outcomes and driving results, leadership will trust you with higher-stakes work because the most important projects go to those who get things done.
Arpit’s Newsletter
A newsletter to help software engineers become better engineers and grow faster in their careers.
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How to Get Leadership to Say Yes to Your Project
A few years ago, I proposed a “brilliant” idea to my leadership, but it was rejected. That day, I learnt what turns an idea into a funded project.
Don’t Let Your Best Ideas Die in Silence
Say you have an idea, something that could change your company’s or product’s trajectory and fast-track your career growth. What do you do?
Be the Person Everyone Wants to Work With
Beyond a point, your reputation determines how high you will go in the career ladder. And it takes months, sometimes years, to build one that truly matters.
The XY Problem and How to Avoid It
We often focus on the wrong problem when asking for help. Instead of describing what we actually want to achieve, we end up asking about a side issue, i.e., instead of asking about X, we end up asking
The Startup Hiring Lie Nobody Talks About
The biggest lie startups tell during hiring is “We have a lot of problems, and you can pick whatever you want to solve.”
You Won't Be Promoted Unless You Ask
Don’t wait for your manager to bring it up; you should start the conversation. It is perfectly reasonable to ask for a promotion; many people feel shy about it, but you don’t need to. Pitch your case
It's Not Enough to be Right; Learn to be Heard
Once you're in the system and thinking deeply, you'll start to notice inefficiencies and gaps. You might see decisions being made that feel wrong. But instead of putting your point across bluntly, it'
Career Longevity Beats Constant Job Hopping
Frequent job switches can be great for short-term financial gains. I believed that early in my career as well, but here's what I've learnt over the years.
No One Ships Great Software Alone
The best engineers ask for help early and often. We all have blind spots - technical, architectural, and just plain human. I've lost count of the number of times a teammate's quick input saved me hour
You Don't Win by Proving Others Wrong
Some folks take a little too much joy in proving others wrong. Sure, it can feel satisfying - especially when you're right. And yes, sometimes stepping in is the responsible thing to do.
Appreciate Generously; It Costs Nothing, But Builds Everything
If there's one underrated superpower at work, it's giving credit - generously, and often. When your teammate goes out of their way to help, contributes meaningfully, or quietly ships something excelle
Before you form an opinion, experience it
It's easy to jump to conclusions and form opinions based on what others say. But nothing beats firsthand experience. Before forming a strong opinion, take the time to see and understand things for you
How We Handle Mistakes Defines Us
Instead of sweeping failures under the rug, own them. When we try to hide our mistakes, we miss out on growth opportunities. Owning up to what went wrong is the first step toward becoming a better eng
Your Soft Skills Aren't Soft at All
Of course, soft skills matter, but which ones? In my opinion, every engineer should be better at these two: active listening and clear communication.
Why Interviews Are Biased And What Sets You Apart
Interviews are unfair and will remain so, no matter how hard we try they can never evaluate people 100% objectively with clear measurables; and the intuition and gut feel of the interviewer will alway
A Daily Worklog Changed Everything
A worklog is just a set of things you did grouped by the day. I have been doing this for the last 12 years, and it has been extremely helpful.
Don't Wait. Step Up.
We all encounter issues and blockers, and it's inevitable, but how well we respond to them says a lot about our effectiveness and efficiency. So, when you face a problem
Saying 'This isn't my problem' is actually the problem
If you want to accelerate your career and make sure you are having a lasting impact at work - do not build a habit of being spoon-fed
When In Doubt, Code It Out
Prototypes are not only great for learning concepts better, but they are also great for doing highly reliable project estimations. Here's how ...