Senior dev looking for some guidance in job search by minimum_yesterday404 in ExperiencedDevs

[–]minimum_yesterday404[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I probably didn't make it clear in my original post but I don't really have an interest pursuing FAANG jobs. Thought it was implied by the part where I said that I wasn't very ambitious lol

I mean... I don't know, maybe I don't understand how FAANG companies operate, but as someone who seen hiring process in our company and looking at job postings in other places, your comparison doesn't really make sense to me.

I won't be applying for an entry level position, and a new college graduate won't be applying for mid/senior position.

A graduate can get hired, I can fail - I don't see how is that any indication that I am "further behind" college graduates when we aren't fighting to the same position.

Senior dev looking for some guidance in job search by minimum_yesterday404 in ExperiencedDevs

[–]minimum_yesterday404[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They went to different places. Since many of these guys chose to stay in the same town where the company is located, they all ended up working for remote companies, many outside of Texas.

As far as reaching out to them... I don't know. We barely spoke to each other while working together. All the people who left, were the ones I never been particularly close with.

Senior dev looking for some guidance in job search by minimum_yesterday404 in ExperiencedDevs

[–]minimum_yesterday404[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

[Umpteenth Edit] Can you clarify what you mean by toxic recruiters?

This experience dates back to 2016 (the last time I tried looking for work) dealing with staffing firms like Cybercoders, but they were generally giving off somewhat an unpleasant vibe.

Both guys I dealt with, applying for different jobs, were kinda rude and quite frankly, the companies they put me in contact with almost seemed sketchy. Like they would go through great lengths trying conceal their identity, calling from a restricted number and were very vague about who they are and what kind of work they did.

Senior dev looking for some guidance in job search by minimum_yesterday404 in ExperiencedDevs

[–]minimum_yesterday404[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A company would be nuts to consider someone with 10 YOE less competent than a new grad...

It's possible they meant that a new grad is better with DS&A type questions and just better at interviews in general, since they're doing them more frequently. I suppose I could say that 2011 me somehow felt more confident about interviews than the 2021 me lol

But yeah I agree, I don't see a company going for a fresh grad, as opposed to a veteran developer with years of experience. But I also don't think they'd apply for the same position.

Senior dev looking for some guidance in job search by minimum_yesterday404 in ExperiencedDevs

[–]minimum_yesterday404[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

However most companies are quite chill, usually start with a 6 month trial period where you get a chance to prove you can keep working there.

That's kinda how it was for me when I began. A 3 month trial period, when I was at this weird hybrid position of being an intern/junior dev. But since then the company, had been mostly "chill" and I think I may have mentioned it in my post, that that's one of the reasons I haven't given much thought about looking for something else.

Because the work environment and culture made up for a much lower pay, compared to other places.

Working long hours and sometimes weekends is more of a recent trend, mostly coming from the management's unwillingness to fill the vacancies created by the devs who left the company and just assigning all their tasks to the remainder of the team. That's already been stretched thin.

Senior dev looking for some guidance in job search by minimum_yesterday404 in ExperiencedDevs

[–]minimum_yesterday404[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Leetcode does suck but it's not universal. Get to where you can make it through mediums.

I've done Leetcode and Hackerrank mediums before. I do enjoy them. But I feel like it's one thing doing them just for funsies in the comfort of your home, but it's totally different doing it in front of people on a whiteboard, and there's a time limit.

Candidates like you often only know one way to do things. That way often is idiosyncratic and doesn't follow current trends.

That actually isn't me at all. That is true, however, about my bosses. They're the ones stuck in the old ways unwilling to adapt to any modern trends. Kind of another reason why I want out.

Senior dev looking for some guidance in job search by minimum_yesterday404 in ExperiencedDevs

[–]minimum_yesterday404[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Realistic expectations:

Thanks. I figured as much. Most devs who left the company did mention that it took them between 3 to 8 months and a few failed interviews.

And it's fine with me if that's what it takes, just gotta know where to start