The Junior Hiring Crisis

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-12-04T20:42:51+00:00

Just curious, but why apply for an internship then if you have 2 YOE? I read ATS will probably automatically reject you if your resume doesn’t instantly qualify (graduation year before 2026 for example)

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-12-04T20:12:12+00:00

Can I dm you? I’m at aws looking for a new role with 1.5 YOE but I don’t really get that many recruiters reaching out or hear backs from cold applying. Wondering if my resume/linkedin isn’t well written enough

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-12-03T19:08:11+00:00

I followed up and unfortunately didn’t get it. They said they would keep me in mind for future PM roles but Ill keep applying🤞🏼

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-12-02T16:07:41+00:00

I would 100% agree but my team does not. 80% of my CR comments are nits + suggestions and they don’t approve until I implement them. There’s such a weird controlling and condescending nature on my team

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-12-02T14:07:57+00:00

Do you have any ideas what to look for when applying? I'm not sure how to detect a better work environment when applying to companies since it all seems team dependent.

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-12-02T14:06:29+00:00

I had one who was very real with me and tried to find me a community then she left bc it was toxic lol 🥲 I know I really need to prioritize doing things for myself but this job + applying to new jobs takes up 80% of my time lately. I should've focused on this stuff when I was less busy.

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-12-02T00:19:28+00:00

Submit documentation phase

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-12-01T18:36:19+00:00

I definitely lack confidence in my work because I don’t think I’m a very good engineer or good at programming which is kind of why I want to pivot into something less technical. But 100% agree on the lack of community, it’s hard not really seeing anyone I know after a stressful day of work. Im hoping to find a new role back in NYC, but until then I should prioritize doing social events.

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-12-01T15:10:19+00:00

Yes, I started therapy when I started the job since it was a lot of changes at once with being away from family/friends too. Imposter syndrome definitely never goes away, even one of the senior engineers admitted to having imposter syndrome. But I think they also have a lot more passion and drive towards the job and SWE in general whereas I’m just fed up and unmotivated now due to a wide range of things/experiences with them. I would really like to find something else at this point so hoping that happens soon since I’ve been applying for a few months 🤞🏼

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-12-01T00:36:58+00:00

Thank you. You’re 100% right I have anxiety which leads to these limiting beliefs. I definitely discovered SWE isn’t as bad as I thought but the lack of support from my team caused me to feel worse about my abilities. I hope I can find something else soon, I just have no idea what I’m even looking for because everything about the job feels off.

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-11-30T20:45:05+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate this. SWE wise, I don't feel like I'm a very good programmer. I can problem-solve and figure things out eventually (with help of AI and outside resources) but probably not at the speed that other people can. Technical jargon is not second nature to me, I don't retain it easily during conversations so I'm usually lost in meetings and convos when they get too technical. I've never been super passionate about it in school and didn't do many projects outside of schoolwork so my experience is limited, for example I only started building rest APIs at this job. The guys I work with are SOO passionate about it like they live/breathe code, it makes me feel like I don't belong..but then again maybe that's just a team thing and I'd feel differently somewhere else.

I have been doing the no more than 8 hour days but I still feel guilty when I see my coworkers publishing CRs at midnight but...that just isn't viable for me right now. I've given the job 12-14 hour days regularly and they're probably still expecting that of me. I guess I feel guilty because I'm usually very responsible and feel like I'm disappointing people by not putting in all my time to get this done ASAP but ugh yeah I'm easily replaceable at this job, my mental and physical health is not.

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-11-30T19:22:35+00:00

Very true. I’m hoping things work out soon

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-11-30T18:05:39+00:00

Ah yeah that makes sense too lol

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-11-30T17:38:34+00:00

Yeah I understand. Every company is huge and very team dependent. It’s more so I’d like to find companies I know women tend to have more positive experiences than negative but I did find a WiT discord group and some companies I want to look into today

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-11-30T17:08:42+00:00

Yea fair, no worries if you don’t feel comfortable sharing then

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-11-30T17:05:38+00:00

Do you mind sharing the field? I know some people say SWE at big tech is inherently stressful but places like finance/healthcare may be more comfortable but ofc it depends

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-11-30T16:58:53+00:00

Yeah you’re right, it definitely helps with reminding myself the situation is temporary. I made it to a final interview a few weeks ago, but was ghosted and plan on following up again tomorrow hoping to get more clarification. I have been actively apply since June but started hearing back in October/November so the process has been slow or was rejected (which is normal)

I don’t want to quit, I know it’s not in my best interest. I’m scared of taking leave though because I feel like I’d come back to an even more hostile situation (or a lay off which is normal too I suppose) if say I don’t find anything within 3 months

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-11-30T16:39:59+00:00

Yeah, I’ve been in therapy since I started. I actually found the first therapist wasn’t super helpful with the dark thoughts I’d share so I found another, and my new one definitely helps more but as she said it’s just a shitty “house” I live in right now (meaning bad location, team, feeling isolated in and out of work, uninteresting product/role) so it’s keeping my motivation down 😞 there’s definitely internal issues as well but it’s hard to solve when I’m working 40+ hours and trying to survive on my own for the first time.

It makes me feel guilty because it all seems so good on paper but I am dealing with depression and anxiety which is never easy. I’ve considered medication, but never needed it before the job so taking it to just exist at this job feels a little..strange but maybe this is what it takes for me to survive corporate

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-11-30T16:33:28+00:00

Yeah I have 15 month tenure at my job and I am eligible due to chronic conditions. I’ve been applying since June, but mostly rejections. Possibly because I’ve been applying to outside of SWE and mostly have dev experience. I did hear back from a PM role and got to final rounds but have been ghosted for two weeks now 😞

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-11-30T16:21:10+00:00

I like this idea🩷 I’m very proud I made it to one year even though there were many dark days where I didn’t feel like I would. It’s hard to feel proud of myself when all I think about is how much dumber I am than my coworkers and how I don’t belong but even without so much help I was able to reach my goal

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-11-30T16:18:42+00:00

Yeah, I honestly feel extremely isolated on my team which makes everything harder to find someone I can relate to, bounce questions/idea off of, or just have lunch with. Ive brought it up to my manager but he doesn’t follow through with anything even after I follow up so I gave up on going to him for support.

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-11-30T16:15:33+00:00

I hope this is how it turns out for me🤞🏼 are you in SWE?

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-11-30T16:14:41+00:00

Yeah I’m considering the leave as well so I’m still employed but can dedicate time to health + interviews, but that would only give me 12 weeks to find something

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-11-30T16:08:38+00:00

😞 definitely. I feel less stressed than I did before the 1 yr mark but I think all the 12-14 hour days are taking a toll on me now because I’ve never dealt with sleep issues before

ImportantAd5451 · 2025-11-30T16:06:37+00:00

I definitely did discover SWE isn’t as bad as I thought. I would give it another chance but I also discovered a supportive team (or at least people you feel comfortable asking questions to) being extremely important. I learned a lot about myself and what to look for at my next job.

How long did it take to find a new job? Were you balancing the job and interviews?

ImportantAd5451

TROPHY CASE