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

Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 164 posts

Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?

#41

Post by TylerLives »

silvercymbals wrote: post #12
TylerLives wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why can't other people recognize how great you are?

My resume is pretty scattered. I had good interest with a recruiter sending me FDE roles. But most large orgs look at my resume and run since I have multiple two year stints and stints starting / running my own companies. I'm also fully willing to admit that relative to "senior engineers" of today, maybe I just suck. In that case, idk how to move to what's next. I'm social, but not exactly normal. Also willing to see…

I jest, but I've been in situations similar to yours. I don't have any advice to give, but I wish you luck.

Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?

#42

Post by silvercymbals »

bix6 wrote: post #29

> when I get interviews I just flat out can't pass tech screens anymore This sounds like the issue to me? You’re getting opps but you’re biffing the tech screen. Can you just slam leet code for 2 months and then ace the screen or is it something else?

Some have been leetcode, others just asking esoteric react facts.

The in-person rounds I've done have seemingly gone well, I've produced code that fits requirements each time.

Not exactly sure.

Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?

#43

Post by stanmancan »

silvercymbals wrote: post #22
pcdoodle wrote: post #13

I'd say 150K is shooting for the stars depending on your skill set. It can happen in good times but sometime you gotta revalue your times worth. As far as leaping out, yeah there's a ton of opportunity while keeping a "tech" base: CCTV Installer (Commercial IP Security Cams), VoIP (Business Phone Systems), POS (Point of Sale Restaurant and Retail).

I appreciate this, but I'm just not willing to fall for boomer cope. The notion that $150k will even let you raise a family where you don't care about looking poor (I don't care) is frankly insulting. I'm legitimately going to just move to another country if one more boomer tells me I just have to "wait for the stars to align" one more time.

After reading your replies here it seems like your attitude might be a contributing factor in your inability to pass interviews.

Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?

#45

Post by culll_kuprey »

_whiteCaps_ wrote: post #4

FWIW it's a very challenging job market right now. It took me 7 months to land a job, and I know other people are struggling even longer than that. Networking seems to be the only way to get past the HR filters.

Seconding this.

Was out of work for a year. The magic solution was a nepo referral.

I love this world!

Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?

#46

Post by Havoc »

If you want to be employed in a tech space then you'll need to work on passing those tech screens. Silly as they may be employers makes the rules in interviews.

Or found another company then you can make your own rules.

> law school

Given how rapidly the current administration is tearing up the legislative rule book and AI excelling at big chunks of it, law is not a space I'd want to be in

Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?

#47

Post by silvercymbals »

platevoltage wrote: post #26

Man, I feel like my "Ask HN" post from a few years ago isn't too different from your's besides me being 15 years older than you. The result I got from it was a HN user contacting me, where we got coffee and he explained to me how to be successful on Upwork. Being a freelancer was never my intention, but it's where I ended up, and right now I'm very thankful for it. I don't make much money, but I can say that I make m…

thanks, this means a lot

I'm in my early 30s, but I generally find it really discouraging here when people on HN try to "be nice" by claiming $150k isn't effectively minimum wage even working at startups in the bay.

Fortunately I've had some success with consulting - the world just seems really bleak right now in terms of my employment prospects.

Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?

#48

Post by 8note »

silvercymbals wrote: post #22
pcdoodle wrote: post #13

I'd say 150K is shooting for the stars depending on your skill set. It can happen in good times but sometime you gotta revalue your times worth. As far as leaping out, yeah there's a ton of opportunity while keeping a "tech" base: CCTV Installer (Commercial IP Security Cams), VoIP (Business Phone Systems), POS (Point of Sale Restaurant and Retail).

I appreciate this, but I'm just not willing to fall for boomer cope. The notion that $150k will even let you raise a family where you don't care about looking poor (I don't care) is frankly insulting. I'm legitimately going to just move to another country if one more boomer tells me I just have to "wait for the stars to align" one more time.

150k is reasonably more than most two working parent families make.

you mught have a stilted view on how rich other people are. it might be base salary for tech workers in high cost areas, but its not at all the norm across the economy

Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?

#49

Post by silvercymbals »

rockemsockem wrote: post #36
silvercymbals wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't really know, none of this was a problem when I got my last job in tech (as a non-founder).

As in they didn't ask leetcode-style questions or you solved the same sort of questions no problem?

These were real-world type problems etc. Maybe I just use cursor too much and I've forgotten the short-hand they were looking for.

Prior I never had to do leetcode screens for interviews because of my network - don't really regret not burning tons of hours grinding leetcode.

My best guess is they thought my skills weren't advanced enough for my age or found it weird I was bald.

Re: Ask HN: Can't get hired – what's next?

#50

Post by mothballed »

silvercymbals wrote: post #7
leakycap wrote: post #2

You have set a high goal of $150k salary without a clear way to achieve it, or a clear passion, if I'm reading correctly. What is your depth of knowledge in? You say software? Law would be an risk idea if you don't love it with all your heart, even people who love law hate it by the end of law school.

People on HN saying $150k is a "high bar" is frankly insulting. Anyone in the bay who's not a founder or working for a meaningless company easily clears $200k. I've started two companies, exited one and technically have the skills of a "senior engineer". I've managed teams of engineers and have architected remote factory production systems for one of my companies along with a dozen or so relatively complex web apps i…

I recently paid a guy about $10k to roof my house. $3500 materials, ~$6500 labor. Maybe 32 hours labor tops, it is a hella small house. Might be worth looking into. He was cheaper than pretty much anyone else.
Post reply on HN