Trends in Engineering Job Applications and Resumes

Anecdotal patterns from 4 weeks of active job hunting (>1,000 job descriptions reviewed and 66+ applications, including >30 with tailored cover letters, 6 resume versions, and outreach to >30 recruiters/hiring managers): ⏳ 1. Industry Experience > Years of Experience: • Roles often prioritize 5 years in a specific industry over ~8 years in multiple industries, especially for non-technical roles paying >$140k. Highlight relevant industries in your summary, cover letter, outreach, and resume if applicable. 🆚 2. Profile Types: Comb vs. Pi vs. T vs. I: • Comb-shaped profiles are valued in management roles, while T and I-shaped profiles are preferred for individual contributor roles. Both can potentially make the same amount of $. • Pi-shaped profiles seem in demand in startups and agencies, especially those with >5 years of experience, due to their versatility. Comb-shaped profiles are more suitable for Head/CXO roles with >9 years of experience, particularly for team-building. 📝 3. One-Pager vs. Two-Pager Resumes: • Use a one-page resume for direct referrals. Tailor it with specific, role-related metrics, like "Launched a programmatic SEO strategy growing non-branded organic traffic from X to Y in Z time." • A two-page resume is better for online applications likely to go through ATS. Keywords and skill matching are critical to avoid immediate rejection. 🚨BONUS: Avoid including hyperlinks within the body of the resume as parsing them by an ATS can sabotage you without you knowing. 🚨BONUS 2: If you use "fill the application with resume" with a .docx or PDF file you've uploaded, review carefully all the information as even with the most organized resume these can be parsed and filled in improperly. 🤖 4. AI: • AI-impacted roles likely require tests, case studies, and explanations of your AI experience, tools, and models used. Having a portfolio or clear examples is crucial. • ChatGPT can inspire cover letters by analyzing job descriptions and your resume, but always edit manually to avoid inaccuracies. • Free AI tools and resume checkers are useful for refining a two-page resume, but the free versions generally offer enough feedback without needing to pay. 🤷♂️ These are probably very intuitive, but I wanted to share them in case they help someone else in their job search. I have more tips on the actual application process and outreach to recruiters/hiring managers portion of it that has helped me get ~10 first-round interviews/screenings, let me know if anyone's interested and I'll make another post. Hint: half-automation + half-AI + manual outreach is involved. #opentowork #jobhunting

If you're a software engineer looking for a job right now: 1. DM 5 people per day on LinkedIn.    Not 50. Just 5. Focus on people in roles or companies you're aiming for. Be respectful, short, and relevant. 2. Don’t say “Can you refer me?” — earn the referral.    Send the job link + explain in 2 lines why you're a good fit. Make it easy for them to say yes. 3. Cold email hiring managers.    Use LinkedIn + RocketReach. Subject: “Application for Backend Role – 3 YOE | Java + AWS” → That’s it. No essays. 4. Your resume headline should speak like a recruiter.    e.g., “Software Engineer | 3 YOE | React + Node.js | ex-Zomato” — not “passionate coder and lifelong learner.” 5. Remove generic summaries.    They don’t help. Instead, add a “Key Skills” or “Tech Stack” section with actual tools. 6. Apply even if you match 60–70% of the JD.    Most job descriptions are wishlists. Stop disqualifying yourself. 7. Reapply to ghosted companies after 45–60 days.    Yes, it works. Many ATS don’t block reapplicants unless you’re rejected post interviews. 8. One mock every week. Non-negotiable.    System design or DSA, with a friend, mentor, or platform. Interview pressure is different from solo Leetcode. 9. Build one clean side project.    Hosted. GitHub link. Loom/YouTube walkthrough. Make it easy for someone to see your skills in action. 10. Use reverse job search.     Find employees at companies you love → see what skills they have → build a similar profile. 11. Track every job you apply to.     Company, role, date, status, contact — use Notion, Excel, anything. This helps with follow-ups and reapps. 12. Write 2-3 lines about each company before interviews.     Their product, tech stack, funding. It shows you care and lets you ask smarter questions. 13. Customize resumes for different roles.     Same core, but tweak for frontend/backend/full-stack focus. Keywords matter in ATS. 14. Be active in 1 tech community.     Don’t just lurk. Ask questions, help someone debug, post wins, visibility builds trust. 15. Follow 5 hiring managers or tech leads in your domain.     Sometimes they post roles before HR does. 16. Post weekly on LinkedIn.     Share your project progress, what you learned in a mock, or insights from a rejection. Be visible. 17. Use Job Boards smartly.     AngelList (startup roles), Wellfound, Triplebyte, Otta, Hired — but always follow up directly. 18. Prep behavioral questions too.     “Tell me about a challenge…” isn’t just filler. Most people fail here because they wing it. 19. If you’ve been laid off, say it clearly.     There's no shame. Add “Open to Work” + a pinned post. People help when you're honest and specific. Last thing: Getting a job isn’t always fair. It’s skill × effort × timing × luck. So if you’re trying everything and still not getting in, don’t blame yourself. Keep iterating. Keep showing up. Someone will open the door. You just need to stay in the hallway a little longer. Rooting for you.

The Job Market Isn’t Broken—It’s Just Different. Here’s How to Adapt. If you're applying to jobs the same way you did in 2020, you’re fighting a losing battle. The market isn’t "broken"—it’s evolved. Here’s what’s changed (with data) and how to adjust: What’s Happening Now   1. AI Screening is the Gatekeeper     - 78% of resumes are rejected before a human sees them (LinkedIn, 2025).     - Old-school "buzzwords" (e.g., "team player," "hardworking") are flagged as fluff. 2. The Rise of Contract & "Try-Before-Hire" Roles     - 42% of new hires start as contractors (Upwork, 2025). Companies want to test fit before committing. 3. Hidden Job Market Dominates     - Only 1 in 5 roles are posted publicly (Forbes, 2024). The rest? Filled via referrals, internal moves, or direct outreach. 4. Skills > Degrees (For Real This Time)     - 65% of job postings no longer require a 4-year degree if skills are proven (Burning Glass, 2025). How to Adapt    1. Audit Your Resume for 2025-Friendly Keywords     - Stop: "Results-driven," "detail-oriented."     - Start: Use exact phrases from job descriptions (AI matches these).     - Pro Tip: Tools like Skillroads or Jobscan, analyze job posts vs. your resume.  2. Target Contract Roles     - Many full-time jobs start as 3-6 month contracts. Apply anyway—it’s the new interview.  3. Network Before You Need a Job     - 70% of hires come from referrals (Jobvite, 2025). Action: Message 2 people/week at target companies with:    --> "Hi [Name], I noticed you work at [Company]. I’m researching [industry/role]—could I ask one quick question?"  4. Prove Skills Publicly     - No degree? Build a 1-page case study (Google Doc/PDF) showing how you’ve solved a problem in your field. Attach it to apps. Bottom Line   The game changed. Your strategy has to too.   - This week: Run your resume through an ATS checker.   - Next week: Reach out to 3 people at companies you like. Agree? Repost ♻️ to help others wake up. Struggling? Drop a ❤️—I’ll share more tactics. #MeliConsultants #CareerAdvice #ResumeTips #InterviewPrep