An ex-Googler who earned $450,000 before he quit shares 6 things Big Tech candidates are doing wrong — and how to fix them

Taalai Djumabaev is the founder of Growthhungry.Courtesy of Taalai DjumabaevTaalai Djumabaev left Google in 2023 to start an educational platform for IT specialists.While at Google, he noticed talented candidates failed interviews due to foundational knowledge gaps.To avoid failure, Djumabaev recommends Big Tech hopefuls focus on building core knowledge.As a senior software engineer at Google, Taalai Djumabaev, 37, was earning over $450,000 a year.He'd spent 15 years in tech — including over seven years at Deutsche Bank and over four years at Google — when he quit his job in September 2023.Now, he uses his career experience to run an educational platform for IT specialists that helps them improve their interview readiness and performance.Google was a grindDjumabaev had received several competing offers from Amazon, Reddit, GrubHub, and Coinbase before he accepted his Google role in 2019.Djumabaev chose the Google Ads domain and worked with Google Ad Manager, which required handling trillions of events daily, as users visiting websites trigger events to show the most relevant advertisement."The first year was a grind from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., proving that even with a decade of experience, growth still requires intense dedication," he said. "I felt like the dumbest guy at Google, working on complex, high-load systems."His turning point came in 2023Djumabaev said a personal crisis at age 33 — divorce and a deep questioning of his life's direction — prompted a values reset."Despite the $450,000-plus salary and Big Tech prestige, it all began to feel hollow," he said. "More money wasn't bringing more meaning. My drive shifted toward building something truly purposeful and empowering."Djumabaev also noticed a "striking pattern" while conducting hundreds of interviews. Talented candidates consistently failed due to foundational gaps, he said. "There are two main things that can hold people back: not being able to explain their thoughts clearly and missing some key academic knowledge."Djumabaev felt that many developers hadn't acquired the deep computer science learning required to succeed. Seeing capable Big Tech applicants missing key skillsets became the spark for a new mission.He launched a startup to help other developersHis first startup featured a project called "Career Assistant," which aimed to help people map out their career paths. He quickly learned that real careers don't follow neat plans, and the startup pivoted to Growthhungry in March 2024."I truly believe almost anyone can reach an elite level like Google," Djumabaev said. "It's not magic, it's method: the right guidance, unwavering discipline, and the sustained effort that builds compound interest in your skills."Here's what Djumabaev thinks is wrong with many Big Tech candidates' approach to their education and training for the tech industry — and six solutions to correct it.1. Too much focus on acquiring trendy tools and not enough on building core knowledgeDjumabaev said developers often take tech courses that spend a lot of time teaching the latest frameworks but skip the basics of computer science. He believes this is a mistake if you want to nail Big Tech interviews."Many people who want to get into Big Tech think the best way to pass interviews is by solving lots of coding problems," Djumabaev said. "From my experience at Google, the strongest candidates usually don't do that. They might solve just a few tasks before the interview because they already have a strong foundation."He recommends that Big Tech applicants focus on learning timeless fundamentals like algorithms, data structures, and system design. Djumabaev advised shifting your focus to a deep, practical understanding of these fundamentals.2. Believing in unrealistic promises of quick successDjumabaev said he has seen traditional education and boot camps that promise quick job placements using dubious methods, which can lead Big Tech candidates astray."Some boot camps create unrealistic expectations and rely on questionable tactics — like overly simplified systems or résumé padding — without delivering real, long-term skills," he said. "Courses that claim you can land a six-figure job in a few weeks create false expectations and lead to a flood of underprepared candidates."He suggests that Big Tech candidates be honest with themselves about the effort mastery takes and manage their expectations about what boot camps can realistically offer.3. Taking overloaded and outdated university programsHe also thinks that some university programs offer outdated curricula that don't reflect the tech industry's current demands. He advises developers to focus on the essential, high-impact knowledge that endures tech shifts."Think lean, potent, and future-focused," Djumabaev said, pointing back to the fundamentals of algorithms, data structures, and system design."I wouldn't say it's about choosing the right university. It's about compensating for skills and knowledge that are lacking from your current university or boot camp."4. Relying solely on academic theory and missing out on mentorship that matches real-world workDjumabaev said there can be a big gap between what engineers are taught in school and what they actually do at their job. He's seen that the practical mentorship that's necessary is rare in the type of tech training and courses many new developers rely on.He advises developers to ensure they're finding opportunities for real mentorship from current Big Tech engineers. He pointed to LinkedIn as a good source to find mentors, along with networking at conferences and meetups."Learning should include guidance from engineers who work in the field right now," he said. "Firsthand experience and current industry knowledge help bridge the gap between theory and practice."5. Buying into the myth of 'one-size-fits-all' coursesDjumabaev found that when a system scales a thousand times, it means rethinking everything. That experience led him to believe that education and training should be flexible and adaptable.He recommends that Big Tech candidates seek more personalized paths with smart AI plus human accountability."Use technology like AI to personalize the learning path, while keeping real human interaction — like live sessions and community — at the core of the experience," Djumabaev said.6. Recognize that intense learning paths can lead to burnoutDjumabaev said challenging programs that many Big Tech candidates gravitate toward often forget the human side. This can make students feel isolated, stressed, or overwhelmed.He believes a better way to learn is to seek learning opportunities and systems that are both rigorous and supportive."Look for mental health support and a strong sense of community as part of the learning process," he said. "To find this, make sure you ask questions in advance. Talking to graduates and your future teammates also helps a lot."Do you have a story to share about landing a Big Tech job? Contact this editor at [email protected] the original article on Business Insider

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