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[Slaythe]

Sigh, man a real kicker, I was under qualified for a job but passed the tests better than the qualified people (my resume was mistakenly accepted that's why I got there). I only realized their mistake 2 hours in so I stayed anyway.

And so I got a call saying they were interested but couldn't really commit because of that and will try to see what they can do with me in a few months.

I can't do this much longer.

 

[entremet]

Warm-climate gaf, what are some of your tips to not showing up to the interview a hot mess?

I have an interview coming up soon and I have to wear a suit. Summer absolutely kills me when I'm wearing a shirt and pants/shorts, I can only imagine the disaster when I have to wear a suit.

Edit - Interview would be mid-day and I have to take transit to the place (an hour travel time).

Contrary to popular notion, you won't be sweating in suit if you have the right weight and fabrics.

I'll go with the less expensive option--not buying a summer weight suit. What type of suit do you have?

Also, see if you can find a homebase with AC. Starbucks? fast food place. Whatever.

Also what type of job and industry are you interviewing in? You can go slightly more casual depending on the industry. Suits are not the end all be all in all situations. I do recommend a jacket/blazer, button down shirt and anything but jeans at least.

 

[thechristoph]

My college program was for a two-year degree in computer networking, and upon earning that degree, you could transfer everything to a four-year computer science program. When I earned my two-year degree, the new electives they added to the two-year program were much more interesting and applicable to what I wanted to do than anything in the four-year program, so I just kept taking those classes instead of going for the BA. At the time I thought I was clever; getting free tuition to study what I wanted instead of taking some required math class or something...

It worked out for me in the beginning. I've had a great, stable job at one company for going on 13 years. But I'm starting to get the itch. I'm putting resumes out there and it's been rejection after rejection. I don't know if I screwed myself with my stupid college strategy, or if it was a bad idea staying with one company for so long. I've got some huge insecurity feelings like I wouldn't know how to do anything else.

 

[dskillzhtown]

It'd be great if others might be able to chime in on this phenomenon as well, especially since I'm dealing with it to some extent too. Got a job already at the moment but looking to move on elsewhere (out of state; Cali). I have a non-traditional Indian name and everyone I know has no trouble pronouncing it, but when it comes to job apps, I've no doubt some discrimination comes into play when I throw the name on applications and resumes. I don't really go by any sort of English/American name, but I've definitely thought about changing my name on my resume/applications for experimental purposes (for the lulz, and also to see if it makes a drastic difference in response rate). Isn't that kinda dishonest though?

It sucks, but you have to do what you have to do to get hired. You are going up against racist hiring practices, don't worry about combating it with "kinda dishonest" tactics. I know people who changed their home address on a resume to a more "affluent" part of town and got more responses. You have to game a system that wants to see you fail.

 

[dskillzhtown]

My college program was for a two-year degree in computer networking, and upon earning that degree, you could transfer everything to a four-year computer science program. When I earned my two-year degree, the new electives they added to the two-year program were much more interesting and applicable to what I wanted to do than anything in the four-year program, so I just kept taking those classes instead of going for the BA. At the time I thought I was clever; getting free tuition to study what I wanted instead of taking some required math class or something...

It worked out for me in the beginning. I've had a great, stable job at one company for going on 13 years. But I'm starting to get the itch. I'm putting resumes out there and it's been rejection after rejection. I don't know if I screwed myself with my stupid college strategy, or if it was a bad idea staying with one company for so long. I've got some huge insecurity feelings like I wouldn't know how to do anything else.

To me it seems like you are in a stable situation so why not stay where you are, take the extra classes (have your employer pay for it, and then leave? Or start taking the classes and have on your resume that you are in the process of getting your BA? If you look at this thread, you will see that most everyone gets rejection after rejection until they get hired.

Sigh, man a real kicker, I was under qualified for a job but passed the tests better than the qualified people (my resume was mistakenly accepted that's why I got there). I only realized their mistake 2 hours in so I stayed anyway.

And so I got a call saying they were interested but couldn't really commit because of that and will try to see what they can do with me in a few months.

I can't do this much longer.

I hear you. I recently have taken some time off from the job search. Maybe a week or two but I had to stop the grind for my mental health. I was putting so much effort in with no return, it was affecting me negatively. So I just had to walk away, enjoy a few days off. See the city, see people instead of a computer screen, etc. I'll get back on it next week but I just had to get away and come up with some alternative plans if this continues.

 

[GK86]

Thank you guys for your advice!

Contrary to popular notion, you won't be sweating in suit if you have the right weight and fabrics.

I'll go with the less expensive option--not buying a summer weight suit. What type of suit do you have?

Also, see if you can find a homebase with AC. Starbucks? fast food place. Whatever.

Also what type of job and industry are you interviewing in? You can go slightly more casual depending on the industry. Suits are not the end all be all in all situations. I do recommend a jacket/blazer, button down shirt and anything but jeans at least.

The brand is Loriano. The label inside reads: style - Tissuto super, 60% poly, 32% rayon and 8% wool.

I'm interviewing for a programmer position at a software development company. I was hoping I would be able to go a bit more casual, but the recruiter emailed me and highlighted the fact to wear a suit.

I'm not familiar with the area. I scouted on Google Maps and I can't find a fast food joint close enough. There is a Dunkin, but they don't always have bathrooms. There are a bunch of warehouses in the locations immediate area.

 

[Brawly Likes to Brawl]

This week has been incredible for me in terms of productivity. I applied for an internship at a really nice looking tech company that specializes in developing digital classroom environments for universities. Made an absolutely killer cover letter + resume so now I'm just gonna wait and see if they bite.

 

[walei]

I decided to move back to Toronto late June because I didn't enjoy living in Asia anymore. Started looking for a job here and it has been... as the title said, soul-crushing. Sending out resumes feels like throwing stones into the ocean.

I know it's all about networking, but I suck at socializing with strangers and most of my friends have moved away from Toronto to network with.

Anyways... I'm going to a Meetup IOToronto next Tuesday, it's my first time but I'm going alone. It's like going to a party without knowing anyone and I am awkward in making small talks. You guys have any experiences, advices, comments on going to a Meetup?

 

[Barrage]

I decided to move back to Toronto late June because I didn't enjoy living in Asia anymore. Started looking for a job here and it has been... as the title said, soul-crushing. Sending out resumes feels like throwing stones into the ocean.

I know it's all about networking, but I suck at socializing with strangers and most of my friends have moved away from Toronto to network with.

Anyways... I'm going to a Meetup IOToronto next Tuesday, it's my first time but I'm going alone. It's like going to a party without knowing anyone and I am awkward in making small talks. You guys have any experiences, advices, comments on going to a Meetup?

Two things that always ease my mind going into Networking events like this:

1. Everyone there is as nervous as you are. Your feelings are the norm.

2. At a Networking event, walking up to anyone and saying "Hi, my name is Waldo. What's yours?"is the most normal thing in the world. It is the expected language for everyone to be communicating in. Noone will think for a second about you doing it.

You've got a big ace in your hand, man. You just moved back from Asia. That's interesting! That's a big icebreaker. Some will relate to actual Asian experiences. Some will relate to moving back home and your friends having moved away. Some will relate to your feelings about the job market being tough. But it's a big life moment that everyone can see themselves in. I would mention it as a way to achieve common ground,

Other then that? If anyone says anything you find interesting, follow up. Do that, and you'll find your conversations becoming more and more interesting to you. Listen more than you talk, and don't be afraid to ask for someone's E-Mail to follow up with. Again, that's what this is for.

Hope this helps. P.S.- what tech do you do? What kind of job are you looking for?

 

[walei]

Two things that always ease my mind going into Networking events like this:

1. Everyone there is as nervous as you are. Your feelings are the norm.

2. At a Networking event, walking up to anyone and saying "Hi, my name is Waldo. What's yours?"is the most normal thing in the world. It is the expected language for everyone to be communicating in. Noone will think for a second about you doing it.

You've got a big ace in your hand, man. You just moved back from Asia. That's interesting! That's a big icebreaker. Some will relate to actual Asian experiences. Some will relate to moving back home and your friends having moved away. Some will relate to your feelings about the job market being tough. But it's a big life moment that everyone can see themselves in. I would mention it as a way to achieve common ground,

Other then that? If anyone says anything you find interesting, follow up. Do that, and you'll find your conversations becoming more and more interesting to you. Listen more than you talk, and don't be afraid to ask for someone's E-Mail to follow up with. Again, that's what this is for.

Hope this helps. P.S.- what tech do you do? What kind of job are you looking for?

Those are actually really helpful advice thank you so much for the reply! I guess I am a little self conscious because the meetup isn't strictly for job hunting and I am afraid to come off as desperate.

I worked for a really large semiconductor company as a business development / product marketing manager and my expertise/product was IoT microcontroller embedded platforms. I feel hardware (chip level) is pretty mature and uninteresting so I really want to branch out to other aspects of IoT like at the solution/device or even the Cloud.

 

[Ark]

I have a quick question. I'm 23 and have been working this same retail job for almost four years now, it was my first job and I've 'climbed the ladder' a little, to recently being promoted to a Supervisor.

I'm absolutely bored of working retail and I'm now actively hunting and applying for new jobs, but as I work long hours Monday - Friday, I won't be able to make it to any interviews in the week days. How do/have any of you folks gotten around this? Asking to rearrange interviews for weekends? Asking your current employer for a little time off to make the interview?

I'm in the UK if that helps.

 

[useyourfist]

I have a quick question. I'm 23 and have been working this same retail job for almost four years now, it was my first job and I've 'climbed the ladder' a little, to recently being promoted to a Supervisor.

I'm absolutely bored of working retail and I'm now actively hunting and applying for new jobs, but as I work long hours Monday - Friday, I won't be able to make it to any interviews in the week days. How do/have any of you folks gotten around this? Asking to rearrange interviews for weekends? Asking your current employer for a little time off to make the interview?

I'm in the UK if that helps.

From what I've been told employers have to give you time off for interviews. If that's not right then just book a day off from your holiday allowance.

 

[PandaPandaPanda]

I have a quick question. I'm 23 and have been working this same retail job for almost four years now, it was my first job and I've 'climbed the ladder' a little, to recently being promoted to a Supervisor.

I'm absolutely bored of working retail and I'm now actively hunting and applying for new jobs, but as I work long hours Monday - Friday, I won't be able to make it to any interviews in the week days. How do/have any of you folks gotten around this? Asking to rearrange interviews for weekends? Asking your current employer for a little time off to make the interview?

I'm in the UK if that helps.

I live in 'MURICA so I don't know how much this would apply to you (as we get scrwed pretty much in terms of work in general compared to Europe) but I used sick days/holidays to go interviews while I was at my last job.

 

[Addnan]

I have a quick question. I'm 23 and have been working this same retail job for almost four years now, it was my first job and I've 'climbed the ladder' a little, to recently being promoted to a Supervisor.

I'm absolutely bored of working retail and I'm now actively hunting and applying for new jobs, but as I work long hours Monday - Friday, I won't be able to make it to any interviews in the week days. How do/have any of you folks gotten around this? Asking to rearrange interviews for weekends? Asking your current employer for a little time off to make the interview?

I'm in the UK if that helps.

Booking one day off as annual leave is usually easy, very few managers would put up a fuss. My last job was pretty dead end my manager knew I wasn't going to stick around so just told me if you get interviews just let me know and you can take those days off out of holiday or unpaid leave. Really just depends on the place you are working. Annual leave/sicky is the easiest, some work places allow leave for interviews.

 

[gazele]

Interviewed at a VR start up and set up an interview at a different company who optimizes scheduling and supplies (data science)

Also talked to a staffing agency about contract work as a data analyst, not loving that prospect but it's better than waiting around

And another company more on the consulting side didn't offer me the position but is trying to come up with a new position for me since apparently they liked me

It's all very exhausting though, just want it to be done with

 

[MC Safety]

Job application process spanned months, a written test, two Skype interviews with bad connections and, finally, one rejection note.

At least it is over.

(Skype is a poor way to gauge someone. And it's even tougher when the connection is crappy.)

Back to the drawing board.

 

[scitek]

I'm kind of in a state right now.

Last year, I took a job in Seattle, and it ended up being a nightmare. I started drinking constantly, I gained a ton of weight and became a complete shut-in. I was a wreck.

A friend of mine in St. Louis coaxed me into leaving and coming to work with him...things got so bad that, in January, I did it, even taking a significant pay cut in the process. My buddy suggested we live together, as he found a place within a 10-minute walk to work. We got a 2-bedroom apartment, and everything was going fine.

Then, last month he tells me he got a job in his hometown of San Francisco, and would be moving in a few weeks. Now, I'm suddenly stuck with an apartment I can't afford (my friend said he'll pay rent for two months while I look for a roommate), in a city I don't really like, working at a place that -- while much better than before -- still sucks because, with my friend gone, I have nothing in common with anyone. I could remedy the expensive apartment problem by finding a roommate, but honestly, crime is so bad here I'm scared to let a complete stranger in to see the place.

Now, I'm venting because I was up for a kickass new job in an amazing place to live (San Diego), and I was turned down today, so this is the situation I'm stuck with for the next few months (until my lease is up), and I just don't know what to do.

 

[Pastry]

Just hit my two year mark with my current company and I've been promoted once but I've kind of maxed out the advancement opportunities for my field here. The pay is decent, I like my coworkers and I've got job security. I do know that I could get more money by going somewhere else though, likely anywhere from 15-30% increase.

So I'm starting the job hunt. I'm fortunate that I'm actually job hunting in a position where I can afford to be patient and look for the right opportunity and some leverage. The last time I was job hunting I was working in oil and gas during the crash and layofffs were happening all around me so it was super stressful and I felt really pressured to find something quick.

 

[sojour]

I'm kind of in a state right now.

Last year, I took a job in Seattle, and it ended up being a nightmare. I started drinking constantly, I gained a ton of weight and became a complete shut-in. I was a wreck.

A friend of mine in St. Louis coaxed me into leaving and coming to work with him...things got so bad that, in January, I did it, even taking a significant pay cut in the process. My buddy suggested we live together, as he found a place within a 10-minute walk to work. We got a 2-bedroom apartment, and everything was going fine.

Then, last month he tells me he got a job in his hometown of San Francisco, and would be moving in a few weeks. Now, I'm suddenly stuck with an apartment I can't afford (my friend said he'll pay rent for two months while I look for a roommate), in a city I don't really like, working at a place that -- while much better than before -- still sucks because, with my friend gone, I have nothing in common with anyone. I could remedy the expensive apartment problem by finding a roommate, but honestly, crime is so bad here I'm scared to let a complete stranger in to see the place.

Now, I'm venting because I was up for a kickass new job in an amazing place to live (San Diego), and I was turned down today, so this is the situation I'm stuck with for the next few months (until my lease is up), and I just don't know what to do.

Is your friend on the lease? If so, if he leaves before it's up, he should have to deal with it and not you.

Good luck with the job hunt though!

 

[Brawly Likes to Brawl]

Just came back from a job interview with a hotel restaurant. I felt it went incredibly well. I didn't feel stumped by any of the questions and managed to ask a good deal of my own, too. Now to wait and see if they want to continue the process.

 

[Xater]

I have been looking for a job since February. I have sent out around 70-80 applications, went to 7 interviews and I still got jack shit. Well technically one company wanted me but then fucked me over with the pay. It was not the agreed upon amount and below minimum wage. Fuckers!

If I don't find anything until October I will go back to school for 3 months to get some more qualifications to help me out.

 

[SarusGray]

I have been looking for a job since February. I have sent out around 70-80 applications, went to 7 interviews and I still got jack shit. Well technically one company wanted me but then fucked me over with the pay. It was not the agreed upon amount and below minimum wage. Fuckers!

If I don't find anything until October I will go back to school for 3 months to get some more qualifications to help me out.

Hang in there! What jobs are you looking for and what is your experience?

 

[Skel1ingt0n]

Let me preface by saying I know I'm in the fortunate position of currently having a job, and for that I am very lucky and thankful... certainly don't mean to bother those actively on the hunt; so feel free to skip my question. That said, it doesn't really call for a new thread.

***

Been at my current job for more than five years. Pay is good. Worked hard, changed positions a few times, and have managed to basically triple my salary since starting over the years.

Got a call from the lead of HR for another company, and they asked if I'd be interested in a particular position nearby. I'm not really looking, but I actually know this HR person on a professional level from other stuff, and she said she knows I'm exactly what they're looking for.

She explains the job and we set up a breakfast meeting with the CEO.

Then later that week, an hour with their primary developer.

Then I came in to the office for the first time, and had back-to-back interviews with the VP of Sales and VP of IT. Things went well.

A week passes, and CEO wants to talk to me again. No prob! We meet for breakfast, and a 30 minute chat turns into almost an hour.

Then two weeks of silence. I contact my HR person, and she says she's working on it.
A week later, she calls and apologizes; says I'm their #1 pick and they're working to make me an offer. We have a follow-up call and she says something similar a few days later.
Another 2 weeks.
I check-in, and she says they're working on an on-boarding plan, but she hopes to have something to me by the "end of the week." Apologizes for taking so long, but assures me again that the offer is coming.
Monday, it'll have been 4 weeks since then.

It's a great opportunity. I'll be great at it. I know they like me. It's better money. And they keep telling me I'm their pick.

But it's now been 3+ months, and 3-4 weeks without follow-up. Honestly, at this point, I'm the one who reached out every time before... I'm about done playing this game. I know things take time, but for "end of the week" to turn into three more, I'm a bit frustrated.

I'm currently employed. So thankful. But any thoughts on what I should take from this? I've pretty much forgotten about it, but every few days I'm reminded that I'm still waiting, and it admittedly bugs me a bit.

 

[dskillzhtown]

Let me preface by saying I know I'm in the fortunate position of currently having a job, and for that I am very lucky and thankful... certainly don't mean to bother those actively on the hunt; so feel free to skip my question. That said, it doesn't really call for a new thread.

***

Been at my current job for more than five years. Pay is good. Worked hard, changed positions a few times, and have managed to basically triple my salary since starting over the years.

Got a call from the lead of HR for another company, and they asked if I'd be interested in a particular position nearby. I'm not really looking, but I actually know this HR person on a professional level from other stuff, and she said she knows I'm exactly what they're looking for.

She explains the job and we set up a breakfast meeting with the CEO.

Then later that week, an hour with their primary developer.

Then I came in to the office for the first time, and had back-to-back interviews with the VP of Sales and VP of IT. Things went well.

A week passes, and CEO wants to talk to me again. No prob! We meet for breakfast, and a 30 minute chat turns into almost an hour.

Then two weeks of silence. I contact my HR person, and she says she's working on it.
A week later, she calls and apologizes; says I'm their #1 pick and they're working to make me an offer. We have a follow-up call and she says something similar a few days later.
Another 2 weeks.
I check-in, and she says they're working on an on-boarding plan, but she hopes to have something to me by the "end of the week." Apologizes for taking so long, but assures me again that the offer is coming.
Monday, it'll have been 4 weeks since then.

It's a great opportunity. I'll be great at it. I know they like me. It's better money. And they keep telling me I'm their pick.

But it's now been 3+ months, and 3-4 weeks without follow-up. Honestly, at this point, I'm the one who reached out every time before... I'm about done playing this game. I know things take time, but for "end of the week" to turn into three more, I'm a bit frustrated.

I'm currently employed. So thankful. But any thoughts on what I should take from this? I've pretty much forgotten about it, but every few days I'm reminded that I'm still waiting, and it admittedly bugs me a bit.

It takes time to hire someone. Nowadays the number of approvals and red tape can be pretty large. Combine the fact that key people may be out on vacations before the kids go back to school, then you have the likelihood for delays. If you have a relationship with the HR person, just ask if everything is okay and they are preparing to move forward. If not, then ask to remove your name from consideration.

I had a similar situation that took about a month, and when they finally made the offer, they had changed some key points of my employment. The pay was the same, but they wanted me to go in as a contractor and not a full time employee. This was after about 3 weeks of waiting after being told I had the job. I was frustrated with the time it took to get back to me in any official capacity and then to change it from employee to contractor was seemed curious so I went ahead and declined.

So it could be just a situation of them waiting for paperwork, waiting for the next orientation class to start, someone being out, or they are changing what the promised. My advice would be to keep you head down and keep working at your current spot. Don't contact the new company anymore outside of your HR contact to try to get the real truth. If they come around, they come around.

 

[Forerunner]

Well, I passed, somehow... Took me around two hours and I thought I was missing a ton, but I guess not. Getting that LSAT study guide paid off. I still have a long way to go.

The interview is next. I’m a bit nervous just because I haven’t had an interview of this caliber before. However, I have excellent communication skills and I’m very likable. So I should do fine.

Then it’s the physical abilities test, I’m not worried about this at all. I work out 5-6 days a week.

Background/investigation is next. Not worried about this. My background is immaculate.

Polygraph is the last thing. I’ve taken them before, so this shouldn’t be an issue.

Still this whole process takes six months to well over a year. One guy I was talking to waited two years to finally get his offer. I’m just glad I got the test out of the way. Standardized testing is not one of my strengths.

 

[gazele]

Did pretty badly on my SQL portion of the interview I had today so I'm pretty sure I didn't get it. Doesn't feel great.

 

[dskillzhtown]

Did pretty badly on my SQL portion of the interview I had today so I'm pretty sure I didn't get it. Doesn't feel great.

Sorry to hear that. My minimal SQL knowledge keeps me from even applying to many jobs. I got contacted by a recruiter about a job that I would be "perfect" for. I didn't really agree, but I needed the money. So I tell him to proceed with it. Two days later he calls me to let me know they went ahead and hired an internal person instead. Some days I feel like giving up, I swear. I won't do that but man it is hard not to get discouraged.

 

[jack_package_200]

Had an interview today at a big chain retailer. They are only looking for part time employees.

If they hire me, I might consider finding another part time job so I can move out of my mom's house and feel more independent.

I hate that my degree (Business: HR and Management) feels about as useful as toilet paper. At least the knowledge that many people in my program are struggling too is some comfort. The game is rigged against the new generation.

 

[Shadowlink]

Hey GAF,

I was thinking that attending a Coding Bootcamp, but I wanted to hear feedback on those who've attended one. Would this be a good idea for some who had attended University already?

 

[Rommel]

Hey GAF,

I graduated in the Spring this year, but have been finding it difficult to secure an interview for a Software Developer position. I was thinking that attending a Coding Bootcamp may help me in my journey, but I wanted to hear feedback on those who've attended one. Would this be a good idea for some who had attended University already?

What degree did you get? CS? What part of the country are you in?

 

[diaspora]

Hey GAF,

I graduated in the Spring this year, but have been finding it difficult to secure an interview for a Software Developer position. I was thinking that attending a Coding Bootcamp may help me in my journey, but I wanted to hear feedback on those who've attended one. Would this be a good idea for some who had attended University already?

Software development is a little broad. What do you actually want to do?

 

[Socivol]

Let me preface by saying I know I'm in the fortunate position of currently having a job, and for that I am very lucky and thankful... certainly don't mean to bother those actively on the hunt; so feel free to skip my question. That said, it doesn't really call for a new thread.

***

Been at my current job for more than five years. Pay is good. Worked hard, changed positions a few times, and have managed to basically triple my salary since starting over the years.

Got a call from the lead of HR for another company, and they asked if I'd be interested in a particular position nearby. I'm not really looking, but I actually know this HR person on a professional level from other stuff, and she said she knows I'm exactly what they're looking for.

She explains the job and we set up a breakfast meeting with the CEO.

Then later that week, an hour with their primary developer.

Then I came in to the office for the first time, and had back-to-back interviews with the VP of Sales and VP of IT. Things went well.

A week passes, and CEO wants to talk to me again. No prob! We meet for breakfast, and a 30 minute chat turns into almost an hour.

Then two weeks of silence. I contact my HR person, and she says she's working on it.
A week later, she calls and apologizes; says I'm their #1 pick and they're working to make me an offer. We have a follow-up call and she says something similar a few days later.
Another 2 weeks.
I check-in, and she says they're working on an on-boarding plan, but she hopes to have something to me by the "end of the week." Apologizes for taking so long, but assures me again that the offer is coming.
Monday, it'll have been 4 weeks since then.

It's a great opportunity. I'll be great at it. I know they like me. It's better money. And they keep telling me I'm their pick.

But it's now been 3+ months, and 3-4 weeks without follow-up. Honestly, at this point, I'm the one who reached out every time before... I'm about done playing this game. I know things take time, but for "end of the week" to turn into three more, I'm a bit frustrated.

I'm currently employed. So thankful. But any thoughts on what I should take from this? I've pretty much forgotten about it, but every few days I'm reminded that I'm still waiting, and it admittedly bugs me a bit.

This same exact situation happened with me (multiple interview dragging me along for 4-5 months) and then they hired someone else. I would say if you're content where you are leave it alone. If they really want you they will reach out.

 

[Shadowlink]

What degree did you get? CS? What part of the country are you in?

CS.

Software development is a little broad. What do you actually want to do?

I've been applying specifically to any entry level Software Engineering positions.

 

[entremet]

Hey GAF,

I was thinking that attending a Coding Bootcamp, but I wanted to hear feedback on those who've attended one. Would this be a good idea for some who had attended University already?

Most of my developer friends who hire say they're mostly awful. Meaning, the candidates that get from the bootcamps are not very skilled. Development is a trade and it takes time to grow your skills.

Have you done any internships? You're gonna learn tons in a real world setting. You sound young. Just focus on developing your skill set however you can.

 

[Socivol]

Hey GAF,

I was thinking that attending a Coding Bootcamp, but I wanted to hear feedback on those who've attended one. Would this be a good idea for some who had attended University already?

I was a program manager at General Assembly and I would say it's probably not worth it if you plan to immediately get a job. If you take the course and want to continue learning I think it's a good stepping stone but it will.no way prepare you to be a Junior Dev.

 

[Shadowlink]

Most of my developer friends who hire say they're mostly awful. Meaning, the candidates that get from the bootcamps are not very skilled. Development is a trade and it takes time to grow your skills.

Have you done any internships? You're gonna learn tons in a real world setting. You sound young. Just focus on developing your skill set however you can.

I think not having an internship may play a pivotal role as to why I'm not able to secure anything at the moment. I was deciding on taking the bootcamp route for the networking aspect.

I was a program manager at General Assembly and I would say it's probably not worth it if you plan to immediately get a job. If you take the course and want to continue learning I think it's a good stepping stone but it will.no way prepare you to be a Junior Dev.

I can't imagine securing a job immediately, but being able to have higher chance after the bootcamp would work in my favor.

 

[Socivol]

I think not having an internship may play a pivotal role as to why I'm not able to secure anything at the moment. I was deciding on taking the bootcamp route for the networking aspect.

I can't imagine securing a job immediately, but being able to have higher chance after the bootcamp would work in my favor.

I think it's possible depending on how much extra work you're willing to put into it.

 

[Rommel]

I think not having an internship may play a pivotal role as to why I'm not able to secure anything at the moment. I was deciding on taking the bootcamp route for the networking aspect.

I can't imagine securing a job immediately, but being able to have higher chance after the bootcamp would work in my favor.

Honestly it depends on your location. My company will higher CS degree's out of college to Jr Developer positions all day long. My wife did the bootcamp thing without a CS degree and was able to land a job at a startup.

If you are able to relocated my company is hiring devs hand over fist right now. It's in Lehi Utah where Oracle, Micron, Adobe and a slew of other tech companies have offices. There are not enough developers here for demand. If your interested PM me and I'll send you the careers site. If there is a position that interests you I can get you resume in front of the recruiter in charge of the position.

 

[Shadowlink]

Honestly it depends on your location. My company will higher CS degree's out of college to Jr Developer positions all day long. My wife did the bootcamp thing without a CS degree and was able to land a job at a startup.

If you are able to relocated my company is hiring devs hand over fist right now. It's in Lehi Utah where Oracle, Micron, Adobe and a slew of other tech companies have offices. There are not enough developers here for demand. If your interested PM me and I'll send you the careers site. If there is a position that interests you I can get you resume in front of the recruiter in charge of the position.

That's very generous of you, but it would be hard for me to relocate from Northern California.

 

[Rommel]

That's very generous of you, but it would be hard for me to relocate from Northern California.

Totally get it. Moving is a pain. But honestly it is the best way to get started in a career. Do it while you are young, go to a major tech hub (SF, LA, Seattle, Austin, Lehi) and get a start for a few years. Your mobility can be your greatest asset early in your career (before marriage/kids/etc), it will allow you to quickly move up positions and up the salary ladder. Especially in software development.

Honestly not sure how much bootcamp networking will help you if your experience is anything like my wife's. Most of her class were unable to find jobs. She was able to because she got out there to every single meetup possible. Many companies will sponsor meetups if they are currently looking, but sometimes going in person and meeting their engineers and getting on their radar is the best thing you could do. It took my wife 3 contacts with the startup before they would take a chance on her. She was very good about updating her Git and making sure she had portfolio pieces available to see.

Have you gone back to your University and spoken with career services there? I think you might have better luck with that than with Bootcamp connections. The overall feeling I'm getting from tech companies around me and particularly my companies HR department is that bootcamps are falling out of favor.

If there is posting that you are interested in then you should LinkedIn stalk someone from your University who works there and do an "informational interview" about the company. Often times after getting to know you people are willing to at least put your resume in front of a real person. LinkedIn is a very powerful tool in any job search, and if you're not on it then be sure to

Good luck on your search!

 

[Mr. F]

Is it a bad look to apply for two roles within the same company at the same time?

Over the past month and a half I've gone through a couple of interviews for a role that I'm mostly interested in, and am currently in the waiting phase before hearing whats next.

In that time I was contacted by a former boss who connected me with someone in a different division at the same company, who was hiring for a role that is in the same area (animation) but a lot more interesting/versatile than the first role.

Does it reflect poorly or make it look like I'm indecisive to put forward my candidacy for this other role? Essentially I was worried that this one would pass me by and the other role would go to someone else, leaving me empty handed. Also I feel I should take advantage of the fact I was introduced to a connection on the inside. I have no problem being transparent in my cover letter but not sure if it would help or hurt.

For context, it's a large tech startup with offices in several cities domestically and abroad. First role was remote, while second role was based in my city.

 

[Lunarwhale]

Hey GAF,

I was thinking that attending a Coding Bootcamp, but I wanted to hear feedback on those who've attended one. Would this be a good idea for some who had attended University already?

I haven't attended one, but I know people who have and got jobs immediately following. They seem to vary a lot, though. Pick one that teaches a language that's in-demand in your location, and look into what people who completed that specific one are saying about post-camp job prospects. Bonus points if companies specifically look towards graduates of one of those bootcamps for onboarding.

 

[xeroborn55]

Ahhhh guys. For the last 2 years I've spent most of my free time learning to program and data science/data analyst workflows/processes. I applied to a company I REALLY wanted to work at in April but was not invited to interview at the time.

Fast-forward to 2 weeks ago and a recruiter from that company asked if I was still interested. I passed the technical interview last week, and had my 2nd interview tonight with the sponsoring manager of the position. I feel like I did really great tonight. i don't know how I could have done any better and I'm generally my own worst critic.

She said the recruiter would be in touch, so I guess I'm just waiting now. I'm so excited though! I think I might have a really good chance now of getting this job.

I make $45k at my current job. This new position I interviewed for would likely be in the $75k-85k ballpark. that is a life-changing amount of money to me.

 

[jack_package_200]

Well I was just offered a part time job on the conditions that I pass a background check + drug test.

Cheers. Something is better than nothing.

 

[CrazedProfessional]

Anyone on gaf wanna PM me to help with my resume and cover letter. I never feel confident in creating these things...

 

[DarkJediKnight]

I was just told by the hiring manager that I would have had the job but their department is in a hiring freeze with new headcounts, so the job went to an internal candidate who did worse than me in my interview.

So bummed out. 4 months now without a job and severance package running out.

Don't know what to do. Do I go for an entry level position to get my foot in the door and work my way up all over again?

 

[sturmdogg]

Did pretty badly on my SQL portion of the interview I had today so I'm pretty sure I didn't get it. Doesn't feel great.

I feel ya man. My roadblock is JS. Everything else (HTML, CSS, PHP/MYSQL) no problems. JS? Crash and burn. And it's not the practical side, mind. It's the theoretical side, I mean there's this question that I don't know...there's 2 techniques to do JS i think, which one do you use and why and I'm like "what, there's more than one way to do js?".

 

[Brawly Likes to Brawl]

After the hotel interview, I was supposed to be contacted by phone early last week. Nothing but silence since. And they didn't give me contact info like I requested, so I can't call back to at least find out if they're still interested in me. I hate it when employers don't keep their word with followups.

 

[Ogodei]

It takes time to hire someone. Nowadays the number of approvals and red tape can be pretty large. Combine the fact that key people may be out on vacations before the kids go back to school, then you have the likelihood for delays. If you have a relationship with the HR person, just ask if everything is okay and they are preparing to move forward. If not, then ask to remove your name from consideration.

I had a similar situation that took about a month, and when they finally made the offer, they had changed some key points of my employment. The pay was the same, but they wanted me to go in as a contractor and not a full time employee. This was after about 3 weeks of waiting after being told I had the job. I was frustrated with the time it took to get back to me in any official capacity and then to change it from employee to contractor was seemed curious so I went ahead and declined.

So it could be just a situation of them waiting for paperwork, waiting for the next orientation class to start, someone being out, or they are changing what the promised. My advice would be to keep you head down and keep working at your current spot. Don't contact the new company anymore outside of your HR contact to try to get the real truth. If they come around, they come around.

Last job that hired me took 10 weeks from application submitted to offer letter tendered (and then another month to start date because the offer was issued around november 30th and we both agreed waiting until New Year's was better)

That job just laid me off, actually, which is why i'm back in this thread. Budget cuts as they lost some sponsorship dollars from their larger corporate donors.

Thankfully they gave me a month of severance pay, so i have until September 8th before the bleeding starts. Had an interview at a staffing agency earlier today before i went to Otakon, trying to set me up with a place across the border in Maryland, which would pay less for a longer commute, a 2-3 month gig, though a possibility that i could weasel my way in there.

If anyone in the DC area is working for a nonprofit that's looking for fundraising help, PM me. Lots of opportunities i've been applying to, but connections are crucial.

 

[Synless]

So, I don't post here much... but after 5 months, 110 applications (including LinkedIn quick apply) 11 phone interviews, 4 in person interviews I finally nailed my HR manager job in a great location, great pay. All I have to say is keep at it. The denials suck, that lack of communication sucks, but you will eventually get what you want if you keep at it.