Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Looking for a Job Is Tough

blog.kaplich.me

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 296 posts

Re: Looking for a Job Is Tough

#61

Post by drillsteps5 »

girvo wrote: post #36
jarsin wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Devs in there 40's and 50's are probably the most valuable devs on earth. We grew up with computers and had to adapt to our rapidly changing industry. I suspect we will see startup founders trending older if it isn't already happening. Companies stuck in the old way of thinking that older is slower will probably be disrupted in the next recession.

> I suspect we will see startup founders trending older if it isn't already happening Anecdotally, I think it already is. Part of it is simply because the younger you are, the less risk you can take with the cost of housing the way that it is. Older people/Millenials often have housing security and can take more risks this way, plus the other factors you raised. Can't speak to whether that's universally true, but it'…

We older people have less mobility and less willing to take risk because if the bet doesn't pay off there's not much time to make up for it (younger folks can go back to be an FTE or start another thing). Also, people have kids later in life and you have to pay their insane college bills when you're in your 50s or even 60s.

If you see more older people starting companies it's because we can't find employment and have to find a way to be productive somehow...

Re: Looking for a Job Is Tough

#62

Post by joshuaturner »

rsanek wrote: post #57
joshuaturner wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think a lot of this comes down to AI. In a recent hiring round we experienced multiple candidates using AI tooling to assist them in the technical interviews (remote only company). I expect relationship hires to become more common over the next few years as even more open-discussion focused interview rounds like architecture become lower signal. So with that in mind I'll see you all at ReInvent

If you're giving remote interviews, your loop should assume candidates can use AI. it's like giving a take home math test that assumes people won't use calculators at this point

I disagree. We pretty explicitly ask candidates to not use AI.

While it's fine when doing the job the purpose of the interview is to gauge your ability to understand and solve problems, while AI can help you with that you understanding how to do it yourself signals that you'll be able to solve other more complex wider-spanning problems.

Just like with a calculator - it's important for candidates to know _why_ something works and be able to demonstrate that as much as them knowing the solution.

Re: Looking for a Job Is Tough

#63

Post by anal_reactor »

jarsin wrote: post #22
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #4

Good luck, Sergey. In my case, the process became so awful, humiliating, and hostile, I just gave up, and retired, ten years before I had planned. I’m very fortunate, that I could afford it. I now develop software for free, for outfits that can’t afford people like me. It’s tough, but looking for work after 50, especially when pivoting from management, back to IC, is unbearable. My heart goes out to those without the…

Devs in there 40's and 50's are probably the most valuable devs on earth. We grew up with computers and had to adapt to our rapidly changing industry. I suspect we will see startup founders trending older if it isn't already happening. Companies stuck in the old way of thinking that older is slower will probably be disrupted in the next recession.

[flagged]

Re: Looking for a Job Is Tough

#64

Post by anal_reactor »

theonething wrote: post #54
rglynn wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Congrats on the business, I hope this inspires others to pursue their dreams. Since you mentioned a specific number of applications (60+), I just wanted to share my job hunt story. When I was last looking for a role (8 months ago), I started out thinking 5 applications a day was good, but then I spoke with an industry mentor, and he laughed me off saying that wasn't close to enough. Turns out he was right. On his rec…

> since so many places auto-reject if you aren't currently employed. That really happens? How do you know they do that? I'm not doubting you, but I've never heard of that before.

You can see a similar thing in dating. People tend to be more attracted to people who already have relationships, because they're "prescreened"

Re: Looking for a Job Is Tough

#65

Post by nunez »

OccamsMirror wrote: post #7
friggeri wrote: post #3

One piece of advice I usually give is to avoid applying to jobs through company’s career websites or LinkedIn. Instead, tap your social network: see if there is someone you know/have worked with who either works at the company you’re interested in or is connected to it someone (as an advisor, investor, personal friend of someone in a leadership position) and ask them for a warm intro. Social proof gives you an advant…

> Instead, tap your social network Do you have experience with doing this in a way that doesn't come across as desperate or too forward? How close do you need to be with this network? Is Linkedin connection enough, or would you only do this approach with people you've worked with?

"Hey, $FRIEND! I hope you've been well; long time, no talk. I see you're at $COMPANY now. I'd like to join. Can you intro me to the hiring manager?"

is how I've done it.

Worst case, you get ghosted. Best case, you get an interview.

Re: Looking for a Job Is Tough

#66

Post by stefandesu »

I guess Europe isn't nearly as bad as the US. My portfolio (and probably my actual skills) are nowhere close to what some of those in the comments that can't find a job are offering, but I was able to secure a job in Trondheim, Norway (where I'm about to move in January) with a single application and interview. I assume there weren't too many people in the Trondheim area who were willing to work at an office and who already know Vue.js pretty well.

Re: Looking for a Job Is Tough

#67

Post by tennisflyi »

I could never land anything... Those cushy AF PM jobs at Uber and the ilk right out of college really irk me. Although, those perks are getting culled left and right. Putting my time in to be a lowkey package driver at UPS and cultivating my passion project to a SMB lol

Re: Looking for a Job Is Tough

#68

Post by aprilthird2021 »

Plasmoid wrote: post #26

There are just piles and piles of companies out there trying to hire but are absolutely obsessed with having people work in their terrible SF offices. I don't get it. If these companies really believed that working in an office was so beneficial they would invest in them. But they all come across like "I need an office to appear like a real company but I don't want to spend a lot of money". They're these millennial g…

They're not obsessed. There are tons of qualified people looking for such jobs, so they can afford to make demands like this

Re: Looking for a Job Is Tough

#69

Post by sambapa »

MrVandemar wrote: post #55
rdfc-xn-uuid wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

> It hurts when you see posh privileged urban women having much more chance of getting into a good company than a man who worked his way up through sacrifice. It's not a gender issue. I would be looking to hire someone competent who works hard, not someone who makes "sacrifices" and then expects a job/promotion. The latter never works. That's not the work culture in most places. I've seen it many times, people who ma…

But they are better, that's his point lolwut

Re: Looking for a Job Is Tough

#70

Post by Toorkit »

joshuaturner wrote: post #62
rsanek wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're giving remote interviews, your loop should assume candidates can use AI. it's like giving a take home math test that assumes people won't use calculators at this point

I disagree. We pretty explicitly ask candidates to not use AI. While it's fine when doing the job the purpose of the interview is to gauge your ability to understand and solve problems, while AI can help you with that you understanding how to do it yourself signals that you'll be able to solve other more complex wider-spanning problems. Just like with a calculator - it's important for candidates to know _why_ somethi…

Oh, if you give it the old "pretty please" then of course no one is going to use AI.
Post reply on HN