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Ask HN: What does one need to do to get a software job out of University

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Ask HN: What does one need to do to get a software job out of University

#1
It looks as if no one will hire a dev out of university except big companies. What do you do when you've tried all your social connections, contacted your previous internships, applied to all local jobs, applied to several remote jobs and jobs in other cities.

Options: hire someone to go over my resume and cover letter to help improve it, hire a company to match me with an employer, increase my applications to jobs in a city with more jobs, obtain online certificates to bolster my resume.

I'm intentionally leaving this question broad as to help future readers but I will include some vague description of my current situation.

- I have internships at 3 decent companies and 1 pseudo internship at a very notable company.

- I've been applying for 3.5 months. ~50 CL, ~50 without CL. Anythin from startups to big companies intentionally targetting jobs requiring ~1 year experience.

- I've had my resume reviewed by a couple professional friends.

- I've had 3 interviews and ~7 coding challenges. All interviews were at great companies.

Re: Ask HN: What does one need to do to get a software job out of University

#3
post #2

Did you ask for feedback from the internships? Usually intern conversion is the best way to hire new grads

All the companies gave a general overview of my ability at the end of the intership. The first company I worked at was a start up and they folded up. The second company was pretty great, code/tech was ok, told me they would love to hire me and the team lead said that I was probably a better dev then some of the current members on the team but they didn't reply when I messaged them. The 3rd company I refuse to go back and work for: would never progress my career, underpaid devs, Nightmare code, etc.

is their any other options beside previous internships?

Re: Ask HN: What does one need to do to get a software job out of University

#5

I heard the other day about a partner at a major law firm who despite his first class degree applied to 500 positions before he got his first job. As rubbish as it is, send more letters!

I was wandering that myself. My numbers seem low. I wrote version control for my CLs to improve the speed but I need the discipline to sit and create them.

Re: Ask HN: What does one need to do to get a software job out of University

#6
Job search doctors will tell you that hiring is an elimination process; if you are getting interviews then your resume is "good enough" and it isn't the problem, it is your ability to pass the interview.

Most people make mistakes in the interviewing process that cause them to interview below their level. Don't be that guy.

One class of mistakes is actions that offend some people: the range of these are large and if you want the job you won't be leaving posts on social media complaining that other people are too sensitive. For instance I interviewed for a job at a company that was making small satellites in Southern NH and got turned down because I touched the knob of an oscilloscope without permission and the guy who ran that particular lab thought that meant I couldn't be trusted and I was passed over, even though everybody else thought I was great.

When you become aware of this you can certainly stress it because any person you see could blackball you but you have to eliminate any sign of negativity, hostility, etc. If you radiate "I've been hurt" it is all over.

One way or another you have to face it and you will.

You can certainly try a temp agency like Kelly if the wolf is at your door, but you can get paid better anyplace else.

Don't think about remote if you don't have experience. If you want to move somewhere I say anywhere but the bay area. New York City is great in 2018, but there are tech scenes in cities like Boulder, CO; Henderson, NV; Boston , MA as well as general areas such as Southern California, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Salt Lake City, and Research Triangle Park.

If you can get a security clearance (clean rap sheet) you will find work that is often interesting and innovative for defense contractors who are geographically distributed and might even move you around from one site to another in the flyover states.

I'd suggest figuring out a way to live light and move to a low-cost tech hub and get into that scene and be ready to move again in 6 mo to 1 yr.

I like the SkillIQ tests at Pluralsite for a quick assessment of "how well you know a technology". I have taken many of them and they reflect my own assessment of things I am good at and not good at.

Re: Ask HN: What does one need to do to get a software job out of University

#7

I heard the other day about a partner at a major law firm who despite his first class degree applied to 500 positions before he got his first job. As rubbish as it is, send more letters!

I was wandering that myself. My numbers seem low. I wrote version control for my CLs to improve the speed but I need the discipline to sit and create them.

You do have to play the numbers game. If you had sent me a dev CV at most points in the last 5 years it would go in the bin, but suddenly one week I need a dev...and you would get a shot.

Where in the world are you btw?

Re: Ask HN: What does one need to do to get a software job out of University

#8

Job search doctors will tell you that hiring is an elimination process; if you are getting interviews then your resume is "good enough" and it isn't the problem, it is your ability to pass the interview. Most people make mistakes in the interviewing process that cause them to interview below their level. Don't be that guy. One class of mistakes is actions that offend some people: the range of these are large and if y…

You make a solid point about what you radiate in an interview. I can tend be passive which might come across as aloof or uninterested. I could probably be more active.

I would love to live in Boston but I'm Canadian. Do you think I would have a chance of getting a visa and job in Boston? I've definity heard that if you want to progress in the software business you need to move companies often, unfortunately.

I'm intrigued by the tests you mentioned. Would definitely be helpful for finding weak points.

Re: Ask HN: What does one need to do to get a software job out of University

#9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was wandering that myself. My numbers seem low. I wrote version control for my CLs to improve the speed but I need the discipline to sit and create them.

You do have to play the numbers game. If you had sent me a dev CV at most points in the last 5 years it would go in the bin, but suddenly one week I need a dev...and you would get a shot. Where in the world are you btw?

Eastern Canada. I'm willing to relocate to anywhere west of Toronto or go all the way to BC.

Re: Ask HN: What does one need to do to get a software job out of University

#10
I graduated a couple of years ago. I sent over 200 application (Linkedin, custom CV/cover or generic CV and email ...) , all I can tell you is not to give up, there is a lot of luck in the process but eventually you'll find your breakthrough.
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