From time to time I head over to cscareerquestions at Reddit - a place predominantly populated by college students and fresh junior candidates. I see users there applying for <i>hundreds</i> of positions - I don't think I've ever applied for more than 15 positions in my life. Since 2014 I've applied for 8 positions, as I've documented those in a spreadsheet I still have.<p>So while failing "only" 3 job applications may seem comically low for many people, it's on par with my experience (should be mentioned that I, like the OP, am also from Scandinavia. Maybe a different culture from the US?).
This entire post gives me "the ick" as the kids say nowadays. The author is revealing lots of information about the company's infrastructure, given to him in an interview, as well as directly linking to the personal LinkedIn-profiles of the people he is name-dropping.<p>I don't know what to call this. Aggressive networking, maybe? First of all, three interviews is nothing, and secondly, the "lessons learned" are trivial to say the least:<p>1. If you're not X, don't apply for X positions.<p>2. Don't apply to jobs you don't want, and don't question the company's existence<p>3. Network<p>I'm sorry to say this but the one thing I get out of this post is that this person is bad at compromise, is rough around the edges and plays fast and loose. I can see why any of those things alone would be a red flag in an initial interview with someone you know almost nothing about.
I don't want to work for a company that doesn't want to work with me.<p>Also, don't forget your perspective. They think they are interviewing you, but the reality is that you are interviewing them.<p>Also, from the post "don't apply to a specialist position if you are a generalist" ... wth?! If they have a top down approach to how they perceive themselves and you, cut the cord and run away. Everyone has to start somewhere, and in tech, often specialization comes over time.
> I knew how to make a product e2e but my understanding of the event loop wasn’t beyond what you could Google and read on blogs.<p>This is me. Exactly. That’s why I would never be able to work for FAANG.
I failed many more, getting to various stages but not passing. The #1 thing I learned when looking back is that I wasn't a good fit for any of them. I was just desperate for a job.
> If I get fired or quit during the first year of moving to Canada, I would have to pay back all the expenses for the nice mobility package.<p>Is it legally enforceable to make you pay back those expanses if you're fired (at least without cause)?
> She wrote that she assessed that I don't talk like their staff engineers.<p>I've heard this from other people, too. Is talking the talk really this important to employers looking to hire staff engineers? And if it is, why?
The most interesting bit to me (as a concerned stock hodler) was indeed how is Spotify managing to get away with so much free stuff (and a VR room?!) for employees, while still burning investor's money.