How To Find A Tech Job In An Impossible Market (ex-Amazon Principal Engineer)

Summary

In this video, former Amazon engineer Steve Yegge shares six actionable steps for job seekers in the tech industry. He emphasizes balancing time between landing and preparing for interviews, diversifying job search strategies, focusing on high-leverage side projects, starting interview prep immediately, considering adjacent roles for entry, and maintaining a positive mindset despite rejections. He also discusses the importance of learning continuously and recommends Brilliant.org for self-improvement in math, science, and computer science.

Takeaways

• 🔍 **Parallel Preparation**: Balance time between landing interviews and preparing for them.
• 🚀 **Actionable Steps**: Implement six actionable steps to stand out in the competitive job market.
• 📈 **Career Upleveling**: Adopt a structured engineering approach to career advancement.
• 🔄 **Opportunity Avalanche**: Opportunities often come in clusters after a dry spell.
• 🔥 **Keep Skills Sharp**: Maintain interview skills readiness to avoid scrambling when an opportunity arises.
• 🔄 **Mix Up Strategies**: Diversify job search strategies to avoid stagnation.
• 🌐 **Networking Impact**: Utilize networking, which accounts for 60% of job acquisitions.
• 🎯 **High-Leverage Projects**: Pursue side projects that are presentable, time-boxed, skill-focused, and documentable.
• 🚀 **Immediate Action**: Start preparing for interviews without waiting to perfect fundamentals.
• 🛤️ **Adjacent Roles**: Consider roles adjacent to your target to gain industry insights and experience.
• 💪 **Mental Resilience**: Maintain a positive attitude and belief in your eventual success despite rejections.

Q & A

What are the six actionable steps shared in the video for job seekers?

The video shares six actionable steps for job seekers: 1) Split your time between landing interviews and preparing for them. 2) Mix up your job search strategy and consider networking. 3) Do high leverage side projects. 4) Start preparing for interviews immediately if you're serious about a new job. 5) Consider adjacent roles if you're not getting any bites for your target role. 6) Maintain a positive mindset and believe in your job search process.

Why is it important to balance time between landing interviews and preparing for them?

It's important to balance time between landing interviews and preparing for them because focusing on one aspect without the other is a losing strategy. If you only prepare but don't get interviews, you won't get hired. Conversely, if you only land interviews but don't prepare, you won't perform well and won't get the job.

What is the significance of networking in job hunting according to the video?

Networking is significant in job hunting because it's a way to find opportunities that may not be advertised. The video mentions that 60% of people get their jobs through networking, suggesting it's a valuable approach to complement traditional job search methods.

What constitutes a high leverage side project as suggested in the video?

A high leverage side project should be presentable, time-boxed, allow learning one big thing, and be documentable. It should have a clear output, be achievable within a month, focus on one main skill or technology, and have documentation or public visibility.

Why is it recommended to start interview preparation immediately if you're serious about a new job?

Starting interview preparation immediately is recommended because it's better to be prepared and ready for opportunities when they arise rather than scrambling to get into peak interview shape once a job opportunity appears. It's also more efficient to maintain interview skills than to let them lapse and have to rebuild them.

What does the video suggest for those who are not getting any bites for their target role?

For those not getting any bites for their target role, the video suggests looking for adjacent roles such as testers, support engineers, project managers, SREs, or cybersecurity roles. This can provide a foot in the door and a chance to gain experience and exposure to the industry.

How does the video address the issue of waiting to get started on interview preparation?

The video advises against waiting to get started on interview preparation, emphasizing that it's better to start now and learn as you go rather than waiting to feel fully prepared. It suggests that interview prep can guide you to learn the necessary fundamentals as you encounter them in practice.

What is the role of attitude and mindset in job hunting as discussed in the video?

The video emphasizes that maintaining a positive attitude and believing in the job search process is crucial. Rejections are a part of the process, and it's important not to let them discourage you. Persistence and a positive mindset can help you stay motivated and focused on your goal.

How does the video relate the concept of 'building in public' to job hunting?

The video relates 'building in public' to job hunting by suggesting that documenting your side projects and learning publicly can provide a sharable artifact for your portfolio, solidify your learning, and improve your communication skills, which are all beneficial in a job search.

What is the advice given for those who are looking for their first job in tech and aren't getting any responses?

For those looking for their first job in tech and not getting responses, the video advises to consider taking a detour by applying for adjacent roles or roles within the same company that can provide exposure to the tech industry and potentially lead to internal transfers to the desired role.

How does the video suggest using interview preparation to guide learning of fundamentals?

The video suggests using interview preparation to guide learning of fundamentals by focusing on the concepts that come up during practice interviews. If you encounter a problem you can't solve, that's the time to study the specific fundamentals needed to overcome that problem, rather than trying to learn everything upfront.