Chuck GroomQuestions Software Engineers Should Ask During an InterviewThe interview process for software engineers is as much for the candidate to assess whether a company is a good fit for them as it is for…Jan 4, 2022Jan 4, 2022
Chuck GroomFive Ways Software Engineers Can Manage PerceptionSoftware engineers who improve their presentation skills and self-advocacy are more likely to gain respect and acknowledgement, and advance…Nov 18, 20211Nov 18, 20211
Chuck GroomMini-project: “On Air” During Zoom CallsIf you’re like me, you’re taking a lot of video calls from home these days. And as a New Yorker living in a small space with a partner who…Oct 8, 2021Oct 8, 2021
Chuck GroomPaying Software Engineers a Cash Bonus Makes No SenseMany companies structure their job offers for developers in terms of equity, salary, and an annual cash bonus. This bonus is usually tied…Sep 10, 20213Sep 10, 20213
Chuck Groom“Stories” Don’t Tell a Story: Good Sprint Planning Uses MilestonesIn too many engineering teams, sprint planning and daily standup are centered on the sprint board and backlog. Stories (tasks) are the…Apr 26, 20213Apr 26, 20213
Chuck GroominThe StartupTake-home Coding Assignments Are a Waste of TimeTake-home interview projects sound good in theory, but in practice they’re rarely worth doing.Feb 17, 20213Feb 17, 20213
Chuck GroomYour tech startup is a glorified consultancyMany companies regard themselves as software startups but don’t operate that way. Instead of creating a product that can be resold with…Feb 11, 20217Feb 11, 20217
Chuck GroominGeek CultureThe Tech Debt PlaybookAll software teams have technical debt — parts of the code that weren’t created with today’s challenges in mind, or were written poorly…Jan 26, 20215Jan 26, 20215
Chuck GroomOn Making DecisionsI manage software engineers and regularly collaborate with teams across our company. We need to make dozens of decisions a week, ranging…May 18, 20201May 18, 20201
Chuck GroominThe StartupHow to Value a Job Offer with StockMany companies, especially technology startups, include stock as part of the job offer. But it can be hard to assess the value of the…Oct 10, 20191Oct 10, 20191