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Ask HN: Terrified I wont find another job

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Re: Ask HN: Terrified I wont find another job

#71

Post by BaculumMeumEst »

jacknews wrote: post #66
BaculumMeumEst wrote: post #33

Not to be dismissive of people in this position, but speaking as someone with a regular ass boring job outside of the bay area, saying you're "terrified" sounds like you're far more worried than you need to be. The standards at jobs around the country are so low, and people in general are so bad at their jobs. You might not LIKE the other work that's out there, but you could always find a software dev gig, or IT anal…

Please describe how to 'always find a software dev gig'. I'm sending multiple applications a day, to dev and dev-related jobs, and I get mostly no response at all. The freelance sites (I don't have a track record on any of them) are possibly even worse, it's clear most proposals aren't even looked at.

I live in a major metropolitan hub, have a degree, and spend time tailoring applications proportionally to my interest in the position. I look mostly at large companies and government agencies, especially if I get word they’re currently hiring a lot.

Re: Ask HN: Terrified I wont find another job

#72

Post by Aeolun »

em-bee wrote: post #61
Aeolun wrote: post #14

Use recruiters. They can probably get you in the door somewhere as a contractor, and from there on the trajectory is up (assuming you are any good). Honestly, the worst part of my 6 months of job seeking after I resigned from my last job was that the interview loop is just soul crushing.

where does one find recruiters? recently someone gave a talk about this topic, and he explained how he was not afraid of using recruiters or agencies, regardless of the cut they take. but he could not answer the question on how to actually find good recruiters.

I find the closest ‘Hays’ or ‘Morgan McKinley’ branch.

It’s not that I found a good recruiter immediately, but 6 months is a lot of time to try all of them.

To be honest, the only reason I’m aware some of them exist is because of the linkedin messages I get.

Re: Ask HN: Terrified I wont find another job

#73

Post by RomanPushkin »

dinobones wrote: post #20
RomanPushkin wrote: post #15

In 2014, I relocated to the Bay Area with my spouse and one-year-old child, armed only with $9k USD and 2 bags of belongings for the whole family. I had secured a job, but unexpectedly, the company ran out of funds within six months. The first week after my termination, I was just lost in space and time, freaking out. Over the next two weeks, I applied to every possible software engineering job, sending at least a th…

2014 was basically peak ZIRP and startup era. I don’t think this could be replicated today. I know way too many people from Google/Meta layoffs who are still looking despite willing to take pay cuts, just to keep the lights on.

I agree, the market is indeed challenging at the moment. Thankfully, I'm in a more stable position now. Despite not actively seeking out opportunities, I still received 4 remote job offers at the beginning of 2023 (or was it late 2022, I forget).

These offers weren't particularly thrilling, and I even left one of the jobs after a month. Regarding Meta, they are actively hiring. I had an offer from them in January 2022, which I turned down.

Then, in September 2023, they reached out again, but this time with an on-site requirement. Being based in the SFBA, I have a strong preference for remote work and am unlikely to accept an on-site role, though it's reassuring to know it's an option if remote opportunities dry up.

As for the folks you mentioned who are struggling to find work, my first question would be about the intensity of their job search. If they've sent fewer than 1,000 applications in a month or so, I would question whether their efforts are truly exhaustive. Job search in today's market demands a high volume of applications and persistence.

From the other side, I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't produce any results, but would like to hear more details, since IMO there is a need for software engineers, since I know for sure companies are hiring.

Re: Ask HN: Terrified I wont find another job

#75

Post by p1esk »

nvy wrote: post #19
dookahku wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

that's a good point...i have this fear because i've had terrible experience interviewing. i've been closer to the edge than this before... one reason I stayed at my previous place for 10 years was because i just couldn't interview well...i know better about modern interview practices, which is why i practice so much ( 2-3 hours per day). it feels so far away tho.

What are you referring to when you say "modern interview practices" and how are you practicing?

Leetcode

Re: Ask HN: Terrified I wont find another job

#76

Post by iamcreasy »

kirubakaran wrote: post #2

Whenever you need just one of something (job, relationship etc), it's going to look hopeless, right up to the moment that you get that one thing, and then you'd wonder why you ever worried. You have the experience. There is demand for your experience. You're going to be fine. Just keep applying. Try not to waste your energy on worrying, and redirect it towards sending out applications etc. Easier said than done, I kn…

Well put. Thanks for explaining it succinctly.

Re: Ask HN: Terrified I wont find another job

#77

Post by ipaddr »

jantypas2 wrote: post #45

Despite all the talk, believe it or not, there are still open positions -- I work for a large telecom in the Bay Area, and I'm told we have 8,000 unfilled positions. But let's drill down a bit -- what is gone is the insanity -- we no longer pay $200,000 a year for dev-ops, you can no longer bring your dog to work. And, yes, we still have management that INSISTS if they can't see you in the chair, you must be scheming…

Temp jobs are necessary at times but also can be a trap that covers you like a warm blanket blinding you from what your value is in the marketplace. Taking the first offer because the interview process is horrible is the easy route many of us take. Passing up lower valued offers probably means you are misreading the market or applying in the wrong market.

Re: Ask HN: Terrified I wont find another job

#78

Post by tomcam »

kirubakaran wrote: post #2

Whenever you need just one of something (job, relationship etc), it's going to look hopeless, right up to the moment that you get that one thing, and then you'd wonder why you ever worried. You have the experience. There is demand for your experience. You're going to be fine. Just keep applying. Try not to waste your energy on worrying, and redirect it towards sending out applications etc. Easier said than done, I kn…

> Whenever you need just one of something (job, relationship etc), it's going to look hopeless, right up to the moment that you get that one thing, and then you'd wonder why you ever worried.

Mad props. I’m old but never had that insight. Wish I had.

Re: Ask HN: Terrified I wont find another job

#79

Post by sircastor »

If you have an established career in software, for heaven’s sake don’t leave unless you actually want to.

Even if you have been away from work for a bit, you’ve still got marketable skills. And people go on sabbatical all the time. 10 months really isn’t a big deal (IMO), though I don’t doubt that it feels like it.

Don’t give up. You’ll find another position. If you search for a bit and aren’t finding what you want, frame shift a bit (different compensation, different location, environment, etc)

Re: Ask HN: Terrified I wont find another job

#80

Post by dookahku »

ShamelessC wrote: post #53
max_hammer wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Amazon, you are intially put on Focus, i.e management start building a case against against your performance (Documentation). Once focus period ends, you are given option to take Severance or Performance improvement plan (PiP).

That is dehumanizing.

it is, and if we ever get a software engineer union this is one of the first things we should target.
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