{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/655148df2861630012a1d01b/69917e4e4d911476d8a0c2dd?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Mikhail Korolev: How to Hack the Job Market & Get Into VIP Rooms","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/655148df2861630012a1d01b/1771142683395-4065cdd2-067f-4670-adcd-02cbc9b48e82.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Links</p><p><br></p><p>- CodeCrafters: https://codecrafters.io</p><p>- Kyle Simpson (You Don't Know JS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEMG7Oxuan8</p><p>- Josh Goldberg (CFP Advice): https://www.joshuakgoldberg.com/blog/how-i-apply-to-conferences/</p><p>- JSHeroes CFP Guide: https://jsheroes.io/ (See blog section)</p><p>- CFP.watch (by Roudy): https://cfp.watch</p><p>- confs.tech (mentioned at ~00:34): https://confs.tech</p><p>- Guillermo Rauch Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6NzkPBjwpwLmhIntEUB95x?si=51ac6de6d8fa4f8e</p><p>- Santosh Yadav Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7HIl3zqyDd3cZDmJLzKR58</p><p>- Jeff Escalante Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf2E3dWfK3k</p><p>- System Design in 15 Minutes (Hello Interview): https://www.hellointerview.com/learn/system-design/in-a-hurry/introduction</p><p>- Mikhail Korolev (X/Twitter): https://x.com/mkrl__</p><p>- Mikhail on GitHub: https://github.com/mkrl</p><p>- Mikhail on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkrl/</p><p>- Mikhail on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mkrl.xyz</p><p><br></p><p>Summary</p><p><br></p><p>I sat down with Mikhail \"Misha\" Korolev to discuss a reality many engineers face but rarely talk about: how to get into rooms where you technically \"don't belong.\" We explored his journey from being unemployed after Toptal to networking his way into VIP dinners and eventually landing a role at Tekmetric. We dug deep into the \"Pac-Man Rule\" for networking, why I believe you shouldn't pursue DevRel jobs at companies with unfinished products, and the specific \"cheat codes\" Misha used to bypass standard interview gates—including how he used ChatGPT to speed-run a LeetCode assessment. If you're currently navigating the job market or trying to pivot from engineering to public speaking, this conversation is a masterclass in making your own luck.</p><p><br></p><p>Chapters</p><p><br></p><p>00:00:00 Intro &amp; Sponsors</p><p>00:02:45 The \"VIP Dinner\" Strategy</p><p>00:06:00 How to Enter Rooms You \"Don't Belong\" In</p><p>00:12:20 The Pac-Man Rule for Networking</p><p>00:15:00 Dealing with Competitive Networking (The MKBHD Effect)</p><p>00:20:00 Why You Shouldn't Idolize Tech Celebrities</p><p>00:28:00 How to Start Speaking at Conferences (CFP Hacks)</p><p>00:35:00 Live Coding vs. Pre-recorded Demos</p><p>00:43:00 The Truth About DevRel vs. Engineering</p><p>00:58:00 Misha's Accidental Path to Engineering (Quake &amp; Turbo Pascal)</p><p>01:07:30 Job Hunting in a Brutal Market</p><p>01:13:30 Using ChatGPT to Pass LeetCode Interviews</p><p>01:20:00 Getting Referrals (The Supabase Story)</p><p>01:27:00 Closing Advice: Just Go</p><p><br></p>","author_name":"Tejas Kumar"}