How to Land a Great Job in the Tech Recession
How to Land a Great Job in the Tech RecessionA practical guide to getting your mind right, making a plan, and landing on your feetDear subscribers, We’re entering the worst job market for tech since the early 2000s. Over 100,000 employees have been laid off from tech companies this year.
I don’t have all the answers, but here’s a collection of advice and resources for landing a great job in these tough times:
👋 Are you an early career PM or someone who wants to transition to product? I’m planning to teach a live PM course just for you in the New Year. The course will focus on:
I’ve coached 100s of PMs and have 10+ years of experience working at leading tech companies. You’ll also get my best strategy, PRD, career, and interview templates. Seats are limited so fill out the form below if you’re interested: 1. Get your mind rightProcess your emotionsIf you’ve been laid off, it’s okay to feel anger, fear, and resentment. But remember that:
It’s not your fault that companies overhired. Be proud of the:
None of the above can be taken away from you. Find support groupsFind people who are willing to listen. Share the news with your loved ones, friends, and ex-employees. You don’t have to face this challenge alone. Know your runwayHow long can you go without a job? If you’re on an H-1B visa, you only have 60 days to find another sponsor. Consider switching to another visa to stay in the country longer. Otherwise, understand how many months of savings you have left. If you still have a good runway, you may have more time to find the right opportunity. 2. Make a career planLook back and forwardStart a doc and write down the following:
Make a list of companiesMake a list of companies that fit your long-term goal. FAANG is under a hiring freeze but many smaller companies are still hiring. Given the recession, I recommend that you try to find a company that has the following:
But how do you find these companies and job opportunities? The trick is to… 3. Network, network, networkTo state the obvious:
This is especially true in this recession where every job will have hundreds of applications. Here’s how you can network: Make a public postIf you’ve been laid off, post publicly on LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social media about what you’re looking for next. People need to know your situation to help. Reconnect with your networkReconnect with your old managers, coworkers, and friends. Ask them if they know anyone hiring for roles you may be a fit for. Your goal is to connect to a hiring manager at a company you’re interested in. Reach out to strangersYou’ll be surprised at how many strangers are willing to help in this economy. Here are some tactical tips:
Look in non-traditional placesHere are a few great places to look for a job:
4. Get interview readyThe old saying goes:
Start getting interview ready now even if you don’t have one lined up yet.
5. Celebrate small winsI spoke to Canadian astronaut (and my personal hero) Chris Hadfield last year and his advice should resonate with anyone who’s looking for a job: 5/ Celebrate your personal victories
“If you think that only your biggest moments count, then you're setting yourself up to feel like a failure most of the time.
Choose to appreciate the smallest scraps of experience.
Your life is the sum total of the little things." You’ll likely face a lot of rejection job hunting in this economy. If you wait until you land a job to feel happy, it might be a while. Instead, celebrate the small wins. Give yourself permission to feel good when you reconnect with an old co-worker, learn from a practice interview, or send a cold email. Make progress and celebrate success on non-job related projects that you have full control over (e.g., getting fit). Appreciate the silver lining such as spending more time with your family. To close, I’ll say this again:
While work is an important part of our identity, we are so much more. We are good spouses, good parents, and (yes) even good shitposters. If you’re looking for a job, I wish you the best of luck. Here is a list of resources from this post:
Last but not least, sign up for my course if you are a new or aspiring PM: |
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