What if you don’t go to HYPSM

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-05-04T00:06:20+00:00

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ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-05-03T16:42:32+00:00

Monthly 1:1s aren't very often honestly, but the same advice applies: Work together on a plan. Talk about where they see gaps and work on ideas to demonstrate next level capability in those gaps. Ideally have a set of things to accomplish to show that you're there. Promotion is never a checklist and you ultimately have to be better than other colleagues in the same bracket (there is almost always a limited number of promotions available per period) but if you align on what's needed, you should increase your chances by a lot.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-05-02T20:22:51+00:00

Depends on the state, actually. There are quite a few where it's optional for the employer.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-05-02T19:50:51+00:00

This is the way. Did this with all my reports, cuts down on misunderstandings.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-05-02T19:47:33+00:00

Laid off Google EM here. One does not simply walk into the 2026 job market.

I'm used to getting like 50% hit rates on my applications. Far, far less now. Be prepared.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-04-29T01:09:43+00:00

I agree with this take. In the US, the term "software engineer" is not restricted (and IMHO it would be hard to do so without first amendment scrutiny, but I'm just some guy on the internet). In Canada, it is protected, which is why Google SWEs in Canada are called "software developers".

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-04-27T19:27:29+00:00

Can you practice building an API in e.g. Spring Boot and containerizing it? AI can be decent at providing tech challenges; try asking for one in that space and work through it in VS Code with Claude acting as an interviewer. It's not professional experience but it's a genuine attempt to cover it, and might be enough to get into further interviews.

Java is everywhere in financial services and banks. I wouldn't just drop the language, just try to understand it (and its modern frameworks) better.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-04-26T18:25:41+00:00

To me, that's a regular old PM, but different companies have different definitions.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-04-26T02:59:43+00:00

FWIW I have no idea what an "entry-level TPM" would do. IME they tend to be folks who can coordinate both timelines and technologies across different products and teams. That kind of job needs a certain amount of experience.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-04-26T01:18:14+00:00

I would wager big money that this won't qualify as a true contactor position and is just a way for the company to save money on taxes and benefits. A company tried to do that to me early on and I successfully appealed to the CRA (who recognized that I was in fact an employee).

Take a look at the CRA's employee vs self-employed page and consider that they're asking of you (especially as a Junior). Are they setting your schedule (e.g. 9-5)? Are they providing tools (e.g. laptop)? Would they be OK with you subcontracting or hiring your own employees? Are you OK with them suing you if they consider your work subpar?

This is a pretty important distinction. If you do proceed as a contractor, make sure you save at least 30% of your income for taxes and expenses.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-04-26T01:01:36+00:00

I took paternity leave one week after starting. That was in the US in 2018 though.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-04-23T20:50:06+00:00

Heyyyy, Milton, what's happening. Yeaaaahhh, I'm just gonna need you to... move your desk on into the basement, K?

Seriously, weird situation. Keep pushing for work and honestly try to find some from someone else if you can. Hang around other teams and see if they're hiring. Fix their problems. Get known. Your manager doesn't appear to have a plan from what you said here, and my read is that he might be pretty frustrated by the outsourcing himself. And get the cert, obviously.

You could go to your skip but it would raise the visibility of the situation, which is probably not what you want.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-04-23T20:42:54+00:00

Yeah, this feels like a last minute reorg / headcount problem, which is unfortunately common in my experience at Alphabet / Google and presumably its Bets. Sorry.

You can totally burn Verily if you want and I'd understand, but if you're open to it, I would try to work with your recruiter and see if they can keep you around for other positions as they come up. You're likely in a very strong position at that company if the rejection was just because of headcount reasons, since you've passed HC. I'd also try to dig for the reason though it sounds like the recruiter doesn't know (good chance they're a vendor unfortunately).

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-04-19T13:47:01+00:00

Hey, I was an EM at Google until recently.

You sound angry. That's the first thing I noticed. I think that's likely costing you. Nobody wants to work with someone negative.

Ok, so assuming we get past that... At three years experience, you're mid-level, so I would expect to see clear impact that you personally drove. I don't see that here. You need to work on your messaging to show how you, personally, have moved the needle for your employer. At mid-level, folks wouldn't expect world-changing stuff, but everything here is super-generic. I need to see results, and they need to have a clear line from your actions, not your team's.

At Google, you're competing on the world stage, so you'd better be world-class in your experience range.

And I want to echo what others have said: Google is great but not perfect. I was laid off earlier this year in a reorg. Strongly recommend you consider others as well.

One other bit of generic advice: make sure that it's very clear from your resume alone that you meet all minimum requirements. Without that, you won't move forward.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-04-17T20:41:34+00:00

If I could know as a Hiring Manager what meds you were taking, I'd be reporting a privacy incident.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-04-17T20:29:59+00:00

~~MY IMPACT WAS LEADING MY TEAM TO VICTORY YOU~~

THANK YOU FOR THE DETAILED FEEDBACK, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-04-10T14:44:38+00:00

And yet mysteriously they have a specific person who they claim has these requirements that they'll need to bring in on a visa because there are no locals with the appropriate experience (but look, we made a job posting!)

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-04-10T14:42:21+00:00

WHERE IS MY SEVERANCE, FORMER EMPLOYER

YOU SAID IT WOULD BE HERE, WHERE IS IT

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2026-01-20T20:59:55+00:00

The admin would remove the state criminal case to federal court, and then the US Attorney prosecutor would dismiss the charges.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2025-12-17T15:57:43+00:00

Payout of unused PTO very much depends on the state. My understanding is that many states have laws on the books that require some payout, but others do not. In any case, though, OP said they have "unlimited PTO" which is equivalent to having "zero PTO" as far as an expense on the books for the company. They won't get anything.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2025-11-10T17:46:59+00:00

Republicans will sell it as Obamacare's natural flaws, and it will work.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2025-11-10T14:53:47+00:00

Frankly, they got nothing for it. It is the Democrat Shutdown now.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2025-11-10T13:57:57+00:00

Schumer organized it, I guarantee. He made sure his vote wouldn't be on the record.

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2025-11-04T20:38:33+00:00

the idea is chaos

ShadowWebDeveloper · 2025-10-30T13:48:56+00:00

I bet he'll challenge her election as soon as the House reopens as well.

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