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Shubham Patel is a Seattle based software engineer with over 7 years of experience in scalable web development and distributed software engineering in the field of digital and physical supply chain. He currently holds the position of Senior Software Engineer at Apple, leading development of several software features on Apple’s app review tools which supports App store’s digital supply chain.
In the past, Shubham has extensively worked on Amazon’s catalog systems and SellerFlex program, both of which plays extremely important role in Amazon’s supply chain success supporting e-commerce of more than 20 billion products worldwide. Before his journey of 6+ years at Amazon, Shubham led a team at a startup as technical lead and developed an e-commerce from scratch to help students to buy and sell used books.
Shubham’s journey includes leading the Google Developer Group for the DA-IICT chapter and earning the Google Summer of Code fellowship at Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center. Shubham has been invited to judge 5+ hackathons to share his insights into state-of-the-art web development and has been invited to review technical books at O’Reilly Media.
Connect with Shubham to learn more.
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Here are Five Things We Cover:
- Adaptability in Programming Skills: Emphasizing the need for adaptability, Shubham underscores the significance of mastering enduring programming languages like Python, Java, and C++, while staying attuned to the adaptability rates in the tech industry.
- The Value of Traditional Programming Languages: The dialogue between Ryan Atkinson and Shubham highlights the persistent relevance of traditional programming languages, despite the advent of newer ones, underscoring their ubiquity and proven efficiency.
- Personal Development in Tech Careers: Shubham shares his journey of growth within big tech, detailing how tech skills evolve at various career stages, and advises newcomers on the importance of a strong GitHub presence, mentorship, and creating value.
- Projects and Recognition: Aspiring tech professionals are encouraged to work on personal projects and contribute to community platforms like Hacker News and GitHub, which can significantly enhance visibility and job prospects.
- The Importance of Learning Fundamentals and Continuous Growth: Mastery of algorithms, data structures, and core computer science principles are crucial for breaking into the tech industry, coupled with the merits of curiosity, continuous learning, and engagement with the tech community for ongoing personal and professional development.
Here are Three Actionable Takeaways From This Episode
- Cultivate a Strong Online Presence and Portfolio: Build and regularly update a comprehensive GitHub profile to showcase your coding projects. Create a personal website as a portfolio where you can demonstrate your skills and projects in more detail. Share your projects on community platforms like Hacker News, Hacker Rank, and Y Combinator News to gain visibility and feedback.
- Pursue Continuous Learning and Skill Development: Stay updated on foundational programming languages such as Java, C++, and Python, as they continue to be industry relevant. Engage in projects you are passionate about, leveraging them as learning experiences. Don’t fear failure; consider it a part of your growth process. Master computer science fundamentals such as algorithms, data structures, computer networks, operating systems, and database management systems.
- Network and Seek Mentorship Opportunities: Actively reach out to industry professionals on platforms like LinkedIn for mentorship and career advice. Attend tech conferences and participate in mentorship programs to expand your professional network. Utilize the “five whys” framework for problem-solving and developing a deeper understanding of technical challenges. This can also be a way to engage with mentors by showing your initiative and thought process.