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Finding a new software developer job

henrikwarne.com

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Re: Finding a new software developer job

#291

Post by commandlinefan »

cortesoft wrote: post #62
friggeri wrote: post #13

In my experience, the most effective way to minimize the odds of a company never responding is to identify someone who works at that company who either you know personally (best) or they know someone you know and you ask for an intro. This allows you to skip the online application black hole. As a corollary, invest in your network and keep good relationships with former coworkers.

Yeah, I really can’t imagine cold applying for a place at this point in my career. I got my first job via a recruiter, every job since has been working with people I worked with previously. This person sounds like they have been in the field for quite a while (since the dotcom bubble, at least), but still mostly did cold interviews? I have been in the field for a bit less time (a little more than 15 years), but I hav…

Anecdotally, I've been through ~10 employers in my ~30 years and about half were "cold applies" and the other half I was recruited in by former contacts. By far, the better experiences have been with the cold apply companies than the "already had a foot in the door" companies.

Re: Finding a new software developer job

#292

Post by commandlinefan »

justech wrote: post #148

Started looking late November and started tracking my applications in January. I have applied to a total of 46 positions within a month. This has led to six interviews, several of which I received no response, 13 formal rejections, and one job offer which I declined (The decline was due to the position being advertised as a developer role, yet the recruiter mentioned that about 50% of the duties would involve support…

> a broader trend

That's pretty scary too, though. If it was just you (or me, or a specific person), you (or me, etc.) could strive to improve. If there's nothing out there, there's nothing you can do.

Re: Finding a new software developer job

#293

Post by iwangulenko »

wildknocker wrote: post #275
iwangulenko wrote: post #272

Recruiter here on Switzerland's market. All I can say is: Don't apply for jobs online. We get spammend like there is no tomorrow. Instead, find the hiring manager on Linkedin and their email on hunter.io and directly reach out.

There are a couple of reasons I think online job applications are so spammy: 1. Sometimes the companies don't adhere to the requirements they posted. For example the job post might list skills A, B, and C with a minimum of 3+ years, but some of my friends recommended that I apply anyway. I don't track such cases but I think I got a couple of responses when I did that. 2. Some companies leave job posts up after they'v…

It seems everyone spams in recruitment; one of the reasons why it's such as shitshow.

Re: Finding a new software developer job

#294

Post by hnrodey »

deprecative wrote: post #276
aurareturn wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been saying for years that NA software devs should fight to RTO. If you can do do your job remotely, so can people across the world who will do it for 5x less.

RTO doesn't change anything about that. It'll still be cheaper to hire in low cost areas.

RTO won't change everything, but I suppose I agree with the sentiment. US employees will never be the lowest wage compared to foreign labor so we'll have to find ways to compete against the global labor market in which we can win. Being in-office is a solid trump card and upper management loves to see their employees in the office space.

Re: Finding a new software developer job

#295

Post by isubkhankulov »

commandlinefan wrote: post #285
iLemming wrote: post #279

Being a software developer today feels like constantly dealing with a bunch of bullcrap. Honestly, how are you folks doing? Are you alright? Frankly, I feel so exhausted. Job searching is such a soul-crushing activity. Sending applications is time-consuming, needlessly cumbersome, utterly Sisyphean, and essentially feels like a complete waste of your life. You don't learn anything useful, you're not building anything…

I'd be very curious to hear from other highly paid/desirable careers like doctors and lawyers (and even "real" engineers) about how their hiring pipeline works - is this unique to software developers?

The labor supply for doctors is constrained by residency programs after successfully lobbying by the AMA.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/1997/03/01/ama-seeks-limit-on-r...

For lawyers, theres no such constraint and the limiting factor is typically attending law school and successfully getting a job as an attorney. The demand for attorneys is driven mostly by the business world and thus the economy. After the global financial crisis, there was a severe contraction in the demand for lawyers and many had to leave the industry. There are many ex-lawyers and law school-trained professionals who chosen other careers.

Re: Finding a new software developer job

#296

Post by octopusRex »

For someone who has decades of experience but was knocked down by severe seizures that slowed him down, do you think any manager would consider hiring me for a non critical position at lower pay?

I've gone through cognitive rehab,but honestly am not where I used to be. I'm thinking something like my time spent integrating code after bank mergers - nothing sexy, nothing expected overnight, but workhorse plodding would be an asset.( I've done a lot more, but thought this would be an example where someone would consider my experience more important than speed.)

When I speak, it's obvious I've had a cognitive setback, but the knowledge is still there. However I'd fail live tests.

I really miss programming and my half pay since my seizures was not enough to sock away retirement money.

In this environment, I feel foolish to think I would ever be hired again, but wonder if there's a place I'd fit.

Re: Finding a new software developer job

#297

Post by mech422 »

hnrodey wrote: post #200

I believe the current hiring woes in the US are more nefarious than just being picky. First, I believe US companies are figuring out how to hire foreign teams at lower cost. I get multiple emails per week from companies offering us their team at low rates. South America and India are common places. I personally witnessed this at my last company where they drastically cut US/North America staff in favor of Indian team…

>>First, I believe US companies are figuring out how to hire foreign teams at lower cost.

FWIW - they figured that out ...15? 20? years ago with the first wave of out sourcing to India.

Re: Finding a new software developer job

#298

Post by w10-1 »

culopatin wrote: post #170
pyb wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The author has 30+ years of experience and was applying to jobs paying less than 6 figures a year (USD). His expectation were modest, compared to the average US developer.

This is also not realistic (if other people in his position aim for much more). Wouldn’t you wonder “why is this person with 30 years of experience applying for this role? Maybe got confused? Maybe they’re troubled in some way? Maybe they’ll stay for 2 months and get bored and leave?”.

"30+ years of experience" is a negative in most cases to most recruiters.

People overfit to their history, making it harder to fit in to a new context.

So unless the match is perfect, you're better off with less of a resume.

Re: Finding a new software developer job

#299

Post by w10-1 »

commandlinefan wrote: post #285
iLemming wrote: post #279

Being a software developer today feels like constantly dealing with a bunch of bullcrap. Honestly, how are you folks doing? Are you alright? Frankly, I feel so exhausted. Job searching is such a soul-crushing activity. Sending applications is time-consuming, needlessly cumbersome, utterly Sisyphean, and essentially feels like a complete waste of your life. You don't learn anything useful, you're not building anything…

I'd be very curious to hear from other highly paid/desirable careers like doctors and lawyers (and even "real" engineers) about how their hiring pipeline works - is this unique to software developers?

Doctors and lawyers are in no way comparable and don't switch jobs as developers do.

Also the pace of change in law and medicine is extremely slow. It's an exciting year when you have to consider a new drug or new law.

Otherwise, the only question is whether you can increase volume without doing any career-ending malpractice, and how you round off the sharp edges of your workplace.

edit: this is for seniors. Associate lawyers have very high attrition rates, losing 1 in 5 per year (1 in 4 for people of color). The vast majority of people leaving law school will not be doing law after 6 years.

Re: Finding a new software developer job

#300

Post by harshalizee »

PheonixPharts wrote: post #188
angarg12 wrote: post #103

I'm a ML Engineer at FAANG and I have been passively looking for the last half year. Common wisdom might make you think that I should be having companies throwing wads of cash at me, but my experience has been very different. * It's true that my profile attracts many messages from recruiters. However ghosting is the name of the game. More than half of recruiters have ghosted me at different stages of the process. Ove…

FAANG reputations are no longer evenly distributed. Even though most people's opinions of the company have changed, Google engineers are still widely considered to be high quality. Apple engineers also have a great reputation but it's very rare to see them on the market. Facebook/meta engineers tend to be above average but have a reputation for being aggressive corporate ladder climbers. But if I hazard a guess, if y…

Yup, this is true. At my workplace, during the hiring frenzy of 2020-22, we had an unwritten moratorium on Amazon. SDEs were interviewed only if we didn't have anyone left. SDMs, only if it was an internal referral that personally vouched for them.
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