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Ask HN: Why am I having a hard time finding a new job?

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Re: Ask HN: Why am I having a hard time finding a new job?

#31
First off, I would love to hire you because of your strong self-initiative! And I love that you have experience with geocoding. I only wish that I have funding to hire you right this moment. Your technical skills are rock solid but it's the initiative that really draws my attention.

With regards to finding a new job, it sounds like you have no problem meeting the criteria. Your resume and Github profile seem to be fine since you've been landing interviews. The problem would then be at the interview process. Without having interviewed you, take my advice with a grain of salt. Many times, it comes down to communication - how you present yourself and whether or not the person likes you. Especially when it comes down to the final interview.

We all love to believe that hiring should be objective and made based on technical ability to do the job. But there's more to it as well. You might be the superstar but if you can convince the other person that you are, then you may not got hired. I was convinced myself that I had great technical ability but I was never able to land jobs. I just couldn't sell myself well when it came to talking. You can either find an organization who does like you and gets you OR you can improve your ability to sell better. Or you could do both. I took it upon myself to improve how I communicate my skills - it's a great learning experience especially when you're trying to sell ideas once you go further up the chain or if you start a company.

Re: Ask HN: Why am I having a hard time finding a new job?

#32
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah man, many people do that. It's just hard because maybe 50 resumes come through and you breeze through twenty githubs before writing down who to call back. Sometimes -- that's all you get ( a twenty second look), so make sure to explain your story in the cover letter.

What about if everything is in private repositories?

I assume this was for an entry level position. Look at the OP github above and you would assume that as well.

They usually would LOVE to have the problem of all "private" repositories.

Of course github isn't everything, but quite important for your first gig.

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