What a Netflix Senior Data Engineer Taught Us About Winning in Tech—And It’s Not What You Think
Spoiler: Tech is easy. Business is hard. And your ability to communicate might just be your biggest flex
We recently had an enriching conversation with Jarriett, a Senior Data Engineer at Netflix. His success at Netflix isn't a mere coincidence—it's a powerful story of continuous learning, resilience, and compounded experience accumulated over many years. Individuals with 18 years of hands-on engineering experience, retaining his extraordinary level of curiosity, are indeed rare. Here's a distilled summary of his key recommendations:
"Use Custom GPT to Enhance Productivity"
Jarriett shared practical tips on utilizing AI tools, such as custom GPTs, to efficiently prepare for tasks like interviews. Leveraging these technologies effectively can save time, maintain focus, and elevate productivity.
"Tell Your Project Story Like a Founder"
When approaching behavioral interviews or discussions, Jarriett advises framing your projects as a founder would. Clearly articulate the problem, your process, the impact, and lessons learned. This narrative style demonstrates ownership and deep business understanding.
"Tech is Easy—Business is Tough"
One of the most impactful points Jarriett emphasized was that technical problems, while complex, are relatively straightforward compared to the nuanced, intricate challenges presented by business contexts. AI is increasingly managing technical tasks, highlighting the necessity for professionals to develop competencies AI cannot easily replicate, such as strategic business understanding and effective communication.
"Document Clearly and Tailor to Your Audience"
Effective documentation was another crucial lesson from Jarriett. He emphasizes tailoring your documentation to your audience: provide deep technical details when communicating with engineers and offer higher-level insights when engaging with business stakeholders. Documenting clearly ensures your contributions are recognized and remain influential long after your direct involvement. Additionally, he highlighted that thorough documentation makes your name appear frequently in internal searches and documents, thereby building recognition and visibility across your organization.
"Step Out of the Tech Bubble and Be a Detective"
Professionals should actively engage with the business side of projects, understanding stakeholders' real-world problems and motivations. Jarriett suggested adopting a detective-like mindset: asking probing questions, being curious, and identifying underlying business problems when talking to teams. This approach enhances your value in projects and reflects positively during performance reviews.
"Stay Curious and Effective"
Curiosity was repeatedly highlighted as a key trait. Being genuinely interested in exploring and solving problems fosters continuous growth and innovation. Jarriett exemplified effectiveness by integrating continuous learning into everyday tasks, such as listening to audio transcriptions of books during routine activities.
"Write Understandable, Simple Code"
He cautioned against overly clever or compact coding practices. Clear, understandable, and well-commented code is far more valuable than code that saves a few lines but is opaque to your colleagues. Simplicity in coding enhances maintainability and collaboration.
"Resilience and Positive Mindset"
Jarriett's journey to Netflix was marked by resilience. Even after initially facing setbacks in the interview process, his positive attitude, continued self-improvement, and unwavering resilience eventually led him to success.
Recommended Reads for Personal Growth
Finally, Jarriett generously shared several book recommendations that have significantly influenced his professional outlook:
In summary, Jarriett’s insights underscore the importance of balancing technical expertise with strategic business thinking, effective communication, continuous learning, and tailored documentation to excel as a data professional in an increasingly AI-driven world. We sincerely thank Jarriett for generously sharing his valuable time and insights. If you'd like to connect with him or explore more of his professional journey, you can find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarriett/