How to Invest in New Software Engineering Talent with Shashi Lo
Description
In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, we sit down with Shashi Lo, Senior UX Engineer at Microsoft and the founder of the Gridiron Survivor project. Shashi shares his approach to mentoring junior developers by helping them bridge the gap between boot camp and their first job in tech. We cover the challenges of onboarding, the importance of code reviews, and how companies can better support new talent by investing in mentorship and training. Shashi also talks about his experience with building a community of learners, the process of de-risking junior candidates, and why companies should be more proactive in nurturing the next generation of developers.
00:00 - Meet Shashi Lo
02:25 - The Gridiron Survivor Project
05:02 - The Importance of Code Reviews
07:25 - Teaching the Basics of Project Communication
09:47 - Code Reviews as a Learning Tool
12:06 - Why Shashi Mentors: Giving Back to the Community
14:26 - The Importance of De-Risking Junior Candidates
16:41 - Building in Public: Transparency and Learning
19:00 - Assessing Candidates for the Gridiron Survivor Project
21:25 - The Power of Simple Coding Tests
23:45 - Scaling Up Skills: From Small Tasks to Big Projects
26:07 - Should Companies Be Doing This?
28:25 - Finding Hidden Gems in the Job Market
30:47 - The Challenges of Filtering Candidates
33:02 - Where to Find Shashi Online
34:38 - Closing Remarks
Follow Shashi Lo on Social Media
Twitter: https://x.com/shashiwhocodes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shashilo/
Github: https://github.com/shashilo
Sponsored by This Dot.
United States
