New job search directions

I’ve conducted a typical job search since Brex laid me off. I’ve used LinkedIn, Indeed, Otta, and a couple of other job boards. I’ve talked to recruiters and headhunters with whom I’ve previously had great results. I’ve poked around in Slack spaces and online forums. I’ve used some personal connections, but maybe not as thoroughly as I could have.

I haven’t scored a job after three months of trying.

Why? There are at least three reasons. One, this isn’t a great job market for software engineers in general and backend engineers in particular. The national unemployment rate is low, but you needn’t look far before you read about another tech company layoff. There’s a supply and demand imbalance that favors employers and they’re being more selective. Two, I’m restricting my search to work I want to do. I’m searching for Staff or Senior engineer roles that mostly or entirely use Python. This significantly winnows the field. Three, I’ve encountered significant ageism for the first time in my life. It happened in Coffee Meets Bagel and Brex, but I could look past it for the most part. In this search, not so much.

I interviewed at one company for four rounds totaling seven hours. They went well and I liked the company and the position. The last interview was with the VPE, and one minute into it I could tell something was off. Lo and behold, I got a thumbs-up from everyone but the VPE and they subsequently rejected me because, “we’re a remote company and culture fit is important.” I’ve worked remotely for three companies of different sizes and growth curves and in different industries totaling eight years, and all but one of your interviewers recommended a hire. But sure let’s say it’s a culture fit problem.

That’s just one instance. There were others. When this happens multiple times you absolutely know what’s going on. As with all discrimination, proving it is nigh impossible unless you are extraordinarily lucky.

Bottom line is that my traditional job search has not yet yielded fruit.

I know my resumé and LinkedIn profile are OK because they open the first door to company recruiters. The sorry-we’re-pursuing-other-candidates message comes after rounds 3, 4, or 5. For whatever reason. Yes, some of the rejections are for simple supply and demand. For whatever reason.

So now I’ve chosen to do something different for me: I’m bifurcating my job search.

The first part will continue looking for a full-time position. I’ll ratchet it back by no longer applying “cold” to job board postings, but I will respond when a recruiter contacts me and will put more effort into referrals.

The second part will launch a small consulting business.

All my life I’ve gone for full-time employment. It’s a combination of keeping to a traditional employment path, enjoying being a “team member” (although it’s a lie agreed upon… companies are amoral beasts and you’d best not forget it), and enjoying paid benefits.

But I’m fortunate to be in the position of not needing a typical engineer’s compensation. Friends, and my financial advisor, encouraged me to think outside the box. This is far from radical for many developers but it’s radical for me.

It so happens I can do contract or part-time work and be fine without stratospheric rates. (I would not object if a firm wanted to pay me stratospheric rates.) Contract/consulting work is a significant mental shift for me. I get to ignore much of corporate nonsense and office politics, OKRs and KPIs and reviews and promotions and all the rest of it. And just hit a certain income amount annually.

If you’re working in an at-will employment state without an employment agreement, the foundational difference between full-time and contract is that with the former you outsource your taxes and benefits to the company’s HR department. That’s it. In either case, your employment may be terminated without warning, decisions will be made affecting you to which you have zero input, and your job satisfaction comes down to your manager, immediate team, and tools. You can be as rah-rah as you wish but the company will jettison you at the drop of a hat if it’s in its best interest.

If you’re an employee, not having to self-administer benefits nor file employment taxes has a value. The “lie agreed upon” veneer of being on a team is of questionable value.

So anyway, contract work beckons! I’ve run the numbers and it could work out, both financially and work-life balance wise.

I’ve got at least three possible outcomes from all this:

1. I could score a full-time job. A fun challenging role in a company with a compelling vision is still my first choice. The contracting plan goes on ice but isn’t forgotten.
2. I could score a contracting gig. The full-time job search goes on ice.
3. I could score nothing. After a couple of months I work on a Plan C. Which I am already noodling on but that’s a story for another day.

Talking things out and brainstorming with friends is good. Shorter: Friends are good. Good friends are great.