Ask HN: Does last job experience 4 years ago make my application unattractive?

#1

Post by inlineint » Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 5:04 PM UTC

I am looking for a job as a software engineer. I have more than 6 years of experience, but in my résumé the last job experience as a software enginer (in particular, senior software engineer) is 4 years ago. I am applying to all kinds of roles, but no company invites me to an interview.

How can I work around this? It looks like a vicious circle. I need a more recent job experience to be hireable, but I cannot get one.

My field is backend development, so my knowledge should not be really outdated.

Re: Ask HN: Does last job experience 4 years ago make my application unattractive?

#2

Post by OutOfHere » Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 5:41 PM UTC

I would fill the gap with open source and personal projects that I have worked on. Include sufficient detail. Surely you've been doing something of technical interest in this time. Mark it as self-employed. Good luck.

If you don't have any, then start working on one now, preferably a challenging one, for which you can show impactful results, then go to step 1.

Re: Ask HN: Does last job experience 4 years ago make my application unattractive?

#3

Post by sk11001 » Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 6:09 PM UTC

What have you been doing in the past four years?

Re: Ask HN: Does last job experience 4 years ago make my application unattractive?

#4

Post by imissfirefox » Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 6:18 PM UTC

OutOfHere wrote: post #2

I would fill the gap with open source and personal projects that I have worked on. Include sufficient detail. Surely you've been doing something of technical interest in this time. Mark it as self-employed. Good luck. If you don't have any, then start working on one now, preferably a challenging one, for which you can show impactful results, then go to step 1.

It’s not a given they were doing something related that could go on a resume. Could have been time off for parenting, caring for an ill family member, unable to legally work (for example living abroad for a partner’s education or work assignment), personal health problem/treatment, etc.

For the community: What are some ways to support a person getting back into the field and avoiding discrimination against time out of work?

Re: Ask HN: Does last job experience 4 years ago make my application unattractive?

#5

Post by OutOfHere » Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 6:21 PM UTC

imissfirefox wrote: post #4

OutOfHere wrote: post #2

I would fill the gap with open source and personal projects that I have worked on. Include sufficient detail. Surely you've been doing something of technical interest in this time. Mark it as self-employed. Good luck. If you don't have any, then start working on one now, preferably a challenging one, for which you can show impactful results, then go to step 1.

It’s not a given they were doing something related that could go on a resume. Could have been time off for parenting, caring for an ill family member, unable to legally work (for example living abroad for a partner’s education or work assignment), personal health problem/treatment, etc. For the community: What are some ways to support a person getting back into the field and avoiding discrimination against time out o…

That's true. I think the simplest way back in is to accept a lower paying job as long as the work itself is at one's level, then use it as leverage to get back into the bigger game. For example, a remote senior engineer might normally expect 160k, but someone in the op's shoes might have to settle for 120k for the same role until there is more leverage. Also, a contract role may be easier to get than an FTE role.

Re: Ask HN: Does last job experience 4 years ago make my application unattractive?

#6

Post by silverquiet » Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 6:23 PM UTC

OutOfHere wrote: post #2

I would fill the gap with open source and personal projects that I have worked on. Include sufficient detail. Surely you've been doing something of technical interest in this time. Mark it as self-employed. Good luck. If you don't have any, then start working on one now, preferably a challenging one, for which you can show impactful results, then go to step 1.

If I had a good chunk of time off, I would really prefer not to spend that time developing software. As it is, people have to pay me a good chunk of money to do that.

Re: Ask HN: Does last job experience 4 years ago make my application unattractive?

#7

Post by aristofun » Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 6:28 PM UTC

I had somewhat similar experience with ~>7 years gap from last pro software eng. position.

But the job in that gap was still in the same industry (management roles and startups). And big part of startup experience I could pack as hands on software engineering which it actually was.

And it happened not in the middle of a down market.

I still had to spend some time polishing cv and reaching for help, networking, etc. So it took couple months instead of couple weeks as with some of my engineer-engineer friends.

Re: Ask HN: Does last job experience 4 years ago make my application unattractive?

#8

Post by lulznews » Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 7:50 PM UTC

Yes just make up something to fill the time.

Re: Ask HN: Does last job experience 4 years ago make my application unattractive?

#9

Post by wruza » Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 11:33 PM UTC

silverquiet wrote: post #6

OutOfHere wrote: post #2

I would fill the gap with open source and personal projects that I have worked on. Include sufficient detail. Surely you've been doing something of technical interest in this time. Mark it as self-employed. Good luck. If you don't have any, then start working on one now, preferably a challenging one, for which you can show impactful results, then go to step 1.

If I had a good chunk of time off, I would really prefer not to spend that time developing software. As it is, people have to pay me a good chunk of money to do that.

So your employer prefers to save a good chunk of money cause you’re likely a little rusty.

Re: Ask HN: Does last job experience 4 years ago make my application unattractive?

#10

Post by taurath » Wed, Jun 12, 2024, 10:18 AM UTC

imissfirefox wrote: post #4

OutOfHere wrote: post #2

I would fill the gap with open source and personal projects that I have worked on. Include sufficient detail. Surely you've been doing something of technical interest in this time. Mark it as self-employed. Good luck. If you don't have any, then start working on one now, preferably a challenging one, for which you can show impactful results, then go to step 1.

It’s not a given they were doing something related that could go on a resume. Could have been time off for parenting, caring for an ill family member, unable to legally work (for example living abroad for a partner’s education or work assignment), personal health problem/treatment, etc. For the community: What are some ways to support a person getting back into the field and avoiding discrimination against time out o…

Give referrals and connections for referrals mainly. Walk them thru interview processes, help them brush up on skills, new advancements.

Had to take 3 years for a health problem during which I mentally just couldn’t code. Still looking and now finally able to practice projects again; it is difficult!