hnthrowaway9001

I'm notoriously bad at gauging age by looks. I believe some of the interviewers are younger than me but most seem roughly my age. The teams themselves do tend to be younger.

Thank you for this thoughtful reply. I really appreciate the advice, and I'll try to emulate it as best I can.

I don't bluntly say anything like that at interviews, and try very hard not to imply it via subtext. I put a lot of effort into being a confident interviewee, who knows their strengths and weaknesses and is honest about both.

I include links to my GitHub, but I will emphasize it more going forward, and I really like your suggested line ("i can be a bit ...").

Thanks for the reply.

I've never been able to take rejection well, as I have next to no self esteem. I am trying to just push it out of my mind but the nagging thought of "I'm really just terrible" keep coming back.

I have done the LinkedIn method to a degree, but for places that I have already applied to. I also mostly looked for recruiters as I feel rude sending it to big important people at those companies.

I didn't intend to sound entitled. I'm just terrified that I won't find something. I haven't been unemployed since starting my career, and you must admit that the usual line we hear is that "We Can't Find Enough Engineers!" and "Become A Programmer And Never Worry About Finding A Job!". From the comments here I see now that it isn't exactly true.

I have tried to look through the online freelance marketplaces, but it seems the quality is awful and the pay worse. I know most quality contractors work through connections, but don't know how to open that conversation. I'm not a particularly good salesperson.

I am under 35, but I'm older than most of the people I've worked with. I hear mutterings of age discrimination on occasion throughout the community but I don't have any reason to believe that is happening to me.

I have been running through a few of the language books I've accumulated. I'm terrible at learning things through pedagogy and generally learn during the process of getting something done.

Thanks for the encouragement though. I realize now that one month and 5 in person interviews isn't that much, but it's tough not to think I've exhausted my options.

Thanks for the encouragement and offer. I may email you.

I do have a small number of mini side projects up on GitHub. I wouldn't mind doing another one, but can't come up with an idea for it. Also, it's tough to concentrate in my current state.

And I agree, I think using those whiteboard sessions is a negative sign for a workplace, but I'm not in a position to be picky at the moment.

I am trying to improve on the things I know I need to work on, namely algorithms. I just don't have a knack for it, and I've never needed to use them this actively in my career so far.

I haven't. I will ask around to see if any of them have time.

I tried Hired and Indeed Prime and got accepted, but got only one response. It is still active, but they are very slow to get back to me. I wasn't aware of the others, so I will look into them. It seems that many of these only work in SF and a few other areas though, which is unfortunate as I don't want to move if I can avoid it.

Thanks for the tips though.

I agree, five isn't that many. I meant it more like "I've only gotten five, even with all this work."

I don't know where else to apply and interview. I've worked all my connections (I don't have many), and spent a lot of time looking around job postings, mailing lists, and local communities to find places that seem right. I have a breadth of tech I can work with and I know that I am looking for small to medium size teams, so I apply to whatever I find that looks like a good match. Do you know any other way to find the right places to pursue?

I've tried to get feedback but have been unable to get anything useful. I have also tried to ask the people I know at those companies for any inside info, but nothing has come from that either.

I have tried this a few times, and I've never gotten anything more than the general "culture" or "we went with other great candidates" response. It is incredibly frustrating and unhelpful to ask for any feedback only to be met with "Unfortunately we’re not able to provide specific feedback." How can I improve or refine my skills without any information? I keep things cordial and professional but often the conversation will just end, full stop.

Thanks for the reply and well wishes, though. Trying to keep fighting.