Confessions of a former hiring manager

Author

Jennifer Paine
November 01, 2024

Hey Reader,

Can we talk about something that's been weighing heavily on my mind lately? The Tech job market is not what it used to be. Like, at all.

Remember 2020? When companies were practically throwing job offers at anyone with a pulse and a decent CV? (Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit, but you know what I mean!) Those days feel like ancient history now.

I see super qualified women hitting walls with their job searches, using strategies that would have worked perfectly fine a few years ago. But the rules of the game have changed, and we need to change how we play.

So, I wanted to share some real talk about what might be holding you back in your job search, coming from a former Hiring Manager in Tech. Consider this your friendly wake-up call (with a side of actionable advice, because that's how we roll!). Let's dive into some common misconceptions that could be getting in your way:

Casting a wide net won’t help you land a job faster.

Avoid casting a wide net. Applying to every role that remotely matches your experience in hopes of landing something quickly won’t help you land a job.

The solution? Take your time to write down what role you’re aiming for and what your ideal work environment looks like. Shift your focus to roles where you would be a great fit and companies you’d love to work for. Focus on quality over quantity. Thoughtful and targeted applications are much more likely to get you interviews.

Recruiters get 100’s of applications per role!

Only relying on online applications is not working anymore. With recruiters often receiving over 300 applications per role, it’s nearly impossible to stand out in the crowd, no matter how great a fit you are for the role.

The solution? Focus on a proactive approach and leverage your network in your job search. Reaching out to your connections can uncover hidden opportunities and get your foot in the door with your dream companies. Referrals can increase your chances of landing an interview by up to 10 times!

The best applicant doesn’t always land the role.

Focusing too much on your work history might get you rejected. Hiring Managers want to hear how you can solve their team and department’s problems.

The solution? Clearly articulate your unique achievements and show how they can contribute towards your future manager’s business goals. Quantify the impact you made in previous roles to show your ability to drive results with your next company. Don’t just list your responsibilities, show the hiring manager what value you can add to their team. In other words: “show, don’t tell”.

Getting rejected for your dream role is not the end.

It’s hard being the #2 and not landing an offer for your dream role. In this competitive market, it’s highly likely that although you were a great fit, there was someone who was EVEN better.

The solution? Stay in touch with the Hiring Manager and Recruiter, and build out those relationships. Send thank you notes to all the interviewers from the last round and articulate 1 key takeaway from the interview too. Companies will continue hiring people to join their teams. Staying relevant and on their radar means you have a high chance of getting invited again for the next round or even skipping interviews and going straight to the final / offer round.

Look, I get it - it's frustrating to keep using strategies that worked perfectly well before, only to hear crickets now. But here's the thing:

The job market has evolved, and maybe it's time for our approach to evolve too?

I know change can feel overwhelming, especially when you're already dealing with the stress of job searching. But I truly believe that with a few strategic tweaks to your approach, you can stand out in this crowded market and land that dream role you deserve.

I'd love to hear from you: What's your biggest challenge in landing your next role in Tech? Hit reply and let me know.
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Talk to you soon,

Jenn

Whenever you're ready, there are three ways you can currently work with me.