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Artwork for Soft Skills Engineering

Soft Skills Engineering

Jamison Dance and Dave Smith
Software Development
Software Engineering
Team Dynamics
Career Development
Work-Life Balance
Remote Work
Engineering Management
Job Market
Workplace Culture
Workplace Dynamics
Productivity
Salary Negotiation
Project Management
Artificial Intelligence
Career Transition
Layoffs
Startups
Big Tech
Technical Skills
Feedback

It takes more than great code to be a great engineer. Soft Skills Engineering is a weekly advice podcast for software developers about the non-technical stuff that goes into being a great software developer.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes513Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Soft Skills Engineering

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:

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Should I declare my struggle with this AI world we live in here? Nah. I mean, I’d like the hype to die down, a lot, but we keep getting new tools and I get to experiment, so here we ar... more

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:

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I’m approaching 15 years of experience with the last 7 years at fang. About a year ago I was promoted to staff engineer (thanks to the podcast) and switched to an adjacent team under t... more

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:

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I work at a large remote company. We meet up once or twice a year. I don’t really know much about my engineering coworkers aside from the 5 people on my team, so the in person meet ups... more

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:

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I am a senior software engineer at big tech and need a career change. With the rise of AI, I no longer enjoy this profession and panic everyday just waiting for a huge round of layoffs... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Dr. Strangecode
Senior developer at a mega corp (guest on the episode's Q&A segment)
Mega corporate employer
Episode: Episode 502: Management keeps leaving and I hate using AI to code

Hosts

Dave Smith
Host and co-host focusing on soft skills for software engineering, offering insights on management, career growth, and effective communication.
Jamison Dance
Co-host specializing in soft skills for engineers, providing humorous yet insightful advice on personal and professional growth.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Ethics is a soft skill too

    Multiple discussions of LLMs but no mention of the catostrophic social and ecological impacts of their widespread use.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ghostbrite
    United States2 months ago
  • Wow

    I’ve seen a lot of people complaining about sound but the sound is perfect. The content is amazing given I’m a kid and this explains my dream job so well. Keep it up please.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Edawgg44
    United States7 months ago
  • The missing puzzle piece for a worrier entering (or growing in) the career field

    For someone who likes to be prepared and wants to be prepared to make the BEST decisions, this podcast is the (formerly) missing puzzle piece. As important as technical know-how is social know-how and this podcast covers that topic fantastically.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DimensionlessDave
    United Statesa year ago
  • Worthwhile topics but excessive time-wasting

    E.g. in the episode titled “Dark patterns…”, it took more than 5m:30s to actually address the question

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Noffica
    Canada2 years ago
  • Good, clean, and fun.

    Jamison and Dave are both the right mix of funny and serious.

    Great soft skill advice and how to common sense.

    Glad I finally get to listen to them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tim from Victoria
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critiques mention audio quality issues, but overall feedback remains positively focused on the content's relevance and entertainment value.
Listeners appreciate the blend of humor and serious advice, which balances well with the challenges faced in the tech industry.
Many find the content valuable for their career development and personal growth in software engineering roles.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#189
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#144
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#187
Italy/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#247
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#249
Germany/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#69
Belgium/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 512: Can non-engineers really contribute code with AI and not sharing
Q: Should I declare my struggle with this AI world we live in here?
The hosts frame the question as about whether non-engineers should contribute, emphasizing the balance between potential benefits and the costs of review, deployment, and maintaining quality.
Episode 511: Should I take a temporary management position and performance-based bonuses
Q: Should I take a temporary management role and pursue a performance-based bonus?
The hosts conclude that attempting management in a temporary situation can be worthwhile for learning and visibility, and that while bonuses are tricky, gaining context and storytelling to back your case is essential; don't expect perfect, objective metrics, and be prepared to defend your contributions with strong narratives.
Episode 509: I hate AI software dev, so should I become a manager and leading, not doing
Q: How can I figure out if engineering management is the right choice for me without jumping into the role?
They recommend introspection about satisfaction with the day-to-day of engineering versus leading a team, trying a low-friction internal move (if possible), and using concrete steps like defining clear outcomes, seeking mentorship, requesting smaller scope leadership opportunities, and obtaining manager support before making a formal switch.
Episode 509: I hate AI software dev, so should I become a manager and leading, not doing
Q: I am a senior software engineer at Big Tech and would like to get into engineering management; with the rise of AI, I no longer enjoy this profession and wonder if management is right for me.
The hosts suggest first assessing whether you derive fulfillment from building products or from guiding others; getting an internal manager shadow or a formal transition path is easier in big tech, with the potential for lower friction if you talk to your manager and frame a growth-oriented narrative showing readiness and collaboration rather than simply disliking engineering.
Episode 508: My company is an unethical spammer and my coworkers take so much sick time
Q: Anonymous listener asks how to stay motivated on a sick team and whether to speak up or seek a different team. What's the recommended approach?
First, assess personal impact and long-term fit; have a candid conversation with management using a polite fiction approach to express your commitment to a productive team, while outlining options like transferring teams or adjusting roles if needed.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Soft Skills Engineering

What is Soft Skills Engineering about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content focuses on the often overlooked non-technical aspects vital to success in software development, addressing soft skills such as communication, leadership, and career growth. Episodes typically blend humor with relatable anecdotes from the hosts' experiences, while tackling listener queries about common challenges faced by software engineers across various stages of their careers. Unique elements include candid discussions on topics like effective team dynamics, performance reviews, and career transitions, making it a resourceful listen for both new and seasoned professionals in the tech industry.

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How many listeners does Soft Skills Engineering get?

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How many subscribers and views does Soft Skills Engineering have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Soft Skills Engineering?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Soft Skills Engineering:

1. The Stack Overflow Podcast
2. The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source
3. Software Engineering Daily
4. The Pragmatic Engineer
5. CoRecursive: Coding Stories

How many episodes of Soft Skills Engineering are there?

Soft Skills Engineering launched 10 years ago and published 513 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Soft Skills Engineering?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Soft Skills Engineering?

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What guests have appeared on Soft Skills Engineering?

Recent guests on Soft Skills Engineering include:

1. Dr. Strangecode

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