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Ask HN: Is the Job Market Still Tough for You?

by shantnutiwari on 4/24/24, 5:59 PM with 20 comments

Been looking for a job since December 2023-- for the 1st few months of 2024 there was maybe 1 job a month. (Edited to add: this was in January/Feb, when I was only seeing 1-2 job posts a month. I am seeing more now, but being ghosted, see below)

A few more jobs now, but still havent had a single interview. I send my CV and it goes into some blackhole and I never hear anything back.

I could understand if I was being rejected after interviews, but Im not even getting to that stage. My CV isn't that bad, and previously I used to get calls from recruiters all the time. Now I'm having to chase recruiters who are ghosting me.

I am worried about how this large gap will look on my CV.

Starting to lose hope a little-- and starting to feel a little desperate.

Is it just me? Im in the UK.

  • by pelagicAustral on 4/24/24, 6:10 PM

    Your last submission to "Who wants to be hired?" states you are not willing to relocate. Maybe this is a determining factor in the lack of engagement from recruiters. I think the post-Covid era for software devs is seeing a lot of employers wanting assets to come back to the office.

    I wouldn't worry too much about the gap, cover that with freelance work or some side-gig...

    If you're in dire straits, pivot, look for work somewhere else you might have shun in the past... like Government...

  • by PrimaryAlibi on 4/24/24, 6:44 PM

    You only send 1 application per month? I've read it's normal to send over 60 applications before you get a job. Are you sure there are no more websites you can use to look for more job ads? I also read that more than 70% of job hires happen on LinkedIn.

  • by jackbauer24 on 4/26/24, 4:13 AM

    I completely empathize with your situation. It can indeed be frustrating when you're on a job hunt and going through what you're experiencing. But don't lose hope. You're not alone in this. The pandemic has had a profound impact on job markets globally, and many people are looking for new opportunities.

    Firstly, I suggest revisiting your CV. Perhaps you could get a professional resume consultant or a trusted friend to take a look at it. They might provide some valuable feedback. Also, try tailoring your cover letters and CVs to match the requirements of each job. This could potentially increase your success rate.

    Secondly, try broadening your job search channels. In addition to traditional job websites, consider participating in industry-related online events or forums. This could not only expand your network but also possibly uncover some hidden job opportunities.

    Lastly, regarding your job gap, you can explain in interviews that it was due to the pandemic. I believe most employers would understand. Meanwhile, you could use this time to upskill or do some volunteer work, so your CV won't look empty.

    Remember, everyone faces setbacks on their job-seeking journey. The key is to maintain a positive attitude and keep learning and improving. Good luck!

  • by giantg2 on 4/26/24, 7:22 PM

    In the US. Not actively looking. Passive searches seem to be returning fewer results and lower quality positions. Fewer recruiters reaching out too. But I'm also garbage.

  • by idontwantthis on 4/26/24, 4:41 PM

    I turned on “casually looking for work” or whatever it’s called on Linkedin just because I was curious. I got 4 recruiter messages in a week. Seems like things are fine.

  • by _akhe on 4/26/24, 9:14 PM

    It's tough in SF. I've been surviving as a contractor for WeWork type solo founders with gaps between contracts. My wife and I started a local business with fairly low overhead last year which has kept me far busier than anything happening in tech, and there's more promise there than in anything I'm doing with software.

    Maybe in 2025 with the next president, fresh money, etc.

  • by meiraleal on 4/25/24, 12:48 PM

    I don't know if the job market is tough (yet). My contract ended last month but I decided to take one month of vacation before thinking about the next move. Then now after a month I decided to take a sabbatical year to shift my focus to AI/ML.

    Maybe in a year the market will be better, maybe I will be better for the market.

  • by JSDevOps on 4/24/24, 9:20 PM

    Look over on Reddit at r/ContractorUK it seems no one is getting any work.

  • by shams93 on 4/24/24, 6:14 PM

    Absolutely!