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In my experience, it's not possible for (approximately) anyone to "wander into opportunities seemingly without effort" at many of the companies I'd actually wor

In my experience, it's not possible for (approximately) anyone to "wander into opportunities seemingly without effort" at many of the companies I'd actually work for. There are companies which can be well-aligned to your professional interests, compensation requirements and growth expectations which are also difficult for just about anyone to get a job at. Unfortunately, these tend to be the companies I want to select for. Note that I agree with not applying to jobs shotgun style - I'm just nitpicking very specifically on the idea that you can generally find someone who reliably walks onto the jobs they want. But maybe I've misunderstood you.

risyachka 6y ago
I've seen many creative ways people used to get a job. Like with any problem out there - there are lots of solutions. Just sending a resume is only one of them, the most obvious.
- sillysaurusx 6y ago
  Has sending in a resume ever worked for anyone ever? (I’m only slightly exaggerating.) All of my opportunities came from inside referrals. It’s hard to imagine getting one any other way. I mean yeah, a resume is involved — I fill one out — but it’s never been the reason for the opportunity. Ah, I have a suspicion there are two types of engineers: those with FAANG on their resume, and those without. Perhaps that accounts for the disparity. :)
  - bradlys 6y ago
    I’ve never received an offer from applying through a referral. All my jobs either came from using Hired or from blind resume submission. (3 of 5 we’re resume submission, 2 were through hired) And all these jobs were in the last 7 years. Resume submission does work. It’s not fun or great but for those who don’t have a great network, it is all you have.
    - djcapelis 6y ago
      > all these jobs were in the last 7 years. Question here... I hope I’m not being a huge jerk here, but uh. Does this feel like this strategy is working well for you? Did you like any of these positions?
      - bradlys 6y ago
        It's the #1 way to pay progression, sadly. Job switching rapidly in your early career is the only viable way to get pay raises - unfortunately. It's worked out - in that sense. I'll be switching again here soon enough - but no more startup shit. Big N or die trying. (Although I said that last time too - but now at least I have options currently worth $180k+/yr that put me near Big N in terms of pay... but only if they actually ever get turned into real $$$) Honestly - I feel like I stick around at places too long. Get my first year vest and then immediately bounce is what I want to do but I sometimes stay longer because I'm terrible at interviewing. I'm nearing 2 years at my current place and I'm dying to leave because they won't increase pay and keep putting me under absolute horseshit of managers. When you join startups - you can ask as many question as you like to find the right place but in less than six months - the company, your manager, your team, and what you work on can completely change for the worse. Even when I was at a bigger company - that still happened. Half my team was laid off and my manager was fired... both had no replacement. I'd stay if I found a place I genuinely liked but even if I think I like it when I join - it can drastically change within six months... And, sadly, that's kinda been my experience at every place. Managers fired, sexual harassment lawsuits against the CEO, employees laid off, CTOs fired, huge pivots in what I work on, drastic product changes, etc. etc.
        djcapelis 6y ago
        So... no? > It's the #1 way to pay progression, sadly This has not been my experience.

risyachka 6y ago

I've seen many creative ways people used to get a job. Like with any problem out there - there are lots of solutions. Just sending a resume is only one of them, the most obvious.

sillysaurusx 6y ago
Has sending in a resume ever worked for anyone ever? (I’m only slightly exaggerating.) All of my opportunities came from inside referrals. It’s hard to imagine getting one any other way. I mean yeah, a resume is involved — I fill one out — but it’s never been the reason for the opportunity. Ah, I have a suspicion there are two types of engineers: those with FAANG on their resume, and those without. Perhaps that accounts for the disparity. :)
- bradlys 6y ago
  I’ve never received an offer from applying through a referral. All my jobs either came from using Hired or from blind resume submission. (3 of 5 we’re resume submission, 2 were through hired) And all these jobs were in the last 7 years. Resume submission does work. It’s not fun or great but for those who don’t have a great network, it is all you have.
  - djcapelis 6y ago
    > all these jobs were in the last 7 years. Question here... I hope I’m not being a huge jerk here, but uh. Does this feel like this strategy is working well for you? Did you like any of these positions?
    - bradlys 6y ago
      It's the #1 way to pay progression, sadly. Job switching rapidly in your early career is the only viable way to get pay raises - unfortunately. It's worked out - in that sense. I'll be switching again here soon enough - but no more startup shit. Big N or die trying. (Although I said that last time too - but now at least I have options currently worth $180k+/yr that put me near Big N in terms of pay... but only if they actually ever get turned into real $$$) Honestly - I feel like I stick around at places too long. Get my first year vest and then immediately bounce is what I want to do but I sometimes stay longer because I'm terrible at interviewing. I'm nearing 2 years at my current place and I'm dying to leave because they won't increase pay and keep putting me under absolute horseshit of managers. When you join startups - you can ask as many question as you like to find the right place but in less than six months - the company, your manager, your team, and what you work on can completely change for the worse. Even when I was at a bigger company - that still happened. Half my team was laid off and my manager was fired... both had no replacement. I'd stay if I found a place I genuinely liked but even if I think I like it when I join - it can drastically change within six months... And, sadly, that's kinda been my experience at every place. Managers fired, sexual harassment lawsuits against the CEO, employees laid off, CTOs fired, huge pivots in what I work on, drastic product changes, etc. etc.
      - djcapelis 6y ago
        So... no? > It's the #1 way to pay progression, sadly This has not been my experience.