College Dropout Making $500K as a Software Engineer | Q&A

Welcome Back! In this video, I interviewed Esco Obong a Senior Software Engineer at Airbnb, and chat about how he was able to break into tech without a college degree! This is a follow-up video where we answered some questions that you had from the last interview. I hope you enjoy this video!
#From College Dropout to Senior Software Engineer at AirBnb | Q&A
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► Timestamps
0:00 - Intro
1:28 - What type of Software Engineer are you to make $500k+?
3:37 - Is $500K base salary or total compensation?
4:58 - What type of coding/work do you do on a day to day? What's your stack?
7:04 - What kind of skills outside of programming are most important?
9:05 - How do you land multiple offers simultaneously?
10:37 - Any Negotiation tips?
12:22 - When do you know when it's time to stop negotiating?
14:21 - Any essential books or courses that helped you become a better Software Engr?
16:06 - How did you land your first freelance job?
17:28 - How do you progress in your career to get to the Staff SE level?
21:04 - Have you faced any stigma for having no degree?
22:28 - Thoughts on Networking?
23:43 - Any challenging moments in your journey that made you doubt yourself?
28:45 - Outro
BUSINESS INQUIRIES
[e-mail]

[@taishamikell1438]

“When mistakes happen, don’t blame the person, blame the process. Fix the process so it never happens to anyone ever again”

[@nursebondemcanada]

True

[@westernpigeon]

this is the exact thing my manager tells the new hires. always find what's wrong with the process rather than blaming the individual.

[@miaowcat1]

A great team has blameless post mortem when production has issues.

[@archmad]

you got to blame the person if he's slacking

[@WEBVDO]

Golden!

[@nanyadam1300]

When i see successful brother i just smile 🌻

[@simonhagos]

Amen 🔥

[@mattmjlg5053]

I have been going through so much working seven days a week to provide for my family at 25 years old. I’m in school for software development but this guy has lifted me from a depression from being so discouraged and doubtful about making it into the industry. This level of information is never really released by other engineers

[@mr.j3371]

I believe in you brother! F the noise/haters/negativity, you can do this! You will find your winning angle. If the entire world is against you and your mind is convincing you too, just know, Mr. J is rooting you on ;)

[@rexes92]

you got a family at 25? btw im on the same boat as you except i dont have too many responbilities, i am just starting out on software development and have been procrastinating everything.

[@ibexy]

Keep pushing bro. Its a very exciting career - provided you have the passion!

[@mattmjlg5053]

@@mr.j3371 you’re so sweet thanks so much brother!!

[@mattmjlg5053]

@@rexes92 yeah brother I do I actually got married at 23 and moved to Indiana from California I just waited to long to get my degree and when life emergencies hit and I went under like 25k it forced me to work from a 55-60 hour work week to 70-80 hour work week Most jobs without a degree pay 15 to 18 an hour where I’m at. I refuse to take any job right now currently that’s not a SE position because I’m working too hard to get this I can’t let another job for a few more bucks take me away from my goal of getting a job here Don’t procrastinate brother please that’s actually what is hurting me the most that I didn’t have any degree by 22 years or younger! I’ve been offered jobs in the past that would have paid 50-65k starting and changed my life. But I’m glad I’m under pressure it broke me but I’m not going to look at life the same ever again I’m way more durable

[@ethicalgray8666]

The knowledge Esco dropped could easily apply to other tech roles besides Software Engineering. Thank you both so much for sharing this much needed information.

[@Bukola1]

Very true! Thanks for commenting!

[@chisimdi]

Hmmmm. Don’t be scared to tell them it’s going to take a lot more time! That’s a gem right there.

[@abbeysnails]

This was amazing! Thanks for sharing - both of you ❤

[@Nas_The_Creator]

This is one of you best KZbin videos, it comes with a lot of information ℹ️, and it’s motivating, more better than Esco previous interview on your KZbin .

[@thezive5544]

This is good stuff. Preparing for a transition in tech, loved the Q & A!

[@TravisGarnett]

Thank-you, #Bukola, for following-up with Mr. Esco!! 👏🏾

[@AceBurns2020]

That's my Favorite person!! Changing so many lives for the better! Saving our people day by day with access to wisdom!

[@thisjuncture]

Hi Bukola, thank you for such a great follow-up interview with Esco. Initial takeaways on how to get started, negotiating salary and how to deal with self-doubt were insightful. Going more into Esco's story of discovering strengths, staying curious, accessing teachable resources and using them to start a career in coding very motivating. Happy Holidays!

[@jasongomes655]

Had the privilege of seeing and hanging out with Esco years ago. He is simply an amazing person. Make no mistake... he lives, breathes, and eats everything programming. When I started seeing these videos about him, I was not one bit surprised. The amount of passion he had while learning and creating things and figuring out solutions to his problems on his own and watching the excitement he had about it was an experience in itself and oddly something I haven't forgot about him. Esco you deserved all of this. Really really happy for you. All I can say is WOW and couldn't have happened to a better person. This is all you. Way to go!

[@Snowballbuilder]

Love the channel. I think he gave great advice for interviewing in tech regardless of the path.

[@CaneSugarCane]

Thanks for sharing Esco's study tips Bukola!

[@valentineenedah2845]

So glad to see Esco again. I'm such a big fan😊

[@chisimdi]

Esco is so phenomenal. So appreciative of these interviews!

[@Bukola1]

No problem!

[@chisimdi]

Thank you for your time Esco! Thank you Bukola!

[@PoojaDutt]

This was a great interview! It was good to hear Esco’s update a year later. 😀

[@kylewattssurfing3266]

I hope that you guys work together and do another video again because you guys have great chemistry what's your professional questions and backgrounds and this format is amazing I feel like we can learn so much more from Esco and anybody that you talk to in the similar format. Hopefully we can see the same people again so that we can keep learning from that same person and go deeper because there's so much more to learn and I appreciate you guys for your time thank you.

[@OIP_1]

this was an excellent interview, i'm not a software engineer but lots of big picture career advice in general. esco sounds like he really deserves his success, great stuff!

[@kylewattssurfing3266]

As a Uber driver and Lyft driver of a conversation about the software behind the crash in the software code is super interesting and this whole talk has been one of the best interviews and educational pieces on the internet and thank you to both of you guys very very much... I look forward to learning more from both of you guys!!!

[@hani4151]

Thanks to you two ! The video was super helpful. I kind of have an idea now of what's like having a career in software in general ! I'm not an adult yet but I really wanted to widen my knowledge on different industry. All the answers Esco gave us is quite detailed and well explained :) And a huge thank you to you Bukola for making this video ^^

[@TheLazyDada]

Thank you so MUCH 🙏🏾 for doing a follow up w/ Esco! You and the people you showcase on ur platform are definitely inspiring 👊🏾👍🏾

[@kstevens0915]

Just stumbled across this amazing interview. I have learned so much and gained more motivation to continue pushing in my career field as a SQL DBA.

[@pedroglcbarros]

Very Insightful! Thank you Bukola and Esco!

[@jermainemjoiner]

I love his story. I’m new to the industry, currently working as a QA. Looking to transition to an SE in the future. Looking for the best route of development for myself. His story is great inspiration for me.

[@LasanaMurray]

Excellent stuff. Thanks for the book recommendation too!

[@cage1067]

Awesome video, Just loved the way the talk was conducted and it's always awesome to learn so much about company processes and also from more experienced developers. Great And thats a quote that i'm sure gonna take for life "Whenever an issue happens don't try to blame a person but try to blame the process. "work you both. 👏

[@andreamorgan3573]

Excellent follow up interview - I am not in tech but some of the general comments about making your intentions for promotion known so you are thought of for system wide projects resonates for me - I am a frontline health worker interested in leadership - I had to voice that ambition instead of assuming the work I was doing as frontline staff would be noticed - I so appreciate this series that speaks to realities of career options and voicing ones ambition 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤❤

[@Sirbiznis]

my boy Esco is back its littttttt always dropping gems I appreciate content like this Thank You Bukola 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@danielmbazu367]

Just curious, Is he Nigerian? 😉

[@ME102Group9]

This was such an awesome interview! Such great insight was provided

[@EmmanuelTurner245225]

Man, it means so much to me to see a guy with hair and my skin tone. It means a lot that your channel exists as well but as a man struggling with how to "fit in" without conforming he has really helped me. I look forward to watching everything on your channel.

[@allisonpiovani]

Very good! Thank you Bukola and Esco

[@chisimdi]

So smart for them to blame the process instead of the person.

[@BIGMEGA77]

Great interviewer and awesome guest. He was very insightful and knowledgeable!

[@dustinfox5211]

All really excellent advice. I just went through this whole interview process and wish I would have watched this video before!!

[@ao4514]

Don't worry, Dustin you'll get another chance if things don't go according to plan with the first interview!

[@dustinfox5211]

@@ao4514 thanks for the kind words! I did end up getting a few offers, but I had to learn a lot of these lessons the hard way haha. Definitely agree, it's all a learning process 🙏

[@hamzak93]

Kudos Esco! Loved hearing your story

[@chrisjackson9111]

Great video. I can verify and agree with everything Esco has said.

[@akosuakoranteng3327]

Bukola dropping a video!! Day made!!

[@Bukola1]

Ayee!

[@tinaa3459]

Amazing wealth of knowledge here. Thank you

[@Bukola1]

Thanks for commenting!

[@cynthiaDNkoom]

It was nice listening in. Thanks Esco &Bukola.

[@simonhagos]

Esco’s always on point 💯🔥🔥

[@Bukola1]

Thanks for watching! Esco and I have an AMA event today, join the Facebook group to learn more: m.facebook.com/groups/algorythm?

[@universecode1101]

Very useful, Thanks for sharing Bukola 👏🏻

[@Bukola1]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you!

[@thecodewhiz526]

Best Interview of a Software Engineer that I've ever watched on KZbin 👏💞 He really learnt beyond what is taught in the University. I'm a computer science student about starting my third year in the university but I do have 5 years of experience in software engineering (having Bsc is almost a must in Nigeria 😂 that's why I went for it). Thanks so much Bukola. Thanks so much Esco.

[@ricardorodriguez2169]

Learned*

[@gmog7857]

Trust me this guy is exaggerating and lying, I work at Microsoft and I have no idea what he is talking about.

[@youtubecommenter1000]

@@gmog7857 If he’s exaggerating, why not share what you know?

[@coollikedat]

@@ricardorodriguez2169 Learnt(UK) is equally correct

[@ricardorodriguez2169]

@@coollikedat I learned something new today. thanks

[@nycrsny3406]

Really insightful video, great questions as well!

[@catarinasilva9042]

Amazing content - thank you 🙏🏽

[@Bukola1]

My pleasure! Thanks for leaving a comment!

[@patrickizekor6463]

Very helpful and useful insight. Thanks for the content.

[@TrinSquared2]

He reminds me of Daniel Kaluuya 🙂 I really appreciate this information. It gives me confidence in going forward in tech.

[@kirkm9750]

Awesome interview 👏

[@timecircle8420]

Great interview! Thanks for the content!

[@chisimdi]

True, people management is so important!

[@athenasol1723]

Thanks you guys!! for doing this interview ,I been waiting for this for a while!!!

[@MezbahRijvee]

Love seeing stories like this

[@isaiah61ministries]

Excited to start my tech career. Thank you 😊

[@Bukola1]

Best of luck! Thank you for the tip!

[@talk2s5061X]

Excellent information guys ✅

[@reidchikezie1161]

Esco The Man 🙌🏽🔥

[@michaelmustapha5369]

This is good content 👏🏻

[@kylewattssurfing3266]

So glad I found this video thank you!!!!!!

[@supbrice]

This is a great interview and he seem like a very cool person. Thanks for all the helpful insights. I wanna be him before 2023….Amen? Let’s get it !!!

[@meilyn22]

Awesome interview!

[@tyfacey2180]

This is extremely helpful! Way more helpful than those techtok ppl. Thank You!

[@innocentmadanhire2391]

Cool stuff Bukola.

[@shadon_official2510]

learned a lot from this video.

[@Thankful_n_Grateful]

Good Video Thanks to both Interviewer & interviewee...

[@aglovecraft]

Loved the video, would've hoped it would be little more raw (lots of cuts in the footage) but nonetheless Esco is a huge inspiration!

[@keynolivia]

This was great 👍🏾

[@lowwastehighmelanin]

Hey Bukola would you mind updating the description so it includes the resources mentioned or adding a pinned comment? He dropped SO much knowledge but I'm overwhelmed trying to keep track of all of them lol

[@maka8471]

wow ... that's a really great interview

[@2pkjs1351]

Major props to Esco !

[@Techmimi]

🎉 love the group too!

[@KennitaColeman]

Super informative ❤

[@julissadc6303]

thanks for this video!!

[@alexakerr8935]

great video ! super helpful and interesting to listen to thank you !

[@Bukola1]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hannahkwaw]

This was such s good watch

[@chisimdi]

6 great offers without a 30 days period! 🤯

[@codingmo]

I absolutely love this video.. Straight to the mf point.. question after question, I love!

[@KyleRosebk]

Good stuff!

[@ManteraPj]

That's awesome video for every student

[@Bukola1]

Yes, thank you!

[@shawnellemartineaux6212]

He is awesome! I want to know him! And, you did excellently!

[@azeeztaiwo2802]

This dude is awesome

[@Theblackprogressive1911]

REALLY WANT TO STRESS, THIS IS NOT AN ENTRY LEVEL SALARY, everyone lol if it’s to good to be true it is, he sounds like he has probably 5-10 years of experience. It is so improbable that a person with no experience will have 200k base with 150k stock option and 100k bonus. That is a SENIOR level job. Entry level is around 80k. Which is still really good. Also FAANG and Fintech companies are extremely difficult to get into. Don’t forget the Banks, Insurance companies and other corporations.

[@elcapitan6126]

even then, depends if you get a break with one of the big recognized companies. otherwise you can be stuck for years on very average salaries and working unpaid crunch time. social media does not portray the reality of the software dev market, they only show the successes (survivorship bias)

[@TheRay1227]

Wow this has been the best video of real life expectations of the field. Lol I’m barely learning HTML

[@frankcastellanos]

smart guy, im happy for him.

[@tedroszemene3002]

Great speaker!

[@christinemcliesh7628]

excellent episode!

[@Bukola1]

Thanks!

[@kh884488]

Very happy for him. I'm glad he talks about how technology work is a team sport. He has a great way of seeing and explaining the big picture. I'm glad he talks about pushing back with unrealistic expecations at 8:35. I've worked on some technology projects where we were handed unrealistic timelines. It was a total burn-out factory. I was very happy when I left that job.

[@sindypetronella]

Love this 😊

[@Bukola1]

Thank you!

[@pineapplepyramid5798]

These be getting me through

[@michelpohl1019]

I was missing the dev stories :)

[@RossPfeiffer]

Can't wait until I can hire this guy

[@elcapitan6126]

meanwhile we got experienced devs in their 30s and 40s more and more locked out of the market by arcane leetcode style interview processes and "culture fit" assessments. it can be a brutal industry after your 20s.

[@WorriorXD]

Thats dopeee

[@chisimdi]

True, never accept the initial offer!

[@jm2307]

I know there’s good info here but I cannot get past how fine this man is 🤦🏾‍♀️ let me come back in an hour or two 😂

[@Bukola1]

lol, come back!!

[@christinar8419]

OMG I thought it was just me!

[@thefirstsurvivor]

lmao

[@Nas_The_Creator]

Did I find this funny ?.

[@jm2307]

@@Bukola1 😂 I’m back

[@JustMusic75]

Question: doesn’t compensation conversations happen during the initial interview? So are you saying you’re up front about negotiations/compensation expectations or do negotiations happen during the offer? For context: I am in the he service industry & NOT in tech. Compensation is usually discussed during the first interview vs ‘let’s see how skilled you are and if we like you AND THEN offer you the position’. I hope where I’m coming from and my question makes sense.

[@chunckyfreshnut]

Telling people making 500K does not really help. The first thing you don't really ever use these algorithms creating form . The company can save money to outsource to India . He does ever mention where did he learn or improve his programing skills

[@arnoldbailey8803]

Excellent

[@zahizahizahizahi9259]

Thank you dr

[@ibexy]

The UBER bug story was relatable. I know that feeling when you let a bug slip through😂 You feel like you let the team down. BUT that is when you know good management. Management that knows even the best developers can make mistakes.