I've often been in the market for new software engineer opportunities and have found some untraditional ways of finding new jobs. But with so many job search tools, AI and ATS matching I'm curious what job search strategies are working for you today? Also, what has been a waste of time?
Ask HN: Job seekers, what's working / not working?
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Re: Ask HN: Job seekers, what's working / not working?
#2“Nepotism” worked pretty well for me. A year out of work, only to be turned around when I lucked out and a family member referred me to a company they had just started at. This was around 2022-2023 though, things may have changed significantly since then.
Remote is dead, except for the lucky, so it’s best not to waste time and effort on those roles was my experience. I had a much higher callback rate for jobs that were on-site. Even my current job started hybrid, before it was snuffed out.
The general vibe appears to be this is the direction society is moving towards in general. Condolences to those who aren’t schmoozers and don’t have a network to crutch on.
Re: Ask HN: Job seekers, what's working / not working?
#3I’ve had luck getting higher rate of interviews for remote jobs by applying first. To that end I built a site which shows job postings as they are posted - https://tangerinefeed.net
Re: Ask HN: Job seekers, what's working / not working?
#4I am employed (which, fair or unfair, seems to always look better to recruiters) but opportunistic. So far I have interviewed 3 times in the past year, every single one being a referral. It's definitely advantageous to have experience/a real network these days, as it must be a relief to all involved to not have to wade through a mountain of AI-generated resumes. I genuinely didn't know what to tell my intern last year when she asked me for advice on how to get a job. Telling her jobs were free when I graduated in 2012 is not useful, but because that was the case I don't know what to tell somebody without a network.
Re: Ask HN: Job seekers, what's working / not working?
#5I want a market like doordash or uber for dev. I see a backlog, i implement i get paid instantly, i move on to the next.
I can gain reputation to have more context or more access to repos to take on more batches.
This would make my life easier.
Minimum $20 per task
Re: Ask HN: Job seekers, what's working / not working?
#6I’ve had luck getting higher rate of interviews for remote jobs by applying first. To that end I built a site which shows job postings as they are posted - https://tangerinefeed.net
Great tool! Would be nice to add a simple search feature, too!
Re: Ask HN: Job seekers, what's working / not working?
#7I am thinking about freelancing
or github bounty style work
What do you guys think about that
Re: Ask HN: Job seekers, what's working / not working?
#8I want a market like doordash or uber for dev. I see a backlog, i implement i get paid instantly, i move on to the next. I can gain reputation to have more context or more access to repos to take on more batches. This would make my life easier. Minimum $20 per task
Every platform like this is a race to the bottom.
Re: Ask HN: Job seekers, what's working / not working?
#9It pains me to aay it but, during a recent redundancy and lengthy job search, subscribing to Linkedin Premium was a big help.
Unfortunately, Linkedin is where the recruiters and many of the hiring businesses are - and a subscription did seem make me more visible. I was fortunate enough to be able to afford it, and subscribed for three months before reverting to the free tier when I found a role. There was a two week free trial.
May be useful for those who, like me, don't have much of a personal "network".
(Developer, UK, no connection to Linkedin except as a user)
Re: Ask HN: Job seekers, what's working / not working?
#10I found work in 2025 with almost every disadvantage other than having experience. The front door is broken unless you have:
* BigTech experience
* BigSchool degree
* Direct experience in a niche domain or interest area
* A degree, and good (5+ yrs) experience that looks modern
You will be passed over on most (not all) direct apps otherwise. The degree part is more important the more non-tech the company is.
Referrals mean a lot, especially for the best jobs that pay well have WLB or are remote. If you’re not pulling everyone you know who might vouch for you, you’re not doing it right.
Practice leetcode + hello interview, as almost every place will have some sort of leetcode round and system design round.