I often get asked by programmers and aspiring programmers if I know of any good job opportunities currently available. I always offer to keep my ears open for anything and am happy to do what I can to help.
To non-developers, they only hear about the large paydays at Google, Facebook, etc. that recent college grads snag and incorrectly assume that programming jobs must fall into the lap of every programmer. That’s just not the case.
For anyone looking for work, it’s always smart to work your extended professional network to find jobs, and that’s true of programmers. I typically see that many roles are not filled through online job postings nor the traditional application & interview process. Instead, many roles are filled through networking and 3rd party services (recruiters).
To take advantage of these non-traditional job channels, developers can do the following:
#1 Update your LinkedIn Profile.
Make you’re headline: “XYZ looking for new opportunities”, where XYZ your idea programming job – java developer, Front-End Developer, Database Engineer, whatever. Also, make sure your profile is complete, most importantly including a photo. People connect with people, not resumes.
People may reach out to you directly. And others would argue you only find the best career opportunities while you’re currently employed. I don’t believe that applies to developers or people who aren’t super picky or expensive.
#2 Contact a Recruiter
I hear way too many people bitch complain about the deplorable behavior of recruiters. Anywhere there’s money, there’s top-notch upstanding professionals and there are sleazeballs looking to make a quick buck. You should be grateful there’s such demand for your services that people actively want to recruit you, but that’s for another post.
It’s in a recruiter’s interest to put you in a role (albeit any role), and get you the most money. I worked with one who secured a developer job offer for me and I’d suggest anyone actively seeking ask around to find respected recruiters in your area.
#3 Go to Local Tech Events
Meetup.com has fabulous events. Treat these as professional networking opportunities, not social events. Have one, two drinks max and focus on talking to as many people as possible!
Give your business card out to anyone. If you don’t have a card, ask for their card. If they don’t have a card, ask for their full name and if you can connect with them on LinkedIn after the event. 1 in 200 of these will be useful contacts, with an immediate opportunity or connection to an opportunity. 1 in 20 will be of help to you in the next few years. .
#4 Join Niche Online Networks
Stack Overflow Careers is top notch. Once a month, members post job openings on Hacker News. There also hired.com, workable, and ZipRecruiter. If you want to work with startups, Angel.co is a good place to start. Make it clear in your profile you’re open to new career opportunities.
What are your tips for finding a new position? Do you agree or disagree with these listed above?
Photo courtesy of David Marcu