How to Land the Right Tech Job for You
I think there's something to the saying that "the best jobs aren't advertised". That said, most tech companies want to hire great talent. They tend to leave job postings up even when they're not looking, just in case someone comes along.
Sites I've used:
- Hacker News - Who's Hiring?: Posted on the first of each month. I like that it gives you a direct line to someone who works at the company. It feels more personal than most job postings.
- Glassdoor: Glassdoor also lets you read reviews from employees at different companies. As with all internet reviews, take what you read with a grain of salt.
- Angel List: Mostly for startups. I applied to a few companies through here but did not find any good fits.
- Stack Overflow Careers: Pretty good and easy to browse. It's how Stack Overflow supports itself, so worth a look I think.
- Triplebyte: A startup / recruiting company. If you pass their interviews, they'll help you apply to YCombinator startups. That currently means you can bypass the application and initial phone screen. I think it's good to practice for technical interviews and this offers a low-risk way to do that.
If you'd like to work remote:
Look into local options
Larger companies have satellite branches that may be an option for you, if you'd prefer not to move. For example, Microsoft and Google have satellite branches in Los Angeles. Companies such as Snapchat, Tinder, and Riot Games have their headquarters in LA as well. You may find some surprises if you look around.
Configure LinkedIn to work for you
Coworkers may notice changes to your job description or personal details if LinkedIn broadcasts them. You'll want to turn off your activity notifications.
If you'd like to move, set your city to the place you'd like to go. Recruiters tend to search in the company's local area for talent. I worked with someone that did this and it led him to a new job. He didn't get help with relocation but many companies offer that as well.
Finally, review what you have on your profile and see if it reflects the kind of job you want next. Do you list QA-related skills but want to build web application APIs? Reorganizing your profile can help present a clear picture of where you want to go. In addition, it may attract opportunities that better fit your goals.
Attend local meetups
Whatever your interest in tech, you can find a local Meetup group for it. Attending them has several positives:
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It's a great way to find other places to apply. Companies host meetups to attract candidates, foster good will, and promote their engineering culture. As a job seeker, those all work in your favor.
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You can talk with other developers in your community, which has its own benefits. It exposes you to different technical perspectives. Other people may also be willing to share what it's like to work at their company. Finally, I've made a few good friends through meetups.
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You may pick up new ideas from meetup presenters, which you can discuss in interviews.
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If you'd like to improve your public speaking skills, meetups allow you to practice. Presenting at meetups can make you feel like you're an expert in some area and deepen your knowledge. During interviews, I felt more comfortable talking about topics I presented.
Application Preparation
Let's say you found a few places to apply. What's next?
Update your resume
Organize your resume to what you want to do, as with your LinkedIn profile earlier. Keep it short. Focus it on what you achieved at previous positions rather than your responsibilities. For example:
- "Responsible for database management with MySQL and Percona." - ok
- "Optimized query times for 10 most common queries yielding 30% improvement in MySQL performance." - better
This article has a set of recommendations in it as well.
I once applied for a tech job at a company that serves the film industry. I had experience as a film colorist and left it on my resume because I felt it would be relevant. I got questioned about it at every single interview. It usually went like this:
Them: "Are you sure you don't want to be a colorist?"
Me: "Yes, that's why I'm applying here!"
Them: "You mean you don't want to work in the film indstry?"
Me: -places face in palm-
I hope that does not happen to you. If you craft your resume so that you're putting the most relevant skills on it, I think you'll do fine.
If you have questions about your resume, you can send it to me and I'll offer some feedback as well.
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