Developer job hunting tips

Friday 21st September 2018

This was originally posted on Twitter and added to my journal retrospectively.

I’ve been job hunting now for three months. In that time, I’ve seen a lot of digital design/dev job adverts. Here’s a few things I’ve learned:

Non-tech companies who have a small tech team still don’t understand the difference between UX and UI.
Front-end developer pretty much now means “JavaScript developer”
Many companies want multi-skilled employees, but will pay you less for that than if you’ve specialised in one thing.
Companies that offer “perks” like “free tea and coffee” and “ping pong” rarely have much else to offer and should probably be avoided.
If you live outside Greater London, many London digital jobs still don’t pay enough to cover the cost and hassle of your long commute.
Traditional web agencies seem to have pretty much disappeared from London and the South East.
The same job is advertised on every single job site, many times. Find the original source if you can and apply through there.
Jobs listed without a salary range may be a good opportunity, but by and large it’s a red flag and tells you something about how the employer operates. Be cautious!
Recruiters might not be able to help you if you have an unusual skill-set that doesn’t match their preconceptions.
Many job adverts are a culmination of the experiences of multiple people who had the previous role. They often ask for a lot of unrealistic things. Read between the lines and apply anyway even if you don’t meet all the requirements.
DO NOT RESPOND to any job advert that includes the words ninja, guru, cowboy, unicorn, other mythical beast or childish buzz word.
Learn to read between the lines: “Fast paced” = no time to think. “Work hard, play hard” = no life outside of work. “Autonomy” = management don’t care as long as you get it done.

That was a just a small list of things I’ve had to consider. I realise it’s a bit negative but I’m pretty despondent after three months searching. I know there are good companies out there but they’re slow to find. Good luck to everyone in the same position.

Extra thought: You can’t move sideways into a different discipline by changing jobs, even if you’ve been doing the new discipline as part of your old job. Employers often can’t see potential, or aren’t willing to train, so we need to account for that if we want to change roles.