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Ask HN: What job search strategies work for you?

44 points Jabbs | 3 comments | 15 Nov 24 17:07 UTC | HN request time: 0.681s | source

I’ve been laid off since June and have not been getting responses from most of my applications other than denials. I have 10+ years mostly Ruby/React/JS. New just working on a side project (job listing scraper) but curious what is working well for you? Specific apps or strategies that lead to your hiring?
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MrVandemar ◴[16 Nov 24 02:04 UTC] No.42153488[source]▶
1. Don't look for advertised jobs. Phone a place you want to work, find out who their hiring manager or whatever is, physically drop in a resume and cover letter addressed to that person.

2. Do a first aid course if you haven't done one. Out of two otherwise equal candidates, a first aid cert is a nice tie-breaker. Or a "how to use a fire extinguisher" course.

3. Go lateral. It's easier to get a job when you have a job. I found work as a medical receptionist/IT guy. Now they have a wiki, dynamic PDF forms, better typography, Open Office, spreadsheets for time-sheets, text expanding software, and on-the-ground tech support for paper jams, etc.

replies(2): >>42153699 #>>42156555 #
roland35 ◴[16 Nov 24 02:48 UTC] No.42153699[source]▶
I've never put my fire extinguisher skills on my resume... No wonder I didn't get any call backs!
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MrVandemar ◴[16 Nov 24 09:40 UTC] No.42155522[source]▶
I'm not sure if you're being humourous, but in Australia in an office you are not permitted to touch a fire extinguisher unless you are trained in its use. Even if there's a fire.
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1. defrost ◴[16 Nov 24 09:55 UTC] No.42155569[source]▶
I'm inclined to think that in some large office you were informed that they already have people trained to respond to fires in the building and you should leave it to them as they know the various colour codes, etc.

I'll even acknowledge that someone told you that you were not permitted (by whom, and on what authority?).

O/wise, after many years in Australia your statement sounds sketchy.

eg: In NSW:

    Ensure installed fire equipment is suitable for specific fire risks at your workplace (eg foam or dry powder type extinguishers for fires that involve flammable liquids, Carbon dioxide extinguishers for electrical fires).

    Install signage so people can find fire equipment quickly and identify what type of fire it can be used on.
~ https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=73

Nothing about only trained people can touch the extinguisher.

replies(1): >>42161271 #
2. MrVandemar ◴[17 Nov 24 01:41 UTC] No.42161271[source]▶
I live in a nanny state. :-/

It's still great training to know the various types of extinguisher, and how to correctly operate one. It's not as simple as "aim and press trigger".

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3. defrost ◴[17 Nov 24 03:09 UTC] No.42161691[source]▶
Is there an actual state law forbidding untrained people to use an extinguisher though?

It sounds much more like a job site policy that trained staff must exist and that they must be the ones that respond first (to use the correct extinguisher, etc) .. but it's difficult to imagine actual rules forbidding on pain of penalty (firing, fine, jail) an untrained person to step up (in the absence of any trained person being present, etc).

I'm in and from WA, although I've travelled a great deal, and here there's a lot of encouragement to have St John's Ambulance training, to take fire safety courses, to join SES and local volunteer fire brigades, etc. and I've never yet heard of any such rule as if your not trained, don't touch an extinguisher.