I do this for a living. If you email me your resume, I'll get back to you with some advice in the next few days
Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs
11–20 of 259 posts
Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs
#12And you are young (only two three years out of college). Any recruiter will see in you just a potential for junior hire. Maybe something that you are not aiming at.
Focus on figuring out what you want, not just that you have those skills, but where you are passionate to use them.
Put your photo on website.
Have fun, and nothing is wrong with you - maybe you are ugly duckling figuring out other species of water dwelling birds ;)
Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs
#13Your target audience ( recruiters ) may not like the style of your website. Although I have no doubt that your are unique, you might consider it styling it a bit more close to the norm.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a clean, functional and good looking website. Can't speak for recruiters, but I like the style.
Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs
#14I would probably hire somebody like you, but I think the norm for many companies and recruiters is to seek somebody that represents themselves as a specialist and won't want to input on the whole product and business. You're easier to manage if you will completely defer to them in their areas of expertise.
I have tried your approach before and I also received less interest. I've always gotten more attention when I've rewritten my resume to sideline my other mindsets and interests below the technical ones.
On the other hand, Jon Gold [http://jon.gold] seems to have been able to represent himself as a designer/developer hybrid, so maybe it's possible with enough raw talent. Or maybe there is something he knows which we don't. ;)
Edit: Looking at your portfolio, I think you could sell yourself as a 'Designer'. However, I think to do so you will need to create a more visually interesting portfolio.
Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs
#15How have you been finding companies to apply to? Honestly, you should have no trouble at all getting a job in NYC with your skills, so there must be a glitch happening somewhere in the process.
I'd suggest hired.com and angellist for a start. You could also make sure your LinkedIn is up-to-date and set your location to NYC to get on recruiters' radar.
Do you need visa sponsorship and relocation? Maybe that could be narrowing the pool a bit, but I think you should still have plenty of options. Don't get discouraged!
Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs
#16I get hired all day, people bang down my door after im hired, and all I do is explain the tools I used each year. I never graduated high school, never went to college, never really built anything that I can show off. I just talk about the tools I use. thats it. www.markentingh.com
Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs
#17The thing I think is happening is that literally everyone and their grandmother is becoming a web (app) developer/designer. This might be a very unpopular opinion here on HN, but I think branching out to something else within software programming might be a good idea.
Maybe I'm wrong, but that's an impression about the web dev job market I've had for a while now, and I'd love to hear if others have the same or a different impression.
Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs
#18Make it very clear in your cover letter what role you are looking for. With roughly 3 years experience, a Product designer doesn't seem apt. (for the recruiter, although you may be a genius).
So something like "Web developer, with ambitions of growing towards a product manager/designer role".
Once you get an opening into a company, and its a good match, your talents will be recognizable instantly.
Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs
#19Last resort: the pity play. Some chivalrous HN startup guy will offer you something. Like 10% stake to build his vision...
Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs
#20I like your minimalist web site but if you are looking for designer positions you might want to make your web site a bit more along the lines of what the companies you're applying for consider good style.
If you are applying for developer positions you might want to highlight more of your developer skills.