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Cover image for As a developer, what problems do you face during job search? 🤔
Nilohit Singh Kanwar for XenoX

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As a developer, what problems do you face during job search? 🤔

Here at DEV, we're a diverse community 👨‍💻👩‍💻
Some of us own tech companies. Some of us are devs who work with tech companies. And some of us are devs still looking to be hired.

Most developers have faced some sort of problems while finding a job. Sharing these with the employers/recruiters on DEV can help make the process better.

And most importantly, y'all devs can vent out 💆‍♀️💆‍♂️

So, do you have something to add to the conversation?

PS: Hilarious responses are just as welcome as serious ones!

Top comments (28)

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michaelgee profile image
Michael Gee

Job: Junior / Entry Level Developer

Requirements:
HTML / CSS / JavaScript - 15 years exp
React - 15 years exp
Node - 15 years exp
Serverless - 15 years exp
Missions To The Moon Completed - 3
Nobel Prizes - 1
Lamborghinis Owned - 1

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mtee profile image
Margaret W.N

😂😂The sarcasm is on point

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canmingir profile image
Can Mingir

You don't have any hands-on quantum computing experience?

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yobretyo profile image
Bret

“Entry level” yet it has 15 years.... that’s my problem when “entry level” is stated, it says 3-5 years experience.

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mattschwartz profile image
Matthew Schwartz

Many recruiters reach out to me with roles that are far below my skill level and pay grade. Or totally unrelated to any skills mentioned in my online profile or resume. Why would I be interested in an entry level Android development position when I'm director of a full stack web development team?

Of course I simply ignore them. But it's a waste of my time and their's.

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sjellen profile image
SJellen

-As someone changing careers, my resume is useless but it's the first thing they ask for.
-Trying to apply for jobs sends you on countless redirects.
-After you applied for jobs they ask filtering questions.
-Your application goes to a black hole.
-Job descriptions are either unrealistic or unreadable.

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utkarsh profile image
Utkarsh Talwar

"Job descriptions are either unrealistic or unreadable."

Totally agree. Job boards are plagued with bad JDs. What makes for a strong JD in your opinion?

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hwolfe71 profile image
Herb Wolfe

My biggest problem is finding positions to apply for, locally, as I haven't been able to relocate. I'm not interested in webdev, or DotNET, so that rules out a lot of jobs.

I did have a recruiter try to place me in a contract job doing Java, but I didn't have any references that can verify my coding skills, so he couldn't proceed.

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rachelagnihotri profile image
Rachel

Sometimes, job descriptions for developers can be inaccurate because:

but there usually isn't :P

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ppb1701 profile image
Patrick Boyd • Edited

A) recruiters reaching out for things obviously not in my listed skillset at all saying I'd be a great fit.
B) several lately seem to have a list of requirements with x years a mile long (IE like they want the expert in everything for say a mid level or something)
C) Oh and there was the one that wanted free work as a "trial" run.
D) When I started back in the day, it was the entry jobs that wanted experience...how do you get experience if you need it to be hired? That was annoying back in the day.

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dailydevtips1 profile image
Chris Bongers

I really think there are many issues.

  • Recruiters don't understand the tech stacks
  • Recruiters ask ridiculous amount of money if you ask me
  • Interviews are off, asking the wrong questions for the wrong job
  • Tests are just plain not working anymore
  • Everyone is looking for that unicorn
  • Every unicorn is your neighbour bob, john and his dog who took a free online course (not saying it's wrong, but still apply for the right job and don't oversell yourself)
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utkarsh profile image
Utkarsh Talwar

"Recruiters don't understand the tech stacks"
"Interviews are off, asking the wrong questions for the wrong job"

I agree. I think many of these problems happen when companies outsource hiring to recruitment/screening firms that may not have expertise in the domain. If they can't tell the difference between java and javascript, they shouldn't be interviewing/screening you.

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dailydevtips1 profile image
Chris Bongers

True, but as a person being interviews it just frustrates.
and i wonder if the company paying top dollar for recruitment then gets the best person for the job?

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juliescript profile image
Julieta Campos Guzmán
  • Intimidating job descriptions
  • Unreachable expectations for entry-level positions
  • Whiteboard interviews
  • HUGE take home assignments that are impossible to finish in their desired time frame
  • NO feedback

I think that job searching is like kissing frogs to find a prince. You need to kiss A LOT of frogs, but if you're patient then you will find a nice job. I found one after 1 year of endless CVs, calls with recruiters, take home assignments, tech interviews that made me feel worthless, and in the end I found a company which aligned with my values and wasn't so terrible during their process.

Finally, you don't have to apply to AAGF to be a successful developer.

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habereder profile image
Raphael Habereder • Edited

Currently, it's no problem for me to find projects for my employees, but for me it's pretty much impossible. As CEO all clients in my country want me to sign a temporary employment contract, because they want to "mitigate legal risks", right... (Successfully guess the country and you'll get bonus points).
I'm not going to sign an employment contract and lose everything I've built the last 10 years, including my great employees, that would be hilariously stupid.

So the search for "real" freelancer gigs goes on. Now insert the current pandemic into the mix and it gets even worse. I don't want to be a full time manager. I want to stay on the front lines and actually create things.

Another thing would be recruiters that don't read profiles or have very unrealistic requirements. For example, this one I got in today made me laugh quite a bit:

Administration of RedHat Enterprise (min. 5 Years)
Administration of SUSE Enterprise (min. 5 Years)
Administration of IBM AIX and Power-Systems (min. 5 Years)
Administration of Solaris Systems (min. 5 years)

1) That's 20 years of experience, I'm 29.
2) Why all the different systems? I can see reasons why you would operate AIX/Solaris at the same time, but RHEL and SLES? Pick one, ditch the other, improve the life of your OPS.
3) Who in their right mind still uses Solaris? Don't get me wrong, I love me some solaris, but... why.

I'm trying not to touch the topic of "knowing someones value". Most companies want experts for a junior salary. That's just plain disrespectful.

Oh well, that's my rant for today. Onwards to like all the other cool comments :D

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severon96 profile image
Dominik Mack

If Headhunters reacht out to me the Positions are mostly somewhere else then where i'm living. And I really don't want to move away.

Also there are not really much positions for that what I want to do (App-Development). And if there are some they normally want more experience than I can offer, because I don't have that much time to teach it myself.