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Ask HN: Is it harder getting a tech job now vs. 5 years ago?

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Re: Ask HN: Is it harder getting a tech job now vs. 5 years ago?

#41

Post by 8draco8 »

throwawayhtgatj wrote: post #3
humbleMouse wrote: post #2

Apply through a recruiter, you'll get some interviews.

That's a good idea, although I'd rather work with companies direct. Recruiters can be shady.

Recruiters can get you back to work in no time. This is their job. Here in UK I love to work with recruiters (found last 3 jobs trough them). The only thing that I have to do is to send 10 emails to top 10 recruitment agencies in a region and next week I will have at least couple interviews. A lot of companies have their favourite recruitment agencies and they trust them. It's kind of like having "your guy" inside the company. Recruiter will always do initial interview with you and then he will nag the company to schedule interview. You are not risking being annoying to your potential employer, recruiter is doing it for you.

Re: Ask HN: Is it harder getting a tech job now vs. 5 years ago?

#42

Post by taway_1212 »

throwawayhtgatj wrote: post #6
jamesmp98 wrote: post #4

I just started applying to junior positions last week coming from freelancing. I'v applied probably the same number of jobs as the OP with no interview requests and only one reply from a recruiter that seems to be going nowhere atm (I have not heard from him since last friday) Of course there are not too many jobs where I am. Where are you located and where are you applying?

I've been applying to remote jobs. I'm in Southern California.

I'd say that, since you've been out of employment for 5 years, you're definitely less than ideal candidate from employer's point of view (due to uncertainly regarding your motivation to get back to employment, team collaboration skills and attitude etc.). In my experience, remote jobs are offered to people who are almost a perfect match for the job. So, in your case, I'd start with an in-office job to disprove those risks, and then change jobs to a remote one.

Re: Ask HN: Is it harder getting a tech job now vs. 5 years ago?

#43

Post by soneca »

throwawayhtgatj wrote: post #40
stevenwu wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The honesty in this post is really refreshing and insightful. There are a lot of people in tech who would kill to be in your position (see every monthly-ish thread about how to make passive income or how to make money off of an app). It's interesting to think about what proportion of those such people who achieve their goal would end up feeling like how you feel - having a lot of free time, and spending a large chunk…

Thanks. Yeah, it's definitely been great, but challenging in some regards. For the first two years I mostly spent time worrying about an older brother who unfortunately won't speak with me anymore. He was really pissed that my app took off and the side work he was doing didn't pan out. I got over him, and spent most of my time reading books, which feels healthy at first, but then starts feeling counterproductive. Why…

Why don't you start another business, but this time with other people, as part of a team?

I am starting in this path (of creating a bootstrapping business) and being alone is both a bless (no sharing of the revenue, I make all decisions and most outcome depends solely on my work) and a curse (isolate me from other people, limit the size of the problems I can solve, is lonely).

If I reach your position in a couple of years, I will surely reach out other people to build a business together. I would do it now even, but it is hard to convince people to join me without a track record.

Re: Ask HN: Is it harder getting a tech job now vs. 5 years ago?

#44

Post by throwawayhtgatj »

soneca wrote: post #43
throwawayhtgatj wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks. Yeah, it's definitely been great, but challenging in some regards. For the first two years I mostly spent time worrying about an older brother who unfortunately won't speak with me anymore. He was really pissed that my app took off and the side work he was doing didn't pan out. I got over him, and spent most of my time reading books, which feels healthy at first, but then starts feeling counterproductive. Why…

Why don't you start another business, but this time with other people, as part of a team? I am starting in this path (of creating a bootstrapping business) and being alone is both a bless (no sharing of the revenue, I make all decisions and most outcome depends solely on my work) and a curse (isolate me from other people, limit the size of the problems I can solve, is lonely). If I reach your position in a couple of…

I'm not being snarky, but that's like asking, "Why don't you just find someone and get married?"

Even though you hear about cofounders starting businesses together and succeeding, you hear less about the problems they immediately or eventually have.

It pays to be super selective, and I haven't found anyone who thinks along the same lines I do. Part of it might be locale. I don't live in SV, and I just haven't run into that many tech entrepreneurs.

Re: Ask HN: Is it harder getting a tech job now vs. 5 years ago?

#45

Post by soneca »

throwawayhtgatj wrote: post #44
soneca wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why don't you start another business, but this time with other people, as part of a team? I am starting in this path (of creating a bootstrapping business) and being alone is both a bless (no sharing of the revenue, I make all decisions and most outcome depends solely on my work) and a curse (isolate me from other people, limit the size of the problems I can solve, is lonely). If I reach your position in a couple of…

I'm not being snarky, but that's like asking, "Why don't you just find someone and get married?" Even though you hear about cofounders starting businesses together and succeeding, you hear less about the problems they immediately or eventually have. It pays to be super selective, and I haven't found anyone who thinks along the same lines I do. Part of it might be locale. I don't live in SV, and I just haven't run int…

Sure, but if you are actively looking, it helps. A job might be a great place to find a co-founder :)

Re: Ask HN: Is it harder getting a tech job now vs. 5 years ago?

#47

Post by id122015 »

I think so. Ten years ago I worked at a startup doing entry level support but I did not have programming skills. I dont use to apply for jobs because I'm not graduated. But I did apply for a job that required some excel skills so it was not very hard for me ad I now have medium programming skills. But the HR responded that there were candidates better qualified than me. I didnt want to apply to that job I just asked her if Im overqualified for the job and she called me and begged me to send a CV. I will never ever again apply to HR.

Re: Ask HN: Is it harder getting a tech job now vs. 5 years ago?

#48

Post by formula_ninguna »

alain94040 wrote: post #26

A major difference between now and 5 years ago is that you have been self-employed for 5 years. From an employer's perspective, you have tasted the forbidden fruit of independence. You no longer fit in a nice box, guaranteed to obey your manager and believe in the corporate mission statement. You can think for yourself. There are companies that value your new skills. But more companies will find those new skills scar…

+500

oh, god, a few years ago, when I'd been freelancing for 2 years, I thought I'd start looking for a job in an office very soon. now I've been freelancing for 5 years already and I think I don't want to have a boss or manager supervising me and follow their rules. I better tell them what to do :)))

working as a office employee -- that job will kill your individuality.

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