Thimo Koolen
@thimok.bsky.social
Sharing career strategies that help aspiring software engineers get hired & juniors escape the ‘junior trap’
Reposted by Thimo Koolen
Most devs would say coffee is what energizes them at work. Not me.
Yes. Coffee helps.
But what really kept me energized this week?
Excitement.
- New challenges
- New faces
- A team that makes me laugh
THAT is the real caffeine.
True passion makes long days easier.
Yes. Coffee helps.
But what really kept me energized this week?
Excitement.
- New challenges
- New faces
- A team that makes me laugh
THAT is the real caffeine.
True passion makes long days easier.
November 12, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Most devs would say coffee is what energizes them at work. Not me.
Yes. Coffee helps.
But what really kept me energized this week?
Excitement.
- New challenges
- New faces
- A team that makes me laugh
THAT is the real caffeine.
True passion makes long days easier.
Yes. Coffee helps.
But what really kept me energized this week?
Excitement.
- New challenges
- New faces
- A team that makes me laugh
THAT is the real caffeine.
True passion makes long days easier.
Most devs would say coffee is what energizes them at work. Not me.
Yes. Coffee helps.
But what really kept me energized this week?
Excitement.
- New challenges
- New faces
- A team that makes me laugh
THAT is the real caffeine.
True passion makes long days easier.
Yes. Coffee helps.
But what really kept me energized this week?
Excitement.
- New challenges
- New faces
- A team that makes me laugh
THAT is the real caffeine.
True passion makes long days easier.
November 12, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Most devs would say coffee is what energizes them at work. Not me.
Yes. Coffee helps.
But what really kept me energized this week?
Excitement.
- New challenges
- New faces
- A team that makes me laugh
THAT is the real caffeine.
True passion makes long days easier.
Yes. Coffee helps.
But what really kept me energized this week?
Excitement.
- New challenges
- New faces
- A team that makes me laugh
THAT is the real caffeine.
True passion makes long days easier.
Reposted by Thimo Koolen
In my first years as a software engineer, I was afraid to ask questions. I’d sit around for hours trying to solve it myself. But here’s how I learned to ask them fast:
A few years ago, I’d sit quietly in meetings.
I thought: “I’ll figure it out later.”
Spoiler:
I rarely did.
A few years ago, I’d sit quietly in meetings.
I thought: “I’ll figure it out later.”
Spoiler:
I rarely did.
November 11, 2025 at 6:30 AM
In my first years as a software engineer, I was afraid to ask questions. I’d sit around for hours trying to solve it myself. But here’s how I learned to ask them fast:
A few years ago, I’d sit quietly in meetings.
I thought: “I’ll figure it out later.”
Spoiler:
I rarely did.
A few years ago, I’d sit quietly in meetings.
I thought: “I’ll figure it out later.”
Spoiler:
I rarely did.
In my first years as a software engineer, I was afraid to ask questions. I’d sit around for hours trying to solve it myself. But here’s how I learned to ask them fast:
A few years ago, I’d sit quietly in meetings.
I thought: “I’ll figure it out later.”
Spoiler:
I rarely did.
A few years ago, I’d sit quietly in meetings.
I thought: “I’ll figure it out later.”
Spoiler:
I rarely did.
November 11, 2025 at 6:30 AM
In my first years as a software engineer, I was afraid to ask questions. I’d sit around for hours trying to solve it myself. But here’s how I learned to ask them fast:
A few years ago, I’d sit quietly in meetings.
I thought: “I’ll figure it out later.”
Spoiler:
I rarely did.
A few years ago, I’d sit quietly in meetings.
I thought: “I’ll figure it out later.”
Spoiler:
I rarely did.
Reposted by Thimo Koolen
Last week I started work with a new client. A new team, new environment and new learning opportunities. Here’s what I learned from my first day:
Monday the 3rd of November was an exciting day:
I started work with a new client!
Monday the 3rd of November was an exciting day:
I started work with a new client!
November 10, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Last week I started work with a new client. A new team, new environment and new learning opportunities. Here’s what I learned from my first day:
Monday the 3rd of November was an exciting day:
I started work with a new client!
Monday the 3rd of November was an exciting day:
I started work with a new client!
Last week I started work with a new client. A new team, new environment and new learning opportunities. Here’s what I learned from my first day:
Monday the 3rd of November was an exciting day:
I started work with a new client!
Monday the 3rd of November was an exciting day:
I started work with a new client!
November 10, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Last week I started work with a new client. A new team, new environment and new learning opportunities. Here’s what I learned from my first day:
Monday the 3rd of November was an exciting day:
I started work with a new client!
Monday the 3rd of November was an exciting day:
I started work with a new client!
What's your favorite underrated development tool? #Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Code #Tools #Underrated
November 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM
What's your favorite underrated development tool? #Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Code #Tools #Underrated
Reposted by Thimo Koolen
I caught myself overthinking a simple line of code last week.
Then I remembered this:
Everyone feels like they don't belong sometimes.
That's why I:
- Share my failures openly with my team (or on the internet, whoops)
- Ask "dumb" questions in meetings without shame
Then I remembered this:
Everyone feels like they don't belong sometimes.
That's why I:
- Share my failures openly with my team (or on the internet, whoops)
- Ask "dumb" questions in meetings without shame
November 9, 2025 at 6:30 AM
I caught myself overthinking a simple line of code last week.
Then I remembered this:
Everyone feels like they don't belong sometimes.
That's why I:
- Share my failures openly with my team (or on the internet, whoops)
- Ask "dumb" questions in meetings without shame
Then I remembered this:
Everyone feels like they don't belong sometimes.
That's why I:
- Share my failures openly with my team (or on the internet, whoops)
- Ask "dumb" questions in meetings without shame
Morning all! How do you handle imposter syndrome as a developer? #Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Code #Imposter #ImposterSyndrome
November 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Morning all! How do you handle imposter syndrome as a developer? #Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Code #Imposter #ImposterSyndrome
Reposted by Thimo Koolen
I'm sure it's all great and there's no issues:
November 7, 2025 at 6:30 AM
I'm sure it's all great and there's no issues:
I'm sure it's all great and there's no issues:
November 7, 2025 at 6:30 AM
I'm sure it's all great and there's no issues:
Good morning all! How do ou approach giving feedback on messy code without demotivating someone? #Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Code #Feedback #Demotivation
November 7, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Good morning all! How do ou approach giving feedback on messy code without demotivating someone? #Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Code #Feedback #Demotivation
Reposted by Thimo Koolen
“Readability” won my last poll about great code reviews by a landslide. Yet most PRs I see still struggle with it. Here’s why:
Last week, I ran a quick poll on LinkedIn:
“When giving or receiving a PR review, what matters most?”
Here’s how the devs voted:
- Structure & readability: 60%
Last week, I ran a quick poll on LinkedIn:
“When giving or receiving a PR review, what matters most?”
Here’s how the devs voted:
- Structure & readability: 60%
November 6, 2025 at 6:30 AM
“Readability” won my last poll about great code reviews by a landslide. Yet most PRs I see still struggle with it. Here’s why:
Last week, I ran a quick poll on LinkedIn:
“When giving or receiving a PR review, what matters most?”
Here’s how the devs voted:
- Structure & readability: 60%
Last week, I ran a quick poll on LinkedIn:
“When giving or receiving a PR review, what matters most?”
Here’s how the devs voted:
- Structure & readability: 60%
“Readability” won my last poll about great code reviews by a landslide. Yet most PRs I see still struggle with it. Here’s why:
Last week, I ran a quick poll on LinkedIn:
“When giving or receiving a PR review, what matters most?”
Here’s how the devs voted:
- Structure & readability: 60%
Last week, I ran a quick poll on LinkedIn:
“When giving or receiving a PR review, what matters most?”
Here’s how the devs voted:
- Structure & readability: 60%
November 6, 2025 at 6:30 AM
“Readability” won my last poll about great code reviews by a landslide. Yet most PRs I see still struggle with it. Here’s why:
Last week, I ran a quick poll on LinkedIn:
“When giving or receiving a PR review, what matters most?”
Here’s how the devs voted:
- Structure & readability: 60%
Last week, I ran a quick poll on LinkedIn:
“When giving or receiving a PR review, what matters most?”
Here’s how the devs voted:
- Structure & readability: 60%
If you had to name your codebase like a theme park ride, what would it be called? #Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Code #Humor #Themepark
November 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM
If you had to name your codebase like a theme park ride, what would it be called? #Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Code #Humor #Themepark
Reposted by Thimo Koolen
Last Wednesday, someone asked me why I spend time writing on LinkedIn.
It wasn't a challenge, just curiosity. But it did make me reflect on why I keep doing it.
And honestly?
That’s a valid question:
- I spend several hours weekly on writing and keeping up-to-date with comments
It wasn't a challenge, just curiosity. But it did make me reflect on why I keep doing it.
And honestly?
That’s a valid question:
- I spend several hours weekly on writing and keeping up-to-date with comments
November 5, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Last Wednesday, someone asked me why I spend time writing on LinkedIn.
It wasn't a challenge, just curiosity. But it did make me reflect on why I keep doing it.
And honestly?
That’s a valid question:
- I spend several hours weekly on writing and keeping up-to-date with comments
It wasn't a challenge, just curiosity. But it did make me reflect on why I keep doing it.
And honestly?
That’s a valid question:
- I spend several hours weekly on writing and keeping up-to-date with comments
Let's start the day with a laugh: What's your "I have no idea why this works, but it does" coding moment? #Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Code #WhyDoesThisWork #Humor
November 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Let's start the day with a laugh: What's your "I have no idea why this works, but it does" coding moment? #Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Code #WhyDoesThisWork #Humor
Reposted by Thimo Koolen
Last week at the Techorama conference, I attended two talks about soft skills. They reminded me how much our industry still underestimates them.
Among all the AI and Aspire buzz, these two sessions inspired me the most.
Among all the AI and Aspire buzz, these two sessions inspired me the most.
November 4, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Last week at the Techorama conference, I attended two talks about soft skills. They reminded me how much our industry still underestimates them.
Among all the AI and Aspire buzz, these two sessions inspired me the most.
Among all the AI and Aspire buzz, these two sessions inspired me the most.
Last week at the Techorama conference, I attended two talks about soft skills. They reminded me how much our industry still underestimates them.
Among all the AI and Aspire buzz, these two sessions inspired me the most.
Among all the AI and Aspire buzz, these two sessions inspired me the most.
November 4, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Last week at the Techorama conference, I attended two talks about soft skills. They reminded me how much our industry still underestimates them.
Among all the AI and Aspire buzz, these two sessions inspired me the most.
Among all the AI and Aspire buzz, these two sessions inspired me the most.
Good morning devs! What advice would you give to your younger self as a developer? #Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Code #Advice #YoungerSelf
November 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Good morning devs! What advice would you give to your younger self as a developer? #Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Code #Advice #YoungerSelf
Reposted by Thimo Koolen
I'm an introverted developer who used to avoid networking breaks. Yet last year, I went to 15 conferences, and already 12 this year. Here's why I keep showing up (and why you should too):
It feels like quite the contradiction, doesn’t it?
Well, not actually!
It feels like quite the contradiction, doesn’t it?
Well, not actually!
November 3, 2025 at 6:30 AM
I'm an introverted developer who used to avoid networking breaks. Yet last year, I went to 15 conferences, and already 12 this year. Here's why I keep showing up (and why you should too):
It feels like quite the contradiction, doesn’t it?
Well, not actually!
It feels like quite the contradiction, doesn’t it?
Well, not actually!
I'm an introverted developer who used to avoid networking breaks. Yet last year, I went to 15 conferences, and already 12 this year. Here's why I keep showing up (and why you should too):
It feels like quite the contradiction, doesn’t it?
Well, not actually!
It feels like quite the contradiction, doesn’t it?
Well, not actually!
November 3, 2025 at 6:30 AM
I'm an introverted developer who used to avoid networking breaks. Yet last year, I went to 15 conferences, and already 12 this year. Here's why I keep showing up (and why you should too):
It feels like quite the contradiction, doesn’t it?
Well, not actually!
It feels like quite the contradiction, doesn’t it?
Well, not actually!