It’s always been recruiters reaching out to me. I can’t see it being much different now.

I’ve never, ever, gotten a human response from any company that I cold applied. Either ignored, or get the automated rejection email.

Recruiters that I could cold contact usually tell me thanks for reaching out, and that they’ll be in touch if they’re interested. They never are.

I could probably get -a- job through networking, but probably not a job I’d be very interested in. I have a network, but very few people work somewhere that I’d like to work at. The few that do would at best guarantee I get fed into the leetcode pipeline and then it would all be on me to leetcode my way in.

I know some master networkers that can get offers and switch jobs via their network at the drop of a hat. Again, the catch here is that they have to be very unpicky. Overall, many of the best places to work are gatekeeped with leetcode.

I’m currently at what I consider an “endgame” company. I wouldn’t mind if this is the last company I work at (I’m 40). If I can last here until I’m late 40s or early 50s, then I’d rather semi-retire instead of putting myself through the leetcode gauntlet again.