Don't put Junior in your title on LinkedIn, apply for Software Engineering roles that require 1-2 years of experience. Putting Junior in your tittle is setting yourself to be lowballed, let the companies figure out how much you are worth. LinkedIn is a social network, polish your profile and try connecting (without harassing) with people that are where you want to be (company, position, ...), and ask for a referral, or help, I have helped many people across the years. Once LinkedId algos pick up your profile, recruiters will start DM-ing you. Try companies that business model is to get you hired, for example: TripleByte, Hired, ... Also as many people already said, the first job is the hardest, once you get hired, the learning just starts.
Ask HN: Advice for applying to Junior Software Engineering roles?
51–60 of 61 posts
Re: Ask HN: Advice for applying to Junior Software Engineering roles?
#52My advice: Know yourself and don't believe the hype. There are lots of jobs out there, and lots of people will tell you that you need to join a FAANG as a junior on $150k to be successful. That isn't true unless working for a FAANG on $150k is your definition of success. Figure out your criteria (where do you want to live, what hours do you want to work, how much is your ideal baseline salary and how much will you sa…
I have worked at FAANG, since the beginning of my career, and it have paid dividends(I have been very lucky). 5 years ago I would say you are crazy, and FAANG is the way to go, etc... Today , I couldn't agree more with you, everyone have their own needs and dreams, some people want to be a VP at FAANG, others love the startups "work hard - play hard" culture, other people prefer to bootstrap their own business, and so on... I have learned that to be happy as an SDE you just need to know what you really wants and ignore the hype, and focus on growing. There is plenty SDEs can do to make money, you can have a regular job, and have side hustles to make even more, for example.
Re: Ask HN: Advice for applying to Junior Software Engineering roles?
#53> I guess what I'm asking is: If you were fresh out of college, how would you go about getting a job? Contact my schools career services, and make sure I was available for all interviews during career fairs.
This is the drawback of online schools, even ones with solid rigor and a good program. The soft network isn't gonna be as strong or there at all.
Re: Ask HN: Advice for applying to Junior Software Engineering roles?
#54Lots of good advice here, here's how I kept sane:
Focus on your strenghts for the two components of getting an entry-level job: (1) landing the interview and (2) landing the job.
Landing the interview is some percentage of the number of real leads you have, based on the strength of your resume.
To get real leads (i.e. resume won't get trashed): connect with fellow alums, ask everyone you know if they know someone who can put you in the pipeleine. Shotgunning applications are not real leads. If you have a small network, then focus on strengthening your resume as much as possible. If you have a small network, find creative ways to expand it.
Landing the job (given that you have an interview) is a function of luck, likeability, and performance. You should intuitively know if your weakness is your charisma or how well you can answer technical questions. Hammer on the weakness.
The benefit of thinking this way is that I could survive rejections without thinking that I was a bad candidate: I just had to tweak some component of how I came across. From there it becomes a problem to solve, rather than a depressing result to accept.
Best of luck! Like others said, the first one is the hardest, but it can be done.
Re: Ask HN: Advice for applying to Junior Software Engineering roles?
#55The market is not hot for juniors. You have to really struggle to get the interviews as a fresh junior. Your challenge will be that recruiters will filter you out before anyone on the team will even get to look at your resume.
Easiest way like everyone says is to do internship > offer path.
Re: Ask HN: Advice for applying to Junior Software Engineering roles?
#56Lots of good advice here, here's how I kept sane: Focus on your strenghts for the two components of getting an entry-level job: (1) landing the interview and (2) landing the job. Landing the interview is some percentage of the number of real leads you have, based on the strength of your resume. To get real leads (i.e. resume won't get trashed): connect with fellow alums, ask everyone you know if they know someone who…
This is a great summary of what searching for entry-level SWE jobs is about.
Realistically, applying for jobs is like step 8 out of 10 (8: the application, 9: the interview, 10: negotiation).
Long before you start applying to jobs, you need to:
- build cred at local meetups
- develop an online "brand" for yourself
- create a directory of credible recruiters and hiring managers and obtain their specific contact information
- schedule regular information interviews to understand the industry and roles in it (this is such an overlooked tool!)
- solicit feedback from your network about opportunities and working conditions at area companies
Etc., etc. As I tell my clients, the job search is a process, not a destination! There's always an aspect to focus on that deserves your attention.
Re: Ask HN: Advice for applying to Junior Software Engineering roles?
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
As long as you promise to send out brief, personal emails to all candidates that introduce themselves this way but are not selected for an interview, I fully support this.
I'm not sure who I could make this promise to, but I do indeed personally respond to every person who writes me a personal email.
Promise was probably the wrong term but cool. I see this sort of ask in a lot of places coming from folks who are treating applicants being beneath them, and I guess it triggers me a bit.
Re: Ask HN: Advice for applying to Junior Software Engineering roles?
#58The job market is great…for mid-level and senior engineers. One thing I’d say is to get a referral for Jr level roles and that will atleast get your resume in front of someone. Also attend virtual hiring events. YC has the Work at a Startup event every once in a while. Take advantage of services like LeetResume for resume writing. Edit: https://hackerx.org/ for hiring events and networking
HackerX is by invitation only and also fully remote.
Re: Ask HN: Advice for applying to Junior Software Engineering roles?
#59Have a pulse, apply somewhere. It’s really easy to get hired as a junior.
Re: Ask HN: Advice for applying to Junior Software Engineering roles?
#60> I'm a self-taught programmer who recently decided to finish my bachelor's degree in Computer Science. I'll be finishing in a month or so, and I'm trying to do some planning in advance. If I was you I would apply to internships right now to a lot of companies as a college student. It might be too late if you're about to graduate. Internships are the easiest way into a company as a junior. You intern somewhere for a…
i went internship route after completing a bootcamp. also worked for the company that put on the bootcamp. but the only reason i got the internship was bc i went to a ReactJS workshop/meetup that the company hosted at their office. i showed up, presented the work i had completed in the few hours of the class, and made sure i shook hands and said "hello, my name is ... thank you for ... can i leave my contact info wit…
This might be a long shot, but if you’re still looking for candidates, how may I get in contact with you outside of HN?
I’m a self taught dev currently working in IT for a federal agency and going to school at the same time. I got this far in IT as self taught and I’ve really enjoyed the experience of learning through challenges. I’m trying to get in Software the same way to grow from within. I am very resourceful and I am used to learning on my own, so I am convinced that I will take off with just a bit of mentoring.