Personal timeline

Direct-Passage4847's journey

Milestones, reflections, and progress updates connected as your layoff-to-next-step story unfolds.

  1. 2
    Applied to a Job Feeling Planning Thinking

    I've been actively applying for senior software engineering roles for the past six weeks, but it feels like I'm just shouting into a void. Despite having a strong background with 8 years of experience and having successfully shipped significant projects, I'm finding that I'm getting ghosted before even reaching the human review stage. I can clear technical screens when I get to them, but the issue lies in not even getting that far. I suspect something is happening between my application submission and the recruiter actually reviewing my materials—whether it's due to ATS filters, keyword mismatches, or just the sheer volume of applications. This black hole isn't new, but it feels particularly pronounced lately, and I can't help but wonder if it's just me or a broader trend in the job market. I'm curious if others at the senior individual contributor level are experiencing the same challenges. Are referrals now a necessity for getting traction in applications, or do cold applications still yield results for senior roles? I'm trying to figure out if the landscape has shifted so much that applying cold is mostly a waste of time in 2025, or if there are specific strategies that have worked for others.

    Job title: senior software engineer

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  2. 1
    Feeling Miscellaneous Planning Thinking

    I've been job hunting in HR for about 8 months now and faced a tough decision regarding how to address my survival job as an Uber driver during interviews. Initially, I left it out of conversations, worried it would make me seem desperate or disconnected from my field. However, I eventually grew tired of dodging the question when asked about what I had been doing. So, I decided to be honest about it. I explained that I kept income coming in while focusing on finding the right fit and mentioned how the candidate experience aspect of driving helped me think more critically about onboarding touchpoints. This approach made a noticeable difference in the interviews. Some hiring managers responded positively, indicating that it showed self-sufficiency, while others moved on without much thought. There was one who reacted awkwardly, but overall, being straightforward seemed to resonate better than my previous vague answers. The gap conversation is tough, and I feel many people in similar situations are advised to downplay or deflect, but my experience suggests that owning it and connecting it to relevant skills can be more effective. I'm curious if anyone else has navigated the income gap during their job search and what strategies worked or didn't work for them.

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