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Here's the thing, I’m kind of stuck trying to figure out what a CTO actually makes in terms of $$$, most of the people in the field are secretive about how much they're getting. It's not just about the money (okay, it's a bit about the money), but also understanding if the money is worth it for me to switch from my corporate job. Plus,I have no idea where to find CTO jobs. Is it all networking, or are there secret job boards that I'm not aware of where these positions pop up?

So, if you have insights into the transition to a CTO role, I’d love to hear about your experience. How does the pay scale look across different types of companies/startups? What's the typical salary range for a CTO in a tech startup? Are we talking a major jump from senior developer wages, or is it more about the shares and long-term payout?

Thanks a ton for any advice you can throw my way!

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Hey Vadim,

Long-time reader, enjoy your content a lot. I've been a software engineer for about seven years now, doing mostly web development and taking over ownership of different modules step by step, expanding my people skills so to speak. Lately, I've been doing some thinking (maybe too much!) about where I'm headed professionally, I don't want to be a software engineer forever. I mean, I love coding, solving problems, seeing my code come to life — but what's next?

I've noticed that a few of my senior colleagues have moved into other companies for more strategic roles: VPs, Directors, Eng. Managers and the idea of becoming a CTO or at least a VP has started to look really tempting. Some of my friends are doing their own startups, so I'm in this tech bubble where everyone is moving to the top, and I'm not sure where I should be going? I get that being a CTO is not just about the code, and I am polishing my people skills as mentioned earlier. But I feel lost, how do I become one? Can you maybe elaborate your journey a bit?

And then a more general question: How do I make the leap from being a senior software engineer to a CTO? What skills should I be focusing on right now, is there a career path or is it more of a 'forge your own way' type of deal?

Honestly, any advice from your experience would be super helpful.

Thanks a lot in advance!

Edward S.

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Hey Vadim, So, I've been coding for money for about 5 years now. I've jumped around a lot — Java, Javascript, Python, NodeJS — you name it. The job market's been great, making it super easy for me to switch between gigs. I've done both full-time and contract work across many different companies. I think I've reached the level of being senior as I take on more and more responsibility.

At every place I've been at, they seemed to love me. I always got the comments that I'm the best dev they'd ever had. But, personally, I've always felt a bit off. I'm good at bringing the team together and breaking down problems. Yet, there's always someone who can code better than me. They can whip up solutions way faster than I can. I get things quickly, but my code always seemed a bit messier.

Now here is where it starts being interesting. I decided to switch jobs again, as Rust is the new fun kid of the block, I decided to switch things up by teaching myself Rust. Landed a job at a big-name brand recently, many thousands of engineers, and I'm feeling way out of my league. The devs here are on another level, I feel like everyone here is smarter than me, even the juniors are soo good, coming up with stuff I wouldn't even dream of.

It's gotten to the point where I'm doubting if I'm cut out for this, especially having the title senior but not really being senior amongst my teammates. Makes me think of calling it quits.

So, here's what my question is: How can I tell if I'm a good developer? Were my previous companies just bad? Now, I feel like I'm just not measuring up.

Looking for some guidance or any advice you've got.

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Hey, my name's Kalesh, I'm 22 and about to finish my bachelor's in August. Planning to be a software engineer. But, I keep hearing the job market's tough. Been reading online that lots of devs are struggling to find steady gigs. Is your company looking for any devs? What's your take on this?

All my buddies are in the same boat, fighting to land jobs but everywhere demands at least 1-2 years of experience. And then there are those who brag about making six figures, saying anyone can do it. So who to believe? Can anyone really make it, or is the industry just too saturated with newcomers?

I'm freaking out a bit because I really need to start making good money. I want to move out and get away from my family. I don't want to sound like I'm not open to other types of work, but I've tried the whole tech customer support gig, and it was a disaster. I need something more engaging, something that challenges me and makes use of what I've spent the last few years learning. No patience for that support stuff.

Got any advice?

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Hey Vadim,

Here's the situation: from the moment my alarm clock interrupts my sleep, until I finally come home late at night, my life is essentially a never-ending cycle of sitting in front of the PC and stressing with a workload that feels like it's set to max. I feel like I'm playing Dark Souls around the clock. I'm doing solid 60+ hours EVERY week, running on a treadmill that's just a bit too fast — no matter how hard I hustle, I can't get to the finish line.

The expectations at my company are non achievable, at least I never managed to with the amount of hours that I've put in. My daily routine includes working the standard 9-5, then going home and doing another session of 3-4 hours, rinse and repeat for five days straight. Then on the weekend I do all the stuff that I couldn't do during the normal work week.

I feel guilty constantly, I'm not making my quotas, I'm not as good as others are it seems. This constant pressure has left me with no bandwidth to learn new skills outside of work or, frankly, to have any semblance of a real life outside these four digital walls.

I read your article on mental health, for me I think it's taking a toll physically as well. I've been gaining weight every year since starting this job, and my anxiety levels are through the roof.

So, what I'm wrestling with is this: Do I stick it out, hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel, or is it time to cut my losses and find a job that doesn't feel like it's leading to an early grave?

Honestly, any advice would be incredibly valuable right now.

Thanks,
Tim

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Hey Vadim,

I’m starting to question a lot of the conventional wisdom handed down to us about climbing the tech ladder. You know, the whole "work hard, play fair, and success will come" spiel. I’m not so sure anymore. It feels slow, I'm looking for shortcuts maybe? e.g. unethical software engineer advice.

To summarize: I’m, 25, fresh out of college, a young software developer, eager to make my mark. I’ve seen colleagues zip past me career-wise, some even have senior titles, not necessarily because they’re better at coding or more innovative, but because they seem to know how to navigate the corporate world and it's rules. It's like they've read a rulebook that I didn't get on my first day.

I want the unfiltered version of how to really make it in tech. Not the LinkedIn fluff or the inspirational keynote speeches. I’m talking about maybe-not-so-ethical advice that nobody talks about openly. How do you navigate office politics, deal with difficult colleagues, or get your ideas heard when you’re the youngest person in the room? How do you ensure you’re not just another disposable cog in the machine but a key player who can’t easily be replaced?

I’m not saying I want to become the bad guy, or abuse the system. But I’m curious about the line between playing it smart and playing it dirty. Is it possible to advance your career aggressively without crossing ethical boundaries? Or is the tech industry just another jungle where only the ruthless survive?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Best,
Anonymous

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Hello Vadim,

I'm reaching out to you for some advice, as something weird happened, and I'm not sure how to react. Here are the key points

For the past six months, I've been working in my role as a Python Backend Developer, diligently maintaining and extending the Python backend for one of our services for the main product. I was diligently following the guidelines for the code, for the pull requests and deployment in general. Rarely was the code returned from the QAs back to me, only in rare cases, usually all the business requirements have been fulfilled and the code was working as expected.

Enter my coworker: a senior developer with six years of seniority, who also does some managerial multitasking. His main domain is the the java backend and he's a workaholic and a control freak to say the least.

A month ago, I had to take a month-long sick leave / vacation. Upon my return, I was greeted with the news of "some changes" to my code, casually mentioned by my coworker. "Some changes" turned out to be an understatement. My entire codebase was unrecognizable, replaced completely during my absence by the senior dev mentioned above. The endpoints that I have written were returnin different data now with different structure.

"I just switched from json to protobuf" he said. But the reality was far more drastic. My code — meticulously written and documented over half a year—had vanished, replaced by a new structure that, while probably superior in its modularity and object-oriented approach, left me dazed.

My original code, though perhaps more personal, was efficient and functional. It did what it needed to do. The new code, with its model-view-controller-repositories structure, is undeniably an improvement in many technical aspects. Yet, here I am, feeling demoralized, questioning my abilities, and staring down the daunting task of familiarizing myself with this alien codebase. This experience has thrust me into a bout of impostor syndrome, grappling with the fear that my contributions might not measure up and will eventually be overwritten by others.

So, here I am, turning to you for your thoughts on this situation. Is refactoring someone elses code without their permission fine? How should I react? And, perhaps most importantly, how do you rebuild confidence in your abilities when it feels like the rug has been pulled out from under you?

Warm regards,
Robert

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Hi, My name is Alex. I just graduated university, I'm confused, how do I choose a programming language for a job? Does it matter? Will I be assigned a programming language? Thanks for the help.

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Hello Vadim, It's been almost a year since I graduated as a CS major and was high on enthusiasm, ready to dive into the tech industry. Yet, here I am, feeling like shit, like I've hit a wall, my initial excitement replaced with a growing sense of frustration and, if I'm being totally honest, a bit of depression. The job market hasn't been welcoming, and every rejection email feels like a statement that I'm not good enough and won't even get any job.

But I'm not the type to sit back and let life pass me by. I'm determined to keep pushing forward, so, I'm reaching out to you, hoping to find some answer or maybe just some understanding that you've also been through the same journey, a simple "Hey, you're not alone in this."

What should I do, if every job requires experience nowadays? Every job ad that I see is at leats 2 years of coding. I'm looking for any opportunity to get my hands dirty, but nobody is giving me a chance. It doesn't have to be a formal job or even a paid gig. I'm talking about volunteer work, freelance projects, or anything that lets me contribute to something meaningful while building my skills and, hopefully, expanding my network. I want to be part of projects where I can not only apply what I know but also learn and grow as a developer. Whether it's helping a non-profit optimize their database, joining a startup that's trying to get off the ground, or contributing to open-source projects that resonate with my interests, I'm all in.

So my question is, what should I do? What would you do in my shoes? how can I find a job without experience? and why does even a junior development position require experience?

Best Regards,
Torb

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Hi,

I wanted to share my story and why I'm a bit confused. After graduating college, I landed jobs as a Software Engineer at two respected companies. No, they weren't FAANG, but they were places where I thought I could grow, contribute, and make a decent amount of money.

It didn't go as planned, or at least not as I expected. (Maybe my rose glasses fell off)

At my first job, my manager frequently pointed out my pace was too slow. It stung, especially when I saw my peers, who started the same year as I did, get promoted while I was left behind. It was a hard pill to swallow, but I chalked it up to a learning curve and moved on to my second job, hoping for a fresh start.

However, after working here for two years, I was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). It's been a sobering experience, to say the least. Two challenging experiences back-to-back have forced me to confront an uncomfortable truth: maybe the problem isn't the jobs or the companies. Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm not talented enough for software development?

Everyone around me (my parents included) believe I haven't applied myself enough, I havent worked hard enough to be good at development. And while I respect their perspective, I can't help but feel that's not the entire picture. I've put in the hours, sacrificed weekends, and stared at my screen until my eyes blurred. But despite my efforts, I've consistently felt like the weak link, too slow, making too many mistakes.

Don't get me wrong; I didn't enter software engineering with a burning passion for code. I'm not one of those great software engineers you describe in your article, my motivation was primarily financial, which I know is true for many others. Yet, even among my peers who share my motivations, I've seen many excel where I've struggled.

So the burning question is, perhaps software engineering isn't for everyone. Talent, as elusive as it is, plays a role, and maybe I'm one of those who just don't have it for this field. It's a tough pill to swallow, so I'm asking for advice. What do you think? Can I be just not cut out for this? Maybe I need to "pivot" my job? Do something different but in the same field?

Appreciate any help you can give.

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Hey Vadim,

I'm kinda lost. My background is in sales, but to be honest, I find myself disconnected from it. Not having fun, not enjoying it, don't like people as much. Science/Math was never on my radar until recently, all my friends make so much money working in IT, and I want to try and break into this field I want to learn programming without a degree. Where should I start with learning to code? I feel like overwhelmed with the amount of information on google, there's literally millions of articles to read.

And just to be clear: I'm talking about starting from scratch, learning a programming language, reading all the basics that will make me good for a job. Is it even possible? Can someone like me, with a sales background and zero experience in tech, make a career switch into coding? And more importantly, do people actually land jobs in this field without a traditional degree, whether it's working from home or in an office?

I want to build a skillset that allows me to earn a living. The idea of being stuck in a career that doesn't excite me is terrifying. Yet, the thought of starting over in a completely new field is equally daunting. I've heard stories of self-taught developers and bootcamps, online courses, and communities that support career changers like me. But it still feels too much.

I'm reaching out to you for advice on how to transition from a non-technical background to a career in coding? What resources do you recommend, and what pitfalls should I avoid?

Thanks!

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Hello Vadim,

I'm standing at a crossroads, we've just wrapped up the development of our mobile app MVP with an external software development company (quite successfully I might add), and I'm now facing a barrage of questions that keep me up at night, more so than my three-year old. I tried googling, but I get vague answers.

First off, what kind of documentation (technical and otherwise e.g. user guide) is reasonable to expect from the dev agency after the MVP is complete? I want to ensure that we're not just handed over a codebase with a pat on the back and a "Good luck!" but rather everything we need for another team to take it over and build upon it. Then there's the elephant in the room—how do we guard against theft of IP? It's not that I don't trust the company we've worked with, but maybe just a little. What measures can we put in place to ensure that our intellectual property remains ours, and ours alone? What is part of the intellectual property?

Then there's the question of how to protect the codebase from the dev agency once our engagement with them is done. Is it as simple as changing passwords and revoking access, or are there more nuanced steps we should be taking to safeguard our digital assets?

Lastly, when the time comes to transition from external developers to hiring our own in-house team, how easy is it for them to manage and build upon the codebase developed by some other company? I've heard horror stories of in-house developers being handed over a codebase that's about as decipherable as ancient hieroglyphs, and I'd like to avoid that fate at all costs.

Thanks in advance for your advice, and any infos you might have. I'm all ears.

Cheers,
JK

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Hey Vadim,

Thanks a lot for the articles, they help a lot.

I've been on a pretty wild journey these past few years, and I find myself at a crossroads, looking for some guidance. A few years back, I managed to secure a spot in the top university of my country in Software Engineering, (not in the US though). This was a significant achievement in itself. I was really happy at the time, I thought I'm on the right path, I can finally start making good money. However, in pursuit of a dream, I made a decision that many might question — I dropped out of highly prestigious university to join a startup as one of the first employees with options, and they even offered me to be named co-founder. This wasn't a decision made lightly; I always wanted to build something from the ground up. Startups seem so cool to me, they called to me, and I answered, leaving the traditional path of education behind.

I pride myself on my ability to build habits, maintain consistency, and uphold discipline. These traits have served me well before, but now I've identified a significant bottleneck in my journey: my resilience, or as some might call it, my grit. When faced with problems, I tend to procrastinate, I'm afraid of solving problems, I shy away from the challenge rather than confront it head-on. My pain threshold, it seems, is relatively low.

Despite this, returning to university is not an option I'm willing to consider. I've set my sights on the startup path, and there's no turning back. The question now is, how do I learn how to handle stress? to solve problems instead of leaving them for the last moment. I'm reaching out to you for advice. Are there any books, podcasts, or influential figures you'd recommend that focus on building determination and resilience? Have you had similar challenges?

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any guidance you can provide.

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I'm a non-technical founder with a concept for a productivity app that sets screen time limits and rewards users for staying below these limits. However, I'm struggling to determine if this idea is technically feasible, especially considering the data access restrictions imposed by platforms like iOS. Despite extensive research on Apple's developer forums I'm still not sure. I'm seeking advice on how a non-technical founder like myself should approach verifying the technical feasibility of such an app idea before committing to bringing on technical co-founders or starting development.

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hey Vadim, I'm a CTO at a newly created startup and we're looking to outsource development to an offshore dev agency. I understand the importance of the intellectual property. It's my first time working with an offshore outsourcing company, and I have some concerns about the security of our code, and who owns what. Specifically, I'm worried about the potential risk of our code being stolen or misused. Possible a clone being released? How real is this risk when working with offshore agencies? What measures can we take to protect our code and intellectual property?

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Recently, during a work review with my boss, I was confronted with a question that's been lingering in my mind for a few years: "Is software development truly the right career for me?" While I've always delivered my tasks on time and met expectations, my boss noticed my lack of enthusiasm for programming outside of work and my indifference towards new technologies. Since my college days, I've felt somewhat ambivalent about computer science, even though I knew I wanted a career related to computers. While I've never been truly excited about diving deep into new programming languages or seeking out challenges for the sheer joy of it, I've always viewed my job as a means to an end - primarily, earning a paycheck. Now, I'm grappling with whether I should genuinely invest more passion into my career, seek out a role that simply requires me to code by specification, or consider an entirely different path altogether.

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Hi Vadim, I'm 20 and want to become a software engineer, I'm at a crossroads in deciding the best educational path to take. I've heard a lot about coding bootcamps from some of my friends and their promise of teaching practical skills from the get-go in 90 days. On the other hand, universities offer a more traditional and comprehensive education in computer science, but it's 4 years? I'm unsure which option would be more beneficial for someone like me, who's never done any programming in the past. Would a coding bootcamp help me get a high-paying job? Would it give me the necessary knowledge I need to jumpstart my career? Will it be enough? Or would you recommend going to a university?

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As a non-technical co-founder of a startup, I'm currently in a phase where our CTO and the technical team are busy developing our product. While I trust their expertise in handling the technical aspects, I'm unsure about my role during this phase. What specific responsibilities should I take over during the development phase in order to be successful? How can I ensure that I'm adding value?

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As a startup founder, I've recently been quoted a rate of 150K USD for the development of a mobile app for my product. I'm trying to understand if this is a reasonable amount to invest in our app development. I've also had a quote of 50K for wireframes/designs from an agency? What factors should I consider when determining whether this is a fair price? How does this rate align with industry standards? How can I evaluate the potential return on this investment and ensure that it aligns with our startup's budget and financial goals?

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I'm currently in a well-paid and stable job that provides a comfortable lifestyle. However, I've been nurturing a small startup idea. I'm grappling with the decision of whether to leave my current job to pursue this dream. I'm really afraid of leaving my job and ending up with nothing. Can you give me a bit of guidance? What are the pros and cons? How can I evaluate the risks involved and make an informed decision? Is it possible to have financial security?

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As an engineer, I've been trained to solve problems and to focus on the technical aspects of a project. However, I'm finding that as I want to do startup stuff, I need to start thinking more like a businessman. How can I shift my focus from the technical details to the broader business implications, become like a mix of CEO and CTO? How can I make decisions more effectively from a business perspective, while still leveraging my engineering background?

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Hello, I'm in the process of developing the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for my startup, it's a simple idea for a gaming app that should help you learn investing. However, I'm currently employed and the only available resource I have for this development is my company's computer. I'm wondering, what are the potential drawbacks and risks associated with developing the MVP for my startup on my employer's computer? Could this lead to any legal or ethical issues? How might this decision impact my startup's future or my professional standing in my current job?

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Hey Vadim, I hope to tap into your CTO experience. We're building a startup and are constantly grappling with the balance between creating robust, future-proof solutions and delivering value to our customers in the most efficient way possible. Basically we're over engineering and preparing to scale to billions of requests from the get go. So i'm very interested in understanding the potential dangers of over-engineering in this context. To what extent does over-engineering pose a risk to the success and sustainability of a start-up, considering factors such as resource allocation, scalability, and customer satisfaction? How might an overemphasis on perfecting our technology impact our ability to adapt quickly, meet customer needs, and maintain a lean operation? Should we focus more on delivering what is needed now, rather than what will be needed in a few years? We do have VC funding.

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I've been running in overdrive mode the last year or so, I've come to a crossroads where I feel the need to step away from my role and pursue a different path. I am grappling with how to convey this decision to my co-founder, who has been my partner in this journey. What is the most effective and considerate way to communicate to my co-founder that I have made the decision to resign from our shared business venture? How can I ensure that this conversation is respectful and productive, while also making clear my reasons for leaving? What steps can I take to minimize the impact of my departure on the company and its future?

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