It seems like hiring has been slowing down lately.

As a software engineer with some experience it used to be pretty easy to get involved in the hiring process since inbound from recruiters was pretty high.

It’s been a couple of years since I looked for a job but if the market is still tight when I’m looking, I’ll consider the things I had to do to get my first software engineering job.

Career Change

I didn’t have a computer science degree. I studied finance in school and worked in that field after graduating. I didn’t like the work or the industry so quit my job with nothing lined up.

At some point, I started learning to code and was hooked. Eventually, I started looking for a job. I had no experience and no CS degree. Recruiters ignored me and I almost never heard anything back from online applications.

Networking

My main strategy became to network aggressively. There was a really great article by Haseeb Qureshi that really helped me out.

Basically, reach out to anyone and everyone. I went to meetups. I messaged people at companies I was interested in to ask them how they liked working there. I also reached out to other people that switched from other industries to ask them about their experience breaking into tech.

Through this, I got great advice and it resulted in a few interviews. The person you reach out to doesn’t even have to work in a tech role. My first software engineering job came through someone I reached out to who went to my same university and was in a finance function.

How to reach out

I mostly reached out on Linkedin. Some things to keep in mind though. The message should be personalized and concise. You should be clear on what you’re asking for and why they can help you. e.g. “I saw you switched from finance to software engineering. I’m also making the same transition..”.

You should also never feel entitled to someone else’s help. Show appreciation and leave them an easy out. “I’d really appreciate it if I could ask you some questions around A and B. I completely understand if you’re too busy though.”

What I’d do today

I’d probably make a list of companies I’m interested in and would reach out to either a hiring manager or engineer at the company. I’d give a brief intro and ask if we could set up some time to see if there’s a good fit.

I believe doing this would help you stand out and increase your odds of getting involved in the hiring process than just submitting an online application.