Own Your Engineering Career (No One Else Will)

Are you waiting for a promotion that never comes? In this episode, we break down why relying on your manager to define your growth is a career-limiting mistake and how you can take full ownership of your professional path.

In this episode, we cover:

Why hard skills get you hired but won't get you ahead
How to create growth opportunities when your company has no clear path
Using RACI to own decisions and increase your visibility

Connect with Zanina:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaninakatira

References:

RACI - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsibility_assignment_matrix

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:51 - Why hard skills get you hired but soft skills make you thrive

00:04:17 - How to connect your code to actual business results

00:06:44 - The art of storytelling for technical professionals

00:09:16 - Balancing execution speed with team collaboration

00:11:57 - The problem with forcing engineers into management roles

00:15:13 - Surviving when technology outgrows your current skillset

00:17:59 - Using the RACI method to clarify ownership and decisions

00:21:23 - What to do when your manager has no answers for your growth

00:24:40 - Why you should value scope of work over job titles

00:28:39 - How to pitch and negotiate impactful projects to leadership

00:33:00 - Expanding your perspective by networking outside your team

00:35:35 - Visualizing your ambition and defining what success looks like

00:39:16 - Overcoming the fear of asking for constructive feedback

#careergrowth #softwareengineering #softskills

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