austin cumberlander live + finding a job as a developer by putting out content

full transcript

auto-generated from the audio, so expect a few typos. the audio is the source of truth.

This is gonna be a good one. So if you got 15 minutes, I admire Austin from afar. So this will be a good one. And Austin just is sitting there looking awkwardly into his camera and waiting for this muted stop. Nice. Rod, let's go on, man. South Carolina represent. What's up, dude? What the high school, Rod? That's cool. Awesome. All right. So we'll get started. We'll get started. We'll get started. Don't want to take up Austin's time any longer. So anyway, thank you for tuning to Guy's Council 2.0. The live edition. Daryl is going on morning from Nashville. So I've talked a lot about putting out content.

And I would say that I have somebody who I've admired from afar that has started to put out content. And I want to have them on. Again, the whole point of this is 15 minutes of just me sharing my stories and other individual stories. And so without further ado, Austin, I want you to introduce yourself. Tell the people who you are, what you do. And then we'll get into a little discussion. Yeah, sure. So my name is Austin Carmelander. I guess you can say I'm a junior software developer. I recently put in my resignation in my last company. But at this point, I'm in the process of trying to land my next position.

And pretty much I've been putting up content on LinkedIn to try to, I guess, get my name out there to try to supplement and help getting that next job. And yeah, I guess that's it. I love it. No, that's awesome. So everybody's washing right now. I want to kind of go and dive right into it. So a lot of people are scared to put out content. A lot of people scared to put themselves out there. I would say you're the first out of the National Software School group to really like set up a camera, put out content. I mean, I was watching myself. I was catching myself watching your content even yesterday.

So the big thing I want to ask me is like, what made you do that? Because we were not in a pandemic when you did it. There's a lot of arguments to do it now. There's no networking. There's no meetups. But you were doing it before the world was burning. So, so, so, so talk through the process of why you wanted to put out content. Yeah. So basically, I, okay. So it started off with me seeing someone else actually do it. And I'm connected with her on LinkedIn. She's also a software developer. And I believe at the time was going to a software bootcamp in Atlanta.

Her name is Shante Austin. If you guys want to like, you know, connect with her on LinkedIn. But I noticed that she was posting, you know, just projects that she had completed. And, but I noticed that her view count was like really high for a lot of these videos. And that's when I started to like around that same time when I noticed that she was posting that content. And also, I'm a fan. I follow Gary Vaynerchuk. Yeah. Yeah. That's how Gary Vee, if you're watching, you're not. Right. But, but I know at the, also around that same time, he was saying that LinkedIn is a really good spot to start posting content.

Because they hadn't at least at the time anyway. They hadn't, they didn't have any sort of algorithm in place that would make it to where, you know, they would only show certain content as opposed to to other content. It was very much so just organic growth. Yeah. So, anytime you put up content, it was just going to show it to all of your connections. So, kind of from taking from that, you know, and then seeing someone actually do it. I was like, okay, I'm going to try to do it. I want to try to do this because I felt like it was a way to be able to market myself.

So, I would be able to, so that I would be able to get my first job, you know, be able to get my foot in the door. And that was pretty much the, the mindset. And after I put up that first video and I saw that it did get thousands of people. Yeah. Like, yeah. Yeah. I'm going to keep doing this. So, let me ask you this. So, did you get your, I guess the big question is, I don't, I think I know the answer. And if it's not the answer, then it won't be that great. Did you get your first job because you put out content on the internet?

Yes. Yeah. There we go. There we go. Yeah. If that, if I got that wrong, I've been like great. Well, we're going to have the show now. And y'all have a good thanks again. No, I think it's so important. So talk, talk about that process when, because I've heard some things, but obviously I want to hear from you on, on what the post was, what generated, because I've heard stories from like, like, Trey Suter, right? Shout out Trey, if you're watching from Nashville, or school, he was at his, what's in post the LinkedIn post. It got to the VP of engineering at some company, Bill and God, not for, right?

Or at least started conversation. So, so I'm going to show this kind of hear your story from, from that post. Yeah. Yeah. So, I think so the post that I had, I guess it was the second to last that, that went the most viral, or rather got the most views, I should say. It was when it was the video where I was talking about how I was, I was just given an overview of an interview that I went to, and how I didn't get the job. But I was letting it be known that I was still going to keep going, and, you know, looking for the next thing.

And I think that video had generated around like 20,000 views or something like that. And, um, 20,000 views? Yeah. Also real quick, for those of you who are watching, if you have any questions for Austin, please comment in the chat. We've got a few more, we got Brian from Birmingham, what's up Brian. So, sorry, go ahead, Austin. So, yeah, so, so that was like, at the time, that was the highest, you count video that I had. And that was the video that had, you know, got the attention of a recruiter. He saw it, and, you know, he said that he enjoyed what I was talking about, and he enjoyed that, it seemed like I was very much, you know, trying to get into the space and, you know, had a positive energy about myself.

And so, because of that, he was able to put me in contact with, with the higher up person, with the company that I ended up getting with. We had a conversation, and he just kind of, he just kind of went from there, and eventually ended up getting awesome. Yeah. That's so awesome. So, so what do you do? So, people probably watching this, and they're like, all right, Austin, that's great. Taylor, that's great. You have all, of all the cameras and the setups and stuff like that. What would you say that, that, that you need to do to get started, or, or how to get started, or what to post, right?

I get a lot, I'm sure you get, I don't know what to post, are people going to be interested in my story. I mean, you are literally like the poster child of, yes, I think people are fascinating with people's stories. So, talking about how to get started, and what to post, or how to start, just in general. Okay. Yeah. So, I don't, I don't really know that there's like a, like a step, like a guideline in terms to starting to create content. I guess the only thing that I could really say, in, at least in terms of a software developer, you know, if you're the type of person that you see yourself as like, you know, you shy, you don't necessarily want to put yourself on camera.

You can do, just like what I had mentioned, the person that kind of inspired me to start doing it in the first place, like what Sean said started to do. All she was doing was just posting the projects that she had completed, you know, and scripting of what it was. And, you know, that was, that was kind of it. And just saying that, hey, this is, this is something that I'm working on, this is what I learned, and then you move on to the next thing. So, that's, that's an option. And as far as like, you know, actually telling your own story, I think something that's important to note is that like, I kind of was surprised at how, how much feedback I got from the, from the videos that I posted where I wasn't specifically talking about projects more so where I was talking about, you know, just my journey in general, what I was how I was feeling, what I was doing.

You'd be surprised at how many people would take interest in those type of things, because, you know, a lot of people, I guess a lot of people wouldn't think that we have more in common than, than you would think, you know what I mean. But sharing, sharing your experiences, you, I think you'll come to find that a lot of people will resonate, can relate to it and, you know, really resonate with them. So, I just say don't be afraid to do it. Just try to put out anything that you think is valuable. I love that. Hey, so we got a question there. Thanks for the question.

What are the pros and cons of video content versus written content versus graphic content. So I have my thoughts, but also I want to see what you seem with kind of with with with with your posts. I would say like the biggest pro of video content is probably just that it gets more attention, you know, just just in general. I think not, not only video. Yeah, for video content. That's the pro with that. It's just that it gets more people's attention. And that's just not just with LinkedIn. I think that's with all platforms. When you use video people are going to more than likely stops growing and they're developed might take the time to try to see like what is this, you know what I mean.

And in the next thing, I guess on that that hierarchy of our would of do it would probably be video graphic content and then written content. And that's just because like the nature of people I think they, you know, I feel like the, you know, is getting shorter. So sure. Like people already dropping off. Like people kind of hearing from us already. Yeah. So hierarchy wise, I would say video content, graphic content, written content just because of people just attention span. As far as like the cons for these things, I would say video content. It just takes longer. It takes longer. It is. Especially if you're putting a lot of like, you know, different types of things into the, you know, it takes more to get.

It takes longer for you to put it out. So turn around. It's a little bit longer. And that and that can kind of be said the same thing about graphic content, but probably not as long written content is not so much work. It has to be done. But again, you leave you black out on attention on. Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. Same way, Darrell. I agree. I mean, listen, but I, but I've had some written content pop more than video content. All of it. You just need to post all of it. You just need to post all of it. Alex Alex is a dear friend of mine chef.

And I think it's fantastic. And if we're talking about hacking Facebook, I need to have Alex on this because he hacks Facebook so well against people engaged in conversation with Alex says on this topic. I was once told there are seven billion people on the planet. Somewhere we'll share your interest or vision. Just don't be scared to put it out there. 100% agreed dude. Post away the tech community is awesome. And then live video under two minutes is is is gold. Yeah. I mean, I would say everything that I kind of really try to focus at is kind of that that 90 second window. You know, I've shortened my podcast from a 30 minute thing to this 15 minute live thing.

Right. And even then, you know, if it's shorter. Great. So yeah, I mean, I think we live in a TLDR culture. Yeah. Right. Yeah. And so like, you know, and you need to think about that for Britain and audio and video and all of so awesome. So I think update us update the viewers on your job search. Yeah. I saw your name pop up on LinkedIn. I saw your video and you talked about looking again. So have you started to get traction again from putting out content? I'm a little bit. I've gotten some some pains here and there. So yeah, like I guess you can I just I just started to, you know, put a little bit of money on it.

Yeah. So it's probably going to take a little minute for me to start getting that traction again. But as far as, you know, going through the projects and putting up the content, I think things are going well. So trying to figure out a format per se. But yeah. It's I would say it's going well. I love it. Man. Yeah. I'm Brandon R. Bay tuning in bringing our heads up my marketing efforts. Brandon have to have to balance participating trends. With finding your voice to stand out often going against the trend to stand out. So yeah, I totally agree with that. There's one. Actually, what is the best way to start this stream to be engaging.

Yeah. So I think this is important and also I'm interested here thoughts. How do you work because a lot of you will put out content. But there's very few there's there's not a lot of engagement. So what are maybe some tips and tricks that you would say to give to individuals who want to have engagement, not just post. That's actually I have my thoughts, but I want you to answer first, but if you want me to answer, but you first. Okay. Yeah. So. I mean, the only thing that I could think of is to try to find something that would be that you would think is engaging yourself.

You know, something that you think would be like what would you like to see that would be interesting that you would be able to provide some sort of knowledge or input on. And really just kind of go from there kind of gauge how people react to it. And I would just say just accordingly. But I think the key is probably to stay consistent as you possibly can. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. I totally agree with that. Yeah. I mean, you know, I would say you need to ask engaging questions. I think ending with the post, ending a post with a thought like a question mark like would love to hear thoughts.

You know, what have you done in this situation? How have you right it's putting the onus back on the individual who's who's watching. I think is incredibly important right so for you it's you know hey tell me about you know sometimes that you've dealt with the job search and some fears and I would love to hear from you right it's engaging people in conversation. It's also commenting and liking on everybody's posts right. You can have all the engagement in the world but if you're not engaging back, he's just going to go away and like people won't follow you anymore. Yeah. If you aren't commenting on it, um, there all yeah absolutely and with a trigger such question to create conversation.

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Do that. I think you did that on purpose and if the trigger question to create conversation question mark. Yes. Yes, there all. That is exactly what you do. You are understanding. All right so as we finish up here, awesome. I leave the viewers with one piece of encouragement to put out content and then I'm going to ask you about your favorite Thanksgiving side dish and then we will wrap it up. So so so last words of encouragement for people who are scared to put out content. I would say I mean, don't don't think team with the like don't take yourself too seriously when when putting you know posting content.

You know what I mean like I feel like people have a have a big fear of posting the content because they're afraid of what people are going to say about them. Like don't don't don't concern yourself with that. You know, especially if you have like a particular goal in mind. Keep that goal first and use that as your motivation to do it. You know, because once you put that person put a content out there is really just going to get easier for you. Yeah. Especially when you realize that people are supportive of what you know what you're putting out there so. Absolutely. Absolutely. All right.

Austin. So final question. Is like your favorite go to Thanksgiving dish like you have to have it. You have to have it. What is it? My mom's macaroni and cheese. Bo. Man. I love some macaroni and cheese, dude. I love it. Tell your mom to send me some. I will send her serene wrap and plastic containers. I know we can go from there. So I know you can add some for the first time. Um. I'll just play. Thank you for the great content expression. Cranberry sauce. Hey, listen, man. Teach the road. I'm not a fan, but listen, you do you. I get it. So again, Austin, thanks for tuning in.

Thanks for hanging with me. Everybody. Thanks for tuning in. You have one Thanksgiving. This is it for me for the week. I'm going to turn it off and spend time with families. So awesome. Thanks for hanging with everybody. Betz luck. I enjoyed your obviously. Thank you man, I thank you. Alright, see ya.