Laid off but not afraid with X-senior Microsoft Dev MacKevin Fey [Podcast #173]

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On this week’s episode of the podcast, freeCodeCamp founder Quincy Larson interviews MacKevin Fey. He just got laid off last week from his senior engineering role at Microsoft.

We talk about:
How Mack’s approaching the job search after being laid off
Tips for building your own financial safety net while working as an engineer
How to use your dev skills to help people around you in the meantime
And how Mack trains mentally and physically for the rigors of modern work

Support for this podcast comes from a grant from Wix Studio. Wix Studio provides developers tools to rapidly build websites with everything out-of-the-box, then extend, replace, and break boundaries with code. Learn more at https://wixstudio.com.

Support also comes from the 11,423 kind folks who support freeCodeCamp through a monthly donation. You can join these chill human beings and help our charity’s mission by going to donate.freecodecamp.org

Links we talk about during our conversation:
Mack’s Oscilliscope course: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBfhD_4FPIYsQ9LiWYoHVrLbuvwnb_bvC

Gameplay from RadGamer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIzM2c2YKfM
License: Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Layoffs: A Personal Journey
03:14 Building a Safety Net: Financial Strategies
06:00 Mental and Physical Resilience in Tough Times
09:01 From Childhood to Career: A Unique Path
12:05 College Decisions: Finding the Right Fit
15:09 Internships and Early Career Experiences
18:02 Transitioning to Intel: The Engineering World
21:01 Firmware and Hardware: A Deep Dive
23:55 The Role of Testing in Engineering
27:01 Advice for Aspiring Engineers
32:43 Transitioning from Intel to Microsoft
35:05 Navigating Corporate Culture and Growth
38:05 Learning and Adapting in a New Environment
40:10 Key Takeaways from Microsoft Experience
42:27 Physical and Mental Health Management
49:13 The Importance of Therapy and Self-Improvement
52:37 Building Financial Independence through Real Estate
56:50 Understanding Passive Income
01:04:25 Preparing for Financial Uncertainty
01:10:04 Navigating Job Loss and Future Steps
01:18:36 Embracing Resilience and Gratitude Read More freeCodeCamp.org