Significant Career Lesson From a Software Engineer at Google
Jay, a Google Software Engineer and Tech Lead, credits a "three-step process: planning, execution, and retrospective" as instrumental to career growth. This weekly routine of planning, reflecting, and analyzing allows for improved foresight and continuous self-improvement, a lesson learned that extends beyond the technical aspects of the job.
Career Development, Project Management, Planning, Goal Setting, Self-Reflection
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jay Zelenkov
Software Engineer; Tech Lead
Munich University of Applied Sciences, 2012
N/A
Computer Science
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
International Student, Honors Student, Took Out Loans, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Plan your week in advance by setting goals for each day.
2. Take time for a retrospective at the end of each week to reflect on what went well and what could be improved.
3. Use a three-step process of planning, execution, and retrospective to improve your work and life.
Transcript
What is one lesson that you have learned that has proved significant in your career?
This is a tough question for me to answer. I'll answer it in a way that goes beyond my specific career.
One lesson I've learned over time in my job, which I think applies to people in other jobs as well, is the concept of taking time to reflect and plan. If I could use one word, I would say "foresight."
The way I developed my foresight is by following a straightforward pattern: at the beginning of the week, I plan my week. I spend 30 to 60 minutes on Monday morning to plan what I want to do that week and set goals for myself each day.
Then, I execute my week. At the end of the week, on Friday evening, I take time for a retrospective. I look at what happened, what I thought would happen, and things I missed or did not anticipate.
This three-step process – planning, execution, and retrospective – has helped me improve in my career and all aspects of my life. It took me a little too long to learn, but it has been instrumental in my growth.