[pmorici]

This has got to be one of the most honest descriptions of how job hunting actually works ever written and posted on HN.

It's a sharp contrast to a lot of the stuff that is posted here that depicts job hunting like some kind of spiritual search for your life's passion.

[mooreds]

I think this is a great description of the job hunting process early in your career.

Later in your career, if you have kept connections alive, the job hunt should look like this:

"Hi <member of network>,

I'm looking for a position doing X at Y, and I noticed you know Sara at Y. Do you mind doing intros? I'd really appreciate it."

...

intros/coffee with Sara.

...

resume to the hiring manager, perhaps through some automated system, but with a thumb on the scales

...

interview

...

hire/no hire decision based on mutual fit.

Now, this isn't about nepotism, it's about the power of having worked together. While the internet is great and you can learn a ton about a candidate (sometimes) by their online work, sometimes you can't. And nothing is as high bandwidth as having worked with someone. (Well, maybe a family connection.)

So if you can build your trust networks and get informal introductions to a company from someone who has worked with both parties, you're in a very strong position.

That said, as I stated at the beginning (and the author did as well), this post was fantastic for folks without such a network.

[pmorici]

Yeah, I totally agree. There are really two ways to find a job, what the OP describes and, as you say, via professional connections you've built over your career. If you can get a job you like through professional connections that is hands down the way to go.

Personally, with the exception of my first job out of school, I've always used the professional connections route. I probably couldn't get a job doing what the OP describes to save my life. Luckily, my reputation is such with prior employers and colleagues that I could call any of them up and they would go out of their way to hire me.

[vonmoltke]

> Later in your career, if you have kept connections alive, the job hunt should look like this

If you kept connections alive and actually have connections that move on to other companies. 95% of the connections I have made in 14 years are either retired or still at the companies they were at when I met them. How does this help me?

[mooreds]

Interesting! Not my experience, so hard to comment intelligibly. As if that is going to stop me, this is the internet.

I guess I would still go into your network and see if they have met anyone who has moved on. Adter all, it isn't the direct connection that you are looking for (though that is preferable), but the second layer connection.

Otherwise I think you are either in the position of following the author's advice or trying to expand your network by working with people in other ways (side projects, moonlighting, open source, volunteering). I know how unsavoury that choice is.

Since I can't definitively speak to your situation, let me talk about ways to avoid it.

- work in a consulting shop early in your career.

- seek big companies over small as your first or second job

- prefer job dense locations early in your career

- volunteer your time when you have cycles. Work an event, write some code, etc

I realize these are not all available to everyone, they are just guidelines that will expand your network.

[mooreds]

I forgot one of the best ways to expand your contact network: contracting. Find a company that can sell your hours and give them the 40-50% they will take. Make sure you add everyone you work with (clients, other contractors) to your network list (I prefer LinkedIn but excel will work).

[lj3]

In my experience, your network will get you an interview, but after that it's the normal interview hazing as described in the article. Because there are so many random, subjective factors at play, it's impossible to tell if a network referral will result in a job. As such, it's a bad idea to rely on them as your sole means of finding work.

[viraptor]

I think both are real, just in a different context. Almost everybody is passively looking for an ideal position all the time. If you get recommended, see some job ad, or just see what's out there - you're looking for life's passion. I know I interviewed for some positions even though I already had a good job, just to see if there's a better option.

But it's different than when you're in / just out of uni (I still remember sending just under 150 applications...), or when you're just recently out of work with a family and a mortgage (and you need something now).

[lrem]

Really depends on your circumstances. I've been doing part-time gigs since I turned 18 and recently finished my PhD. When I searched for my first full-time job I interviewed with a bunch of companies in different industries in different countries. I got an offer from every one of them and it really turned into a search of where I think I would be the happiest.

[user5994461]

Sorry to say it but if everyone says yes without further thinking, it means that they know they're screwing you ^^

Lowball salary? No benefit? Bad company desperate to hire? There can be many explanations.

[mooreds]

Or, possibly, extremely competitive candidate with a unique skillset.

Based on this limited info, he gp was probably very affordable. Which is fine, I was very affordable when I first came out of school.

[maxehnert]

Hey thanks for the kind words. I wasn't sure how receptive people would be to this when I originally wrote it out but I'm glad some people enjoyed it. Hopefully it helps a few people.