This weeks insights Jul-15

For the SE

Being an SE is like assembling a puzzle. The same pieces can make different solutions.

For the Manager

Your SE wins? Spotlight them. Something goes wrong? Own it. That's real leadership.

For the Aspiring

Tell a story where you convinced someone to use a product. Influence is key.

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, learning from failure. — Colin Powell

Toolkit

SQL lets you skip the guesswork. Whether you're debugging, demoing, or validating a solution. By knowing how to query data means faster answers, smarter insights, and instant credibility.

Opportunity of the week

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is looking for a Startup Solutions Architect

This weeks insights Jul-07

For the SE

Test workflows, don't assume. It's your job to know what actually works. You don't want your own demo failing on a live call.

For the Manager

Your SEs are your sharpest tool, don't dull them with unnecessary meetings.

For the Aspiring

The value of an SE is in clarity. Companies have many ways to solve a problem, your job is to guide them to the right one.

Extraordinary results happen only when you give the best you have to become the best you can be at your most important work. — John C. Maxwell

Toolkit

Don't sleep on Excel. It's still a go-to for many clients, and knowing how to build functions and clean data fast can make you a hero in a meeting. As newer tools take over, this "basic" skill is becoming a rare advantage.

Opportunity of the week

Akeneo is looking for a PreSales Consultant / Solutions Engineer

This weeks insights Jul-1

For the SE

First drafts don't need to be perfect. Iterate, refine, improve. Your presentation will continuously evolve.

For the Manager

Test the SE's troubleshooting under pressure. See how they handle a broken API or unclear documentation.

For the Aspiring

It's not about being perfect. It's about taking the first step and learning from it. What first step of yours turned into a leap of growth?

Most great people have achieved their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure. — Napoleon Hill

Toolkit

Using an API documentation tool like Apidog helps SEs quickly generate clear, interactive docs that clients and developers can actually use. It saves time, reduces confusion, and makes your solutions easier to adopt and implement.

Opportunity of the week

Salesforce is looking for a Solution Engineer (Pre-Sales)

This weeks insights Jun-24

For the SE

When conversations ramble, ask: "What's the expected user workflow?" Clarity saves time and builds trust.

For the Manager

Patience in meetings is leadership. Model good listening and timing.

For the Aspiring

Can't be an SE without being QA. Share how you find and fix problems constantly.

The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. — Vidal Sassoon

Toolkit

Jira is an industry standard that keeps your solutions on the roadmap. Track bugs, log requests, and stay in sync with product, SEs who know Jira speak dev fluently.

Opportunity of the week

Coralogix is looking for Solution Engineer (Pre-Sales)

This weeks insights Jun 17

For the SE

Your job is to solution, not argue. Stay focused on solving, not being right.

For the Manager

Encourage innovation. SEs should constantly improve internal processes.

For the Aspiring

You need more than answers, you need process. SEs think, test, adapt. Explain your thought process during an interview.

There is no sadder sight than a young pessimist. — Mark Twain

Toolkit

Figma isn't just for designers. Visual workflows help clients understand complex solutions faster. Not everyone learns by reading, sometimes a clear diagram can close the deal.

Opportunity of the week

Klaviyo is looking for a Solution Architect - Post-Sales

This weeks insights June 10

For the SE

Let others finish speaking. You might know the answer, but listening builds trust and understanding.

For the Manager

Give SEs time to build. Creativity and insight come from breathing room.

For the Aspiring

Build something, anything! Showing initiative beats any resume bullet.

Great SEs don't just know the product, they know how to connect it to real problems in a way that makes people care.

Toolkit

AI prompting. As an SE, you need to move fast and effectively. Automate tasks, draft code snippets, simulate user flows, and prep for demos more efficiently. Work smarter, not harder.

Opportunity of the week

Snorkel AI is looking for AI Solutions Engineer (Pre-Sales)

This weeks insights Aug-09

For the SE

The work you do belongs to the company, but the knowledge you gain is yours forever.

For the Manager

When you provide criticism, always include a viable solution.

For the Aspiring

Learn to love agendas. They'll keep you focused and respected in every meeting.

Leaders think and talk about solutions. Followers think and talk about the problems. — Brian Tracy

This weeks insights Jul-22

For the SE

You're also QA. No one knows the edge cases like you do.

For the Manager

Trust your SEs. Let them experiment and even mess up. That's how they grow. If they don't grow then they aren't an SE.

For the Aspiring

SEs thrive by testing, automating, and improving. Start doing that now, even if you're not in the role yet.

Working hard for something we don't care about is called stress: Working hard for something we love is called passion. — Simon Sinek

Toolkit

Being able to script your own tests, automate tasks, and read customer code to debug issues is a game changer. Python is widely used and easy to learn.

Opportunity of the week

Rhino Federated Computing is looking for a Senior Solutions Architect.

This weeks insights Jul-29

For the SE

Bugs are part of the job. Products aren't perfect and you're here to make them better. Submit what you find.

For the Manager

Your job is to remove friction, not pile it on. Automate where you can. Make space for them to do their best work.

For the Aspiring

Read API docs of companies you like, even if you don't understand it all yet. Familiarity today becomes fluency tomorrow.

The only way to 'find out if it will work out' is to do it. — Simon Sinek

This weeks insights Aug-05

For the SE

There is such a thing as too much detail. Say just enough to move things forward. Don't confuse your customers with too many options, avoid decision fatigue.

For the Manager

Protect your SEs' focus time. Deep thinking leads to better demos, better answers, and better outcomes.

For the Aspiring

Practice white boarding solutions. It's not about being perfect, it's about showing how you think.

The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work. — Unknown

Toolkit

VS Code is the industry standard for a reason. Mastering its debugging tools, Git integration, and built-in terminal can simplify your workflow. Plus, with countless extensions, it makes coding faster and easier, it's every SE's essential toolkit.

Opportunity of the week

Relyance AI is looking for a Solutions Engineer

This weeks insights Aug-11

For the SE

We're always on a time crunch but rushed work creates rework. Take the time to be accurate the first time.

For the Manager

Ask your SEs what's slowing them down. Then fix it. Listening is your most powerful management tool.

For the Aspiring

Watch real product demos and reverse engineer them. What problem are they solving? How would you present it?

If the plan doesn't work, change the plan, but never the goal. — Unknown

Toolkit

GitHub is an industry standard for development. Knowing how to clone repos for your own testing can deepen your knowledge and make your demos stronger when speaking to technical audiences.

Opportunity of the week

Feast & Fettle is looking for an AI Solutions Engineer

This weeks insights Aug-19

For the SE

Before asking a question, ask yourself — did I test it first? Trial beats theory. It's usually faster to test a flow yourself than to ask others if it will work. Plus, it doesn't waste anyone's time.

For the Manager

Don't gatekeep feedback. Pass along product insights from SEs directly to the teams that can act on them.

For the Aspiring

Don't just study the product, study the target customer. SEs translate between tech and need. Learn both languages.

Thinking is the hardest work there is. That is why so few people engage in it. — Henry Ford

Toolkit

PowerPoint — Yes, you need to be excellent at creating presentations, not just to convince customers of a solution, but also to persuade internal management about company improvements or make a strong case for funding tools that boost your efficiency.

Opportunity of the week

Darktrace is looking for a Solutions Engineer

This weeks insights Aug-26

For the SE

Share your findings, even if they feel "too simple." Knowledge sharing makes the whole team better.

For the Manager

Be direct. Get straight to the point and respect your team's time.

For the Aspiring

Knowledge sharing is culture-building. Even juniors can lift the team by contributing.

Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude. — Colin Powell

Toolkit

Cursor — you're background is most likely not in software engineering. AI code editors can get you from zero to proof of concept.

Opportunity of the week

Butter Payments is looking for a Solutions Engineer.

This weeks insights Sep-02

For the SE

Always have an agenda (and don't be afraid to ask for one). Meetings run smoother and waste less time.

For the Manager

Feedback is only useful if you're ready to help them act on it.

For the Aspiring

Remember: companies keep your output, but you keep the skills, lessons, and confidence you build.

A leader leads by example, not by force. — Sun Tzu

This weeks insights Sep-16

For the SE

Don't leave ambiguity for the client to decide. They need exact directions—sometimes down to the API field.

For the Manager

Ask each teammate what they enjoy and dislike. Lean into strengths, empathize with dislikes.

For the Aspiring

Your biggest growth comes from solving problems independently—don't wait to be spoon-fed answers.

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. — Peter Drucker

This weeks insights Sep-23

For the SE

You'll have a lot of uncomfortable conversations with clients. Your skill is learning how to deliver hard messages well.

For the Manager

You're in a position of power—use it to empower your team, not just manage them.

For the Aspiring

Clients will respect you more when you remove ambiguity and set clear expectations.

All happiness depends on courage and work.

This weeks insights Sep-23

For the SE

You'll have a lot of uncomfortable conversations with clients. Your skill is learning how to deliver hard messages well.

For the Manager

You're in a position of power—use it to empower your team, not just manage them.

For the Aspiring

Clients will respect you more when you remove ambiguity and set clear expectations.

All happiness depends on courage and work.