How to navigate the job-seeking process after being laid off from a Big Tech Company!
January 2024 was littered with layoffs in big tech companies like Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta, etc.
These employees were both newer employees on-boarded during the hiring surplus caused by the pandemic, and older employees who had been with the company for five or more years.
This article will guide employees who were a part of the recent Big Tech Layoffs in navigating this difficult and frustrating job-seeking environment.
Step 1: Understand The Recruiting Process (Skip the line)
Issue:
Many people make the mistake of thinking applying to a role is the most effective way to land a role. Because of this, they place their focus solely on their resume being perfect and applying to multiple jobs.
Solution:
Every recruiting process has the same core steps. One of these steps is called sourcing.
Sourcing - Finding and attracting candidates for job opportunities
Immediately following the kick-off call with the hiring manager, the recruiter posts the job and begins sourcing for candidates. This is done before the recruiter looks at resumes from applicants who applied using the job posting.
Recruiters only submit 3 - 5 candidates at a time to the hiring manager for review and interviewing before moving on to the next role. Nine times out of ten, all of those candidates are from the people sourced by the recruiter. Also important to note... it can take 1 - 3 weeks for a group of submitted candidates to all be rejected from the hiring process. That's 1 - 3 weeks until the recruiter even looks at any other resumes for the role.
So if you are applicant number sixty or higher, your resume is most likely not even reviewed by the recruiter before the role is filled. This is why sometimes, two months after you apply you'll get an automated rejection email.
Take the time to properly set up your LinkedIn profile based on the role you are seeking. 90% of the companies that have the jobs you are looking for, at the salary you require, are using LinkedIn Recruiter to source candidates.
Use this LinkedIn Checklist to help your profile appear in more searches recruiters are making for the role you are seeking. This will increase your number of interview requests and you haven't even applied for the role yet! This is key in "skipping the line" and decreasing the time of your job search.
Step 2: Know the Difference In Role Requirements / Expectations Between Big Tech Companies and Small to Mid-Sized Tech Companies
Issue:
Employees who come from Google, Meta, Amazon, etc. often make the mistake of thinking that having one or more of those companies on their resume puts them a tier above other applicants.
These companies are tech giants! Yes, they look good on a resume. Yes, the jobs are competitive and hard to get. But they also come with some negative connotations in the eyes of hiring managers. Hiring Managers are afraid that employees from big tech companies are spoiled and not used to having to do more than one or two parts of the process. They fear that the employee will join, and quickly become burned out leaving them with another vacant role to fill and more added work on their plate.
Because of this, oftentimes employees from these big tech companies make it to the final rounds of interviews but are being passed over for a candidate that has the same experience skill-wise, but in a small to mid-sized environment.
Solution:
Small to mid-sized tech companies have smaller teams. This places more responsibility on the employee.
Example: As an Engineer at a Big Tech Company, you may have done coding. Your job in the process was to develop code for the requirements sent from the client. You then sent that code for review and testing (QA). So on and so on. At a smaller company, you may be required to develop the code, perform the QA duties, and deploy the code.
These smaller companies will expect you to do this work for the same or sometimes lower pay than you received at your former employer. This is more due to the amount of funds available than with you not being worth the money you are asking for. Managing your expectations and understanding how to effectively communicate that this is not an issue for you is key to overcoming this obstacle.
You must be able to recall projects you've worked on and the different steps in the process you were a part of. If you don't have that experience, talk about the soft skills that make you confident and prepared to take on those new tasks. SALE the fact that you are willing and able to roll up your sleeves and be a team player.
One of the first questions always asked in the interview is, "Tell Me About Yourself ". This is where you want to slide one or two lines in about your ability/experience in working through the entire process and not being spoiled by your big tech experience.
Download our Tell Me About Yourself worksheet! This will help you craft the perfect answer. Setting you apart from the other candidates.
Also, be prepared to speak to any projects you mentioned on your resume in detail. Not just what you did, but how you did it, where in the process you were utilized, and any hurdles you had to overcome. Be sure to use the keywords and skills listed in the job description during these answers. This will show that you have those skills in practice and not just theory.
Step 3: Apply For Roles Daily
Issue:
Applicants often become frustrated and discouraged when they do not get responses from applying to role after role. This causes them to take a break or just stop applying to roles altogether.
Solution:
Even though applying isn't the most effective way to land a role, you should still apply to the roles that you are interested in. Manage your expectations of not getting a response, and don't let it deter you in your job search.
When applying, you also need to message the hiring manager or recruiter who posted the role. Include your resume and let them know you are interested in interviewing for the posted role. Some people will tell you not to do this. DO IT! You are searching for a job, and you miss every shot you don't take. Otherwise, your resume will continue to sit in application purgatory and you will continue to be unemployed.
You will need to know how to search for the hiring manager or recruiter who posted the role, and will you need to know what information to place in the messages you are sending them to garner the best response rate.
You Got This!
Executive Inquest offers a Land Your Dream Job service in which we walk you through each step and more until you land the offer you want.
Attract - Interview - Offer
We walk you through the details of each of these steps on your journey to your next role.
If you are interested in further guidance on that or any of the information listed above visit our Tell Me More page and schedule a free 20-minute consultation to discuss landing your dream job within the next 45 days.
This video had some great information about the recent layoffs.
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