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Comment by spearingthehead | Hacker News Reader

So I guess making a return to PHP web shops but just "doing your job better" and take advantage of FTE opportunities for promotions, etc. Correct?

The job in that link is a junior job. I'm pretty open to reverting to a junior W2 job, with a modest (but not too low) salary, BUT it does raise the concern of presenting myself to employers.

I already know that a lot of employers will see 10 years experience and applying to junior jobs as a big red flag. Do I just present myself with a shorter resume, with less experience? Navigating the jobs market when you're stagnating 10 YOE and "expert beginner" is a big headache.

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If you do well, you'll quickly get promoted out of a Junior role so I wouldn't focus too much on the title. Focus on fit. That said you should be fine applying for normal roles just at small to medium-size non-tech companies. Do ask for your value in salary and don't take something that doesn't pay you what you are worth.

Resume: Just make it tight and to the point. In interviews, press that you can solve their problems and work well with their team. Avoid companies that want live-coding whiteboard interviews and focus on ones that do take-homes or other assessments to ensure you are a good fit.

Having read a few of your responses, you seem to be over-thinking it. You need to just get in a role, start performing and start working your way up. Don't be afraid to switch jobs at the 1-year mark as opportunities arise if they don't value your growth and contributions, but try to avoid leaving a job < 1 year unless it turns out to be a bad fit and/or unsupportive.

This all sounds good to me. I'd prefer companies that would give me the benefit of the doubt. In addition to what you've suggested, I also want to avoid displaying all the red flags (or minimize them, at least) that user "codegeek" talked about. 2.5 years unemployed and 10 years of relatively little progress is not a good look, and this issue is probably the first objective I must overcome.

With job applications, I will try out an A/B test with resumes. One of them with a lot of years pruned from my experience so that employers will have fewer negative biases about looking like a dinosaur or other related "laziness".

You don't need to show that you haven't been working. Just stretch out your freelancing entry. You were still a freelancer at the time.

>Just stretch out your freelancing entry.

I also did that and it got people to wonder, in resume reviews, why my freelance content is so short given the amount of years.

I have done ~18 months worth of work in the time spanning from 2015 until now. It is sparse. So looks like there's not an easy way to spin this. I might just tell them I was a caretaker for my mom (which is the truth).

If you can explain why you're going back to junior, employers will be more than ok with it. Today it's not uncommon to see people changing careers in the industry, you seem to be going from a freelancer/"webmaster" type of role to a better-paid SWE career. Not a big jump, but still a change.

Do you get contacted by recruiters? It's in their interest to be honest to you about your chances, they might be able to provide good feedback or even direct you to companies that fit you.

Yeah, I get loads of emails from recruiters every week. Usually for contract senior positions. I ignore most of them and may ask one to filter me for junior jobs if it's possible.

I would try to reach back to them for help positioning you in a (well earning) junior or mid-level position.

Companies also want that, honestly. Hiring juniors and mid-level is a pain in the ass too.

Someone with a lot of field experience but willingness to learn would be a good fit in lots of companies.

Also lots of companies need people to working with marketing. For this case your skills are far from outdated.

(Sorry for the late reply!)

I spoke to a recruiter about a web producer role and she told me she needed someone who knew html for 7 years so you shouldn’t think you’re overqualified for a job just because it says junior in the title

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