Ask HN: Late career changer looking for resume and job advice

jayec · on April 9, 2018

Hey Pablo,

In your about me section, rather than saying "experienced in all stages of web development", use industry terms such as "full stack development" as you do on your Linkedin Profile. What sort of jobs are you applying for?

If I were you I'd be trying to highlight project management experience that you have from your architecture career. Talk about the number of people you supervised, budgets you managed, etc. While this may not be relevant to a junior web development role, if you want to move up later on it will show you are able to manage effectively.

The only other suggestion I have would be to start blogging. You've built a blogging web app but you aren't using your own product.

Hope this helps.

- Jaye

PabloR · on April 10, 2018

Hey Jaye,

Although I wrote Full-Stack Web Developer right under my name I will add it to the about me section. I haven’t applied for any jobs yet. Updating my resume and LinkedIn profile for the first time in years to start the process this week.

I didn’t think anybody would pay much attention to what I did on my previous career so I abbreviated it. However it seems a good idea to provide these kind of details.

And I do plan to start blogging ;)

Good points. Thanks a lot for your help.

Pablo

poof131 · on April 10, 2018

I made a similar career switch about 6 years ago. Profile is a bit different (got an online M.S. degree) so take all with a grain of salt.

1. Focus on your LinkedIn profile. Update constantly so the notifications percolate. Recruiter approached me for the first job and all subsequent jobs not through my network. Github is also an avenue but not nearly as popular.

2. React, react, react. Got my first job because the company was switching to Angular from Flex and I’d built two projects with Angular. It was new and popular at the time. Currently react is the hot thing (and I personally love it). I don’t say this as just opinion, it came from a recruiter I respect. She is seeing enormous demand for React, to the point where Angular devs are getting passed over since they have no react experience, which is a bit silly since good devs will pick up the tool, but nonetheless what she is seeing. She’s the one who said react, react, react, and has told me to steer away from anything else except maybe python and computer vision.

3. Algorithms and code puzzles. You may be able to find the dream shop that doesn’t require this, but I’ve yet to interview there. It will also open up the number of companies you can apply to. Many places don’t care if you have a CS degree or any degree, but they do care if you can play the depth first search, dynamic programming game. Friend prepped for 3-4 months and is on the interview circuit with his first $300k offer in hand. He’s senior with a big co name on his resume so not apples to apples, but he still spent the time to prep. The whiteboard pissing contests are going strong. This may be tougher without the academic background but worth doing as much of as you can.

4. Try to get in at a lot of places and don’t get discourage by rejections. There is so much randomness. One place will say you are awesome and the next won’t return your call after a phone screen. You aren’t broken, the process is.

So linkedin, react projects, study, and perseverance. My two cents. Good luck!

PabloR · on April 10, 2018

LinkedIn up to date ;)

I just started checking job posts and can confirm that several are requesting React, so you are right on point. I’ll add a React project.

Started checking algos a while back, and yours is a good reminder to keep going.

I really appreciate your input. Pablo

sandystar · on April 12, 2018

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