Do you research companies for a software engineering job?

Summary

In this video, Frederick discusses his approach to researching companies before job interviews, revealing that he typically does only a quick Google search to understand the company’s industry. As someone not actively seeking a job, he finds that many recruiter-led opportunities offer similar roles across companies, making deep research unnecessary. He advises junior engineers to focus on the experience level of startup founders and the company’s funding, as these factors impact stability. Frederick highlights that while mid-level software roles are often similar, researching the company’s stability can be crucial for those at the beginning of their careers.

Takeaways

• 😀 Researching companies before engaging with recruiters is minimal – usually a quick Google search and a look at the company website.
• 😀 The speaker doesn’t job hop frequently and only considers positions that align with specific career goals and challenges.
• 😀 Recruiters often reach out with standard roles, and the speaker doesn't spend much time considering roles unless they stand out.
• 😀 At higher levels of seniority, most software engineering jobs tend to offer similar work and challenges, making in-depth research less necessary.
• 😀 Companies, even in different industries, tend to have very similar structures and work environments, which reduces the need for extensive research.
• 😀 The speaker is often approached by recruiters for roles that seem too generic, which can feel like a waste of time unless the position is well-defined.
• 😀 When it comes to recruitment processes, many companies present themselves similarly, offering perks like learning programs, but these are often just novelty items.
• 😀 For those early in their careers or considering startups, it's crucial to research the founders’ age, experience, and the company’s funding stability.
• 😀 In startups, there’s a higher risk of instability, with companies potentially burning through their budget or over-hiring, leading to layoffs.
• 😀 For junior professionals, understanding the financial stability of a startup is vital as it influences how long you can stay with the company.
• 😀 At a higher level, the speaker doesn’t focus heavily on company research but instead looks for interesting problems to solve in the job role itself.

Q & A

Why doesn't Frederick do in-depth research on companies before speaking to recruiters?

Frederick doesn't do in-depth research on companies because he believes most software development roles are quite similar across different companies. He prefers to quickly check the company's industry and type to get a sense of the role but feels deeper research isn't necessary for standard positions.

What is Frederick's approach when recruiters reach out to him?

Frederick receives a lot of recruitment messages but doesn't engage deeply with them as he's not actively job hunting. He often dismisses generic outreach, preferring to focus on positions that offer specific challenges or fit his skillset.

How does Frederick differentiate between recruiters and companies when considering a job?

Frederick differentiates by identifying whether a company is a consultancy or a product-based business. He also assesses the nature of the role and the challenges it presents, especially focusing on whether the job aligns with his experience and expertise.

Why does Frederick think that most companies offer the same type of work for software developers?

Frederick believes that, at a certain level of seniority, the nature of the work at different companies is very similar. Most companies face the same issues and provide similar challenges, especially for standard software development roles.

What specific advice does Frederick offer for junior software developers when researching companies?

Frederick advises junior developers to focus on the experience level of the company's founders and the financial stability of the company, especially for startups. Understanding how well-funded a company is can help assess how long they can stay operational and how risky the position might be.

How does Frederick assess the stability of a startup?

Frederick looks at the experience level of the founders and the company's financial backing. He suggests checking if the startup has enough funding to last for a significant amount of time, as this can impact the stability of the job.

What does Frederick mean when he says the work across companies is often the same?

Frederick refers to the fact that many software development jobs, regardless of the company, involve similar tasks, challenges, and working environments. Unless the company is very specialized, the role of a software developer is quite similar across the board.

What kind of work is Frederick interested in now, compared to when he was earlier in his career?

Frederick is now interested in more challenging roles that go beyond basic software development, such as roles that involve solving complex problems. He looks for positions where the work is more specialized and intellectually stimulating, rather than just coding tasks.

Why does Frederick consider recruitment processes for standard roles a 'waste of time'?

Frederick finds that many recruiters are looking to fill standard roles without providing enough details about the specific challenges of the position. Since the work and responsibilities in these roles are often similar, he feels there's no need to go through a lengthy recruitment process for them.

What does Frederick mean by saying that a recruiter's role is to 'sell you as a product'?

Frederick is highlighting the fact that recruiters often position candidates as commodities to fill generic positions. The focus is typically on getting people hired rather than finding the best match for a specific and meaningful challenge within a company.