In this episode of The Developer’s Journey, Ray Dilobos shares insights on career persistence, effective negotiation, and the benefits of remote work, emphasizing the importance of standing out, knowing your worth, and maintaining focus in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. He also highlights strategies for continuous learning and resilience, encouraging developers to follow their passions and prioritize purposeful growth.
In this episode of The Developer’s Journey, hosts Ronald Dolph and Olivia McVicker interview Ray Dilobos, a senior staff instructor at LinkedIn Learning with extensive experience in teaching and creating courses, especially in AI. Ray shares his unique career path, highlighting the importance of persistence and creativity in job applications. After applying multiple times to LinkedIn Learning without success, he changed his approach by pitching a course idea that stood out, which eventually led to his hiring. This story underscores the value of standing out and adapting strategies when pursuing career opportunities.
Ray emphasizes the significance of negotiation in career growth, sharing his personal experience of nearly doubling his salary within a few months through effective negotiation. He advises developers to know their worth, have a clear walk-away number, and approach negotiations professionally and positively. The hosts discuss strategies for handling salary questions from recruiters, recommending diplomatic responses that avoid revealing current salaries and instead focus on salary expectations and market research. Negotiation is framed not just as a financial discussion but as a demonstration of professionalism and self-worth.
The conversation then shifts to the future of remote work in software engineering. Ray, who has been working remotely for 14 years, strongly believes remote work is the future due to the focus and flow it allows developers. He acknowledges the value of occasional in-person meetings for building relationships but stresses that most development work benefits from the concentration that remote work facilitates. Tips for staying productive remotely include blocking focused work time and participating in social events or meetups to maintain human connections and team cohesion.
Regarding staying current with rapidly evolving technologies like AI, Ray shares his approach of subscribing to newsletters, following key influencers on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), and consuming curated content from trusted YouTube channels and podcasts. He advises developers to focus on one core area, limit learning time to avoid burnout, and apply new knowledge through projects or summaries to reinforce learning. This intentional approach helps maintain relevance without becoming overwhelmed by the volume of information.
Finally, Ray reflects on the highs and lows of his tech career, emphasizing resilience and values-driven decision-making during challenging times. He finds inspiration in the impact his teaching has on learners, sharing how receiving heartfelt feedback from students motivates him to maintain high standards. The episode concludes with the hosts highlighting key takeaways: know your worth and negotiate confidently, follow your passions even if your path is non-linear, and remember your purpose—helping others grow and succeed in their own journeys.