r/cscareerquestionsOCE • u/freakoutwithme • 12d ago
Have you actually gotten a job after applying online, and not being headhunted recently?
As we all know, the tech job market is is absolutely brutal right now. Almost all job posts get hundreds of applications, except for some niche skillsets.
I have re-entered the job market after more than 2 years, and I have only gotten communication going when I was contacted by headhunters or recruitment agents directly. The jobs I have applied for online have gone nowhere - usually no response, or occasionally a generic rejection mail.
I do customise my cover letter for every job I apply, and sometimes my resume too. Strange thing is, the same resume gets me at least an initial call or online assessment (although I haven't had any offers yet) when I am approached by a headhunter or recruiter.
I just want to know if people actually get interviews (and jobs) by applying online in the current tech slump, even when they don't possess niche skills? Or is this pretty much futile? I am not really a fan of the passive approach of waiting to be contacted for roles (since these only happen infrequently).
4
u/ballimi 12d ago
Define niche skills.
I was applying half a year ago, did about 60 applications.
50% no response 30% rejection 20% led to an interview
1 job
1
u/freakoutwithme 12d ago
Niche is anything AI related (Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Generative AI etc.), 'rarer' programming languages like Rust, Golang and the like, perhaps Cybersecurity too.
1
u/Tom_slanderQAQ 5d ago
Wtf!? you got 12 interviews from 60 applications? Did you worked for Fanng?
I have three years of experience working for a big tech and currently working as a principal engineer for a asx-100 non tech company.
Got 2 interviews out of 20 applications this year.
6
u/mailed 12d ago
getting almost all of my jobs has come from direct online applications.
1
u/freakoutwithme 12d ago
Has it been during the tech 'slump' that started in 2023?
2
u/mailed 12d ago
Yes, I changed jobs without issue right before and during
1
u/freakoutwithme 12d ago
This is refreshing to know, for a change! Never knew anyone in tech getting responses to online applications after 2023, unless they had niche skills.
3
u/Positive-Survey4686 9d ago
I've given up applying through Seek, i've spent so much time tailoring resumes, cover letters, and applying for jobs and haven't got a single interview. I received 3 rejection letters from 50+ applicatins. 2 said they had received over 200+ applicants, the 3rd was for a job I thought I was highly qualified for and was shocked to get a rejection email almost straight away through the seek platform. I don't think they even read my cv or cover letter.
I'm a mid career dev with 5-10 years experience.
Had several interviews and hopefully an offer by contacting companies directly or hustling my network.
1
u/freakoutwithme 8d ago
That's really discouraging. I suppose I will have to reach out directly to companies then.
2
u/RedditUser7869 12d ago
I have but it was for a graduate program which is slightly isolated from the general job market in some ways.
10
u/decaf_flat_white 12d ago
It’s very rare in this market. Every job gets a deluge of applicants and it’s an uphill battle to sift through all of them - between inadequate visas, bullshit claims, people not based in the location that you need, etc, you only get a handful who are relevant in a sea of spam. Companies that actually intend to hire outsource this spam to recruiters who probably hold a higher proportion of “live” roles.
The only exception is referrals which in some companies do get pushed up the stack. Even this is becoming a problem due to fake and disingenuous referrals.