How I Landed a Software Engineering Job in the 2024 Job Market (Despite the Odds)Disclaimer: I recognize that I'm privileged to have been in a secure

Disclaimer: I recognize that I'm privileged to have been in a secure position, with no urgent need to leave except for my desire for more challenge and compensation. This allowed me to set boundaries and approach the job search confidently.

Two and a half years ago, I couldn’t even get “hello world” to print to the console. Now, I’m about to start as a Full-Stack Software Engineer at a new company—my second tech job! The journey wasn’t easy, but I’m sharing my experience to encourage anyone currently job hunting. Remember, if one company doesn’t see your potential, the next might view you as a perfect fit for a leadership role. Landing this job increased my salary by over 40% from my previous tech position. Know your worth, and don’t settle for less than you deserve!

The Process

It took me three months to find the right role that met my criteria. Here’s how I approached my search and the boundaries I set along the way:

1. Knowing My Worth

I had a clear picture of what I wanted in terms of salary, team culture, benefits, and tech stack, and I refused to compromise. Several times, I turned down offers that didn’t align with these standards. About 30% of my opportunities came from simply clicking “apply,” but the rest were from directly messaging hiring managers or recruiters on LinkedIn.

2. Keeping a Winning Mindset

To stay motivated, I kept telling myself that companies and recruiters were reaching out to me because I was in high demand, whether or not it was fully true. I visualized a stock ticker running in my mind that said, “I’m beating these companies off with a stick because I’m in such high demand.” This mindset kept me from feeling discouraged.

3. Building Targeted Projects

I tailored my projects to match the roles I wanted, which helped me bypass technical screenings. If a position required a specific skill, I ensured I could demonstrate it through my projects and portfolio.

4. Networking Over Applying

Instead of relying solely on job applications, I reached out to people on LinkedIn. A quick message to a hiring manager or recruiter worked better than simply hitting “apply.” Here’s what I sent to the hiring manager for the role I eventually accepted:

Hi, I saw your job posting and I’m a software developer with experience in healthcare data, looking for my next challenge. Do you have a few minutes to discuss the role?

5. Sticking to My Study Schedule

I maintained a steady schedule of coding practice on platforms like Anki, Codewars, and Leetcode. This dedication paid off in the technical interview when I encountered a question I’d already memorized—though I played it cool!

6. Navigating a Challenging Market

The first time I job-hunted, I secured a role after about 20 applications and three interviews. This time, it took closer to 60 applications and multiple interview rounds. It wasn’t as straightforward, but I remained patient and focused on finding the right fit.

The Timeline

Here’s a breakdown of the key steps I took to secure this role:

• Initial Outreach: After seeing the job posting, I reached out directly to the hiring manager on LinkedIn.

• Behavioral Interview: I had an initial call focused on my previous engineering projects.

• Technical Interview: Thanks to my Codewars practice, I aced a coding question I’d already studied, even getting hints from the interviewer.

• References Boundary: When asked for references early, I set a boundary, letting the interviewer know I’d prefer to share them once we reached the final stages.

• Panel Interview: In the final interview, I went over my projects, explaining my choice of packages and languages. I also ran down the clock discussing Python, SQL, and web scraping to minimize front-end questions.

• Negotiations and Offer: After a verbal offer, I requested a higher base salary, ultimately securing a compensation package that met my expectations. I also arranged to start after my planned vacation and negotiated a short-term contract role until then.

Key Lessons from My 2024 Job Hunt (Compared to 2022)

• Setting Boundaries on Interviews: For virtual interviews without a human element or take-home projects that felt exploitative, I’d withdraw with a polite message thanking them for their time.

• Saving References for the Final Stages: I let recruiters know I’d provide references once we were close to an offer to respect my contacts' time and privacy.

• Maintaining an Abundance Mindset: Being in my second tech job, I was able to avoid operating from scarcity. This time, I felt more secure in knowing that a better role would come along if I stayed persistent.

My default questions in every interview included:

• “What’s your vision for this role and the company?”

• “What are the next steps, and what’s the anticipated timeline going forward?”

Final Thoughts

If you’re navigating the job market right now, remember that setbacks don’t define your abilities. Finding the right role might take longer, but it’s worth it to hold out for the position that meets your worth. Each application, message, and interview is a step closer to finding a team and role where you can truly thrive.

Steal My Templates

“Networking” my way into a job vs just clicking apply:

Hi, I saw your job posting and I’m a software developer with experience in INSERT INDUSTRY data, looking for my next challenge. Do you have a few minutes to discuss the role?

Holding a boundary on references to protect their time and personal information:

I’m excited about the opportunity and would happily provide references once we’re further along or when an offer is on the table. I want to respect the time and privacy of my contacts and would prefer to involve them when it's necessary. Thank you for understanding.

Resignation script before I sent the written HR one:

Thank you for taking the time to chat with me today. I wanted to let you know that I’ve accepted a new position and will be transitioning out of X. I know this isn’t the typical two weeks’ notice, and I apologize for that. My last working day will be X. Unfortunately, due to the pre-planned vacation, I’ll only be able to provide one week of active work before I transition. I’m fully committed to making this transition as smooth as possible. If there are any specific projects or priorities you’d like me to focus on this week, please let me know. I’m also willing to put in extra time over the weekend to ensure everything is in order before I leave. I appreciate all the opportunities I’ve had here and the chance to work with you and the team. Thank you for your understanding during this transition.

Holding a boundary on if they simply don’t align with me:

Thank you for considering me for this role, but I would like to withdraw my application.

P.S. Don't forget to leave a comment below and let me know what questions you have!

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