The Tech Job Market is a tough place to find yourself right now. There are some great roles out there but there tend to be hundreds of applicants. The good news is that it does seem to be improving.
Here are some tips I've found useful when looking for a job in 2024.
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Use the features, the AI role feedback and InMail to contact recruiters and hiring managers.
Be active, let people know your thoughts on their posts and add value, create your own content.
Create a saved daily search
Check every day as roles can sometimes only be up for a short time.
It pays to be first (or early) in applications
Hiring managers can get fatigued with the large number of applicants and you could be right for a role but miss it because another candidate is already at a late stage.
Use the Open to Work tag
Mixed ideas around this with pros and cons, but I believe it's a good thing and you should use it.
Networking
Look for good recruiters (ideally Hiring Managers), and InMail or friend request, ask them very briefly if you could be right for a role and provide relevance.
Build relationships with them, ideally get face to face time
Learn from them what’s going on in the market
Communicate your expectations, know what you want
Try to be at the front of their mind when a new role becomes available
Go to Networking events
Connect with people, make a good impression, help them, you never know how it could pay off. (Product Pints, Product Tank etc. )
Reach out to old friends and colleagues
Don’t go with the specific goal of finding opportunities but to simply connect.
CV
2 pages, make it easy to skim-read
6 line max summary/profile/personal statement
Experiences
More detail for more recent experience
Use achievement statements Action verb + metric + timeframe = achievements
Show the impact
Tailor for specific roles
Use keywords
Adjust titles
Get feedback on it (find a service to review like Nils Davis or https://topcv.co.uk/ or find a free service to review)
The Application Process
User LinkedIn jobs, Otta, Glassdoor, Totaljobs (Cord and Hackajob)
Track your applications (company, title link to the job spec, salary date applied etc.)
Put more effort into fewer applications
Don’t apply for roles you don't think you are a reasonable fit for
Apply assuming you will not get positive response
It's ok to apply with the aim aiming to get experience in the process and you never know...
Do you know what role you (really) want? It might take time to really pinpoint this
Focus on where your biggest drop-offs happen, look at your entire "job search" user journey:
Are you seeing a high % of these roles immediately as they appear? How quickly do you apply for a job after it is posted?
Could you get access to these opportunities before they appear?
How often do you follow up with the hiring manager or recruiter after applying?
What % of applications result in a screening phone call with a recruiter?
What % of screening calls (where you are a good potential fit for the role) do you get invited to an interview?
What is your conversion rate to final interview round(s)?
Research the company
Check their website - mission, values, PR news
Try the product if possible (take note of features, there could be a task later)
Review their competitors
Understand their industry trends
Check their Socials (LinkedIn, Instagram, Youtube)
Check their Glassdoor
Check for articles and podcasts from CEO or Founders
Know their funding rounds and history (Crunch base)
Cover letter
Should cover how your experience is relevant to the particular role with examples
Include key words
Show you have researched the company (the product, their mission and values) and why you would like to work there
Interviews
Prioritize interview prep. It’s hard to get through to this stage so you have to make the most of it.
Have rehearsed answers to standard questions
Tell me about yourself - have 10, 5, 1 minute versions nailed
Give a brief explanation of the companies
Talk about roles and responsibilities
Talk about successes and impact
Talk about learnings
Talk about why you changed roles
Why this company and role?
Talk about the company's mission the problem they are looking to solve and why you love it
Talk about the culture and values
Talk about the role specifically how you can make a difference and add value
What can you bring to this role?
Structure 3-5 things
Talk about your superpowers, why me over other candidates
Why are you leaving your current role?
This is different for each individual but never talk badly of previous organisations or individuals. Talk about new challenges and career progression
What are you looking for in the next company?
Mission, culture, industry,
Size, start-up, scale-up, enterprise
What do you want to learn, how do you want to grow, what is your long-term goal, and how is this a step towards it
Have rehearsed responses to craft questions (STAR framework)
Expect these from an early stage (recruiters) and all the way through (hiring managers).
Always have questions for them
Have general questions (salary, office, benefits) but also company and role specific
Tailor questions for the audience
Recruiter/ Talent specialist what do you think they are looking for and what is most important to this company, ask about the company and broadly the role (pay, remote, title, specific product, what is the hiring managers number 1 ask)
Hiring manager, get into the details of the role, ways of working, challenges the role will face.
How close are you to users, last time you spoke to one?
Last experiment you ran?
Last time you released something that moved a metric?
Whats is the strategy and plan for growth?
Mention things about yourself not work-related (e.g. children or hobbies / interests)
Case Studies / Tasks
Don’t just jump in, stay in the problem space
Give this lots of headspace (sleep on it ideally)
Most care more about your though process and aptitude rather than getting "the right" answer
General
Search Product Podcast for episodes on interviews, CV, job search to get tips and current meta
Learn stuff, make yourself a better PM and more attractive to hire
Read books you have been putting off (reread / summarise the popular ones e.g. Marty Cagan)
Do courses, there’s so much free content
Learn more about AI or ML
Have a side project
Good luck!
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