Feeling defeated

New
12a6a

New

12a6a
Jun 11, 2020 32 Comments

I was let go from my startup in late February and have been nonstop interviewing since then. The beginning was rocky because I naively thought that work experience alone was enough to land me a job. Not true. The first few phone screens were brutal reality checks. Over time I learned from each experience and LCed, mostly easys. Then realized that easys weren't cutting it so I bumped up my efforts to solving mediums. I recently discovered the post with the 75 must-know LC problems(thank you!) and have been trying to familiarize myself with as many of those as I can. I'm having a hard time internalizing the patterns to solve these problems so when I actually get one on an interview I still fumble around for the solution. Then there's system design. Being a frontend eng I don't have much experience with the topic. I've watched a lot of YT videos and blogs on implementing different systems but in an interview, I'm completely paralyzed.
To date, I've already gone through 25 phone screens and 5 onsites. The fact that we're in the middle of a pandemic with news of layoffs happening left and right is really adding to the stress. I'm getting very self-conscious knowing there are more qualified candidates out there, how can I compete. It seems like companies are either looking for jr devs with no experience or sr devs with more experience than what I have. I'm not sure why I'm even posting this, just going through a trough and seeing if anyone with a similar experience can share some insight or advice on how to power through these times.

YoE: 3 (frontend)
#software #frontend #engineering

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TOP 32 Comments
  • Thank you for posting this. There is a lesson to the community to reset expectations around compensation, promotions, and career progress to focus more on self improvement, gratitude, and humility.

    Perhaps look more at those early career roles, compete there, and build up to where you want to be.
    Jun 11, 2020 1
    • Cerner / Eng
      Zenobia

      Go to company page Cerner Eng

      Zenobia
      Completely agree. Once we get the job, we just keep working to finish the project without looking around to upgrade our knowledge. We donโ€™t even care about the basics anymore.

      I have a job at present, but I know that if I went through lay off tomorrow, it will be difficult for me to find a job just on the basis of my work exp. Itโ€™s gonna take me few weeks to refresh my basics and then few months to work on LC problems + system design
      Jun 11, 2020
  • Yahoo
    genius_2

    Go to company page Yahoo

    genius_2
    Where is this post 75 must-know LC? Can you share a link?
    Jun 11, 2020 2
  • Lyft
    succulent

    Go to company page Lyft

    succulent
    You should take your foot off the gas , and then revisit the interview study process.

    What activity gives you flow?

    Do that for a week.

    Then come back to prep with a set of fresh eyes
    Jun 11, 2020 0
  • OP, were you let go at the same startup as me!?
    If you previous experience were not from FANG, FANG usually look at your application with an equivalent of 0 YOE. So adjust what youโ€™re looking for accordingly as well.

    Itโ€™s definitely rough out there. Keep studying. You could also try to do some non-profit or hackathon work to build your portfolios.

    Itโ€™s also important to keep yourself motivated. When I was studying for interviews I reward myself small things like a piece of chocolate for every hour, or solving a hard+ LC question. Bonus snack when cpu/memory is rank in the higher percentile.

    Good luck, OP
    Jun 11, 2020 2
  • Cerner / Eng
    bokatoda

    Go to company page Cerner Eng

    bokatoda
    PhD in ML, can't find a job. Trying for 5 months now. So, don't lose hope. There are many of us in the same boat. Just keep yourself sharp for the interviews, hope for the best, and keep applying. Things are improving a little bit now as things are opening up, although not sure how long it will last.
    Jun 11, 2020 1
    • New
      12a6a

      New

      12a6a
      OP
      Thanks! Best of luck on your search as well.
      Jun 11, 2020