I'd like to extend the question for engineers not in the Bay Area or other hubs. I've been approached by recruiters, but they generally back off once they find out I'm not willing to move to San Fransisco. I understand that there are more jobs there but it seems like recruiters don't want to acknowledge that the rest of the country exists. If I could find a software job out here in flyover country, you'd think that the professionals could too.
Ask HN: Where do you go to get recruiters to find you a job?
21–30 of 64 posts
Re: Ask HN: Where do you go to get recruiters to find you a job?
#22I was connected with my current company (reddit) through Triplebyte. They're a YC recruiting company that puts you through their own technical screens / interview before agreeing to work with you. The interview process is intense, but they connected me with some awesome companies (fast tracked to onsite interviews) and generally had my back through the whole process. Highly recommend giving them a shot.
May you define intense? It would be nice to learn more about the process.
Re: Ask HN: Where do you go to get recruiters to find you a job?
#23Set up a good LinkedIn profile with up-to-date resume and set your location as where you want to work, and the recruiters will come to you. Do the resume part first, so that when you set your location, you'll show up for any recruiters searching as new in that location and with a full resume ready to view. Go to any meetups or conferences you can find for tech stuff. You'll probably find plenty of recruiters, or at l…
Agree with everyone that is saying LinkedIn.
Even if you barely touch your profile, you'll very likely start to get recruiters within a few weeks contacting you.
If you don't, you need to work on what information you are providing in your past history and description to ensure that you look professional and have all of the keywords/skills listed that matter. I would recommend getting someone you trust that works in the field to review it that won't hold back on opinions. Get other opinions as well. Then look at it as if you were a recruiter, a manager, and a future co-worker and make changes as needed.
Then Google/Bing/DDG search yourself. What info do you see? Anything you wouldn't want others to see? Can you do anything to fix that?
Finally, don't just wait around for recruiters. Actively network. Work on the skills you think you'll need to have. Read. Practice. Have your significant other or friend or anyone interview you. Get interview questions you can find easily on the internet and learn all of the answers and why they are the answers. It takes time to prepare.
Re: Ask HN: Where do you go to get recruiters to find you a job?
#24Genuinely surprised at the usual "muah muah, can't swat them away" chatter. Having basically the equivalent of an agent in your corner would be a very valuable service, but crucially this agent would need to have an impeccable reputation, hence any of the usual recruiters only "doing secretarial work" wouldn't work. They would need to be genuinely well connected professionals. I can see an ongoing relationship with s…
These types of recruiters do sort of exist. Basically instead of doing contract recruiting by just cold calling or emailing they put together a talent network. Over time they get parts of their talent network into companies as hiring managers and VPs. Once they hit critical mass they become much more selective about who is allowed into the network while also pulling from their network to move guys between companies and also to find out who they should develop new relationships with.
If this sounds sketchy as fuck... it is. But it works, and you can basically tell the recruiter what you want to do and when that op shows up in their network he or she will advise you and help you get the deal.
Re: Ask HN: Where do you go to get recruiters to find you a job?
#25Hmm... this is an interesting idea. I could see it as a valuable service for my newly launched, HN approved, and shamelessly plugged website https://oldgeekjobs.com/
Thing is, I'm trying to target a certain type of Old Geek. My theory is if someone is 45 years old with solid ReactJS skills, it signals them being an autodidact with experience--the best type of programmer, all other things equal.
If I could build a reputation for interviewing and evaluating such professionals, I could see a fun and profitable business in that.
Re: Ask HN: Where do you go to get recruiters to find you a job?
#26> P.S. I could interview well with a mid-senior electronics role or a junior programmer role.
What do you mean by "electronics". Electrical engineer? Electrician?
Re: Ask HN: Where do you go to get recruiters to find you a job?
#27Genuinely surprised at the usual "muah muah, can't swat them away" chatter. Having basically the equivalent of an agent in your corner would be a very valuable service, but crucially this agent would need to have an impeccable reputation, hence any of the usual recruiters only "doing secretarial work" wouldn't work. They would need to be genuinely well connected professionals. I can see an ongoing relationship with s…
These types of recruiters do sort of exist. Basically instead of doing contract recruiting by just cold calling or emailing they put together a talent network. Over time they get parts of their talent network into companies as hiring managers and VPs. Once they hit critical mass they become much more selective about who is allowed into the network while also pulling from their network to move guys between companies a…
Is this actually sketchy though? As everyone knows, hiring is difficult. It is time-expensive and the outcome of a bad hire can be catastrophic. So here we have a recruiter who is making it his business to make your life easier by making the process less time expensive and less risky, and we brand this sketchy?
In forming a good relationship between their hiring partner and interviewees - they know who is likely to be a "fit" and who will not be. This is no different to HR screening CVs based on fit, the only difference is that recruiters of take a personal vested interest in the success. Every hire nets them commission. Every good hire strengthens their network, every bad hire weakens their network. If they are truly a network-based recruiter, they want every hire to be amazing.
Yes, there will be weaknesses in this system. Yes, it leads a reduced hiring pool (if you opt-in to this style of hiring) and black-box hiring. The upshot is that as an interviewer and interviewee you save yourself time and find yourself a job that makes you happy, you only need find yourself the right recruiter.
Re: Ask HN: Where do you go to get recruiters to find you a job?
#28Genuinely surprised at the usual "muah muah, can't swat them away" chatter. Having basically the equivalent of an agent in your corner would be a very valuable service, but crucially this agent would need to have an impeccable reputation, hence any of the usual recruiters only "doing secretarial work" wouldn't work. They would need to be genuinely well connected professionals. I can see an ongoing relationship with s…
These types of recruiters do sort of exist. Basically instead of doing contract recruiting by just cold calling or emailing they put together a talent network. Over time they get parts of their talent network into companies as hiring managers and VPs. Once they hit critical mass they become much more selective about who is allowed into the network while also pulling from their network to move guys between companies a…
Does not sound sketchy at all. Standard talent agency model.
Re: Ask HN: Where do you go to get recruiters to find you a job?
#29Hmm... this is an interesting idea. I could see it as a valuable service for my newly launched, HN approved, and shamelessly plugged website https://oldgeekjobs.com/ Thing is, I'm trying to target a certain type of Old Geek. My theory is if someone is 45 years old with solid ReactJS skills, it signals them being an autodidact with experience--the best type of programmer, all other things equal. If I could build a rep…
Experience is one thing, but using age as a criteria is a minefield.
Re: Ask HN: Where do you go to get recruiters to find you a job?
#30LinkedIn is definitely an option. If you take the time to fill out your profile and write a summary, you should have recruiters messaging you. I get messages every week asking if I'm looking. I imagine it varies by region, but it's not like I'm in SV, I live in the Tampa Bay area. Also, the quality of the recruiters can vary a lot, so maybe talk to a few different people to see what they can offer. Remember, you're a…
Hey, I'm in Tampa Bay Area too. Mind getting in touch?