The Secret for Software Engineers to Future Proof Your Career
How to stay relevant in a rapidly changing software industry and achieve long-term success
I’m excited to share this newsletter with you, written by my friend
.His insights are truly inspiring, and I’m sure you'll find his advice really helpful. I’ve worked for 10 companies in my career, so I can confirm from experience what Jurica says about transferable knowledge being super important in career progress. So, let's dive in and see what he has to share with us!
I used to work in sports betting, media monitoring, cloud infrastructure space, and my career isn’t even 10 years old!
What allowed me to jump across these vastly different domains wasn’t luck. It was a deliberate focus on building transferable knowledge - the kind of knowledge that carries over between roles, industries, and companies.
What are you talking about?
Let’s define it clearly so we’re on the same page: transferable knowledge is any skill or understanding you can apply in a different context—like a new company, industry, or role. Learn it in one, apply in the other.
It’s usually more general, not strictly tied to a niche or domain. In software, this is stuff like:
time management and organizational techniques
communication and presentation skills
leadership and collaboration skills
principles and methodologies
widely used technologies
data processing patterns
and more
Think about it: literally every one of these can be used at almost any company. These are domain-agnostic.
And the reason they’re so desirable is obvious: they’re high-leverage.
You learn them once, and profit from them for the rest of your career. How cool is that?
The catch
You’ve got the keys to the car, and now it’s time for a 24-hour bender joyride? Hold your horses for another moment.
Here’s what often gets missed: transferable knowledge yields the highest return when you’re switching roles or changing companies. But when you’re already embedded in a company, domain knowledge usually has more impact.
Why? Because you know the ins and outs:
you know what pitfalls to avoid
you understand the tricks of the trade
you know whom to talk to, when and how
you know whether there’s a pot of gold at the end of that particular rainbow you worked so hard to draw
This insight gives you a real edge over your peers. It’s your unfair advantage. This is why you shouldn’t over-index on transferable knowledge. Focusing only on that type of knowledge can actually stifle your growth in your current company.
Instead, aim for a balance.
One strategy that has worked for me is the seasonal approach. Prioritize one type of knowledge (transferable or domain) for a season, then switch. This keeps you well-rounded and prevents you from lagging in either area. It also keeps things fun and fresh, which is the whole point of everything.
Learn this
Because domain knowledge is more valuable to the business, companies will naturally nudge you to learn more of it. It’s simply more profitable for them.
So it’s important that you know how to:
Distinguish between transferable and domain knowledge
Own your learning strategy
Once you understand the difference, it's on you to make sure you're getting the right mix of both. Not only are you responsible for the results you put out - you’re responsible for creating the opportunities too.
Many people will support you. Very few will drive your career for you. So take ownership.
As a simple habit, every few months, ask yourself: “What did I learn recently?” Then sort it into two columns: transferable and domain. Whichever column is smaller gets some love in the next season.
Wrap up
Transferable knowledge gives you freedom. Domain knowledge gives you leverage. Where’s the sweet spot? It depends on the season. It’s not about having the perfect split, but having the perfect awareness.
This is Gábor again. Jurica’s most important finding is that transferable knowledge gives you freedom, while domain-specific knowledge gives you an advantage. If you are aware of the difference between the two and consciously strive to acquire and apply both, you can go much higher in your career.
If you find what Jurica has shared useful, subscribe to her newsletter:
We are not done yet!
In these difficult job market conditions, many software engineers ask for advice from me on how to find a job. But the fact is that most of them have average CVs, which is a serious handicap.
If you're looking to improve your CV and LinkedIn profile to showcase your skills, I'm currently working on a course that can help. As a special offer, if you'd like to try out a prompt that improves your CV for free, follow me on LinkedIn and send me “CV” in a message. I'd be happy to help!
—Gábor
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