update: the AMA is now over but I want to extend my efforts by helping you review resumes or answer specific questions for your case for free. if you want to maintain anonymity, you can remove your name. I am on maternity leave so I am somewhat limited to how many I can do, but will prioritize displaced individuals (aiming to do 50 resumes over the next two weeks). If you'd like support or feedback on your resume, please: 1. update your current resume following the "how to resume" link below. 2. write a 2-3 sentence summary about where you are in your job search and list the major companies you have already applied to/plan to apply. Helps me with feedback! 3. reach me: m14talent@gmail.com P.S:. I will be doing a write up on negotiation scenarios for total compensation! Be sure to follow the medium blog for updates and more articles around job searching! https://link.medium.com/hCGSbGnAG6 stay healthy and safe! ---------------- Hello Blind Community, Given the circumstances, We hope that this AMA will help many of you currently in the market for new opportunities.. Before posting your questions, please: 1. Make sure your question hasn't already been asked. 2. List your employment status, position, and level so that we can provide the best response. 3. Bump any interesting questions you see that don't have an answer yet. 4. Please READ: We want to optimize the time used during the AMA by getting everyone on the same page with the basics as well as some time to formulate any questions specific to their cases that are not already discussed in the following write ups - https://medium.com/@m1o/how-to-resume-68600680e4dc - https://medium.com/@m1o/how-to-interview-7ef367c66a66 A little bit about me/us: covtalentm and covtalentf has each spent shy of a decade in talent acquisition from international startups to fortune 100 companies focusing on tech roles in the tech industry. covtalentm's expertise is building the hiring process and hiring roles across all levels. covtalentf's expertise is in Sr and Leadership positions covtalentm is currently on maternity leave and covtalentf is working full time with a lot of personal commitments, but will try our best to get to the questions throughout the next couple of days. #jobsearch #covidlayoffs Stay healthy and safe.
How do you know if your resume is too long or too short? When would you suggest going over a page?
I often encourage people to always have a master copy of their resume and it can be as long as you want. But it’s for your eyes only. The version you submit to a company, ideally, should be no longer than 2 pages if you have less than 5 years of experience. And no more than 5 pages if you’ve had over 10 years of experience. To read more details and guidelines please check out this article and let me know if there are any areas you’d like a deep dive into: https://medium.com/@m1o/how-to-resume-68600680e4dc
I though hiring manager(s) start losing interest if the resume goes above 2 pages
What is absolutely needed for a candidate who is a 23 year old with no CS degree working as a QA engineer to get the attention of FAANG for an interview? I’ve gathered that there has to be a deep knowledge of DS&Algorithms, but aside from that how could he guarantee he gets an interview? LinkedIn, projects, open source contributions, number of Leetcode questions answered resume, certifications, referrals...?
Working as a SWE first
Walk before you run dude, geez
Asking for people who have recently been laid off or furloughed...what's the best way to explain this situation when you are applying to jobs now?
A recruiter suggested I add a note as the last bullet for the job to explain. He suggested it was better to get ahead of the question before it was asked.
Agree with dMaRu01.I think a lot of companies right now are very empathetic and want to absorb the displaced workers as a priority (second to hiring the right person to the role). Even if you do this though, sometimes it might be overlooked and an interviewer may ask you in the process. Answer honestly - let them know that you were displaced due to budget cuts due to Covid. The only note I'd like to make is that right now, the mass layoffs are somewhat causing a "musical chairs" sort of scenario, so I think it's still important that you express your passion for the company, so that it is clear you aren't simply scrambling for a job.
Can a recruiter rescind an offer after you've accepted the job?
Absolutely they can.
It typically doesn't happen. The only times I've heard of it happening are: 1. Budget cuts of all causes (including Covid-19). 2. Bad culture fit - normally due to unpleasant interactions after the offer has been extended. I always tell candidates to be respectful and kind to everyone. If a recruiter (or hiring manager) catches wind of a candidate being unreasonable or rude to anyone, they may reconsider the candidate for culture fit.
How important is culture fit in the interview and how do you prepare for a culture interview?
I don’t feel like you can. You either fit or you don’t, and if you don’t, would you really want to work there anyway? Always be true to who you are, anything else is not sustainable.
It's true you may not want to work for a company who's values and mission don't align with yours but I assume if you're preparing for the interview, you have already applied and made up your mind at some point there is some interest on your part. A lot of information is disclosed at the interview stage for you to make the decision whether the company or sometimes a specific team is the right fit, and when you're already in the interview, it'll be too late to prepare then - so what you're really doing ahead of time is optimizing your choices. Culture fit is very important for companies at all stages (growth to mature) because changes in culture will directly impact the productivity and morale health of a company’s people. While a culture interview is not purely objective or binary, there are certain traits that an interviewer is looking for. The best ways are: 1. Familiarize yourself with their product(s), mission, values, and the Job Description. Be prepared to review and dive deep into your own experiences that showcase exceptional leadership in the values and responsibilities. For example. at Amazon, they have bar raisers who look for candidates who excel in a specific area of their core values and/or expertise. 2. Be passionate about something the company is doing, providing, or producing. 3. Be prepared with questions to show your interests and curiosity. This will also help you find out if how they do things around there is a good fit for you. Sometimes, it can be microscopic and specific to the team and not the general company.
What are the best ways to apply for a job?
Waiting for this..
1. Referral - Someone you well, a peer, or even messaging someone on LinkedIn 2. Reach out to a recruiter 3. Website/Career Pages 4. Job Boards 5. Agencies 6. Alumni programs 7. Networking (although limited with social distancing, you can find yourself in career specific communities)
What are the best questions to ask a potential employer as it pertains to financial strength when they're not a publicly traded company? This is obviously asked so I don't make a move that results in a layoff 6 months later.
Ask about their revenue growth quarter over quarter if they are willing to disclose. Check out their schedule for raising funds, and ask about their runway. Different types of Startups have different metrics but SaaS are the easiest and more linear. https://www.forentrepreneurs.com/saas-metrics-2/
I currently work as technical program manager at Verizon and my contract ends in exactly 30days from now which is also the date for my H1-B expiry and not able to apply for H1-B extension due to no job offers or no interview calls So looking for jobs in the below areas which I can be fit into Overall experience is 13.5 years in IT development and management 1. Technical program manager 2. Project manager 3. Deliver lead/ manager 4. Scrum master ( certified safe agile SASM) 5. Technical business analyst 6. Any Project who needs a single point person to execute the project which includes both onshore and offshore
You can’t be a perfect fit for so many different jobs. This is part of your problem.
I mean I have performed all those roles as part of the job that I am doing now and before joining Verizon May not be perfect but can fit in any of those roles and since my visa situation is in jeopardy I don’t mind any of those positions
What’s the best way to get your resume viewed / to the top of the pile when you don’t have a personal connection or someone to refer you to a company?
Reach out the the company and ask about the status of your application if that's an option. That will usually get someone to pull up your resume and follow up. Another option you can try is reaching out to a recruiter at the company. I would only recommend this if you're a fit for the role and you have a specific job you're looking for. It's not effective when it's a general connection. Also you can reach out to someone working at the company and ask them if they would be open to referring you. Most companies have referral bonuses so I'm sure they wouldn't turn down some $. :)
Thanks for doing this AMA. Is changing your job title on your resume okay? Is it ethical?
Maybe if you’re at a place where the job title doesn’t reflect your role at up. Like a startup where you’re called staff engineer but you’re actually an architect Microsoft seems sketchy because their roles are publicly available
The only ethical exceptions for changing your title are if your actual responsibilities in the most 3+ months does not reflect your title or that your title is so company specific that it does not transfer to the industry or other industry (as mentioned by Stockx cockydev). Example: If you joined a startup as a mid or Sr level associate and due to the fast paced environment, having spent the last year running executive level growth and strategy without a title change, your resume may be overlooked when applying to the Sr leadership level positions when resumes are often skimmed. In these cases, I personally think that it’s okay to adjust your job title to reflect your actual work done. I would not recommend it otherwise.