Thimo Koolen
@thimok.bsky.social
Sharing career strategies that help aspiring software engineers get hired & juniors escape the ‘junior trap’
Just testing a hypothetical scenario. Nothing more. 😅
November 21, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Just testing a hypothetical scenario. Nothing more. 😅
It's the dopamine hit, I swear.
November 14, 2025 at 6:31 AM
It's the dopamine hit, I swear.
When I joined a new team last week, I thought the hardest part was adapting to the project's tech. Oh boy... I was so wrong.
When you start somewhere new, you expect to struggle with the tech.
But that's not the hardest part.
What actually drains you?
The information overload.
- New tools
When you start somewhere new, you expect to struggle with the tech.
But that's not the hardest part.
What actually drains you?
The information overload.
- New tools
November 13, 2025 at 6:30 AM
When I joined a new team last week, I thought the hardest part was adapting to the project's tech. Oh boy... I was so wrong.
When you start somewhere new, you expect to struggle with the tech.
But that's not the hardest part.
What actually drains you?
The information overload.
- New tools
When you start somewhere new, you expect to struggle with the tech.
But that's not the hardest part.
What actually drains you?
The information overload.
- New tools
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.
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.
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!
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:
“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%
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.
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!
Be right back, quickly fixing this bug I just pushed.
October 31, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Be right back, quickly fixing this bug I just pushed.
Time for Techorama Netherlands 2025 😎
Who will I see there? Let's get a coffee (or tea)!
Who will I see there? Let's get a coffee (or tea)!
October 28, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Time for Techorama Netherlands 2025 😎
Who will I see there? Let's get a coffee (or tea)!
Who will I see there? Let's get a coffee (or tea)!
I’m the voice inside your head telling you that you don’t belong here.
Let me introduce myself properly. I’m your imposter syndrome and I’ve been working overtime lately.
Here’s a day in the life of me inside the mind of an average software engineer:
Let me introduce myself properly. I’m your imposter syndrome and I’ve been working overtime lately.
Here’s a day in the life of me inside the mind of an average software engineer:
October 27, 2025 at 8:00 AM
I’m the voice inside your head telling you that you don’t belong here.
Let me introduce myself properly. I’m your imposter syndrome and I’ve been working overtime lately.
Here’s a day in the life of me inside the mind of an average software engineer:
Let me introduce myself properly. I’m your imposter syndrome and I’ve been working overtime lately.
Here’s a day in the life of me inside the mind of an average software engineer:
Pro tip: make sure to have branch protection on.
October 24, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Pro tip: make sure to have branch protection on.
One more week and it's time for Techorama Netherlands!
Techorama is one of the biggest tech conferences in The Netherlands with 2 days of sessions and a day of workshops. The event is always enjoyable and insightful.
I'll be at Techorama for the two days of sessions.
Techorama is one of the biggest tech conferences in The Netherlands with 2 days of sessions and a day of workshops. The event is always enjoyable and insightful.
I'll be at Techorama for the two days of sessions.
October 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
One more week and it's time for Techorama Netherlands!
Techorama is one of the biggest tech conferences in The Netherlands with 2 days of sessions and a day of workshops. The event is always enjoyable and insightful.
I'll be at Techorama for the two days of sessions.
Techorama is one of the biggest tech conferences in The Netherlands with 2 days of sessions and a day of workshops. The event is always enjoyable and insightful.
I'll be at Techorama for the two days of sessions.
I used to think that imposter syndrome meant I didn’t belong.
See, when I joined my first client as a consultant, I was still early in my career:
- I didn’t have a ton of experience yet
- Most of my experience was in a controlled environment (my degree)
See, when I joined my first client as a consultant, I was still early in my career:
- I didn’t have a ton of experience yet
- Most of my experience was in a controlled environment (my degree)
October 20, 2025 at 7:00 AM
I used to think that imposter syndrome meant I didn’t belong.
See, when I joined my first client as a consultant, I was still early in my career:
- I didn’t have a ton of experience yet
- Most of my experience was in a controlled environment (my degree)
See, when I joined my first client as a consultant, I was still early in my career:
- I didn’t have a ton of experience yet
- Most of my experience was in a controlled environment (my degree)
I still remember the feeling when I started learning programming, and it all made sense.
This feeling still pops up when I learn something new and it works.
This feeling = the spark.
The spark that keeps giving you joy in this industry.
Embrace it.
This feeling still pops up when I learn something new and it works.
This feeling = the spark.
The spark that keeps giving you joy in this industry.
Embrace it.
October 18, 2025 at 7:00 AM
I still remember the feeling when I started learning programming, and it all made sense.
This feeling still pops up when I learn something new and it works.
This feeling = the spark.
The spark that keeps giving you joy in this industry.
Embrace it.
This feeling still pops up when I learn something new and it works.
This feeling = the spark.
The spark that keeps giving you joy in this industry.
Embrace it.
There are a lot of things that are harder than coding for a software engineer.
According to a recent poll I did, 46% of respondents claimed it was time estimations.
I've been there countless times:
- A new feature gets prioritized
- Stakeholder asks "How long will this take?"
According to a recent poll I did, 46% of respondents claimed it was time estimations.
I've been there countless times:
- A new feature gets prioritized
- Stakeholder asks "How long will this take?"
October 13, 2025 at 7:00 AM
There are a lot of things that are harder than coding for a software engineer.
According to a recent poll I did, 46% of respondents claimed it was time estimations.
I've been there countless times:
- A new feature gets prioritized
- Stakeholder asks "How long will this take?"
According to a recent poll I did, 46% of respondents claimed it was time estimations.
I've been there countless times:
- A new feature gets prioritized
- Stakeholder asks "How long will this take?"
Last week I changed jobs after 4,5 years with my last company.
It wasn't easy. I'd been comfortable where I was.
But comfort kills growth.
(and I really enjoy learning new things and growing)
In that time, I've learned a lot:
- It was my first job after graduating
It wasn't easy. I'd been comfortable where I was.
But comfort kills growth.
(and I really enjoy learning new things and growing)
In that time, I've learned a lot:
- It was my first job after graduating
October 6, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Last week I changed jobs after 4,5 years with my last company.
It wasn't easy. I'd been comfortable where I was.
But comfort kills growth.
(and I really enjoy learning new things and growing)
In that time, I've learned a lot:
- It was my first job after graduating
It wasn't easy. I'd been comfortable where I was.
But comfort kills growth.
(and I really enjoy learning new things and growing)
In that time, I've learned a lot:
- It was my first job after graduating
To be honest, our profession is pretty cool!
#Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Humor #Doctor #Programmer
#Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Humor #Doctor #Programmer
September 28, 2025 at 6:30 AM
To be honest, our profession is pretty cool!
#Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Humor #Doctor #Programmer
#Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Humor #Doctor #Programmer
That Agile process better take their mask of.
#Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Humor #Agile #Scrum #Waterfall
#Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Humor #Agile #Scrum #Waterfall
September 27, 2025 at 6:30 AM
That Agile process better take their mask of.
#Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Humor #Agile #Scrum #Waterfall
#Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Humor #Agile #Scrum #Waterfall
Last week, I took a little break to Spain, and it reminded me why stepping away from code is essential for every software engineer.
I'll be honest: I definitely needed this break.
It's been a while since I had a longer holiday and the past period has been pretty busy if I say so myself.
I'll be honest: I definitely needed this break.
It's been a while since I had a longer holiday and the past period has been pretty busy if I say so myself.
September 25, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Last week, I took a little break to Spain, and it reminded me why stepping away from code is essential for every software engineer.
I'll be honest: I definitely needed this break.
It's been a while since I had a longer holiday and the past period has been pretty busy if I say so myself.
I'll be honest: I definitely needed this break.
It's been a while since I had a longer holiday and the past period has been pretty busy if I say so myself.
Sometimes it feels like our code has its own will!
#Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Humor #Fun
#Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Humor #Fun
September 21, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Sometimes it feels like our code has its own will!
#Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Humor #Fun
#Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Humor #Fun
We hear so much about it, so it definitely has to be imposter syndrome!
#Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Humor #Fun #Imposter #Syndrome #ImposterSyndrome #Incompetence
#Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Humor #Fun #Imposter #Syndrome #ImposterSyndrome #Incompetence
September 20, 2025 at 6:30 AM
We hear so much about it, so it definitely has to be imposter syndrome!
#Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Humor #Fun #Imposter #Syndrome #ImposterSyndrome #Incompetence
#Software #Engineer #SoftwareEngineering #Humor #Fun #Imposter #Syndrome #ImposterSyndrome #Incompetence