I’m pretty tired of the startup scene to be honest and would like to try to work at a larger tech company but I’m having a hard time even getting interviews.
I think this is partly because of a bad job market, and partly because I have two no name companies on my resume that I’ve worked for. How can I fix this?
However, realistically I think this is a difficult time to be trying to get into big tech. A lot of these companies have been doing layoffs, while ramping up their hiring of H1Bs and moving jobs out of the US. At the same time, it feels like there is kind of an informal hiring freeze while companies wait and see how AI develops before possibly deciding to jettison a large fraction of their workforce completely.
Sorry I don't have better advice, but this is my personal take from someone who has worked in big tech in SV.
There is still a demand for competent engineers in big companies, the issue is that most people who claim they can code aren't problem solvers in the sense of reasoning through a solution, but rather trying to find something that they have done in the past and shoehorn the current problem into that solution.
This is why even on this thread, people are trying to tell you to grind out Leetcode - the idea is that you memorize enough patterns to be able to solve the problems.
1. Grind leetCode - prepare for DS&A interviews
2. Prepare for system design interviews
3. Prepare for behavioral interviews.
These are framed as Amazon LPs. But they are standard behavioral questions.
https://managementconsulted.com/amazon-leadership-principles...
Have you tried social engineering your way into one?
This is just an idea… but big tech companies have generally got LinkedIn pages with employee’s who love to shamelessly plug their position at their company. So.. why don’t you just use that tool to look at what employee’s have the most influence at companies that appeal to you. Watch those employees and what they follow, like and comment on and see how they engage, notice the kind of language they use, gage their morals and values, look for things you can use to bridge a connection with them, and then… once you start building those connections, start using them as leverage, and a foot in the door to what jobs you want.