Remember #
- Punch in your attendance code
- Make sure you’re having consistent meetings with your advisor
- Next deadline: Midterm Evidence, March 2
Today: How to Find a Job #
Recommendation: “Land the Tech Job You Love, Andy Lester”
- When Drexel teaches this, he makes is officially a recommended textbook.
- It’s 200 pages thinking through the process of finding the right job and effectively applying for it.
You should get a copy and read the book, but let me cover some key points.
PSU Resources #
- The Career Development Office
- Handshake Job Posts
Job Applications #
The basic sequence:
- Be related to someone who owns a company and tell them exactly what job you want them to hire you for. Personally, I’d take software R&D, but maybe you want to be head of IT.
More typically though:
- Find a bunch of job postings.
- Compare them, and figure out which ones you want to apply to.
- Submit job applications, typically including:
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Portfolio
- Get random seeming responses.
- Attend interviews
- Get one offer at a time
What job postings to look for? #
- What skills do you have?
- What are you interested in doing?
- Are you willing to move? What limitations? Dubai?
Where to look for postings? #
- Plymouth State: Handshake
- Job Search Sites: Linked in, Monster, etc.
- Nah, just ask Gemini
Resume #
- Provide accurate information
- LLMs exist, so you can automatically customize to each job opening.
Cover Letter #
“You should hire me because I can provide the following value to your busienss: stuff. I have done cool stuff, like: stuff”
Portfolio #
What cool stuff have you done?
If not requested, you can put a link in your cover latter.
You’ve put in applications #
- You’ll get responses.
- They’ll be seemingly random. Expect to put in 10 applications and get one response from whichever opening is the least obvious match.
- Plan for that.
Interviews #
- Job interviews used to be a big deal.
- Read the book for the long version.
- I’m not sure interview questions matter as much today. Just be honest about what problems you can solve. Explain how to solve problems.
Job Offers #
- After an interview, there’s a risk of getting a job offer.
- Problem: Once you’ve accepted an offer, you’re potentially with the job search and future job offers are a problem.
- Solution: Very carefully evaluate the tradeoffs of personal honor and then do whatever is best for you.
