Best way to apply to target companies?

New / Data
im_

New Data

im_
Aug 21, 2021 20 Comments

How do you go about applying to companies? Recruiters? Cold applying? Specific job postings? In-network referrals? Rando blind referrals?

I'm trying to figure out if it's worth the energy to ask around on Blind / LinkedIn for a referral to every position I'm interested in. Appreciate the advice and responses.

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TOP 20 Comments
  • Cisco
    Firewall L

    Go to company page Cisco

    Firewall L
    I’ve applied to 15-20 jobs in my field and only had one person reach out for an interview. I have a feeling it’s becusss i’m a white male and in tech. Tech companies are looking for anyone and eveyone who’s not a male and not white.
    Aug 21, 2021 13
    • Amazon
      LsfgX74

      Go to company page Amazon

      LsfgX74
      Fine, “equal” may have been a bad choice of words but what I mean is that if both are qualified based on the bar you’ve set and there’s no discernible strengths other than “this person looks like me and reminds me of my younger self” then yeah I think you should hire the underrepresented candidate if you can’t decide. Again, we represent a very small percentage of the tech world and deal with lots of bullshit already to move up so I’m not sure how this equates to discrimination. Do you have any other ideas?

      Hiring committees like what Google and other companies use actually helps a lot and removes most bias. In those cases it’s not a specific choice to hire the more diverse candidate (I believe names/gender aren’t even shared) and yet we tend to have better representation in these scenarios.
      Aug 23, 2021
    • Cisco
      Firewall L

      Go to company page Cisco

      Firewall L
      You’re under represented in the field but also under represented in graduating with degrees in those fields. So why is it expected to be equally represented if there’s a lower rate going to school for IT degrees? Companies aren’t just hiring the non white male candiate, they at times and it’s common are even hiring less qualified candiates bc they are more diverse. Not only have I seen it and confirmed it, it’s happend to me. Like idc if there’s less of this race or that race. Hire the best candiate and if it’s not a white male, who cares. The best most qualified candiates should always win. Race should have NOTHING to do with hiring, nothing. No company is going to pass up on a really good qualified candiate unless they are a white male in 2021. Descriniantion isn’t okay in any form.
      Aug 23, 2021
  • Rocket Software / Eng
    oomaigawd

    Go to company page Rocket Software Eng

    oomaigawd
    Visit Recruiters on Linkedin, SalesQL to find their emails, spam their mailbox with your resume
    Aug 21, 2021 0
  • You apply lol.

    Obviously a referral would better your chances. I’m not sure what you’re asking?
    Aug 21, 2021 0
  • Zoom
    SomeoneAtZ

    Go to company page Zoom

    SomeoneAtZ
    I've gotten each of my jobs by cold applying on their website for a particular role, with a very short but relevant cover letter (here's why I'm interested, and here's why I'm a good fit for what you're looking for)

    I've gotten 80% of jobs I've applied for (1 no, 4 yes)
    Aug 21, 2021 1
  • Depends on YOE, if you have niche skills like big data(worked in map reduce in a cloud service), ML(degree and papers and experience on top AI team, not just bootcamp and courcera certificate), distributed system ( like worked part of AWS infra or GCP infra or Dropbox etc), security and privacy, mobile development at FAANG etc, I'd directly reach to the open position. When I applied to generic role, I never heard back. Though when I narrowed down and directly applied for a security software engineer and my CV has that experience, I almost always heard back whitinh few days.
    Also the linkedin direct messages have two buttons for answer "yes, I'm interested" , " no...". I'd click on that "yes". Not just typing an answer that implies yes. I guess that gives clue to linkedin bots about me being open to roles and been reached out by other companies. Rigt after, I got direct messages from the companies that I did not apply before. Like Doordash, Dropbox, Uber.
    Aug 21, 2021 0