Comment by rossdavidh | Hacker News Reader

Comment by rossdavidh | Hacker News Reader

Lots of other advice here but just wanted to add one piece: when you do get interviews, beware of anything that sounds too negative about your current (or past) employer. Even though the fact that you're looking for work basically implies that you are unsatisfied, if your tone or language is negative it will give the impression that you are a negative person.

So, when you do get that interview, just say that the opportunities for learning new things are your current job are limited, or something else that is true but not too negative-sounding. I have seen candidates who trash talk their current or former employer in an interview get rejected for that reason, because immediately people wonder, "will they talk like that about us if they get this job?"

Also, keep in mind that the problem is not you, it's that the programmer job market is saturated with the Big Tech layoffs from earlier in the year, so keep your self-esteem up and your skills sharp and in time things will turn around.

> if your tone or language is negative it will give the impression that you are a negative person.

I had this backfire. I left a job after dealing with toxic and personal BS and passed all my interviews at a great company. Then came the personal references where one must be my previous manager. My previous manager trashed me and gave me a bad reference and I didn't get the job.

In the future I didn't hold back on why I left and got the next job.

In the US, the only information required to be given by a previous employer is time of employment, role, and whether the person is eligible for rehire. Reputable companies will ask and provide strictly this information only, to reduce their liability.

Good context. The point GP was making was that toxic manager went out of their way to trash them.

Vindictive bosses/owners will do as they please

They will, but some of that is actionable.

This is not accurate across the board. References (inc. back channel references) are common for companies that take hiring very seriously.

Many organizations forbid providing references, but then this policy is hard to enforce. It is weird to be asked for a reference from your current employer, though.

My stock answer for leaving is "too low of a ceiling". That's usually a combo of "management and leadership sucks" and "there's no future or upward career path for me". I might add "I'm looking for a place where being put in a position that leads to success is the rule not the exception." Or something like. I mean "I love where I am" doesn't square with looking to leave, does it?

I'm an East Coast straight shooter and I feel that's enough to get my point across and let them know what my expectations and intentions are. If they're also running a shit show they'll put one and one together and figure out I'm not a good fit. If they're ligit they'll appreciate the toned down honesty.

At least that's what I hope for sone shit shows don't seem to recognize that. It's Dunning Krueger at the organizational level. Frustrating.

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