Michael Chan🇺🇸

About Michael Chan

Senior Software Engineer at Coinbase

I bring my unique experiences and background, having completed both "traditional" and "non-traditional" paths into software engineering, to help folks and mitigate needless struggles caused by uncertainty, lack of direction, or anxiety.

I finished my CS undergrad at the start of COVID and found myself in a difficult position, entering a cold job market with no internships under my belt. Not seeing a clear path forward, I joined a software engineering bootcamp and saw the industry from outside the CS bubble for the first time.

I've contracted with Microsoft and LinkedIn, worked at StubHub and now Coinbase, to build out impactful greenfield projects; onboarding, earning trust, and building scope quickly in each role.

I've participated in a non-trivial number of recruiter screens, technical screens, on-sites, leadership conversations, and offer negotiations; if landing your first role or internship is your focus, we can chat about that too!

My (very abridged) path so far: Freelance Development ➡️ Community College ➡️ Computer Science degree ➡️ Software Engineering Bootcamp ➡️ Volunteer Development ➡️ Contract Work ➡️ Full-Time Work

Expertise

What mentees say

“Michael is a great mentor to speak with! He gave actionable items and insightful advice. I also appreciated his openness and honest opinions about his journey.”

“My mentorship session with Michael was insightful and impactful. He was transparent about his journey in tech and openly shared his overall mindset. It’s evident that he possesses a wealth of knowledge in the field. Even though I am just beginning to explore tech and its possibilities, Michael provided valuable insights into how I can navigate my unique journey.”

“I highly recommend booking a session with Michael. He is very knowledgeable and provides great insights into your problems. He gave me a lot of confidence while making me realize the areas I still need to work on, which is exactly what I need in pursuing my first engineering job. He also shared his understanding of the industry and how to grow sustainably in the role.”