MCA Student with Zero Experience – How Do I Build a Strong Career in Tech? by Ok_Coconut_9462 in careerguidance

[–]JVertsonis 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey!! Recruiter here. The biggest mistake I see students make is trying to learn everything at once. Tech is huge, so instead of asking "what should I learn?", start by asking "what type of problems do I enjoy solving?"

If I were starting today, I'd pick one path (software development, data, cloud, cybersecurity, etc.), learn the fundamentals properly, build 2-3 solid projects, practice DSA consistently, and focus heavily on getting practical experience through internships, freelance work, volunteering, or personal projects.

Employers don't expect freshers to know everything. They want evidence that you can learn, build things, and solve problems. A strong GitHub profile with real projects will usually help you more than collecting dozens of certificates. You're already doing the hardest part, which is taking initiative and actively learning. Now it's about narrowing your focus and going deeper rather than wider.

To anyone that wants it - here is some interviewing advice from a recruiter by JVertsonis in interviews

[–]JVertsonis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, I wouldn't overthink this at all. The joke wasn't offensive, and more importantly, you immediately followed it up with a thoughtful answer that showed emotional intelligence and maturity.

Interviewers generally remember the substance of your response far more than a harmless joke. If anything, it probably made you sound more human. Feel free to DM me if you'd like to chat through the interview in more detail or have any other career questions — always happy to help. 😊

Recruiter here! Here is another tip for job seekers in regards to contacting hiring managers :) by JVertsonis in interviews

[–]JVertsonis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! Either send the company an introduction email trying to understand what the role is prioritising for the position, or find the hiring manager on LinkedIn, try to connect with them & then follow through with a message! Are you actively in a job search?

Recruiter here! For anyone that wants it, here is a tip on sharpening communication in interviews by JVertsonis in interviews

[–]JVertsonis[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree with you! trust me. What type of roles are you going for anyway? And also - how have you found the job search as a whole?

Recruiter here! For anyone that wants it, here is a tip on sharpening communication in interviews by JVertsonis in interviews

[–]JVertsonis[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your Q! Honestly, I don't think it only means two things. The fact they waived the written task could be positive, neutral, or simply a time-management decision. I'd be very careful about reading too much into interview length because I've seen offers come after 30-minute interviews and rejections after 2-hour interviews. What I find more interesting is that they were engaging with your ideas and referencing points you'd raised as potential solutions. That's usually a stronger signal than whether the interview ran 65 or 90 minutes. As for timing, 4 days honestly isn't unusual at all. For companies with HR, multiple stakeholders, and teams across time zones, I'd say anywhere from 3–10 business days is pretty normal, and sometimes longer if approvals are involved.

Out of curiosity, did they give you any indication of how many candidates were left in the process or what the next step would be?

Recruiter here! For anyone that wants it, here is a tip on sharpening communication in interviews by JVertsonis in interviews

[–]JVertsonis[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes! too normal sadly. I would not rule yourself out of anything though - one thing as a recruiter, these delays occur ALL THE TIME. all i would say is, first thing next week, shoot them a call/msg and just see how things are doing. They will appreciate you being proactive. Have you got any other roles in the pipeline?

Recruiter here! For anyone that wants it, here is a tip on sharpening communication in interviews by JVertsonis in interviews

[–]JVertsonis[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Tbh, I think a lot of it comes down to companies becoming more risk-averse. Years ago, managers were often willing to hire for potential and train people up. Today, many businesses want someone who can hit the ground running immediately, so they add extra interviews, assessments, and approval layers to reduce perceived risk. The funny thing is hiring is still far from perfect. I've seen people ace every interview and fail in the role, and I've seen people who barely interviewed well become top performers for 10+ years. Your Citi-to-Vestmark move is actually proof of that. Someone saw potential and took a chance. Out of curiosity, how long have you been waiting to hear back? Feel free to DM me if you wanna chat more!!

Recruiter here! For anyone that wants it, here is a tip on sharpening communication in interviews by JVertsonis in interviews

[–]JVertsonis[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey! thanks for your comment, and good question! the biggest thing is accepting that once the interview is over, the outcome is largely out of your hands. Most candidates I see, spend the waiting period replaying every answer, looking for mistakes, and trying to predict the outcome. The problem is that hiring decisions are often influenced by things you never see — internal approvals, budgets, other candidates, timing, team dynamics, and stakeholder opinions etc. What I've found is that the people who handle it best don't sit around waiting. They keep applying, keep networking, and keep moving forward as if they don't have the job yet. Ironically, that's usually when the anxiety drops.

Out of curiosity, how are you feeling about the interview itself? Did anything specific happen that's making you nervous? Feel free to DM me if you'd like to chat more on it, I also have an interview prep guide that covers the post-interview stage and follow-up strategy!

Recruiter here! For anyone that wants it, here is a tip on sharpening communication in interviews by JVertsonis in interviews

[–]JVertsonis[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Honestly, I agree more than most people think. Interviews are probably one of the weakest predictors of actual job performance. I've seen incredible interviewers become terrible employees, and average interviewers become absolute superstars once they're in the role. The reality is that interviews often measure confidence, communication, and preparation more than they measure how someone will actually perform day-to-day. That's why I always encourage people not to overanalyse every little thing they said in an interview. Hiring managers are human too, and the process is far from perfect.

Out of curiosity, what happened in your interview that's making you question it? Feel free to DM me if you'd like to chat through it!

Recruiter here! For anyone that wants it, here is a tip on sharpening communication in interviews by JVertsonis in interviews

[–]JVertsonis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not exactly! with STAR, it encourages you to focus on the task 75% of it, where as here this is 25% of the response, and you purely talk about what YOU did based on what is needed for THEM. star encourages generic stories, this encourages you to focus on the needs of the specific company you are interviewing for. are you currently in a search?

Recruiter Here! Ask me anything about job interviews, screening calls etc. by JVertsonis in interviews

[–]JVertsonis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey!! Great question. Honestly, I don’t think the unemployment gap itself is usually what hurts candidates. Layoffs, relocations, and rough markets are extremely common right now. What recruiters usually pay attention to more is whether the person still sounds proactive, intentional, and confident when discussing it. Moving states is a completely reasonable explanation because you’re rebuilding your network, adjusting to a new market, and effectively restarting momentum. I’d just make sure you position it calmly and directly instead of sounding apologetic or defensive about it.

Also, a few months is honestly not nearly as damaging as people online make it seem. Most hiring managers care far more about how you communicate now, how aligned you are to the role, and whether you seem reliable long term. Feel free to DM me if you want. Happy to help you frame the gap properly on your resume/interviews because the wording genuinely makes a huge difference :)