Ask HN: Site for recent CS grads (jobs)?

3 pointshbien2 comments

I've been looking through job boards for the past two weeks and most of the positions available are only for senior developers - especially startup postings.

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I'm a few years out of being a recent CS grad and I'm assuming you have checked the normal ones like dice.com . I'm posting to encourage you to apply to any job that you find interesting, even ones for senior developers and particularly those at startups. You probably won't get the job/pay in those senior listings, but if you are a first class programmer and can prove it then the companies that are looking for developer's may have work for you, especially if they can get you at a discount. My startup (not a founder, just my employer) recently filled such a position with a new college graduate partly due to cost considerations. If you're not a first rate programmer, you should learn this and build a portfolio to prove it. That could be just an SVN repository you put code fragments into and send out as a URL in your cover letter. If you need any further resources on this, I can provide some for you.

This is the only method that's worked for me: 1. Comb the job boards for interesting looking positions. Don't worry about being qualified yet. 2. Find the name and location of the hiring manager. 3. Write a personalized cover letter to that manager and tell them that you're interested. If you're not qualified for the position as advertised, tell them that you'd be interested in something similar. Sell yourself to them. 4. (This one's important) SNAIL MAIL your resume and cover letter in an 8.5 x 11 envelope.

The last one will make you stand out and tell them that you're really interested and not just spamming them.

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