Ask HN: How are you finding work/gigs as a SWE?

Not finding work since I own a business but do employ two highly senior engineers.

Each time in an interview for new candidates, I ask how did you find this opportunity?

The best ones I hired said they found it through referrals from someone I know. I verified their work and experience by asking a friends of mine, and it certainly increased the likelihood I would hire them.

Obviously we still have to give them a take home challenge, but at the first stage, referrals helpfully filter out the time wasters, inexperienced candidates and AI resumes.

I think referrals and your network will matter a lot more since AI is being used heavily on both sides, the candidate and recruiter side, neither benefiting any side.

My network has gotten me every job over the past 10 years, and probably will get me the rest of the jobs I'll ever have. I am fortunate to have gotten into the industry when I did (2013), if I didn't have time to build a network I would genuinely be screwed.

Assess your LinkedIn profile. I get contacted by multiple recruiters per month. I've had dozens of interviews without sending a single application.

Niche local technology/ai communities seem to be places with a lot of alpha at the moment when it comes to jobs

There aren't any, and the fight against bots, spammers and scammers is tiresome

If I get laid off I assume I am done.

I'm not.