Jun 20, 2025

See how both employees use tactics like making time to explore and weekly retros to become better at what they do and build their dream jobs. Written byTaylor Rose Image: Shutterstock Summary: Employees at Chicago tech companies Bectran and Lessen are finding fulfillment in their roles through intentional exploration, learning and ownership. The article highlights how both technologists use reflective practices and proactive problem-solving to shape their ideal careers — offering insight for job seekers and employers alike on what makes a... more Employees at Chicago tech companies Bectran and Lessen are finding fulfillment in their roles through intentional exploration, learning and ownership. The article highlights how both technologists use reflective practices and proactive problem-solving to shape their ideal careers — offering insight for job seekers and employers alike on what makes a role truly a “dream job.” close The first step to becoming a better technologist is being around people who also want to become better technologists. Just ask Sathyaveer Karmarkar, a senior software engineer at Bectran. “I’m surrounded by people who care deeply about their work and have a hunger to continuously learn and push innovation boundaries,” Karmarkar said. Karmarkar noted that many of the company’s products were born out of fruitful brainstorming sessions. While this might not be uncommon on a product team, the room to further explore these ideas is. “I have the freedom to test those ideas, explore possibilities and turn vision into reality,” Karmarkar said. Meanwhile, Jacky Li, a senior data scientist at Lessen, finds value in collaborative review sessions with his manager, where they reflect on past projects, look for improvement areas and explore new approaches. “It not only sharpens my skills but helps me stay competitive, forward-thinking and aligned with emerging ideas,” Li said. Built In spoke with both Li and Karmarkar about how they found true fulfillment in their “dream” roles through intentional exploration, continuous learning and ownership — and they shared how other technologists can find that, too. Bectran is an industry-leading SaaS platform which is a toolkit for credit departments. What makes your role now a dream job? What do you get to do that you didn’t at other companies? What perks do you see as the most beneficial? What makes this role a dream is the rare combination of autonomy, innovation and impact. I have the ownership that most engineers hope for and the ability to work on high-stakes projects that improve how credit and finance teams operate. Unlike past roles where red tape and siloed departments slowed things down, at Bectran, cross-functional work is fast, strategic and customer-focused. I’m surrounded by people who care deeply about their work and have a hunger to continuously learn and push innovation boundaries. Many of the solutions we’ve built alongside products we’re bringing to market started as ideas on our team. In my current role, I have the freedom to test those ideas, explore possibilities and turn vision into reality. What I find to be most valuable about working here is the culture of growth and development. It’s an environment that pushes you to grow and gives you the space to do it. Over my four years at Bectran, I have had the opportunity to sharpen my technical skills and step into a leadership position thanks to the support, mentorship and trust I’ve received. What do you think helped you land the job? Were you able to bring any special expertise or project experience that your employer found valuable? What helped me land my role at Bectran was a combination of technical ability and mindset — specifically, curiosity, adaptability, motivation to grow and a strong bias for problem-solving. In my interviews, I shared real-life examples of how I navigate challenges by staying solutions-focused while also incorporating feedback, ideas and diverse perspectives. That showed not only how I approach problems but also how I stay composed, adaptive and collaborative under pressure. I also came in with a track record of working on projects that required independent execution, quick learning and cross-functional collaboration. These skills matched up well to Bectran’s fast-paced and ownership-driven environment. But ultimately, what made it a great match was alignment. Leading with integrity, taking initiative and always striving to improve are central to my approach and closely reflect Bectran’s core values. A combination of experience and shared mindset is what I believe made me stand out. What do you think helps engineers move up quickly or be the top pick for a competitive employer? What should engineers seek out if they hope to move up or be hired by their “dream” company? Engineers who move up quickly or stand out to competitive employers usually combine strong technical ability with a sense of ownership. It’s not just about writing great code; it’s about understanding the bigger picture, including how your work impacts the customer, the business and the team. The engineers who rise fastest are the ones who take the initiative, communicate clearly and consistently look for ways to improve what exists. They treat problems like opportunities, not blockers. They’re curious, proactive and always learning, not just about new tools but also about the systems they’re building and the people they’re building for. If you aspire to be hired by a “dream” company, seek environments where you can build real things, solve hard problems and take on responsibility. Don’t wait for someone to tell you what to do — look for gaps and fill them. And find mentors who will challenge you, support your growth and help you see around corners. That kind of mindset and experience is what sets engineers apart. Lessen is a tech‑enabled, end‑to‑end property service provider trying to change how commercial and residential real estate services are managed at scale through a data‑driven platform and a vetted network of vendor partners. What makes your role now a dream job? What do you get to do that you didn’t at other companies? What perks do you see as the most beneficial? At Lessen, being part of the technology team truly feels like a dream role. We enjoy a flexible hybrid work environment with a beautifully designed office here in downtown Chicago. The company sets a healthy work-life balance and actively promotes professional growth through initiatives like knowledge-sharing sessions and events such as our tech hackathon and courses accessible from Lessen Academy. One of the standout aspects of working at Lessen is the open line of communication with leadership. Through regular fireside chats with C-level executives, we feel heard, valued and connected to the broader company vision. There is a strong culture of recognition and support, where our contributions are not only acknowledged but genuinely appreciated. I appreciate the experience here, where everyone works together to deliver the work quickly and efficiently. Together we simplify complexity, drive meaningful changes and win together for accountable and trustful tech support for our customers. What do you think helped you land the job? Were you able to bring any special expertise or project experience that your employer found valuable? As a data scientist, I keep pushing myself to stay current with the latest advancements in AI and emerging technologies. This continuous learning mindset allows me to integrate state-of-the-art tools and methodologies into my work, enhancing both the quality and efficiency of my solutions. One habit that has greatly contributed to my growth — and likely helped me land this role — is holding weekly self-review sessions. These sessions allow me to reflect on past projects, look back for improvement areas and explore new approaches in collaboration with my manager. It not only sharpens my skills but helps me stay competitive, forward-thinking and aligned with emerging ideas. By applying my expert knowledge and insights on both AI and traditional operational research topics, these dual knowledge bases enable me to contribute meaningfully to the ideation and development of new projects, deliver impactful updates to existing ones and serve as a trusted problem solver for both product teams and leadership. I believe this blend of technical insight, proactive learning and strategic contribution made me a strong candidate for the role. How technologists can stand out from the pack, according to Li Stay ‘hungry:’ Maintain a strong curiosity and drive to discover new tools, methods and technologies that can improve your current work. Innovation often starts with the willingness to explore beyond the familiar. Keep learning: Continuously stay up to date with the latest advancements in AI, machine learning and related fields. Reading research papers, attending industry events or taking online courses can help keep your skills sharp and relevant. Think thoroughly: Before diving into implementation, take the time to fully understand the problem and thoughtfully plan your approach. A robust, thoughtfully engineered solution will reduce the need for rework and build trust with stakeholders. Do not get stuck on the questions raised by stakeholders; ensure that you should always know the answers or solutions to the questions to build trust. Communication and showcase: To let the employer know that you are ‘the one,’ it’s not just about building great solutions — it’s also presenting the value behind them. Be able to confidently demo your work, explain your contributions and communicate the impact in a way that resonates with both technical peers and non-technical stakeholders.