To Fix Software Bugs, You Must Understand Their Blast Radius

It's not enough to be able to reproduce the bug on your own device: You need to fully understand the blast radius as well. This will help you fully understand the bug and fill out the post-mortem report afterwards.

This video is a clip from our debugging masterclass. You can watch it here: [[Masterclass] How To Become A Debugging Master And Fix Issues Faster](https://www.jointaro.com/lesson/ioR6WzamAIUTpySLAr7o/masterclass-how-to-become-a-debugging-master-and-fix-issues-faster/)

Related resources:
- [[Case Study] Solving A Multi-Million $$ Instagram Bug](https://www.jointaro.com/lesson/WYk4J05iBqOuPtD0CYKX/case-study-solving-a-multi-million-dollardollar-instagram-bug/)
- ["How can I become more independent and better at unblocking myself with tricky technical issues?"](https://www.jointaro.com/question/QhqQQGrDgFjZbqohpKe0/how-can-i-become-more-independent-and-better-at-unblocking-myself-with-tricky-technical-issues/)
- ["What is the effective way to understand new repository in order to make the required changes in that repo?"](https://www.jointaro.com/question/KoxB3UU2zWC9pdYU6Rx0/what-is-the-effective-way-to-understand-new-repository-in-order-to-make-the-required-changes-in-that-repo/)

Negotiation Course: Helpful Phrases During Negotiations

The phrases covered here are applicable in various scenarios as you go through the interview process.

Negotiations require a deliberate choice of words, avoiding apologies, and showcasing your value beyond just compensation. By using these phrases, you can confidently navigate negotiations and achieve your desired outcomes.

> Interesting.

> Compensation is definitely important for me, but I care a lot about the people I work with and what I’m working on.
>
> I want to do my best work in a company that values me.

> *At this time, I’m more interested in understanding the company and people rather than the compensation.*

> *I’m sure we can work out the compensation if we think this is a mutual fit.*

> *I have a few other opportunities I’m in the process for, but if this is compelling enough I’m ready to commit.*

> That role wasn’t a great fit, so I’m exploring adjacent opportunities.

> My focus is to have tons of impact at the company and I want to take part in the success.

> This is a large decision and I want to commit fully to the job I end up choosing.
>
> I want to do right by the company I join and build the next part of my career there.

> *If you could send over the offer, I’d love to take a look in more detail.*

> *I’m chatting with my partner about the job stuff so I should be able to give you an update after that.*

How RSUs Can Both Greatly Reward And Punish You - Pinterest Example

This segment explains the volatile nature of equity compensation through the real-life example of Pinterest. It demonstrates how RSUs (Restricted Stock Units) can dramatically boost or reduce total compensation based on stock market performance, and highlights the importance of timing, risk awareness, and planning when joining a company.

- **Pinterest’s RSU Grant Example:** An employee joining Pinterest in January 2020 with a 20,000 RSU grant at a $20 stock price would have received a $400K equity package. As the stock price rose to $80 in a year, the total value of those RSUs skyrocketed to $1.6M.
- **Golden Handcuffs Phenomenon:** When stock prices soar, employees become financially incentivized to stay—even if they’re unhappy—due to the high value of unvested RSUs, often referred to as "golden handcuffs."
- **Stock Price Timing Matters:** The RSU grant is priced just before the start date. If the stock price dips right before joining and then recovers, the employee benefits from an immediate bump in total compensation.
- **Market Downturn Impact:** As Pinterest’s stock fell \~70% from its peak in 2021, employees who joined during or after the peak saw a significant drop in total compensation—sometimes down to one-third of their original grant value.
- **RSU Lockout Periods:** Employees at public companies can't sell RSUs at will. Sale windows are restricted to prevent insider trading, which can prevent selling even when the stock is at a peak.

Related resources:

- ["If my main goal is compensation, would it be wise to learn blockchain tech since it will potentially be the tech of the next couple decades?"](https://www.jointaro.com/question/tyS6MzzADqBzt10802Mh/if-my-main-goal-is-compensation-would-it-be-wise-to-learn-blockchain-tech-since-it-will-potentially-be-the-tech-of-the-next-couple-decades/)
- ["How do people in Big Tech deal with constantly fluctuating Stock Prices from their company?"](https://www.jointaro.com/question/JhEDkJl8AexlsL4IXBOH/how-do-people-in-big-tech-deal-with-constantly-fluctuating-stock-prices-from-their-company/)
- [\[Taro Top 10\] Pay Negotiation](https://www.jointaro.com/playlist/uyWSc5q79zFw2Ei7w59d/)

DSA Crash Course [Part 55] - Undirected Path Approach

In this lesson, Alvin explores the strategy to solving the following interview problem:

> Write a function, *undirected_path*, that takes in a list of edges for an undirected graph and two nodes (\*node_A\*, *node_B*). The function should return a boolean indicating whether or not there exists a path between *node_A* and *node_B*.

```
edges = [
('i', 'j'),
('k', 'i'),
('m', 'k'),
('k', 'l'),
('o', 'n')
]

undirected_path(edges, 'j', 'm') # -> True
```

```
edges = [
('i', 'j'),
('k', 'i'),
('m', 'k'),
('k', 'l'),
('o', 'n')
]

undirected_path(edges, 'm', 'j') # -> True
```

```
edges = [
('i', 'j'),
('k', 'i'),
('m', 'k'),
('k', 'l'),
('o', 'n')
]

undirected_path(edges, 'l', 'j') # -> True
```

```
edges = [
('i', 'j'),
('k', 'i'),
('m', 'k'),
('k', 'l'),
('o', 'n')
]

undirected_path(edges, 'k', 'o') # -> False
```

If you need additional support taking these DSA skills and actually applying them, take [**Alvin's**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvin-zablan-b73a92117/) *complete* data structures and algorithms course on [**Structy**](https://structy.net/?utm_source=taro). You can try out the concepts yourself in their interactive code editor and learn advanced DSA patterns like stack exhaustive recursion.

Use [**this link to get 20% off**](https://structy.net/purchase?promo_code=taro20) the entire Structy DSA learning experience.

Follow Alvin on LinkedIn: [**https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvin-zablan-b73a92117/**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvin-zablan-b73a92117/)

Grow From Junior To Mid-Level Engineer [Part 19] - Go Deeper: Follow Through

Take the related courses:

- [Level Up Your Code Quality As A Software Engineer](https://www.jointaro.com/course/level-up-your-code-quality-as-a-software-engineer/)
- [Ask Great Questions That Get Great Answers Quickly](https://www.jointaro.com/course/ask-great-questions-that-get-great-answers-quickly/)
- [Become The Go-To Expert As A Software Engineer](https://www.jointaro.com/course/become-the-go-to-expert-as-a-software-engineer/)
- [Nail Your Promotion As A Software Engineer](https://www.jointaro.com/course/nail-your-promotion-as-a-software-engineer/)

How Does FAANG Hire? What Big Tech Recruiters Look For

[**Nikita Gupta**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/guptanikita16/) worked as a Senior Technical Recruiter at Uber and Amazon with 3+ years of recruiting and hiring experience. She extensively used applicant tracking systems (ATS) to search for the right candidates and hire them.

Nikita is an expert in helping candidates create better resumes and LinkedIn profiles in order to land more job opportunities. Her company [CareerFlow.ai](https://www.careerflow.ai/?via=taro) does exactly this.

As a full-cycle recruiter with experience in Big Tech and startups, Nikita will talk about how FAANG companies hire, and what misconceptions engineers often have when applying to jobs. She'll cover:

- Does "keyword stuffing" in resumes increase the chance of getting an interview?
- What are the top 3 things a recruiter looks for when opening a resume?
- How much does the recruiter screen matter in the overall interview process?
- How much does your LinkedIn matter in the job search?

Discounts for CareerFlow.ai's resume review service are available from the [perks page](https://www.jointaro.com/perks/). Use code `TARO` on [CareerFlow](https://www.careerflow.ai/resume-review?via=taro). 

Additional resources:

- [**\[Taro Top 10\] Effective Interview Prep**](https://www.jointaro.com/playlist/HLBYxJI7D1j8STolrwum/)
- [**\[Masterclass\] How To Write A Stellar Tech Resume That Gets You More Job Opportunities**](https://www.jointaro.com/lesson/OnQV2V3J8DYVBBuGbZx6/masterclass-how-to-write-a-stellar-tech-resume-that-gets-you-more-job-opportunities/)
- [**\[Masterclass\] How To Ace Your Big Tech Interview - Data Structures And Algorithms**](https://www.jointaro.com/lesson/V4sTACzfOh22nMVcUV3w/masterclass-how-to-ace-your-big-tech-interview-data-structures-and-algorithms/)

Master The DSA Interview [Part 12] - Stuck? Here's What To Do

A defining trait of a strong software engineer is their ability to conquer hardship, and one of these hardships is getting stuck on a data structures and algorithms interview problem. This lesson teaches you:

- Why you need to communicate when you're stuck
- A proactive foundation you should set up to minimize your chances of getting stuck
- What actions you can take when you're stuck outside of coding up the optimal solution (which you obviously don't have as otherwise why would you be stuck?)

Grow From Mid-Level To Senior Engineer [Part 23] - Plot Your Growth Journey

The mid-level engineer to senior engineer promotion takes years for a very simple reason: You need to develop a *ton* of new skills to make it. This lesson teaches you:

- How to prevent yourself from becoming overwhelmed on your journey from mid-level to senior
- The standard growth path from L4 (mid-level) to L5 (senior) and what it means to be L4.5
- Why the L4.5 growth path that initially focuses on increasing your engineering excellence is generally the smoothest path to senior engineer

Avoid This Common Bad Habit That Fails You Interviews

You should allocate enough time to prepare for your data structures and algorithms interview to avoid cramming at the last minute.

Related resources:
- [[Taro Top 10] Effective Interview Prep](https://www.jointaro.com/playlist/HLBYxJI7D1j8STolrwum/)
- [[Taro Top 10] Finding A Tech Job](https://www.jointaro.com/playlist/E6R0wVJ5EyCfVnVrlfno/)

DSA Crash Course [Part 42] - Breadth First Values Walkthrough

In this lesson, Alvin walks through the python implementation for the *breadth_first_values* problem.

Code along and test your work in the following editor workspace: <https://structy.net/problems/breadth-first-values?language=py>

If you need additional support taking these DSA skills and actually applying them, take [**Alvin's**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvin-zablan-b73a92117/) *complete* data structures and algorithms course on [**Structy**](https://structy.net/?utm_source=taro). You can try out the concepts yourself in their interactive code editor and learn advanced DSA patterns like stack exhaustive recursion.

Use [**this link to get 20% off**](https://structy.net/purchase?promo_code=taro20) the entire Structy DSA learning experience.

Follow Alvin on LinkedIn: <https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvin-zablan-b73a92117/>

[Timeless Career Advice] The Promotion Formula

Nail Your Promotion As A Software Engineer [Part 19] - Depth Of Contribution

Just because you got a meaty, high-impact project doesn't necessarily mean that you'll get rewarded a lot for it when it comes to your promotion case. This lesson teaches you:

- Why volume of code contribution often doesn't correlate with the depth of your contribution and the credit you receive
- How to figure out if your project contributions had lots of depth
- Concrete examples of hard tasks that have great depth and are greatly rewarded for in promotion cases

Tips On Navigating RSUs

This video highlights the complexity of **RSUs (Restricted Stock Units)** in tech compensation, emphasizing how RSUs introduce elements of personal investing into salary evaluation. Understanding how stock fluctuations affect total pay and managing risk becomes crucial.

- **Evaluating RSUs is similar to investing**, since compensation becomes tied to the company's stock performance. Joining when stock prices are low can lead to significantly higher gains if the stock appreciates.
- **Choosing a company means essentially “buying” into its future**, since RSUs form a large part of total compensation. A rising stock price increases income; a falling one diminishes it.
- **There is no universal rule for managing RSUs**, as financial goals and risk tolerance vary by individual. Compensation strategies should reflect personal financial context.
- **Some employees choose to sell RSUs immediately upon vesting**, aiming to diversify rather than concentrate risk. This reduces financial dependency on a single company’s performance.
- **Investing RSU proceeds into diversified assets like S&P 500 index funds** is a common approach for those seeking more stability and reduced exposure to employer stock.

The Best Programming Languages For Interviews

- Try to use a more concise language like Python if possible. This is because interviews, DSA rounds in particular, are a precise time management exercise.
- However, if you are *very* familiar with a certain language, use that. The exception is if that language is very verbose like C.
- Avoid the trap of using a rarer, "fancier" language. It may cost you time to explain, and if you aren't actually that knowledgeable in it, you may get called out.

Related resources:
- [[Taro Top 10] Effective Interview Prep](https://www.jointaro.com/playlist/HLBYxJI7D1j8STolrwum/)
- [[Taro Top 10] Finding A Tech Job](https://www.jointaro.com/playlist/E6R0wVJ5EyCfVnVrlfno/)

Engineer Your Ideal Tech Career [Part 7] - What's Your Specialization?

In this video, we walk through three (of many) specializations you can pursue, what type of work you may be working on in each, and who its a good fit for based on the work you like to do.

These are just three of many; each of these buckets are massive and cover a lot (while also having distinct sub-categories in each):

- Frontend/mobile
- Backend
- Generalist

Looking for mentorship from tech’s top engineers + personalized job hunt assistance and interview prep? [Formation.dev](http://Formation.dev) can provide you unlimited career coaching, technical mentorship, personalized practice, and mock interviews. Join us here: <https://formation.dev/partners/taro>

Worksheet: [Formation - Coding Your Career](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/tech-career-growth.appspot.com/o/courses%2Fslides%2FFormation%20Career%20Direction%20Worksheet.pdf?alt=media&token=f6344b78-529a-411e-a449-7a34a8d55fc8)

[Case Study] How to Quit Your Job The Right Way (w/ ex-Netflix TL Michael Lin)

[Michael](https://www.jointaro.com/profile/Ab2xedZA7RhROW0wo9wBHIJbAsX2/) famously [quit his $450,000 job at Netflix](https://www.jointaro.com/blog/why-i-quit-a-450k-engineering-job-at-netflix/), and asked for (and received) a severance package in the process! If you're thinking about quitting your job, consider these points **before** leaving: 

### Timing is important
- It’s better to leave on the 1st of the month than the 31st because employee benefits renew on a monthly basis.
- If you leave on the 1st, it’s like getting a full extra month of benefits. 
- But if you leave on the 31st, your benefits may end the next day.

### Quitting is a trade-off
- You’re weighing that the negatives of staying outweigh the negatives of losing out on income.
- If you have to cut vacations, move away from loved ones, and say no to social events, then those negatives may outweigh the negatives of your job.

### Act with urgency
- If your career is not going the right way, take action quickly.
- If you stay an extra two years at a job you wanted to leave and did this over five jobs in your lifetime, that’s ten years of your life spent doing work you never wanted to do.

---------
- Connect with Michael on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-lin-tech/)
- Subscribe to [Michael's newsletter](https://michaellin.substack.com/)

Related questions: 
- ["Should I request a voluntary layoff to my manager?"](https://www.jointaro.com/question/FnInc1bJ3AUJBz0grFyj/should-i-request-a-voluntary-layoff-to-my-manager/)
- ["Should I quit to prep for interviews?"](https://www.jointaro.com/question/Cno3oaZkvUu7BPLhHB7g/should-i-quit-to-prep-for-interviews/) from a Data Engineer

Why Your Manager Sucks, And What You Can Do As A Software Engineer

Grow From Junior To Mid-Level Engineer [Part 11] - Ask Great Questions

In order to grow fast as an engineer, you need to ask a lot of questions. This lesson teaches you:

- The differences between junior and mid-level engineers when it comes to asking question, particularly question quality
- What a junior engineer question looks like vs. a mid-level engineer question
- How to demonstrate technical mastery in your questions to make yourself look even better when asking for help

Master the art of question asking with our course: [Ask Great Questions That Get Great Answers Quickly](https://www.jointaro.com/course/ask-great-questions-that-get-great-answers-quickly/)

Negotiation Course: Get Other Offers

Researching data points is helpful when constructing a negotiation argument, but the **best** argument you have is an offer in hand from a comparable company. 

The big mistake most tech workers make is to be reactive with recruiters. If you decide to interview with a company, figure out comparable companies and apply to them as well. (Google and a seed-stage startup are not comparable.)

Talking to many recruiters and companies at once is painful, but it's better to concentrate the pain in a short window, rather than spreading it across several months. You can also negotiate interview dates, though this is admittedly harder in a bad economy.

As soon as you have a verbal offer, push all your other loops to skip you to onsite using that as leverage ("Don't let the awesome candidate of me get away!").

Why Infrequent Manager 1 on 1s Severely Hurt Your Career

True or false: Delayed and infrequent manager 1 on 1s can seriously affect your career growth long-term.

Why is it crucial to have frequent, consistent 1 on 1 meetings with your manager?

Recurring one-on-ones act as a safeguard against the buildup of unresolved issues and help maintain consistent focus on career development and workplace health.

- **Prevents goal procrastination**: Infrequent one-on-ones make it easy to delay important but uncomfortable topics like career growth. Weekly cadence creates timely check-ins that keep development top of mind.
- **Creates built-in accountability**: Knowing a one-on-one is coming up each week reinforces reflection on progress and keeps both parties aligned on priorities and goals.
- **Maintains workplace “cleanliness”**: Like cleaning a home regularly, weekly meetings prevent work challenges from piling up. When issues are cleared consistently, the work environment stays healthy and manageable.
- **Supports better quality of work life**: Regular check-ins help address interpersonal or project-related friction early, reducing stress and misalignment over time.
- **Reduces communication lag**: By clearing the "trash" of misunderstandings or confusion regularly, one-on-ones create a more fluid and responsive working relationship.

Tech Career Growth Videos

Our instructional videos provide software engineers with insights needed for career growth. Masterclasses go incredibly in-depth on a specific tech topic while case studies are real examples from established engineering leaders.