Navigating a Competitive Tech Job Market: Tips for Success
Happy June, it's been a minute. I have had a full plate this quarter with client work.
But I'm back on the horse, or whatever the saying is.
The tech job market is continuing its reckoning. Hiring is still happening, but the layoffs continue.
According to layoffs.fyi the number of people impacted by layoffs this year is 89k+ at 304 companies. Yikes.
The market is full of job seekers and the competition is high.
I'm slipping into your email to share a few things in the hopes of keeping you going.
1. Job offers are still out there, so don't lose hope
2. Document your successes at work to know your impact
3. Protect yourself from layoffs by working on things your leaders care about
I get more into these tips below. Let's dive in.
First, it's a saturated tech market for job-seekers right now, no doubt about it.
But there are still jobs to be had and offers going out to candidates.
4 of my clients have gotten 8 offers in the last few months, so I've seen what it takes.
The time to an offer is a bit longer (~2-4 months for my clients), but it's not impossible.
To win you must be persistent, on top of your interview game, and reach out to real people while you job search.
In other words, leverage your networks and learn to be a compelling candidate.
You can do both of those things no matter who you are or how much experience you have in your role/tech.
Hint: If you're not sure how to be strategic, coaching could help you if you feel stuck in your job search or interviews.
Second, job searching and interviewing are not a time to be modest.
You must show off, be impressive, and articulate your value at every touch point of the job search.
One of the easiest ways to quickly recollect your accomplishments is by documenting your successes at work in real time.
This will allow you to quickly update your resume/LinkedIn and help you craft a strong career narrative in interviews.
Start a doc right now and track what you've accomplished so far in your current and past roles.
It's a great habit to build and it might cheer you up and make you feel like a boss to see your achievements on paper.
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Pro Tip: Set a reminder to update your achievements doc regularly, for example, every month or every quarter.
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Third, make yourself more recession-proof by working on projects your leaders care about.
Another way to think about it is working closer to the money or core product.
If you are not sure that your work is important to the leadership team then ask your manager in your next 1:1.
Being a top performer goes without saying, but make sure you are also strategic about the things you work on.
Layoffs can still happen but you become more indispensable by being the best at your job and working on high-impact projects.
That's all I got! See you next time.
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