mayuko (YouTube channel)

What the channel covers

Mayuko Inoue is a software engineer and creator. According to her channel, she spent six years as an iOS engineer at Silicon Valley companies including Intuit, Patreon and Netflix before becoming a full time creator in 2020. Her aim is to help people find their way through the tech industry by sharing her own experience.

The channel reads like a conversation with a thoughtful senior colleague. Videos cover what software engineering is really like, whether it is a long term career, how to prepare for a first day at a new job, whether it is too late to switch into tech, why Silicon Valley is not necessarily the best place for a tech career, and how to get things done without burning out. Muko's Corner episodes are conversations with other people in tech about their paths, for example from teaching in Asia to building iOS apps.

Uploads have slowed: the most recent video we found was from December 2024, and one of the later titles is "Going back to Software Engineering." Treat it as a valuable archive rather than a weekly show.

Where to start

• How to Kickstart Your Software Engineering Career: the playlist built for beginners.
• The career playlist for videos on promotions, job choices and working with others.
• Standalone videos worth finding by title: "Is it too late to switch into a tech career?", "Preparing for your first day at a new tech job (emotionally, mentally, and professionally)" and "Is Software Engineering a long term career?".

Who it suits

Students unsure whether software is for them, people switching careers, and engineers in their first year who want reassurance and perspective. Experienced engineers will find less new here.

How to turn watching into action

Reflective videos work best when you reflect too:

1. After each video, write three lines: what you agreed with, what does not apply to your situation, and one thing you will do.
2. Translate the context. Her experience is US based. Ask what the same advice looks like in your city, your company or your remote job.
3. Talk to a real person. Use the videos to frame questions for a senior friend, a manager or a mentor.

Pair it with on Sefism

• The Your first tech job roadmap and its cheat sheet cover the first months at work in practical steps.
• The Switch into tech roadmap and cheat sheet for career changers.
• Interested in iOS like she was? The Mobile development roadmap and 100 Days of SwiftUI.
• Related questions: Can I switch to software engineering at 30 with no degree? and How do I deal with feeling I am not good enough for a tech career?
• Want advice on your own situation? Send a query to Tauseef.

Best for: beginners and career switchers who want a warm, honest view of life as a software engineer.