from Hacker News

Ask HN: What should I do to land a “non-trivial” remote job?

by thanhnguyen2187 on 5/7/23, 5:02 PM with 11 comments

I started my job searching nearly 3 months ago, and did not have great success. I have around 3 years of experience, mostly in the backend spectrum and can do some frontend/DevOps/platform stuff if it is needed. I found my solace in functional programming, and exploring programming language theory (interpreters and compilers), and really want my next job to be either:

- In a functional programming language (I can do Clojure and OCaml semi-well), or

- Allows me to dive deep into interpreters, or compilers, or anything that is more challenging than backend data gluing

I implemented a related side project (a toy Lisp interpreter in OCaml), but was not sure if it helps. Networking does not work for me, as most jobs in my country are the typical data gluing ones in popular languages. I figured that my choices are in remote jobs, but I have a hard time finding/applying to them.

What else can I do, HN?

  • by brudgers on 5/7/23, 8:52 PM

    If your passion is compilers and interpreters, do that and treat your day job as a day job.

    Same as if your passion was barbershop quartet or scrapbooking.

    I mean sure there are jobs doing each of these things. But they are few and far between and filled based on relationships among professionals. Compiler people hire other compiler people because they prioritize who they team up with.

    Three years experience is not thirty years experience and it’s not a PhD, and those signal commitment beyond wanting an interesting day job.

    Good luck.

  • by turtleyacht on 5/7/23, 6:08 PM

    Have you tried this link? It was top of mind for me, due to recent discussions around HN "slash links" [1]:

    Jobs at YC Startups - https://news.ycombinator.com/jobs

    [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/lists