121–130 of 192 posts
I'm a CRO/CGO – a suit. My biggest struggle with HN wants-to-be-hired threads is that I desperately want to work with small and midsize startups who are serious about growth – but most of the JDs are for technical jobs. Besides the usual job boards, is anyone aware of a good place to connect with founders who want a healthy hockey stick and holistic, healthy growth?
I'd like to see data go all the way back to 2020, which was when some people said had the worst job market, because of the global lockdowns. But thanks for the data anyway. It does amuse me that we're still at more people hiring than looking for jobs. It's a stark contrast to other industries, where the power is normally in the hands of employers. Another thing to consider is that we've had layoffs recently, i.e. peo…
> It does amuse me that we're still at more people hiring than looking for jobs I would definitely not read that from the data. I don’t know what percentage of current seekers post in the wants-to-be-hired thread, but as a potentially-outlying anecdote, I didn’t until I had already been looking for three months. I would hypothesize that there’s a psychological barrier to posting in WWTBH, even if you’ve been laid off…
EDIT: The same is probably true for job seekers, too, now that I think about it. As another commenter noted, a lot of people are being frog-marched back to physical offices at gunpoint, and are probably low-key fishing for a sweet remote-only gig.
Ratio Who wants to be hired?/Who is hiring?
2015 0,20
2016 0,21
2017 0,14
2018 0,10
2019 0,32
2020 0,44
2021 0,26
2022 0,40
2023 0,83
There’s an odd dynamic in the market right now. In addition to layoffs, people who are subject to RTO are trying to find jobs at remote employers, so there’s an abnormally high number of already-employed folks on the job hunt right now. Not to mention all the juniors having trouble finding work at the moment. Meanwhile remote employers are seeing less employee turnover, so don’t need to do much hiring, especially sin…
It also seems like the market has strongly skewed to the senior side of things (8+ yrs exp).
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've definitely resisted posting in the past. The primary reason was I simply didn't want to post while I had a job. The second is that you can't delete old HN comments, and I don't feel like having an "I need a job" comment on my permanent record. I'm not opposed to posting, but I haven't felt the desire to post.
FYI, you can get old posts deleted by contacting the moderators via email. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23623557
I'd like to see data go all the way back to 2020, which was when some people said had the worst job market, because of the global lockdowns. But thanks for the data anyway. It does amuse me that we're still at more people hiring than looking for jobs. It's a stark contrast to other industries, where the power is normally in the hands of employers. Another thing to consider is that we've had layoffs recently, i.e. peo…
As an aside, I'm not currently looking for a job (knock on wood) but people close to me are and... the interview process seems harder than ever. Now you get recorded, told you cannot alt-tab, take home assignments are very strict for companies that aren't even close to a FAANG (I mean, if you're applying to Google it comes with the territory, but why is your random startup so strict?), you are automatically graded on…
Both were with large, well-known companies. But the nature and outcome of the two were quite different. In one, the interviewer just dumped some code on the screen that had been clumsily obfuscated, and its intent and strategy rendered indecipherable.
In the second, I was asked to provide code that did something, and then add an additional feature to it on demand. This is much more in line with what I expected, and to me more valid. And the whole interview was far more satisfying and invigorating.
The first interview was so disappointingly “douchey Leetcode” that I dreaded all that would follow. It created conflicting feelings of, “I’m kind of over this type of work anyway; this may be a beneficial tipping point” vs. “I don’t want to wuss out and run away from uncomfortable experiences.”
Now that I’ve had two opposing experiences in technical interviews, I feel more confident in judging their validity and my role in their outcomes… and calling out ones that are disrespectful.
As an aside, I'm not currently looking for a job (knock on wood) but people close to me are and... the interview process seems harder than ever. Now you get recorded, told you cannot alt-tab, take home assignments are very strict for companies that aren't even close to a FAANG (I mean, if you're applying to Google it comes with the territory, but why is your random startup so strict?), you are automatically graded on…
So too thorough is dystopic and depressing, not thorough enough is a garbage offer.
- On one extreme, you have employers who are abusive during interviews. They record you, treat you like a cheater, forbid you from alt-tabbing or anything that you would normally do while on the actual job, ask for trivia knowledge you'd normally google, and when reviewing take home challenges they are very strict. I assume this is because they have droves of candidates and can mistreat candidates till they find the perfect one?
- On the other extreme, you have garbage consultancy/software factory work. Low quality, outdated tech, low pay, and they'll hire anybody who can demonstrate minimal expertise since they aren't interested in quality work but in selling billable hours.
I expect what reasonable people want is a decent job which pays well, is not mind-numbingly boring and that challenges you, but also they don't want to be subjected to the humiliation of abusive interview processes that quiz on trivia and treat them like cheaters?
I'm seeing more and more of the first kind of process, sadly.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> It does amuse me that we're still at more people hiring than looking for jobs. It's a stark contrast to other industries, where the power is normally in the hands of employers. In my area, many businesses outside of the tech sector is actively hiring and can't find enough people. I think Covid triggered a demographic shift with many Boomers retiring (or dying) and that gap has not been filled.
Given that Boomers are around 80, I suspect most of them were already retired.
My dad's a boomer, he's still working.