A Single Conversation Can Reroute A Career

A single conversation can reroute a career.

Earlier in my journey, I was a software engineer at a smart-TV app startup (after years of freelancing, then IT support > tutoring > enterprise systems programming at a community college).

In my final interview, I walked CEO @Tom Schaeffer through my portfolio and product ideas. When I asked what stood out, he said he valued my loyalty and sticking around to solve real problems.

That role taught me how flagship, customer-facing products ship fast and the systems that make that possible. Tom pushed me beyond code to write for the company blog and to aim higher. I even landed an onsite at Netflix.

I didn’t get the offer (imposter syndrome won) but the feedback pointed me toward what I truly love: DevOps and, eventually, SRE. Tom’s mentorship changed my trajectory.

Mentors don’t just open doors. They help you see which hallway you actually want to walk down.

Who helped shape your early-to-mid career? Tag them below and share the moment that shifted your path.

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P.S. Want real talk on launching a product, leadership, and writing? Hit follow on @Tom Schaeffer

#LearningInPublic #EngineeringLeadership #CareerSwitch #EarlyCareer #DevOps #Leadership #ThankYourMentor #MentorMonday

Posted: 10/27/2025