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All my career rejections

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Re: All my career rejections

#91

Post by decafninja »

pmiller2 wrote: post #51
bluefirebrand wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Every job I've ever had except one were for companies I had never even heard of before applying and usually in industries I'd no experience working in. One of the most rewarding parts of work for me is being able to shape the culture and future of a company even as an IC. Forgive me for the observation but it seems to me you've put big name companies on a pedestal as though they are objectively better jobs and maybe…

> Forgive me for the observation but it seems to me you've put big name companies on a pedestal as though they are objectively better jobs and maybe have some blinders on in terms of the real scope of opportunity that is out there. Except maybe for Uber, all those companies they listed failing at are objectively better at attracting attention to your resume than some no name, smaller company nobody's heard of.

I’m curious what’s wrong with Uber today?

Re: All my career rejections

#92

Post by sjg007 »

decafninja wrote: post #48
sjg007 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Join the data team or the enterprise engineering side. Or join as a solution architect. Maybe there's a business unit that needs software engineers but can't get them the normal way. Your senior engineer skills will go a lot further there than competing in the general engineering pool. I know these positions exist in all companies. Find the unseemly but necessary work and deliver. The current CEO of Google worked on…

My understanding and experience is that nearly all tech companies will still subject you to the whiteboard interviews for any role that involves coding, regardless of experience and even regardless of whether you have connections inside vouching for you. I've had great pre-interview conversations with hiring managers discussing technical topics, several concluding with them saying that they'd love to have me on their…

Some roles are less about technical brilliance and more about solving business problems and effective communication. Take a step back and ask why vs what.

Re: All my career rejections

#93

Post by gwbas1c »

inertiatic wrote: post #20

The article/blog post itself seems a bit pointless, minimal content and comes along as more of a humble brag. However I guess it triggers discussion so it's not without value entirely. I have experienced countless rejections. Tens to hundreds every time I switch jobs. After just a few of these, you realize no one knows how to hire and just laugh at the absurdity of this profession.

> The article/blog post itself seems a bit pointless

Pointless? No. I'm sure it's reassuring to anyone who doesn't understand the high amount of rejections when looking for a job.

Re: All my career rejections

#94

Post by gabereiser »

I like this. Simply because we don't emphasize our failures yet we should, to learn from, etc etc.

I've worked at over a dozen software companies big and small over my 20 years+ career yet I've gotten rejections about 50x more than I get offers. Like sales, it's a numbers game. The best jobs I ever had was working with folks I've worked with before or where there was really strong culture fit. Sometimes it's not your achievements but your personality, your goals, who you are that they reject. Keep going.

Re: All my career rejections

#95

Post by throwanem »

delaynomore wrote: post #44
codezero wrote: post #9

Interesting to see the differences in people. I've had a long career with very few rejections, but it has a lot to do with the fact that I don't apply to places unless I am really confident I am definitely going to be the best candidate, and that's generally been true. That said, I encourage folks on my team to interview regularly just to know how to value themselves and to see that there are other opportunities, and…

>I don't apply to places unless I am really confident I am definitely going to be the best candidate, and that's generally been true. Same. I've been extremely lucky that the only layoff I experienced was on first job out of school and on the first day ("we hired too many people"). The worst rejection I experienced was for a consulting position with a Big 4 consulting firm 10+ years ago. I bombed the brain teaser/pro…

It's so they can't fall in the hole, but who asks a question like that in an interview anyway? Was it a civil engineering role?

Re: All my career rejections

#97

Post by bryik »

throwanem wrote: post #95
delaynomore wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I don't apply to places unless I am really confident I am definitely going to be the best candidate, and that's generally been true. Same. I've been extremely lucky that the only layoff I experienced was on first job out of school and on the first day ("we hired too many people"). The worst rejection I experienced was for a consulting position with a Big 4 consulting firm 10+ years ago. I bombed the brain teaser/pro…

It's so they can't fall in the hole, but who asks a question like that in an interview anyway? Was it a civil engineering role?

"Why are manhole covers round" is an infamous Microsoft interview question.

https://wiki.c2.com/?MicrosoftsManholeCoverQuestion

Re: All my career rejections

#98

Post by astura »

jart wrote: post #54
daveslash wrote: post #8

I entered the professional workforce in the fall of 2008, as the recession was in full force. I had a college degree, but no experience or resume of which to speak - and frankly, didn't know very much outside of academia. I was lucky enough to land a job, but was laid off in fall of 2009. I was poor, sleeping on an air mattress, and in my early 20s, but determined to get a job as a software engineer, even if it meant…

Rejection is a strong word to use when some algorithm didn't find the keyword it was looking for. Not getting an offer after interviewing isn't really so bad either since it's a learning opportunity where you get to meet people and ask questions. Before covid it usually meant you got a free vacation too.

Sounds like you've never been unemployed during a global recession.

Re: All my career rejections

#100

Post by decafninja »

sjg007 wrote: post #92
decafninja wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My understanding and experience is that nearly all tech companies will still subject you to the whiteboard interviews for any role that involves coding, regardless of experience and even regardless of whether you have connections inside vouching for you. I've had great pre-interview conversations with hiring managers discussing technical topics, several concluding with them saying that they'd love to have me on their…

Some roles are less about technical brilliance and more about solving business problems and effective communication. Take a step back and ask why vs what.

Not sure I understand. Are you implying I should target roles like project manager, business analyst, etc.? If so, not really interested in anything that doesn't involve active coding quite just yet.

I did see a post somewhere about someone's recent experience getting jobs at tech companies with minimal to no leetcoding. However he states that the only way it was possible was because he already had FAANGs on his resume and some of these companies were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt due to this.

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