Ask HN: Going from 12 years of self-employment to tech job?

#1

Post by senordevnyc » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 4:02 PM UTC

I've been a self-employed consultant for 12 years, worked on dozens of native iOS apps, including for some name brand companies, I've made $300k-400k gross for years, and I've also started my own profitable side business (hundreds of thousands in revenue over the last few years).

Being self-employed has been amazing, but I'm looking for a new challenge and to level up even more over the next 10-15 years, so I'm going to be applying to the Big N companies with offices in NYC, as well as some tier 2 companies. I'm looking for senior roles, maybe even staff? I don't know if that's realistic though. I've been grinding on my data structures / algorithms and I'm feeling good there.

I've shared my resume below, welcome any constructive feedback, no matter how brutal. Am I delusional to think I have a shot here?

Resume: https://imgur.com/rFXKHPk

Re: Ask HN: Going from 12 years of self-employment to tech job?

#2

Post by soneca » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 4:13 PM UTC

I have no idea if you have a shot, but a good way to test the grounds could be doing the Triplebyte process. It's all online, you have those standardized technical test that big companies use and you get good feedback from those.

Re: Ask HN: Going from 12 years of self-employment to tech job?

#3

Post by senordevnyc » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 4:16 PM UTC

soneca wrote: post #2

I have no idea if you have a shot, but a good way to test the grounds could be doing the Triplebyte process. It's all online, you have those standardized technical test that big companies use and you get good feedback from those.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'm planning on doing TripleByte, Hired, and possibly some more mock interviews with Interviewing.io in the next couple weeks. I think my main concern is whether I can even get to the phone screen step with companies that don't work with something like TripleByte. Will they glance at my resume and think I'm not remotely qualified because I've never had a "real" software engineering job?

Re: Ask HN: Going from 12 years of self-employment to tech job?

#4

Post by AnimalMuppet » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 4:35 PM UTC

You've been making 300K+ for years as a consultant, for more than a decade? Yes, you have a very good shot, because you have a demonstrated track record of being able to do the work.

I don't know if you have a shot at a job that pays 300K+, though. I don't know the NYC market.

Re: Ask HN: Going from 12 years of self-employment to tech job?

#5

Post by soneca » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 4:45 PM UTC

senordevnyc wrote: post #3

soneca wrote: post #2

I have no idea if you have a shot, but a good way to test the grounds could be doing the Triplebyte process. It's all online, you have those standardized technical test that big companies use and you get good feedback from those.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'm planning on doing TripleByte, Hired, and possibly some more mock interviews with Interviewing.io in the next couple weeks. I think my main concern is whether I can even get to the phone screen step with companies that don't work with something like TripleByte. Will they glance at my resume and think I'm not remotely qualified because I've never had a "real" software engineering job?

Work with a good recruiter? The incentive will be aligned in preparing your resume to be accepted by the big companies

Re: Ask HN: Going from 12 years of self-employment to tech job?

#6

Post by theli0nheart » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 5:01 PM UTC

AnimalMuppet wrote: post #4

You've been making 300K+ for years as a consultant, for more than a decade? Yes, you have a very good shot, because you have a demonstrated track record of being able to do the work. I don't know if you have a shot at a job that pays 300K+, though. I don't know the NYC market.

I’m in a similar boat as OP, and I can tell you that folks are VERY skeptical of success when you haven’t been a part of the corporate rat race. My success has a consultant has (so far) apparently little relevance to passing interviews at FAANG and the like. People like talking to me though, so I guess there’s that!

Re: Ask HN: Going from 12 years of self-employment to tech job?

#7

Post by senordevnyc » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 5:19 PM UTC

theli0nheart wrote: post #6

AnimalMuppet wrote: post #4

You've been making 300K+ for years as a consultant, for more than a decade? Yes, you have a very good shot, because you have a demonstrated track record of being able to do the work. I don't know if you have a shot at a job that pays 300K+, though. I don't know the NYC market.

I’m in a similar boat as OP, and I can tell you that folks are VERY skeptical of success when you haven’t been a part of the corporate rat race. My success has a consultant has (so far) apparently little relevance to passing interviews at FAANG and the like. People like talking to me though, so I guess there’s that!

Ugh, don't love hearing that! However, it does sound like you're getting interviews? Are you saying your work hasn't prepared you to pass those interviews? If so, I definitely agree, which is part of why I took a data structures + algos class and why I've been brushing up on whiteboard interview skills.

Re: Ask HN: Going from 12 years of self-employment to tech job?

#8

Post by gargarplex » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 5:21 PM UTC

Hi, I work as a recruiter and your CV is strong enough for me to be able to submit you to one of my clients, a publicly-traded online gaming company with tech HQ in Jersey City (few minutes from Wall St via the PATH train). They're really into functional programming but I have you in mind for the Senior iOS role.

These hints should be enough for you to reverse-engineer the company name, but just email me and I can share full details as well as submit you into the interview process if you're interested.

Re: Ask HN: Going from 12 years of self-employment to tech job?

#9

Post by leeny » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 5:27 PM UTC

senordevnyc wrote: post #3

soneca wrote: post #2

I have no idea if you have a shot, but a good way to test the grounds could be doing the Triplebyte process. It's all online, you have those standardized technical test that big companies use and you get good feedback from those.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'm planning on doing TripleByte, Hired, and possibly some more mock interviews with Interviewing.io in the next couple weeks. I think my main concern is whether I can even get to the phone screen step with companies that don't work with something like TripleByte. Will they glance at my resume and think I'm not remotely qualified because I've never had a "real" software engineering job?

Hey, founder of interviewing.io here. We're not just for practice. If you do well in your mock interviews, you can book interviews with companies like Microsoft, Twitter, Coinbase, and a bunch of others with 2 clicks. Literally no one sees your resume, and you get guaranteed interviews at companies.

I can't promise you we have all the companies you want, but unlike Triplebyte, you can choose which companies you want to talk to, and you don't have to talk to anyone, just book.

Re: Ask HN: Going from 12 years of self-employment to tech job?

#10

Post by senordevnyc » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 5:30 PM UTC

gargarplex wrote: post #8

Hi, I work as a recruiter and your CV is strong enough for me to be able to submit you to one of my clients, a publicly-traded online gaming company with tech HQ in Jersey City (few minutes from Wall St via the PATH train). They're really into functional programming but I have you in mind for the Senior iOS role. These hints should be enough for you to reverse-engineer the company name, but just email me and I can sh…

Appreciated, dropped you an email.