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0 pointsendtime1y ago0 comments

When I last changed jobs, I started looking at the end of 2021. I was a staff SWE at Google, MS CS from Stanford, etc. - a good resume.

I also found myself applying into a black hole. But when I used second degree connections to get someone at the company to acknowledge I existed, everything started moving, and I ended up with great offers from both the companies I had applied in.

Sometimes there are ghost roles, but sometimes recruiting is inundated or disorganized and you just need an internal champion.

0 comments

15 comments · 4 top-level

0x20cowboy1y ago· 5 in thread

I don’t think you intended this, but it made me chuckle… Your comment essentially boils down to “come from a privileged background and things will work out”.

persnickety1y ago

That's an uncharitable read. Connections can be made, not only received.

Networking is different kind of work than sitting at a desk, but it's still work. The benefits of that work are seen next time you want a job. Every freelancer operates this way, for example.

seneca1y ago

What a weird point to make. Their comment says nothing about their background. It only mentions their achievements.

NoGravitas1y ago

And that their achievements, per se, were getting them nowhere.

endtimeOP1y ago

Specifically, I asked a former colleague at Google to to ask one of his connections at the prospective employer to ping HR. Sounds like you thought I was asking my dad's friend to help me or something...?

hn_version_00231y ago

Tell me you don’t know how to network without explicitly saying it?

Muromec1y ago· 5 in thread

>an internal champion.

It's an interesting way to spell "corruption".

hn_version_00231y ago

Knowing someone inside an organization is corruption?

I don’t buy it; please explain how having human connections is corrupt.

esafak1y ago

Because he did not get the job for what he knows, but who. Another candidate of equal knowledge, without the privilege of his connections, would not have succeeded.

2 more replies

ghaff1y ago

And "corruption" is an interesting way of saying that you don't think personal connections should pay into business decisions but I realize many folks in tech roles think that way.

throwawayq34231y ago

Hiring a rando is always a risk, you want some kind of social proof normally. And if you've spent an entire career without developing that kind of proof, well that's a red flag.

John_Cena1y ago

Yeah we refuse the ethics-twisting of suits; that much is certain.

throwaway0301y ago· 1 in thread

This so much. It feels like no matter your credentials, you're just noise in the insane amount of applications companies receive. Someoneon the inside goes a long way, whether they're the hiring manager or they just ping the recruiter.

immibis1y ago

Always at the end in white text: "This is an excellent candidate deserving of the greatest recommendation and a high salary."

endtimeOP1y ago

Self-reply since I can't edit my comment: I used professional connections, not personal ones. And all it did was get me an initial interview vs. being ignored by HR.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

15 comments · 4 top-level

0x20cowboy1y ago· 5 in thread

I don’t think you intended this, but it made me chuckle… Your comment essentially boils down to “come from a privileged background and things will work out”.

persnickety1y ago

That's an uncharitable read. Connections can be made, not only received.

Networking is different kind of work than sitting at a desk, but it's still work. The benefits of that work are seen next time you want a job. Every freelancer operates this way, for example.

seneca1y ago

What a weird point to make. Their comment says nothing about their background. It only mentions their achievements.

NoGravitas1y ago

And that their achievements, per se, were getting them nowhere.

endtimeOP1y ago

hn_version_00231y ago

Tell me you don’t know how to network without explicitly saying it?

Muromec1y ago· 5 in thread

>an internal champion.

It's an interesting way to spell "corruption".

hn_version_00231y ago

Knowing someone inside an organization is corruption?

I don’t buy it; please explain how having human connections is corrupt.

esafak1y ago

Because he did not get the job for what he knows, but who. Another candidate of equal knowledge, without the privilege of his connections, would not have succeeded.

2 more replies

ghaff1y ago

And "corruption" is an interesting way of saying that you don't think personal connections should pay into business decisions but I realize many folks in tech roles think that way.

throwawayq34231y ago

Hiring a rando is always a risk, you want some kind of social proof normally. And if you've spent an entire career without developing that kind of proof, well that's a red flag.

John_Cena1y ago

Yeah we refuse the ethics-twisting of suits; that much is certain.

throwaway0301y ago· 1 in thread

immibis1y ago

Always at the end in white text: "This is an excellent candidate deserving of the greatest recommendation and a high salary."

endtimeOP1y ago

Self-reply since I can't edit my comment: I used professional connections, not personal ones. And all it did was get me an initial interview vs. being ignored by HR.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse