Hey Blind! I'm a software engineer 2 with a little over 3 yoe in Minneapolis, and I've been looking to get into a tech company for a while (something on my bucket list haha). I'm currently at a consulting company and haven't been able to pass resume screens for roles in the Bay area (startups, tier anything, or FAANG, granted I have no network out west and have been in a React/NestJS heavy environment). I'm currently interviewing for a senior software engineer position at Bluestem Brands to work with React Native, React, and Spring which might be good, but I don't know if working at another company with low name ID would be beneficial (they do some e-commerce which might look better than consulting?). Is this a good move considering my career goals, or what should I do to get interviews in SFO? Would Target/Medtronic be a better stepping stone (I know people there)? I've been told by many that my resume is pretty good (highest degree is an Associate's though). I don't really have a mentor or people outside of work I can talk to for career advice, so I really appreciate your input 😁 Thank you!
If you just want the job then leetcode is your friend. Grind algorithms and data structures. If you want to be a good engineer then you'll need to learn more complex topics like concurrency, distributed systems, web servers and online communication, maybe design patterns in APIs and things.
I've done both, but it doesn't do any good if you can't get an interview to show off the skills 😭
I don't have friends that got into FAANG, I'm from a small town in the middle of nowhere and moved to MSP a couple years ago. I don't know anyone here who got into FAANG. I could try cold connecting on LinkedIn though. My resume is in another reply thread if you have any suggestions 🙂
An airport is an awful place to interview, super distracting.
Title updated
Why do you need “stepping stone” specifically in SFBA? You can find some other place to work locally full time instead of consulting.
Fair, I just don't know what I'm missing to pass screenings and get interviews in the Bay Area. I've put my resume online multiple times to get feedback and now there isn't much to improve. My assumption is either company name ID, lack of a network in that area, my Associates degree from a no-name college, or some stigma around being in consulting (at least those are factors I was told) but I don't know.
The degree is probably the last thing to be looked at most companies. Network is getting your resume to be opened, but doesn’t affect screening outcome usually (at your level) Think about which skills you are lacking to fail screenings. That’s the key.
Work at salesforce
You know, that's one place I haven't applied yet. I'll apply there and see what happens!
Thank you! I have applied at IBM, but I'll try the rest 🤞
SAP - hiring bar is low and name recognition is decent in industry. The only thing is that most people here have BS or MS, so not sure how much degree matters.
Huh, worth a shot! Thank you!
Just got a rejection email lol
Microsoft is a good stepping stone in to FAANG
Target or BestBuy would be good.
Get connected to recruiters in Linkedin who would get you linked to big name companies. Check out Signature Consultancies on LinkedIn
United has direct flights to SFO.
OK I updated the title, any advice?
Delta has non-stops MSP-SFO too ;)