Easier Said Than Done (Career Change & How to Do it)

Zubin Pratap
  • 5.0 (1)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

A podcast dedicated to career change, getting hired to code, AI engineering, where I share the things that worked when I went from 37yo lawyer to FANG/Big Tech Software Engineer.

  1. Goal Setting For Learning To Code | Ep # 56

    3D AGO

    Goal Setting For Learning To Code | Ep # 56

    The secret that coding bootcamps won't tell you: Learning to code isn't your real problem - it's setting the wrong career goals. Most mid-career professionals waste hundreds of hours "training for a marathon when they should be playing chess" - strategic moves beat brute force every time. Why this matters now: The market doesn't care about your tutorial progress - it cares if you're the solution to a specific problem. Discover the Career GPS Framework that helped my students get hired 3-4x faster than the traditional path. Timestamps are further down... ☎️ Contact Zubin: 👉🏼  Connect with Zubin:   https://meetzubin.carrd.co/  👉🏼 Parsity Inner Circle Program (https://parsity.io/inner-circle?utm_source=estd)   👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURCES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com?utm_source=estd 💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj  💥 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ  💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do?  https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver?utm_source=estd  💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources https://linktr.ee/zubinpratap  💥  Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap 💥 Free Career Change to Tech Newsletter:  https://www.matchfitmastery.com/newsletters/career-change-to-tech  Episode Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction00:52 - Show Intro03:08 - Why Goal Setting Matters03:09 - The Career GPS Framework03:09 - CTA: Subscribe & Newsletter04:10 - The Real Solution: Not More Code08:14 - Why People Fail at Career Change10:54 - The Career GPS Framework: Step 1 - Destination Mapping14:34 - Step 2 - Route Planning18:11 - Step 3 - Progress Tracking22:10 - Are You Serious About Career Change?23:10 - Honest Truth: The Inner Circle Program24:38 - Learning to Code Isn't Enough24:56 - Courses Aren't Scams, But...25:29 - The Seven Stages of Career Change25:40 - The Inner Circle Program: What to Expect25:45 - Final Thoughts & Motivation26:07 - Outro

    26 min
  2. Why "Smart" Coders Get Badly Stuck with Taha Hussain | Ep # 55

    SEP 20

    Why "Smart" Coders Get Badly Stuck with Taha Hussain | Ep # 55

    What if the biggest thing holding you back in tech isn’t your skills—but a hidden emotional pattern almost every engineer ignores? Show Summary and FREE Resources Is Further Below👇 ☎️ Contact Zubin: 👉🏼  Connect with Zubin:   https://meetzubin.carrd.co/  👉🏼 Parsity Inner Circle Program (https://parsity.io/inner-circle?utm_source=estd)  Mid-career professionals everywhere are hitting “invisible walls”—applying endlessly, stuck in senior roles, or watching others leap ahead while they feel overlooked, overwhelmed, and full of self-doubt. Traditional advice—bootcamps, LeetCode grind, more certifications—only makes it worse. It’s like trying to unlock a door with the wrong key. But what if you could rewire how you think, lead, and present your value? In this episode, Taha Hussain (ex-Microsoft, Yahoo, SAP) reveals the mindset shifts and emotional intelligence secrets that help engineers break through plateaus and land high-impact roles—even in a tough market. Taha's details: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahahussain/ Substack: https://tahahussain.substack.com/  Website: https://www.tahasmethod.com/  💡 Key Sections: 🚨 The Real Reason You’re Stuck – It’s not your resume. It’s your story. 🧠 Identity Engineering – How to reprogram self-sabotaging thoughts. ⚡ Taha’s Method – Why emotional agility beats technical skill every time. 🎯 How to Turn Pain into Power – Forgive yourself. Reframe your narrative. 🔥 Beyond the Code – Why money follows meaning (not the other way around). Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction & Taha's Welcome01:13 - Taha's Background & Achievements05:13 - Show Intro05:41 - Early Career & Patterns11:21 - Career Advice & Mindset16:01 - CTA: Subscribe & Newsletter16:38 - Human Programming & Patterns27:10 - Overcoming Stuckness & Guilt45:49 - The Taha Method & Emotional Intelligence49:54 - Final Thoughts 👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURCES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com?utm_source=estd 💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj  💥 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ  💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do?  https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver?utm_source=estd  💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources https://linktr.ee/zubinpratap  💥  Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap 💥 Free Career Change to Tech Newsletter:  https://www.matchfitmastery.com/newsletters/career-change-to-tech

    50 min
  3. How I Learn Any Programming Language in Weeks (Not Months) - Pattern Recognition Secret | Ep#54

    SEP 14

    How I Learn Any Programming Language in Weeks (Not Months) - Pattern Recognition Secret | Ep#54

    What if I told you the fastest way to learn to code has nothing to do with learning 5 languages or wasting $20K on a bootcamp? Mid-career pros keep grinding tutorials, bleeding time they don’t have—while younger grads race ahead. Generic coding tutorials and courses teach you 20% of what you need to know in the real world.  In this episode, I reveal the 3-word mindset shift that unlocked Google, blockchain, and beyond for me—no tech degree required. Show Summary and FREE Resources are further below 👇 ☎️ Contact Zubin & Brian: 👉🏼  Connect with Zubin:   https://meetzubin.carrd.co/  👉🏼 Parsity Inner Circle Program (https://parsity.io/inner-circle?utm_source=estd)  👉🏼  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjenney  👉🏼  https://www.instagram.com/brianjenneycode  Timestamps & Big Ideas: 🚨 The Lie Big Tech Tells You Why coding bootcamps want you broke & overwhelmed. 💡 The Pattern That Changes Everything One simple lens makes any language click—fast. 🎯 End the Tutorial Treadmill Stop restarting from zero & start building confidence. 🛠 Tools vs. Skills Why syntax mastery is a trap—& what to focus on instead. 🚀 The Career Shortcut How busy parents land tech jobs in months, not years. Next Step: Want the exact learning map I used to jump from lawyer to Google engineer? 👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURCES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com?utm_source=estd 💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj  💥 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ  💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do?  https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver?utm_source=estd  💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources https://linktr.ee/zubinpratap  💥  Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap  💥 Free Career Change to Tech Newsletter:  https://www.matchfitmastery.com/newsletters/career-change-to-tech

    41 min
  4. Why It Took Me 5 YEARS To Get A Coding Job (The Truth No One Tells You) | Ep #53

    SEP 9

    Why It Took Me 5 YEARS To Get A Coding Job (The Truth No One Tells You) | Ep #53

    Why it took me FIVE years to land my first coding job—and how you can do it in less than 12 months (if you avoid this trap). Show Summary and FREE Resources are further below 👇 ☎️ Contact Zubin & Brian: 👉🏼  Connect with Zubin:   https://meetzubin.carrd.co/  👉🏼 Parsity Inner Circle Program ( https://parsity.io/inner-circle?utm_source=estd ) 👉🏼  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjenney   👉🏼  https://www.instagram.com/brianjenneycode   Most mid-career professionals believe coding bootcamps can flip their career in 12 weeks. The truth? That myth has crushed more dreams than it’s created. Ever feel like everyone else has the “cheat code” to tech while you’re stuck burning years on dead-end tutorials? This episode exposes why generic training fails 80% of career changers—and the unconventional mindset shift that actually gets you hired faster. Timestamps & Takeaways: The Big Lie About 3-Month Bootcamps — Why “fast-track” promises set you up to fail. The Bamboo Growth Secret — Why 5 years of “failure” can become 8 months of real success. The Physics of Career Change — The formula that predicts how long it really takes. The Minimum Effective Dose™️— The one practice that separates hired engineers from quitters. 👉 Want the exact roadmap to land interviews without wasting years? 👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURCES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com?utm_source=estd 💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj  💥 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ  💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do?  https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver?utm_source=estd  💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources https://linktr.ee/zubinpratap  💥  Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap  💥 Free Career Change to Tech Newsletter:  https://www.matchfitmastery.com/newsletters/career-change-to-tech

    37 min
  5. The WORST Learning to Code "Advice" You've Following | Ep #52

    SEP 4

    The WORST Learning to Code "Advice" You've Following | Ep #52

    Are you a career changer who wants to learn to code? Are you feeling stuck in a loop of endless tutorials, portfolio projects, and imposter syndrome? Perhaps it feels like everyone else has the secret key to break into the tech industry, while you're left guessing.  You’ve been told to just "push through" and that "everyone's journey is different," but this so-called advice is actually keeping you from getting a job, and a lot of the advice you get online is gaslighting you. The advice from many influencers and computer science graduates ignores the REALITIES of mid-career professionals who have families, mortgages, and limited time to learn. But your age and experience are your advantage, You just have to learn how (and when) to use them. Show Summary and FREE Resources are further below 👇 ☎️ Contact Zubin & Brian: 👉🏼  Connect with Zubin:   https://meetzubin.carrd.co/  👉🏼 Parsity Inner Circle Program ( https://parsity.io/inner-circle?utm_source=estd )  👉🏼  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjenney   👉🏼  https://www.instagram.com/brianjenneycode   In this episode, I'll expose the worst advice holding you back and reveal the unlock that helped me go from a 37-year-old lawyer to a professional software engineer at Google in under a year. This isn't about working harder; it's about a no-BS approach that gets you hired.  Tutorial Hell vs. The Systematic Path The Trap: You’re told to skip tutorials and just build projects, but this is like being told to jump into a Formula 1 race car without a single lesson.  The Unlock: The real issue isn't tutorials, it's random tutorials. You need a structured, layered learning path that builds on itself, just like the one people forget they had in college         .  The Imposter Syndrome Lie 🎯 The Lie: "Just push through your imposter syndrome". This advice ignores that what you're feeling isn't a "syndrome"—it's a very real  competence gap.  The Solution: Reframe the feeling. Imposter syndrome is your brain's neon sign telling you exactly what skills you need to learn next to close that gap.  The "Free Community" Scam 💰  The Trap: Joining free communities with thousands of other beginners. This is a support group, not a learning environment, and it's designed to keep you stuck.  The Truth: You don't need a support group. You need a few people who have already done what you want to do and have "skin in the game" to help you succeed.  Why DSA Isn’t What You Think it is 💡 The Lie: "You must master data structures and algorithms (DSA) or you'll never get hired" . This is a myth pushed by big tech companies to filter candidates, and it ignores the 99% of the market that doesn't use it.  The Reality: Most jobs require you to build real-world applications, not reverse binary trees. While you're grinding on algorithms, other career changers are learning the practical skills that actually matter and getting hired.  Want more no-BS insights? Subscribe to the podcast and hit the notification bell so you don't miss out on more industry insights that will help you land a tech job. 👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURCES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com?utm_source=estd 💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj  💥 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ  💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do?  https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver?utm_source=estd  💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources https://linktr.ee/zubinpratap  💥  Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap  💥 Free Career Change to Tech Newsletter:  https://www.matchfitmastery.com/newsletters/career-change-to-tech

    35 min
  6. The Inner Game of Coding : Why You're Struggling to Learn | Ep#51

    AUG 28

    The Inner Game of Coding : Why You're Struggling to Learn | Ep#51

    The #1 reason mid-career professionals fail at coding has nothing to do with IQ, bootcamps, or degrees—it’s all in your inner game. They don’t want you to know this. Show Summary and FREE Resources are further below 👇   Ever feel like tech is a locked door and everyone else has the key? You’ve bought courses, maybe even tried a bootcamp, but the overwhelm, frustration, and self-doubt creep back in. Here’s the truth: generic training fails 80% of career changers because it ignores the silent killer—your psychology. In this episode, you’ll discover the mindset shift that separates those who land tech jobs from those who quietly quit. (Hint: It’s not another “grind harder” hack.) ⏱ Key Points 🚨 The Lie Big Tech Tells You • Why bootcamps oversell shortcuts—and set you up to fail. 💡 The Silent Killer of Career Change • The inner barrier no course will fix for you. 🎯 The Four Traps That Derail Coders • Frustration, overwhelm, comparison, and loneliness—and how to flip them. 🚀 The Mindset Reset • The counterintuitive psychology trick that keeps you moving when others quit. ☎️ Contact Zubin & Brian: 👉🏼  Connect with Zubin:  https://meetzubin.carrd.co/ 👉🏼 Parsity Inner Circle Program (https://parsity.io/inner-circle?utm_source=estd) 👉🏼  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjenney   👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURCES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com?utm_source=estd 💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj 💥 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ 💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do?  https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver?utm_source=estd 💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources https://linktr.ee/zubinpratap 💥  Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap 💥 Free Career Change to Tech Newsletter:  https://www.matchfitmastery.com/newsletters/career-change-to-tech

    17 min
  7. A Code Review at Google Almost Broke me | Ep#50

    AUG 22

    A Code Review at Google Almost Broke me | Ep#50

    Coding is a hard skill. We know that. but What happens when your very first code review brings out the worst impostor syndrom? In this episode, host Zubin Pratap takes you inside his journey from being a 39-year-old ex-lawyer turned self-taught developer to landing a role at Google—only to be hit with a really difficult code review.   Show Summary and FREE Resources Is Further Below👇 ☎️ Contact Zubin & Brian: 👉🏼  Connect with Zubin:   https://meetzubin.carrd.co/ 👉🏼 Parsity Inner Circle Program (https://parsity.io/inner-circle?utm_source=estd) 👉🏼  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjenney 👉🏼  https://www.instagram.com/brianjenneycode From imposter syndrome to the myth of the “genius coder,” Zubin opens up about the psychological toll of feedback and the lessons he learned to not just survive, but thrive, in high-pressure engineering environments. You’ll discover: 💡 Why your code is not you—and how to separate feedback from self-worth. 🔑 The power of assuming good intent (even when comments feel harsh). 🛠️ How to view every code review as unstructured mentorship. 🙏 Why “thank you” is the most powerful response you can give. 🧠 How to control the inner narrative that fuels (or sabotages) your growth. Along the way, Zubin shares behind-the-scenes insights about working inside Google’s massive monorepo, the shock of transitioning from a tiny startup to big tech, and how criticism can become a catalyst for mastery if approached with the right mindset. Whether you’re just starting your dev career, breaking into big tech, or still navigating the sting of tough feedback, this episode will help you turn code reviews into your greatest growth engine. 👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURCES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com?utm_source=estd 💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj 💥 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ 💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do?  https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver?utm_source=estd 💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources https://linktr.ee/zubinpratap 💥  Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap 💥 Free Career Change to Tech Newsletter:  https://www.matchfitmastery.com/newsletters/career-change-to-tech

    25 min
  8. Become a Technical Startup Founder | Ep#49

    AUG 14

    Become a Technical Startup Founder | Ep#49

    Are you an aspiring founder without a technical co-founder? You're not alone. Many entrepreneurs waste years looking for a CTO, pitching developers, and watching their ideas stall. In this episode, I share my proven method for how to build a startup without a co-founder. Show Summary and FREE Resources Is Further Below👇 ☎️  Connect With Zubin & Brian: 👉🏼 Parsity Inner Circle Program (https://parsity.io/inner-circle?utm_source=estd) 👉🏼  https://www.linkedin.com/in/zubinpratap/ 👉🏼  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjenney 👉🏼  https://www.instagram.com/brianjenneycode 👉🏼  https://www.instagram.com/zubinpratap  As a 37-year-old lawyer who became a software engineer at Google, I'll reveal my journey and the lean, efficient way I learned to code. You'll discover why you don't need a degree or a traditional bootcamp to get your ideas off the ground. Key Topics: The "Co-Founder Mirage": Why the endless search for a technical partner is a losing game. The Minimum Effective Dose: How to learn just enough coding to build and ship your product. How to build credibility so top engineers will want to work with you. A practical, small-project strategy to de-risk your startup and accelerate your skills.    👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURCES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com?utm_source=estd 💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj 💥 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ 💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do?  https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver?utm_source=estd 💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources https://linktr.ee/zubinpratap 💥  Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap 💥 Free Career Change to Tech Newsletter:  https://www.matchfitmastery.com/newsletters/career-change-to-tech

    30 min
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About

A podcast dedicated to career change, getting hired to code, AI engineering, where I share the things that worked when I went from 37yo lawyer to FANG/Big Tech Software Engineer.

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