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Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs

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Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs

#91

Post by gkya »

nnq wrote: post #69
oliv__ wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you for your insight. The thing is, I've always been in between both and as a result truly fit in neither position, compared to people who've specialized in one side. I thought I would apply on the design side because it has always come more naturally to me, but maybe I should reevaluate.

One more thing: you also have the odd combination of "product design" + "sounding-mostly-like-BACKEND tech experience", but people would expect "product design" + "frontend" with nicely sounding keywords Angular 2 or React or Polymer etc. I guess... I don't have a solution for this because I have a similar problematic set of skills (product design + backend + entrepreneur-ish + desire to jump more towards machine lea…

Recently there was an interesting article here with a title like 'The Bipolar Programmer' where a stereotype about 'smart but lazy' STEM students; in that article I fiund nearly a definition of myself, and I think you and the OP may find that this is true for you two too. I, too, am curious for many areas of computing and art, and as a result sparsely knowledgeable about most of them, but lack profound proficiency in all of them. I believe (and daresay) that we make a category which is hard to recruit in this sector. I've lost the hope that I'll be able to fit in as a programmer-for-hire and believe that the only place for me here is as an entrepreneur-hacker and open-source side-projects person. I've actually drifted so away from programming as a profession that at the moment am studying philology at uni.

Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs

#93

Post by klibertp »

sigi45 wrote: post #44

_Entrepreneur_ funny. How about a little work experience in your field? You basicly now a little bit Javascript, html/css, did some mobile apps and now a little bit of database stuff? That's just not impressive at all. You should start getting real. You are not special, you haven't done anything special for your age. Start somewhere, get job experience.

The negativity is unwarranted.

Are you venting your anger caused by yourself not being special? But why would you? We are all like that: nothing special really. The ones who are special are by definition exceedingly rare and there's nothing wrong in not being one.

What's important is that "nothing special" does not equal "nothing of value". The OP sounds like he doesn't know, yet, where his value lies or how to advertise it to people who could hire him. That doesn't mean he's worthless as he is now.

In any case, your comment is very unhelpful and it sounds like a personal attack rather than an advice.

Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs

#95

Post by [deleted] »

azurelogic wrote: post #74

Tossing CVs down an HR portal (to nowhere) isn't a way to find jobs. You find jobs by knowing people . I'm sure there are some developer/designer meetups in Paris. Find one (or many) and start going. That doesn't mean sit in the back silently. You need to network. This doesn't have to be cheesy. Make small talk. Get to know them and their interests. Maybe you'll have the same favorite CSS framework. Talk about that t…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs

#96

Post by icoder »

vmasto wrote: post #76
joshstrange wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read this comment and was ready to jump to the OPs defense and chide you for being overly-negative but then I looked at the website... None of the products look like something I'd expect from a "Product Designer" and even less so from someone who is "passionate about all things visual". I am not a designer but I've worked with a number of highly talented designers and none of these designs really impress me, in fac…

I believe you guys are being overly harsh and strict, you probably don't realize it but to me you sound like you're criticizing for the next Jony Ive position. I find OP's work impressive and his design skills are great, he handles minimalism with grace, and that's not something a programmer could achieve without previous design principles. His website's concept is exactly what it should be (being a T shaped professi…

Well, although I don't want to be harsh and strict on someone who just asks us for some advice, I must be honest that my opinion of his design skills match more closely to the posts above than to yours.

The designs shown are not compelling enough for me to recommend, hire or work with OP if it were for his design skills. And somehow that is in fact what he communicates as his biggest skills.

Then again, maybe my opinion, or the amount of attention I paid when reviewing his work, is not representative of (even a part of) the companies OP is applying to.

Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs

#97

Post by bogomipz »

azurelogic wrote: post #74

Tossing CVs down an HR portal (to nowhere) isn't a way to find jobs. You find jobs by knowing people . I'm sure there are some developer/designer meetups in Paris. Find one (or many) and start going. That doesn't mean sit in the back silently. You need to network. This doesn't have to be cheesy. Make small talk. Get to know them and their interests. Maybe you'll have the same favorite CSS framework. Talk about that t…

>"Tossing CVs down an HR portal (to nowhere) isn't a way to find jobs. You find jobs by knowing people."

No you can find jobs by applying for positions on listing on Indeed, Simply Hired, or direct listing on companies sites. It happens all the time. Yes developing a network is also good but that is not the only way to find a job as you are implying. I've gotten my last 3 jobs without "knowing people."

Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs

#98

Post by Radiant »

apolymath wrote: post #16

I get hired all day, people bang down my door after im hired, and all I do is explain the tools I used each year. I never graduated high school, never went to college, never really built anything that I can show off. I just talk about the tools I use. thats it. www.markentingh.com

This post is sarcastic and the site is some kind of a parody, right? RIGHT?!

Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs

#99

Post by gorbachev »

When I was as young as you are and applying for jobs in the US (while living in Europe), I applied for jobs in about 250 companies. Eventually I got 10 interviews, and two job offers. It sure felt like a million applications. I spent roughly six months doing that.

But I targeted every single one. I sent a custom cover letter to every single application after researching the company, their clients and their work. I only applied for jobs in companies that were doing work that I liked / knew I could contribute positively, and I showed it in my cover letters.

It's tough. It's especially tough for young, jr. folks. Hang in there!

Talk to a trusted person who can give you good feedback on your resume and cover letters, and the whole process you're using to apply for jobs.

Re: Ask HN: I’ve been applying to a million jobs

#100

Post by codeisawesome »

Hey man, don't apply from a distance, and worst of all over web forms / email. Go talk to real people (meetups and conferences), give them free, useful advice from your expertise that you think might help their business (e.g. your website/api has such-and-such issues). If a company you like has open source repositories, attack the issue queue with PRs.

You'll be hired :) Take heart.

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