Most new engineers think they have to “earn” the right to negotiate. You don’t. Belive it or not, that mindset is costing you $20K–$50K+ right out of the gate. People ask me how our entry-level clients land $100K+ tech offers straight out of school. My response is that they don’t wait to feel ready. They learn how the game works early. People ask how junior engineers go from rejection emails to multiple offers. My answer? You stop applying blindly and start targeting roles strategically. People ask how first-time job seekers confidently ask for more money. The secret? They practice saying the number before they ever get on the call. But the truth is… There is no one clear cut secret. Just systems, support, and showing up. To land a high-paying role in tech, even as a first-timer, you need to: ✅ Understand total compensation (it's way more than just base salary) ✅ Research the company’s comp bands before your first interview ✅ Talk openly with peers and mentors about money ✅ Practice your value prop and salary ask out loud ✅ Stop negotiating against yourself before the conversation even begins Want to land your first tech role—and actually get paid what you're worth? Join the Tech Pro Odyssey community on Skool. We teach ambitious engineers how to break into the industry, master interviews, and negotiate like pros. Ask questions, get support, accelerate your career. Drop a comment or DM me “Skool” and I’ll send you the invite. The earlier you start, the faster you grow.

If you’re struggling to connect your previous experience to a new role your applying for, dont worry, I got you. But Andre "I used to work in retail...", "But I was a service worker..." "But I never worked behind a desk before..." "I was an English Major." IT DOESNT MATTER. You shouldnt cry over spilled milk. You’re already on this journey so lets make the best of it. Let me show you how. Its all about telling the right story. I graduate from a business school with a business degree, worked in that industry for 3.5 years and before that I worked at a ton of retail companies, and none of my previous experience had anything to do with software engineering. Thats right, I don’t have a CS Degree. And i’ve been a developer for years. So how did I do it? I had a positioning statement. Where I clearly explain who I am, what im great at, how my path makes sense, and most importantly how my previous experience is a benefit to the role im applying for. I created a document that outlines exactly how you can tell the right story during your next interview. If you’re interested comment the word “interview” and ill send it over to you. And follow us for more content like this.

There are levels to virtual networking. Most software engineers treat it like a checkbox. But if you want to unlock real career opportunities, the kind that don’t show up on job boards, you need to play a different game. Here’s how the levels break down: Amateur: "I connect with other engineers on LinkedIn." Intermediate: "I connect with other engineers and occasionally comment on their posts." Advanced: "I connect with other engineers, comment regularly, and send follow-up messages to build relationships." Expert: "I connect intentionally, engage meaningfully, start value-driven conversations, create content around shared interests, and collaborate on projects or events." The reality: Getting referred, recruited, and respected in tech takes more than just hitting ‘Connect.’ It takes intentional virtual networking, built on consistency, curiosity, and giving more than you take. If you're not sure how to start, I help software engineers build networking strategies that actually open doors (and inboxes).

What's the biggest resume mistake most people make? The answer is: not standing out. Did you know that by listing responsibilities instead of outcomes, you're actually blending in with every other applicant? Think about it like this instead: Replace “Wrote code for backend services” with “Shipped 3 new APIs that reduced load times by 40%” Swap “Worked with frontend team” for “Partnered with frontend to launch new feature that drove 18% more signups” Ditch “Maintained legacy systems” and write “Refactored legacy modules, cutting deployment failures in half” The goal is to stand out in seconds; not get scanned, skipped, and archived. Want a plug-and-play framework that helps you build results-driven resumes that actually get callbacks? That’s exactly what we teach inside the Tech Pro Odyssey Skool community. Drop a “Skool” in the comments and DM me to get access to our resume guides and resources.

92% of engineering leaders rank communication skills among their top 3 hiring criteria in 2025. With distributed teams becoming standard, the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly has never been more valuable. This explains why you can stand out in interviews by showcasing exceptional communication alongside technical skills. But because of these facts, software engineers who neglect behavioral preparation face constant rejection. Your brilliant solutions mean nothing if you can't explain your thought process. In a remote-first world, how you communicate is as important as what you communicate. So, how do we demonstrate elite communication during behavioral interviews? Structured preparation with intentional delivery. Converting your experiences into compelling narratives that highlight both technical and soft skills is an art form. Here are 4 actionable tips to help get you started: - Record yourself answering common questions and analyze your delivery - Practice explaining technical concepts to non-technical friends for clarity - Prepare specific examples of how you've influenced teams and projects - Research company values beforehand and align your stories accordingly Take 30 minutes daily for a week to practice behavioral questions, and you'll demonstrate the rare combination of technical and interpersonal excellence. In 2025, the engineers who can code AND connect are the ones receiving multiple offers