From laid off to hired: A Software Engineer’s guide
A real-world example of how this Software Engineer was able to secure a new role in 2 months after being laid off.
Monolith to microservices migration — what to expect (10 challenges + frameworks to overcome them) (Sponsored)
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Let’s get back to this week’s thought.
Intro
The current market has never been more tough for Software Engineers and managers. Without having a proper strategy, perseverance and overall self-confidence, it can be really tough to secure a new role.
The best thing you can do is focus on yourself and get better in all areas you can:
enhance your personal brand,
learn new skills,
focus on building your network.
I am happy to share the story of
, who is a Lead Software Engineer and author of newsletter.He was laid off not so long ago and after 2 months he secured a new role!
We also jumped on a call together with David, when he was searching for a new role. He made a really positive impression on me → He immediately applied all my recommendations.
Especially regarding writing online (LI + newsletter) and his personal brand. That’s something that I don’t see very frequently.
And that also led to our collaboration on this newsletter article!
Let’s go straight into his story. David, over to you!
I’ve searched for a job three times in the past four years
I know all too well about the current job market, especially for software engineers. Securing a job offer in today’s market can feel like an impossible task. But if I can do it, so can you.
In this article, I’ll share:
My thoughts on the state of the current job market for tech professionals
Key takeaways from my last job search
Tips that you can use during your next job search
The state of the current job market
I’m going to be honest. The job market is brutal right now. I’ve been in software engineering since 2007 and I’ve never seen anything like this.
There seem to be more open-to-work banners on LinkedIn than ever before. And it feels like we’re hearing about new layoffs every week. If you haven’t been directly impacted by the job market, I’m sure you know someone who has.
I’ve spoken with dozens of tech professionals recently. I belong to a few engineering Slack workspaces. And I pay attention to LinkedIn posts from the tech community. There are a couple of observations I’ve made that I want to share with you.
Ghosted applications are up
A large amount of job applications are getting no response at all, commonly known as being ghosted. I’ve seen others report this number around 50% of their total applications. And that tracks with my last search.
Don’t take it personally if you don’t hear back from a company. I know it can be disheartening, but it’s not an indication of your skills or your worth.
Rejected applications are up
There are also a lot of head-scratching rejections happening now as well. This means engineers are getting rejected for jobs that they’re qualified or even over-qualified for.
Again, don’t let this bring you down. Companies are being extra picky when it comes to who they interview and, ultimately, hire.
Interview requests are down
Needless to say, interview requests are down. Don’t be alarmed if your interview to application rate is less than 5%. This is happening to even the most skilled and senior engineers.
The good news is that engineers are getting hired. And you can too. I’ll share what worked for me and my advice for your next job search.
Lessons from my job search
Before diving into the lessons I learned, I want to share some important stats from my last job search.
My last search was 75% faster than my previous search
55% of my applications were ghosted
39% of my applications were rejected
11% of my applications came from referrals
Introductions and referrals make a difference
My job search from 2022 to 2023 lasted 8 months. In 2024, I accepted a job offer 2 months after being laid off. How did I find a job so fast? I leveraged my network and prioritized introductions and referrals.
The job offer I accepted started with a referral. In fact, the person who referred me for the job actually interviewed me a few years ago. This goes to show that your actions today can impact your future.
The truth is if you want more introductions and referrals, you have to ask for them. I know it can be scary to tell strangers that you’re open to work. I realize it’s hard to ask for help. But I promise you this gets easier over time. And there are people out there who want to help you.
My last job search was shorter because my current network is bigger and stronger. And that’s certainly one benefit of building your brand and network. My connections offered to introduce me to hiring managers and refer me for jobs simply because they knew I was open to work.
Let go of things beyond your control
94% of my applications were ghosted or rejected. That’s a frightening number. But early in my search, I realized this was out of my control.
Yes, your qualifications and resume can impact whether you get interview requests. But once you update your resume and apply to jobs you’re qualified for, the rest is out of your hands.
What also helped me during my search was to connect with other job-seekers in the Tech industry. I did this through LinkedIn and Slack communities. It gave me an outlet to share my frustrations and struggles. And it made me realize that I wasn’t the only one getting ghosted and rejected.
Focus on what you can do
I decided to let go of what I couldn’t control and focus on what I could do — talk with people and ask for help. I messaged my connections and requested introductions. And I asked for referrals.
But it’s not just about introductions and referrals. If you only care about that, you’ll be disappointed when it doesn’t happen. Instead, focus on meeting people and learning about companies. These conversations can also introduce you to new technologies, tools, and ways that other teams work.
During my job search, I had a wonderful chat with a VP of Engineering. I sent him a connection request on LinkedIn and introduced myself. He offered to schedule a call with me. I told him about my career and job search. And he told me about his company. While he didn’t have a job for me at the time, he told me that he’d reach out when a role opened up.
Think about that. I went from being a stranger to getting on his short list of job candidates. All because I sent him a connection request.
Tips for your next job search
I can’t guarantee that your next job search will be short and sweet. But I can share some tips that made my past searches smoother. And I’m confident these tips will help you.
1. Track your applications
Track every job application you fill out. I know this is time-consuming. And it’s probably the last thing you want to do. But it’s worth doing for several reasons.
First, you’ll want one source of truth when it comes to your search. You’ll forget job details. You’ll probably submit dozens of applications. And at some point you might have to juggle multiple interview loops.
Having one place to find job descriptions, salaries, interview information, and job statuses will preserve your energy and sanity.
Second, you’ll be able to generate stats. I created the Sankey diagram above with my job search stats. These numbers can even be helpful during your search. For example, a high number of early rejections could signal a problem with your resume.
I created a free job tracker on Notion. I’ve used this exact template for my recent job searches. It’s been a godsend. Duplicate it to start tracking your jobs immediately. If you don’t want to track every application, at least add the ones that convert into interviews. You can even use the tracker to save interview questions and notes.
2. Prioritize networking
Most people only network when it’s convenient for them. For some, that means only making new connections when they have a job. And for others, they only foster relationships when they have the mental and emotional bandwidth. But that’s a narrow way to think about networking.
If you only grow your network when it benefits you, you can give off a selfish vibe. And when you treat networking as a part-time job, you miss out on lots of new connections and opportunities.
You can wait your whole life to find the perfect time to do something. And you still might not find it. Instead, embrace the messiness of life and the rollercoaster of being human.
You should always be networking, even during your job search. You have a compelling reason to make new connections — you’re looking for a job. And you have more free time to engage in conversations and schedule coffee chats.
Also, I’ve learned that connecting with other people will keep you grounded during your job search. A friendly conversation here and a good deed there can boost your mental health. And we could all use that in today’s job market.
3. Live your life
Don’t stop living your life no matter how long it takes to find a job.
Spend time with your family. Keep doing things that bring you joy. And above all, take care of your physical and mental health.
Your job search could take months. Think of it as a marathon, not a sprint. You need to live to see another day. And that means exercising, eating healthy, and getting quality sleep.
Your job is one part of your life, not all of it. Keep living your life.
You might think it’s next to impossible to get a job right now
However I was able to and so can you. It might take a lot of willpower and patience, but it’s possible.
Pay attention to where you’re spending your time and energy during your job search. If something isn’t working, let it go. And if something is working, double down on it.
Leverage your network to the fullest. Spend more time connecting with and getting to know people than submitting applications. And most importantly, live your life.
Last words
Special thanks to David for sharing his insights on this very important topic! Make sure to follow him on LinkedIn and subscribe to his newsletter
.We are not over yet! Two more things.
Senior Engineer to Lead: Grow and thrive in the role
This week, we finished the 3rd cohort!
As always, when you finish the cohort, it's a bit of a bittersweet moment. On the one hand, you are happy that your students have finished the course.
On the other hand, you get used to spending time discussing such fun topics with people who are equally excited about the topic!
And I am really glad to see amazing feedback from the students 🙏
We've had such a great group and I am already excited for the next cohort which will be in January 2025.
Level up as CTO with Peer Support and Expert Guidance
My friend Sergio Visinoni (you may know him from last week’s newsletter: How to become a Fractional CTO) has recently launched his community membership.
If you are an engineering leader looking for support, guidance and resources to tackle your toughest challenges, this might be a good fit for you!
I’ve been working closely with Sergio for the event we did together and on the newsletter article and can attest to his knowledge and expertise.
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You are more than welcome to find whatever interests you here and try it out in your particular case. Let me know how it went! Topics are normally about all things engineering related, leadership, management, developing scalable products, building teams etc.
 | A guest post by
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Thanks for inviting me to share my story with your readers, Gregor! I hope the tips help. 🙏
Great tips about networking.
Bear in mind that some recruiting managers change their minds about what they are looking for or get the funding for the new role pulled in the middle of the recruitment process.
Also, organizations don't want overqualified people for a role because they cost too much. Why pay for someone with too much experience when you can pay someone for whom the job is a stretch, much less? Some managers won't hire anyone who will outshine them.
And finally, remember that there is only one job, and even if you qualify for the role, you might be one of five amazing applicants, and the recruiter can only pick one.