Stuck and Discouraged | Hacker News Reader

Stuck and Discouraged

8 pointsineedajob14 comments

I've been following this site for 3-4 years. Recently graduated college and decided to move out to Seattle to look for a job. 7 months of this so far and I can't believe the general lack of interest in what I've done and can do.... I knew I was taking a risk in moving out here to look, so I initially planned to stay for 3 months, but now I think I've overstayed. I'm getting sick of this feeling and everyone telling me that "I'll find something".

Is anyone hiring a web/mobile/desktop (php, javascript, obj-c, java) developer in Seattle or hiring remote workers? I wish I could afford to move out anywhere to interview, but that is impossible without assistance at this point...

or can recommend me to your companies' open positions?

I'm a self taught programmer and I know I have the motivation to do what I do best...

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Seven months and you haven't gotten more specific feedback than 'you'll find something' on where you're lacking?

You need to figure out specifically what's wrong and pose a more specific question. Otherwise no one will be able to help.

Do you have any projects to show your prowess?

How many job applications have you pushed out? Are you targeting them? (web/mobile/desktop is reallly broad.) How is your networking? (the interpersonal type)

Do you get interviews? If you do get them, where do you tend to stumble?

This is my experience -- four months of self-taught programming to a job, in the Bay Area.

https://medium.com/life-hacks/3e990967a1f3 https://medium.com/tech-blogging/79fcfd2d66e8

I understand you're discouraged, but this post comes off as whiny. Consider this a kick in the pants.

I've applied without much success on craigslist, indeed, cybercoders, simplyhired, weworkremotely, stackoverflow careers.

1 or 2 interviews per month and yes, I do ask for feedback... Most will tell you that you they are going go forward with other candidates or other vague saying which doesn't tell me much.

Whiny? I am not saying "Give me a job" or "I deserve a job" I am looking for work.

Okay, cool. I'd go to events, meet people in organizations using php/JS stack (or other tech stacks you know), ask them to grab lunch. Your story could go something like this:

"I'm a self-taught programmer looking for my first full-time programming job. If I describe my experience, would you be able to describe the skillsets I need to develop in order to be successful in your organization?"

I did this repeatedly and got tons of useful feedback. See my customer development essay in earlier link.

I'll try to! Hopefully someone can point a direction or help with what I need to do to get better.

There's the open source path: while you're looking for a job, get involved in an open source project that solves a problem you like, really can be anything. Get involved, participate, share ideas, code stuff up, commit. This may take longer, but this is a good way to get a job in something you like. Because contributors are employees somewhere, and they will recognize your talent, and know where to apply it. Good luck!

Totally agree.

To the OP: I would recommend spending a decent amount of time developing "industry" connections with others that work with the same technology that you do. When you attend an event though, don't have the mindset of "I'm going to find a job", but rather something like "I'm going to meet smart people that I'd enjoy working with." Maybe try taking some small freelance work with some of the people you meet too. Anywho, good luck!

I am more or less in the same boat as you are. I graduated roughly a year ago, and I've been trying to find a developer position in any big tech city (SV, Seattle, NY, Boston, etc). I've gotten many phone/skype interviews, even got flown out a few times for onsite interviews, but I suppose I'm just not that great of an interviewer since I've been rejected a ridiculous amount of times.

It's really discouraging, but I've began teaching myself a lot of new technologies and started working on some personal projects (one was even on front page of HN a few months ago). I think the tech industry is a very merit based industry, and if I just get good enough (or at least appear good enough) then I will eventually land a good position.

I'm glad to have read this. I don't list on my resume or talk about the technologies that I've dabbled with personally or academically since they are not my core set.

Maybe I suck at interviewing, but there's no helpful feedback even when I ask. One company told me to look for a junior position at a smaller company for "more experience to be stronger candidate" even though the position that I applied for was a junior position. It was one of those interviews where you answer all the questions and feel great about it, but the hiring manager has some hidden doubts.

My biggest issue is getting interviews.

I might be able to help you look for a position at my current employer. Email is on my personal page linked off of my profile.

Will do, thanks!

What are you working on besides looking for a job?

Actively working on my personal projects (a online game, community moderated forum/comments system, online journal and lastly my php/javascript library that helps me reuse what I build across my personal projects.

Just throwing out ideas.

Do these demonstrate specific skills, knowledge and abilities directly related to the jobs for which you are applying?

Are the repositories open source?

Are you contributing to other people's open source projects?

Is your resume available on more mainstream job sites such as LinkedIn?

I wholeheartedly believe that the projects I am doing use general skills, knowledge, and abilities for PHP/JS developer positions.

Some of my projects are open source on github.

I haven't contributed to anyone else's open source projects. That should not be a deal breaker though.

My resume is available on CareerBuilder, which is basically a huge feed for recruiters. I've applied to recruiters who email me, but never a response back.

I do not have a LinkedIn, but am considering it.

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