How to get a Software engineer job in 2024

Summary

In this insightful job hunt narrative, the speaker shares their exhaustive 2024 job search experience, detailing the process and outcomes of applying to nearly 700 jobs across various platforms like Indeed and LinkedIn. The speaker emphasizes the importance of tailoring applications, improving CV formatting, and leveraging LinkedIn's Easy Apply feature. They candidly discuss the challenges of job applications, the high volume of rejections, and the few successful interviews leading to two job offers. The talk concludes with advice on maximizing interview opportunities and learning from each experience, highlighting the competitive nature of the job market.

Takeaways

• 📊 The speaker applied for nearly 700 jobs over a three-month period, highlighting the extensive effort involved in job hunting.
• 📋 The process of applying for jobs was time-consuming, with each application taking around 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
• 🟢 LinkedIn's 'Easy Apply' feature was appreciated for its convenience, allowing for quick application submissions with a single click.
• 🔍 The speaker preferred applying to jobs posted directly by employers rather than those involving recruitment agencies.
• 📝 Maintaining an Excel sheet to track applications, rejections, and interviews was a key strategy for organization and reflection.
• 🔄 The speaker experimented with different job sites, finding that Indeed and LinkedIn were the most effective platforms for job applications.
• 📉 A significant number of applications (33%) resulted in immediate rejection, while nearly 70% of applications received no response at all.
• 💼 The speaker received only two job offers from the 700 applications, emphasizing the competitive nature of the job market.
• 🤔 Applying for jobs in the US from the UK was largely unsuccessful, with most applications resulting in swift rejections.
• 📈 The speaker suggests that persistence and continuous improvement of interview skills are crucial for success in job hunting.
• 🔑 Learning from interview experiences, even the unsuccessful ones, can be valuable for refining one's approach and understanding of the job market.

Q & A

What was the speaker's primary goal in 2024 regarding their job hunt?

The speaker's primary goal was to find a job efficiently without wasting efforts, by keeping track of their applications and refining their job search strategies.

How did the speaker organize their job applications?

The speaker organized their job applications by noting them down in an Excel sheet, starting from the 12th of April through May and June.

How many jobs did the speaker apply for in approximately three months?

The speaker applied for almost 700 jobs in approximately three months.

What was the average time spent by the speaker on each job application?

The speaker spent around 10 to 15 minutes filling out each job application.

Which job platforms did the speaker use for their applications?

The speaker used Indeed, LinkedIn, CV Library, and ZipRecruiter for their job applications.

What was the speaker's experience with Indeed and LinkedIn?

The speaker found Indeed to be a good platform for job replies and past job acquisitions, while LinkedIn's Easy Apply feature was convenient for quick applications.

How did the speaker refine their CV to increase the chances of getting replies?

The speaker used 'My Perfect CV' to improve the formatting and make the sentences more attractive, which helped in getting more replies.

What was the outcome of the speaker's job applications in terms of rejections and non-replies?

Out of the 700 jobs applied, 33% rejected the speaker, and 491 jobs never replied.

How many job interviews did the speaker secure and what was the success rate?

The speaker secured 20 interviews, with 10% of those leading to successful job offers.

What advice does the speaker give for improving interview skills?

The speaker advises to line up as many interviews as possible to build momentum and learn from failures to improve interview skills.

What was the speaker's experience applying for jobs in the US from the UK?

The speaker applied for about 20 to 25 jobs in the US and received immediate rejection replies, indicating a highly competitive job market.