[LordJim]

The best way to get into any company is to get a strong referral from someone who knows you and can speak meaningfully to your abilities. I think this is especially true for big tech due to the massive volume of applications they get.

However, realistically I think this is a difficult time to be trying to get into big tech. A lot of these companies have been doing layoffs, while ramping up their hiring of H1Bs and moving jobs out of the US. At the same time, it feels like there is kind of an informal hiring freeze while companies wait and see how AI develops before possibly deciding to jettison a large fraction of their workforce completely.

Sorry I don't have better advice, but this is my personal take from someone who has worked in big tech in SV.

[scarface_74]

Referrals do very little as far as BigTech companies that the poster is aiming for. It might get you an interview.

At smaller companies - where he said he wants to move away from - it may help.

[LordJim]

Well that's the point -- OP said they're having a hard time even getting an interview. In my experience, once you get to the interview stage, most big tech companies care more about your demonstrable skills than the intangibles of your previous experience. For better or worse, that means you can grind leetcode and system design interview prep and get through it.

Anecdotal evidence, but I got a referral from a friend in big tech and skipped past recruiter screen and technical phone screen and went straight to onsite interviews. This was several years ago though, maybe the process has changed.