6 Months Into My Job Search, Here's What I've Learned
Here are some things I've realized while preparing to change jobs since the end of last year. To start with the conclusion: when it comes to job switching, stamina matters more than skill.
1. Submit your applications as quickly as possible
I wasted two months trying to make a perfect resume. It worked out much better to just start applying and refine as I went.
2. Don't lose your touch with coding tests
Even when I was in a slump, two weeks without solving problems was enough to lose my edge. Solve at least one problem a day.
3. Practice interviews out loud
Even if you've organized your thoughts in your head, it doesn't come out of your mouth. I recorded myself, listened back, and fixed my answers, which made me much less nervous in actual interviews.
4. Focus on the process, not the result
Even when you fail, you gain something. It becomes clearer whether this kind of role is a good fit for you.
I haven't gotten an offer yet, but I definitely feel much more solid than when I started. Let's all keep going!
9 answers
Yeah, stamina is really important. When I was prepping for a job change, my sleep schedule got messed up and my mental state collapsed along with it.
Well, that's a bit iffy. In the end, if your skill isn't there, no matter how good your stamina is, you'll end up losing, right?
Recording your interview practice is really helpful. I was shocked when I first heard my own voice, but as I kept listening, I found that awkward expressions got corrected.
Totally agree on managing your stamina. After switching jobs, I started walking 30 minutes a day, and that actually became my time to clear my head.
If you solve one problem a day for coding tests, what difficulty do you go for? I end up spending 3 hours on a single problem ㅠㅠ
You should just submit your resume first. I also kept putting it off for over a month trying to make it perfect, but only after sending in my first application did I realize what needed to be fixed.
'Stamina over skill' doesn't really hold up. In a highly competitive field, it's ultimately skill that makes the difference; stamina is just a condition for consistently applying that skill. Since the article itself talks about the process of improving skill, I agree only with the conclusion.
Oh, I never even thought of recording practice. I'll have to try that when prepping for my next interview. Thanks for the tip.
Six months is still too early. I prepared for over a year and eventually got in, and during that time my resume completely changed. Don't be impatient—just stick to your daily goals.