UPDATE: Maddy Zhang, a former Google engineer, has just shared five crucial tips for job seekers aiming to land positions in Big Tech. Appearing on the “A Life Engineered” podcast, Zhang emphasized the urgent need to act swiftly in the competitive job market.
Zhang, who spent over four years at Google and has also held internships at Amazon, IBM, and Microsoft, highlighted that applicants must apply within hours of job postings. “Because there’s so much competition, it’s honestly an employer’s market,” she stated. “If you wait a day, probably there’s going to be hundreds of applicants for it.”
The urgency to act quickly cannot be overstated. According to Indeed, US job seekers who respond to employer messages within 24 hours are 4.1 times more likely to get hired and 6.7 times more likely to land an interview. This statistic underscores the importance of immediate action in the job application process.
Zhang’s second tip focuses on leveraging referrals. She noted that candidates referred by current employees often enjoy a higher success rate. However, she cautioned against indiscriminate outreach on LinkedIn. “If you don’t actually have a connection with them, it’s not going to help,” she explained.
Technical interviews pose another significant hurdle. Zhang recommended utilizing LeetCode to prepare effectively. “I know no one really likes it,” she said, referring to the platform’s challenging coding problems, “but it’s a necessary evil.” She advised a balanced approach, tackling easy, medium, and hard problems, and emphasized the importance of understanding solutions deeply rather than just skimming through them.
Interestingly, Zhang noted that candidates shouldn’t underestimate their worth based on their educational background. Despite common perceptions, many of her successful peers attended state schools or community colleges before advancing in their careers. “As you progress forward in your career, your school matters less and less,” she said.
Finally, Zhang’s most poignant advice is to embrace rejection as part of the journey. “I had been rejected hundreds of times,” she revealed. These setbacks once made her consider leaving the industry, but she has since learned that rejection is not a reflection of her abilities. “Maybe I had a bad day, maybe the interviewer had more qualified candidates,” she shared. “Rejection is nothing on who you are as a software engineer.”
As job seekers navigate this challenging landscape, Zhang’s insights provide a roadmap for those eager to break into Big Tech. With the job market evolving rapidly, aspiring engineers should act now to enhance their chances of success.
Stay tuned for more insights and updates about job hunting in the tech industry.
