• Get to know the rules and regulations of that company.
    Understand every worker.
    Probable the guy's contract has a clause that allows him carry... whatever he does and the management is aware. more

  • You don't need to tell your boss call him and advise him not to do it anymore , if persists on doing the bad abity then you can now tell the boss

  • i don't usually drink coffee in the middle of an interview unless the other person is going to also.

    1

Fluent English, Software Engineer Interview Representative


Do I Have to Choose Between Success and Having a Social Life?


How to stop burning out for a résumé and start building health, friends and a life that lasts.

I'm a 17-year-old male who is a freshman at a pretty high-ranking university, enrolled in EE-CS. Throughout high school, I took every AP class I could, grinded constantly, and somehow made it here. I thought I'd feel accomplished, but honestly, I just feel exhausted and more lost than ever.

My entire... life revolves around academics and "career prep." Beyond my regular coursework, I'm constantly doing side projects, grinding LeetCode problems for hours, contributing to open-source repos, anything that might look good on a resume. I tell myself it's all for landing that dream job at Meta, Netflix, or some other big tech company.

But I'm starting to realise what I've given up. I have basically zero social life - I've made maybe one or two acquaintances since starting college, but no real friends. My social skills feel completely underdeveloped because I spent all of high school with my head buried in textbooks instead of learning how to actually connect with people. I'm lonely as hell.

My sleep schedule is a disaster. I'm lucky if I get 5-6 hours a night because I'm always working on something. I haven't exercised regularly in years. I eat like crap because I'm always rushing between assignments and projects. I can't remember the last time I did something purely for fun.

The worst part? With everything happening with automation and all the layoffs in tech, those dream jobs I've been sacrificing everything for feel more and more out of reach. The market is brutal right now, and even people with way more experience than me are struggling to find work.

I'm starting to wonder if I'm completely delusional. Is it actually worth destroying my mental health, my social development, my physical wellbeing - basically my entire teenage years and early twenties - chasing after something that might not even happen?

What if I graduate with great grades and a strong resume but by that time my job has been automated or even if I do manage to land a job and I'm a socially awkward mess who doesn't know how to maintain relationships or take care of myself?

My social skills have atrophied to such a dangerous degree that I don't know if I can still connect with people as people and not as though they're a LinkedIn connection.

I feel like I'm trapped in this cycle where I can't stop because I've already invested so much, but continuing feels like it's slowly killing me.

I am reaching out because I am genuinely at a loss for what to do. I feel hopeless, lonely and I genuinely cannot continue doing this.

Rise And Grind

RaG, before I answer your question, have you ever seen the movie Whiplash, with Miles Teller and JK Simmons? This is the story of a man who has decided he needs to be the best jazz drummer ever, his relationship with an incredibly demanding teacher who promises to cultivate the talented into being the best, and what it takes to be the best.

Do yourself a favor and watch it and then ask yourself: does any of that seem worth it to you?

Anyway, that digression aside, just between you and me: are you asking me for advice, or are you asking me for permission? Because it sounds to me like you've actually made up your mind and you're hoping someone will tell you that it's ok to do the thing you want to do.

Well here you go: you have my permission to dial everything the hell back and discover the magic of work/life balance. And honestly, I think you're making the right decision here; while college is about learning and study, it's also about learning who you are, exploring different sides of yourself, gathering experiences and, ideally, making friends and exposing yourself to lifestyles and perspectives that are different from yours.

Now I will be the first to admit that I am not a grindset guy. By the second semester of my sophomore year, I figured out how to ensure that I took enough courses to be considered a full-time student, while also ensuring that I was done with classes by 1:30 PM on Thursday. This required some finagling, including taking some summer classes to make sure I hit all my requirements... but that also meant that I had the opportunities for adventures with my friends that summer. And while there're a couple of things that I wish I'd done differently in college - most of them revolving around an incredibly toxic relationship and not passing on a study abroad opportunity - I think my life has been much richer for that.

(Admittedly, I was also an art and then an English major, so it's not like my requirements were that steep. But still, my point remains.)

However, let's put the whole "college is a time for adventure" aside and instead focus on something a little more concrete and immediate. Right now, you're falling into a pattern that a lot of influencers, business bros, startup swamis and grindset gurus say you should be in: work as hard as humanly possible when you're young and vital! Your body can take it! You will never have the energy and resilience that you do now, so you can recover from all of this much more easily and then when you're rich in your 30s, you can dial it all back and enjoy yourself!

Which is a lovely idea... except for all the damage it does. Yeah, you're young, with a teenager's metabolism... but the effects of what you're doing doesn't get erased the next day like you just took a long rest in Dungeons and Dragons. It's cumulative; your youthful vitality isn't undoing all the damage overnight, it's just kicking everything down the road. The bill will still come due, and all the stress, bad diet, no exercise and complete absence of a support network will all pile up like compound interest. And that's not counting the mental and emotional strain, the lack of social experience or even life experience.

While I was never a grindset kind of guy, I've worked with folks who were. I've had jobs where my coworkers were former gaming devs, and I saw first-hand exactly what crunch had done to them. The insane hours they were volun-told for, inhuman pace of work and all the sacrifices they were expected to make destroyed their health, their happiness and, in a couple cases, their families. They were fed into a meat grinder by companies in order to make games that, in several cases, didn't even ship.

And these were industry veterans. You are doing this to get yourself into an industry that doesn't value you or even regard you as a person; you are, at best, a cog in a machine and just as replaceable. Moreso, considering the way that companies are rushing to replace employees with plagiarism machines that can't even do the job correctly in the first place.

Frankly, I think it's a mistake to invest so much of yourself to enter an industry that will never invest an equal amount back into you and then blame you when you collapse under all the damage you've taken along the way.

And to add insult to injury: this doesn't even make you happy. It just encourages a mindset that thinks that all the things that make life worth living are less important than being an anonymous worker in a hive, whose greatest ambition is to eventually create something that will be taken over by a different hive.

If you want my opinion, I think you should dial everything way the hell back and take this as an opportunity to explore life by actually having a life. If you go through my archives, you'll see so many letters from people who wish they'd done college differently - taken the opportunity to try new things, meet people and have experiences. You're at the start of your college career; now is the perfect opportunity to pivot your attention and change how you're doing things.

But maybe you need a little extra push, so let's talk practical benefits from not breaking yourself to pieces for a future that may never exist by the time you get there: taking time to establish healthy eating and exercise habits means that you'll have a healthier and more fit body, which will allow you to do more and recover faster. Focusing on meeting people, making friends, even getting out and talking to some girls will build your social skills - skills which will make things like networking, finding mentors and navigating company politics far easier and more intuitive for you. Having a broader base of skills may mean that you're not the bestest coder in a particular field, but it does mean that you'll not only be able to fill more roles, but be the person who can take a wider view and see beyond the narrow confines of your particular silo. Projects need managers, after all, and managers work best when it's someone who has a broader understanding of what's needed and can actually interface with people as people.

You may even realize that the career path you thought you wanted was a mistake and blaze a completely new and different trail - one that could bring you a lot more than being another Meta burnout would.

On the more selfish side: you'll have more fun. You'll make more friends. You'll have incredible memories of the adventures you went on, instead of hoping that someday you'll be able to have time, if your body holds up and your mind isn't broken and you're not in a permanent state of sleep debt.

I know you're worried about how much you've already invested. This is what's known as the "sunk-cost fallacy", where you're so focused on not losing what you've already invested, that you continue to throw more time, energy and money into the hole in the hopes that maybe you could at least break even. But all this means is that you're sacrificing more money, more of your time, more of your health, than you would if you cut your losses now and tried something different.

And here's the good news: all the worries you have that it's too late and you've doomed yourself to permanently stunted social skills and poor mental health are just worries. Remember what I said about being young and vital? Well, that means that you're in the perfect position to do things differently.

The changes you want to make and the ways you want to grow and develop are going to feel so much easier now. College is an environment that's almost designed for meeting people and growing as a person. You are surrounded by people from all walks of life, from different cultures and social classes, but you're all around the same age and in the same place in life. This is the time when making friends is like playing on easy mode. It's an environment where almost everything is designed in such a way to give you as many opportunities you could want... if you choose to take advantage of them.

You will never be in a place and time when it will be easier to socialize and make friends, to branch out and explore these other sides of yourself and cultivate these skills.

So give yourself a gift, RnG. Dial back your schedule to something human. Treat your health, both mental and physical, like it's a priority. Take a random class just because it seems interesting. Go out of your way to find an outlet for your creativity. Talk to some girls, make friends, take some poorly-thought out road trips, make memories. Find out who you are, who you could be and who you want to be and see how these line up.

Your future self will thank you.

You'll be ok. I promise.

Good luck.

***

Dr. NerdLove,

This is my first time writing here. I found you thanks to Twitter.

My question is: what do you do when your beliefs come into conflict?

You see, I'm just a regular guy who loves computer science and programming. At work, I gave a small presentation about the cyclomatic complexity of a process and how reducing it would save costs across different areas. I'm very passionate about my work, so during that presentation it didn't feel like "me" -- it was like I became another person, moving with an incredible amount of confidence.

After the meeting, a woman from HR -- who oversees one of the programs I had suggested optimizing (a payroll system) -- came up to me and asked if I wanted to grab a coffee and talk. My immediate response was simply, "Talk about what?" She then said, "It's okay if you don't want to."

It wasn't until later that I realized what had actually happened. And aside from being a little slow on the uptake, my beliefs came into conflict. I'm not Henry Cavill, nor am I someone conventionally attractive that things like this would just happen to. This left me in a state of dissonance that still makes me feel uneasy.

It's A Trap?

If I'm understanding you correctly, you're asking what do you do when your self-limiting beliefs - specifically, that you're not someone that women approach and ask to get coffee - conflict with, say, a woman approaching you and asking you to get coffee, correct?

Well, it's a little like what you do if someone asks if you're a god: YOU. SAY! YES!!

Let me tell you precisely what happened here: you were in the zone. You let this side of yourself - the side that's excited to talk about this seemingly boring and technical process - shine through. Your passion was given free reign and over the course of this presentation, you encouraged people to see this topic the way you do. That enthusiasm and that passion carried people along and for a moment, they understood. They may not know the technical ins and outs of it the way you do but goddamn, they could see how this could be incredibly useful and also interesting.

So, small wonder that someone who would benefit from your suggestions wanted to talk to you afterwards. Maybe she just wanted to talk about implementing the topic, maybe she would've been open to talking about more than just reducing cyclomatic complexity... but you won't know if you don't say "Sure, how about we meet up at the Lucky Bean at 5?"

If you ever want to see what this looks like from the outside, check out Tom Cruise talking about traffic patterns in Mission Impossible 3; it's a topic that isn't interesting in and of itself but the way that Cruise lets his enthusiasm fill him is what locks people in.

(And, incidentally, that focused enthusiasm and attention is also part of his charm as a person; making someone feel like the most interesting man or woman in the room is a quick and easy way to get people to like you.)

Here's the thing: there's a reason why I call these self-limiting beliefs. They're just that: artificial limits you've put on yourself that hinder you. They're not real. They're true, only to the extent that you make them true; you filter everything you experience through those beliefs and miss out on opportunities like the one you just had. Why? Because you don't believe they could actually be happening. You dismiss it as a misunderstanding or the assumption that it's a trick or that you're missing something. And that's if you see them at all in the first place.

Nobody's saying that being conventionally attractive doesn't have its benefits; it does. But it's a bonus to your charisma roll, not a guaranteed success, nor is it the only way you get an advantage on your roll... as you've seen. Confidence, passion and just being interesting gets you further than looks, and people who are good looking can still biff it hard. Even if you're rolling with advantage, you can still have a critical fail, just as you can still roll double nat-20s when you're rolling with disadvantage.

But it's hard to see that when you're convinced that you're permanently rolling at disadvantage... especially when you're not.

You believe these things because other shitty people from Trust Me Bro University - and don't think I don't know where the Henry Cavill thing comes from - told you that guys like you don't have these experiences. That only certain people do, guys who are nothing like you. The best of the best, the top of the top, the crème de la crème do; everyone else is shit out of luck. And because you believe it, you make it true, by snatching defeat from the jaws of victory and watching all of life through the piss-colored filters of those limiting beliefs.

But as it turns out: life doesn't work the way that slap-dick grievance peddlers tell you that it does. They need you to believe it does because it means you'll never leave the bucket with the rest of the crabs, and you'll be ready to buy their next round of snake-oil that won't work and leave you even more frustrated and lonely and resentful... and you'll keep listening to them.

Just as importantly though, giving up those beliefs costs you nothing but gain you everything.

I mean, if we take your experience as an example, in the worst-case scenario, you have coffee and some conversation and maybe you're a little embarrassed if it turns out that it's just a work thing instead of a date. That's still pretty good, especially since you can laugh about the misunderstanding (if there is one) and move on. Because, sure, she wasn't being flirty... but you've just displayed not just confidence but emotional maturity and a willingness to laugh off a mistake instead of losing your shit. That's a quality that not only would your new friend in HR notice, but other people would notice as well.

You just had a fundamental belief of yours challenged; it's time to accept that maybe this is a place where you're wrong. It costs you nothing to assume that you are and to behave as though you are someone that these things happen to. Hell, if you adopt that more positive, more empowering belief, you'll actually see more occasions like this... because you'll actually be looking for them. After all, if confirmation bias means that you're going to see evidence for what you believe, you may as well believe in something that helps you.

You've just had a taste of what's possible for you, when you let this side of you shine through. If you can carry that energy with you into your other interactions... well, you're going to discover that a lot of folks are going to sit up and notice when you walk by.

Good luck.

--

This post was previously published on Doctornerdlove.com and is republished on Medium.
 
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What Does Career Services Do for Job Seekers - The Gila Herald


No matter whether you're fresh out of school or changing careers, starting a job search or entering a new field can feel overwhelming.

That's why career services exist: to help you figure out your direction, get your application materials in shape, and connect with real opportunities. But what exactly does career services do for job seekers? Here's a look at how these programs open doors for... students and adults alike.

Career services are teams or offices built to support your job search and professional development. You'll find them in high schools, colleges, community organizations, and public workforce centers. Their main goal is to help you move from where you are now to a new job or even an entire career path.

Typical career services cover a wide range of services, including:

Many programs now offer online portals, video appointments, and virtual workshops -- making them just as helpful for rural job seekers as those in busy cities. For example, you can get job placement support at Berks Technical Institute, which offers leading technical programs and courses. Here, you'll see a range of resources, guidance, and hands-on help, from résumé building to first-step career advice.

A big part of career services is helping you create or update your resume. After all, this is often the first step in your path towards career success!

Advisors will show you the best way to present your strengths, highlight skills, and catch the eye of hiring managers. If your resume hasn't been updated in a while, they'll make sure it matches current standards and is personalized for the kinds of jobs you want.

Interview prep is another core service. Through mock interviews -- either in-person, online, or over the phone -- you'll build confidence and sharpen your answers to common (and tricky) questions. Throughout the process, advisors will give helpful feedback on everything from body language to how you explain your work experience.

Career services often have connections with local employers looking for qualified candidates. They'll help match you to open positions or even send your resume directly to hiring partners. Most centers keep lists of current openings or host regular job fairs. These can be very helpful to discover opportunities and to meet employers face-to-face. These events also often offer a direct route to interviews!

Some programs specialize in internships for students or paid job shadowing for adult learners. This practical experience lets you "test drive" a profession before you commit, helping you build skills and a network that can lead to a permanent position.

If you're a student or recent grad, your high school or college career office will usually work closely with academic advisors, professors, and hiring partners. On-campus services tend to be hands-on, with face-to-face counseling, targeted resume workshops, and links to specialized job boards.

However, if you are in the process of changing careers and looking for advice, there are other resources you may consider. For instance, community-based public workforce centers take an all-ages approach. They help teens, adults, and long-term unemployed job seekers with everything from resume and cover letter basics to training for new skills. Many also work with local chambers of commerce to stay on top of which businesses are hiring and which industries are growing. In many regions, chambers offer their own job support, especially in small towns where personal networks matter.

One major improvement in recent years is the growth of virtual career services. Today, you can join workshops from home, get your resume reviewed by email, or book Zoom calls for one-on-one support. Rural job seekers and busy parents especially benefit from online tools. Virtual job boards, career coaching apps, and video interview prep sessions make it much easier to get help, no matter where you live.

If you want to get the best results, approach career services with a clear question or challenge. Bring your resume, write down your career goals, and ask for honest feedback. Stay open-minded -- there may be job paths you haven't considered, or skills you could grow with a workshop or short course. The best services help you build confidence and plan a path toward your best-fit job.

Career services are more than job listings -- they're your partner in career growth. By providing help for resumes, interviews, internships, and local networking, these teams make the job hunt less stressful and much more effective.

Whether you're a student or an experienced worker exploring new options, career services can be your launchpad to the next big step. Don't hesitate to reach out, tap into virtual sessions, and make the most of all the help available. Your future career may be closer than you think.
 
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Career Storytelling in the AI Era: A Survival Skill for PR Pros


AI is rewriting PR workflows, layoffs are thinning teams, and the pressure to prove outcomes is intensifying. Together, these forces push the profession to an inflection point where value is measured by outcomes and sustained by visibility. Today, owning your career story isn't optional. It's your survival skill.

Working behind the scenes, crafting others' stories no longer holds up. Résumé... scanners parse skills and titles, but they can't capture the story of how you led campaigns that shifted opinions, crafted messages that strengthened trust, or built programs that mobilized communities. Doing the work isn't enough. You must own your story before AI or others define it for you.

Owning your story is increasingly tied to how trustworthiness and leadership are defined in the PR field. The 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals that public trust hinges on leaders who communicate honestly and consistently at a time when 70% of people fear they are being deliberately misled. The Arthur W. Page Society's 2024 Beyond Communication study finds nine in 10 CCOs say CEOs and boards now expect communicators to prove outcomes, not just outputs. These insights make career storytelling non-negotiable. The following playbook outlines three strategies to help you define your story, build credibility, and ensure your value is recognized.

Your story is the thread connecting your experiences, values and vision. Without it, your career can look like a series of disconnected jobs. With it, those roles form a clear narrative of leadership and purpose. Assess how you consistently solve problems, collaborate with teams, or deliver results for clients. Those patterns are the proof points of your story and the elements no AI can reflect. Authentic storytelling is the human advantage that makes your narrative memorable.

Once your story is defined, support it with real examples. Connect what you did to the results it created. Instead of saying, "produced social content," reframe it as, "guided a client through a viral backlash with a brand-values strategy that broadened reach and stabilized sentiment." Outputs show effort, but influence proves value. AI can spotlight activity, but only authentic influence establishes authority for you and the brands you represent.

A career story has power only when others can see it. That's where visibility matters, and it requires the same discipline you bring to clients. Content engines can push volume, but they can't replicate human credibility. Communicators who publish bylines, speak on panels or share thoughtful reflections strengthen their authority because they consistently show up. Personal branding creates this visibility, making your story recognizable across platforms. In a landscape where algorithms flatten nuance and content engines flood the field with generic copy, storytelling is what stands out. Start in-house, then expand your reach with strategic placements that extend your brand.

These three pillars give your career story weight and staying power in a field defined by automation. Ignore them, and you leave your narrative to chance.

For PR pros, the assignment is clear: define your story, translate activity into impact, and model visibility so your authority is seen. The danger of staying silent is invisibility.

Your career story isn't a side task. It's the main skill that keeps you relevant and opens doors in a changing industry. Define it, own it, and share it. Your survival depends on it.
 
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3   
  • Yes, you still need to consider them. Try to reply to the answer and start the work as soon as possible

  • It's not late until you decide. Thank you

Simple Techniques for Overcoming Interview Nerves


While your CV, experience, abilities, and education are all crucial in getting a job, the interview is often the company's first true impression of you. In a job interview, it's critical to present oneself effectively, but interview jitters may make this difficult. In this post, we'll show you how to overcome interview anxiety.

What does it mean to be nervous during an interview?

Nerves are the... body's natural reaction to being in an unfamiliar environment. Interview nerves occur when your body's stress reaction is triggered, and your body prepares to fight or escape in response to the perceived threat of a job interview. Physical responses such as fast heartbeat, quick breathing, pale or flushed skin, dilated pupils, or shaking may occur throughout this procedure.

These are automatic responses, and while they might be useful in a threatening situation, it's better to keep your cool before heading to an interview. Fortunately, you may attempt a variety of activities and strategies to help you overcome your interview anxiety.

There are numerous things you may do during a job interview to help you relax. Try these strategies the next time you're worried before an interview:

Keeping your hands busy might aid in the channeling of anxious energy. If you're sat in front of a computer and can't see your hands, try twiddling your thumbs to relax. Keep a tiny object in your hands, such as a pencil, but be mindful that toying with it may draw attention to your hands. You will be less likely to fidget throughout the interview if your hands are engaged.

The S.T.O.P. approach is a mental strategy for dealing with stressful situations. This technique's steps are as follows:

The S.T.O.P. technique encourages you to slow down and be aware of what you're doing and feeling at any given time. It helps you recall that your actions and ideas are under your control.

Focus on your breathing while you're not answering questions. You'll be less worried if you don't let your mind wander. Pause for a moment and take a deep breath before speaking. It's easier to stay cool if you pay attention to your breathing, and stopping before speaking gives you more time to think of the ideal answer.

While anxiousness is normal, changing your perspective on an interview might help you relax. Remind yourself that a job interview is nothing more than a dialogue between you and another person about yourself. All you have to do is respond to the interviewer's questions and be true to yourself. In an interview, you are not obligated to do anything else.

Sit or stand confidently during your interview. Your physical posture can have a soothing impact on your thoughts. Smiling can also fool your mind into thinking you're pleased, allowing you to unwind a bit more.

Here are a few more suggestions to help you relax before a job interview:

Exercise releases happy neurochemicals, and being outside is excellent for your mental health. To help clear your mind, go for a 15-minute stroll before your job interview or take five minutes to wander about before entering the building.

Anxiety can be reduced by feeling prepared. Prepare for the interview by researching the firm, practicing with a buddy, and having your resume and notes available. There are several resources available on the internet to help you prepare.Especially, if you're being interviewed for a developer job, you may want to check out react js interview questions.

If you know the name of the person who will be interviewing you, find out all you can about them. Make a list of any questions you have, as well as any details about yourself that you'd like the firm to know, and any other notes that will help you stay focused. Knowing what to expect will make you feel more relaxed and at ease.

If you keep to your schedule and whatever plans you may have, your day will be more productive. If at all feasible, schedule your job interview during the morning to avoid being anxious and waiting all day. Make sure you get enough sleep the night before so you can function and be attentive. Make a plan to do something enjoyable or interesting following the interview, and you'll have something to look forward to.

Talking to a positive friend or family member may considerably increase your self-assurance. It's simpler to listen to someone else's good words than it is to speak your own, and receiving praise from a loved one may help you relax.

Before your interview, have a healthy breakfast to ensure you have the energy you require. Worry and stress can be exacerbated by hunger. To improve your mood, choose one of your favorite dishes.
 
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  • The most basic issue is: Be prepared.
    Be familiar with what is in your own resume. Your resume is talking points.
    Try to find out who will be... talking with you, and find out as much as you can about them. Linkedin can help with this.
    Review the requirement you are seeking to fill. How does your CV and application letter address that?
    Be a little bit early.
    In the interview, pay attention. It's not all about you, its about how you respond.
    What you want to do is respond to what is actually most important to the people you will be working with, which may not match, exactly, what is in the requirement. How you interact with the people you are talking with is the most important thing in the interview.
    What makes you good to work with? What do you bring to the engagement that fulfills their needs?
    Focus on them, not yourself. That will relieve some of your nervousness.
     more

  • In every steps we have to have experience

PARWCC Launches First-of-Its-Kind Interview Coaching Bundle as Algorithmic Hiring Rapidly Reshapes Job Interviews


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dec. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches (PARWCC) just announced the launch of its Interview Coaching Bundle, the industry's first unified training track designed to prepare career professionals for the full spectrum of today's human and AI-driven interview formats. The bundle combines three programs:

The bundle is... available for $1,295>, reflecting a $1,550 total value, essentially getting one master series at no cost, for over $250 in savings.

The announcement comes at a pivotal time for the hiring industry. Studies show that more than half of employers are now using asynchronous or AI-enhanced interviews in early screening stages, a number projected to increase significantly by 2026. These systems analyze tone, facial movement, storytelling patterns, and verbal pacing, often before a candidate interacts with a human recruiter.

"Interviewing has changed faster in the last three years than in the previous decade," said Margaret Phares, Executive Director of PARWCC. "Candidates are now being evaluated by algorithms, timed recordings, and scoring systems that most job seekers do not understand. Coaches must be prepared to help clients manage both the emotional demands of interviewing and the technical demands of AI-driven assessments. This bundle is the first training path that addresses all three."

A Full-Spectrum Approach for a Transformed Hiring Market

The CIC Live Series, led by Interview Institute director and award-winning interview coach Lili Foggle, offers certification-level instruction in structured interview coaching. Participants learn frameworks used by leading hiring teams and techniques that support client performance across behavioral, virtual, and hybrid interviews.

The Coaching Mindset and Confidence for Interview Success Master Series, taught by LinkedIn Learning instructor and executive interview coach Dalena Bradley, focuses on confidence blockers, mindset shifts, and communication practices. The training gives professionals strategies to help clients present themselves with clarity and grounded presence.

The Preparing Clients for Asynchronous and AI Interviews Master Series offers a deep dive into the rapidly expanding world of AI-powered interview platforms. Coaches receive practical tools, ethical guidance, and system-specific strategies for improving client success in recorded and algorithmically scored interviews.

Together, these programs give career professionals a complete set of tools for preparing clients across every interview scenario now shaping the hiring landscape.

Why This Matters Heading Into 2026

Hiring data highlights the challenges facing job seekers:

* AI-enhanced and asynchronous interviews are now used across technology, healthcare, finance, government, and higher education

* Remote-only roles have declined, increasing competition and tightening interview expectations

* Candidates report high anxiety and confusion with recorded interviews where no human is present

* Employers are placing greater emphasis on consistent storytelling, on-camera presence, and clarity, all of which can be coached

"These three programs work together to close the rising preparation gap," Phares said. "Professionals who understand mindset coaching, human communication, and AI processes will be the ones shaping stronger client outcomes in 2026 and beyond."

Enrollment for the Interview Coaching Bundle is now open.

Program details and registration are available at PARWCC.com.

About PARWCC

Representing nearly 3,000 professionals in more than 40 countries, the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches is the global leader in credentialing, continuing education, and ethical practice for the career services industry. Since 1990, PARWCC has supported career professionals in elevating their expertise and guiding job seekers through an evolving world of work.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/parwcc-launches-first-of-its-kind-interview-coaching-bundle-as-algorithmic-hiring-rapidly-reshapes-job-interviews-302630449.html

SOURCE Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches
 
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VIT Graduate Lands Amazon Job Using Smart Networking Blueprint


A 24-year-old software engineer from Vellore Institute of Technology has proven that breaking into the tech industry transcends mere academic accolades or serendipity.

Jugal Bhatt, currently a software engineer at Amazon in Phoenix, revealed his remarkable journey to Business Insider, outlining a strategic approach that has garnered attention among aspiring professionals.

His methodology... integrates Boolean search techniques, discerning networking, and intentional engagement on LinkedIn, revitalising a stagnant job search into a significant career advancement.

Eight months prior to completing his master's degree in computer science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Bhatt embarked on a job hunt. He anticipated a flurry of interviews; however, weeks elapsed with a conspicuous lack of progress.

In an interview with Business Insider, he recounted the initial phase characterised by generic applications and a uniform résumé, devoid of referrals or connections to recruiters.

Recognising the futility of this approach, he recalibrated his strategy and began anew.

Bhatt meticulously compiled a list of 100 to 150 target companies and actively scoured LinkedIn for recruiters, hiring managers, and employees within these organisations. Utilising Boolean search queries, he pinpointed individuals integral to the hiring process.

His approach involved following these key figures, engaging thoughtfully with their posts, and gradually establishing familiarity before initiating direct dialogues. What began as mere interactions soon evolved into fruitful conversations, ultimately paving the way for opportunities.

He also recognised the importance of customising his résumé for each application, moving away from a one-size-fits-all format.

Bhatt began to regularly showcase his work on LinkedIn, articulating his insights on products in the startup ecosystem. This increased visibility proved advantageous, prompting recruiters to initiate contact with him.

Additionally, he contributed code to public GitHub repositories of startups, one notable project being LiteLLM. This proactive measure led to an unexpected interview for a founding software engineer position, as the company was already familiar with his contributions. He ultimately accepted the offer before transitioning to Amazon.

The pivotal moment arrived when an Amazon recruiter reached out regarding a role that initially sought candidates with greater experience than Bhatt possessed. Rather than retreating, he inquired about potential junior roles and maintained correspondence.

When he later identified suitable openings, he reconnected with the recruiter, which culminated in an assessment followed by a series of interviews.

In July, Bhatt received an offer and commenced his tenure at Amazon. Reflecting on the experience, he stated that the recruiter's connection significantly differentiated his résumé amidst a sea of applications.

In a reflective LinkedIn post, Bhatt articulated that the cornerstone of his success has been the cultivation of genuine relationships. He advocates for deep, meaningful connections rather than superficial interactions, urging job seekers to initiate online, provide value prior to requests, follow up diligently, and adopt a long-term perspective.

"One solid relationship trumps 50 superficial ones," he advised, encouraging aspirants to proactively pursue opportunities rather than passively await them.

Bhatt emphasises the importance of identifying relevant recruiters and hiring teams early on, thorough interview preparation, and unwavering determination.

While the demands of his role at Amazon are considerable, he found the rigours of interview preparation equally formidable.

His narrative serves as a poignant reminder: networking is not a mere transaction but a blend of strategic patience, authentic engagement, and relentless effort.

For graduates aspiring to enter the tech domain, the message is unequivocal: opportunity does not materialise on its own; it responds to presence, persistence, and purposeful action.
 
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PARWCC Launches First-of-Its-Kind Interview Coaching Bundle as Algorithmic Hiring Rapidly Reshapes Job Interviews


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dec. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches (PARWCC) just announced the launch of its Interview Coaching Bundle, the industry's first unified training track designed to prepare career professionals for the full spectrum of today's human and AI-driven interview formats. The bundle combines three programs:

* The Certified... Interview Coach (CIC) Live Series

* The Coaching Mindset and Confidence for Interview Success Master Series

* The Preparing Clients for Asynchronous and AI Interviews Master Series

The bundle is available for $1,295, reflecting a $1,550 total value, essentially getting one master series at no cost, for over $250 in savings.

The announcement comes at a pivotal time for the hiring industry. Studies show that more than half of employers are now using asynchronous or AI-enhanced interviews in early screening stages, a number projected to increase significantly by 2026. These systems analyze tone, facial movement, storytelling patterns, and verbal pacing, often before a candidate interacts with a human recruiter.

"Interviewing has changed faster in the last three years than in the previous decade," said Margaret Phares, Executive Director of PARWCC. "Candidates are now being evaluated by algorithms, timed recordings, and scoring systems that most job seekers do not understand. Coaches must be prepared to help clients manage both the emotional demands of interviewing and the technical demands of AI-driven assessments. This bundle is the first training path that addresses all three."

A Full-Spectrum Approach for a Transformed Hiring Market

The CIC Live Series, led by Interview Institute director and award-winning interview coach Lili Foggle, offers certification-level instruction in structured interview coaching. Participants learn frameworks used by leading hiring teams and techniques that support client performance across behavioral, virtual, and hybrid interviews.

The Coaching Mindset and Confidence for Interview Success Master Series, taught by LinkedIn Learning instructor and executive interview coach Dalena Bradley, focuses on confidence blockers, mindset shifts, and communication practices. The training gives professionals strategies to help clients present themselves with clarity and grounded presence.

The Preparing Clients for Asynchronous and AI Interviews Master Series offers a deep dive into the rapidly expanding world of AI-powered interview platforms. Coaches receive practical tools, ethical guidance, and system-specific strategies for improving client success in recorded and algorithmically scored interviews.

Together, these programs give career professionals a complete set of tools for preparing clients across every interview scenario now shaping the hiring landscape.

Why This Matters Heading Into 2026

Hiring data highlights the challenges facing job seekers:

* AI-enhanced and asynchronous interviews are now used across technology, healthcare, finance, government, and higher education

* Remote-only roles have declined, increasing competition and tightening interview expectations

* Candidates report high anxiety and confusion with recorded interviews where no human is present

* Employers are placing greater emphasis on consistent storytelling, on-camera presence, and clarity, all of which can be coached

"These three programs work together to close the rising preparation gap," Phares said. "Professionals who understand mindset coaching, human communication, and AI processes will be the ones shaping stronger client outcomes in 2026 and beyond."

Enrollment for the Interview Coaching Bundle is now open.

Program details and registration are available at PARWCC.com.

About PARWCC

Representing nearly 3,000 professionals in more than 40 countries, the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches is the global leader in credentialing, continuing education, and ethical practice for the career services industry. Since 1990, PARWCC has supported career professionals in elevating their expertise and guiding job seekers through an evolving world of work.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/parwcc-launches-first-of-its-kind-interview-coaching-bundle-as-algorithmic-hiring-rapidly-reshapes-job-interviews-302630449.html

SOURCE Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches
 
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Living A Double Life: Your Otherwise Normal Friend Is Very Active On LinkedIn


A shocking revelation has just come to light that proves once and for all that we never really know the people who are close to us: Your otherwise normal friend is very active on LinkedIn.

Absolutely shocking. It's baffling that someone in your inner circle has been able to live a double life for so long.

According to numerous media sources and eyewitness accounts, the person you've known for... almost a full decade, the one who seemed like a well-adjusted and productive member of society, is also shadowing as a person who writes long posts on LinkedIn talking about things like maximizing client engagement and how to nail job interviews at marketing firms. It's like your friend is secretly a completely different person -- an alter ego who has completely immersed herself in the bizarre and alien social ecosystem of LinkedIn.

It really is always the people you least expect! This whole thing must be making you rethink everything you knew not just about your friend, but about reality itself.

One of the most surprising things about this Earth-shattering discovery is that when you talk to your friend in real life, there's absolutely no evidence that she even thinks about LinkedIn at all. You'd never think for a second that the same person with whom you've been carrying on regular human conversations for years also goes online to say things like, "Q3 is truly the forgotten quarter, but ignore it at your peril!" and, "AI is totally changing the SEO game...for the better!" We'll give you a minute to adjust to this news, but we figured it was important for you to know.

It's almost like your friend has split herself into two entirely different people. One is just an average woman who relates to her fellow humans on a meaningful emotional level, who's active in her community and is always kind to her friends and family. The other is, according to her LinkedIn profile, a "Client-Oriented Content Specialist And Strategic Storyteller" who "is deeply passionate about building communication solution platforms from the ground up as part of a mission-driven and results-forward team." It's really amazing that she was able to hide this part of herself from you, but hopefully you'll be able to rebuild some of the trust that might have been lost here.

The truly scary thing about your friend's double life as a LinkedIn super-poster is that it raises all sorts of questions about who else in your community might be logging on to LinkedIn when you're not around to congratulate strangers on completing three years as a junior copywriter at an advertising firm that writes branded Instagram posts for a cold brew brand that nobody has ever seen in stores and might not actually exist. Anybody you pass on the street could be on their way home to write a 500-word post about cover letter hacks. For all we know, you could be extremely active on LinkedIn. The entire world is built on an edifice of lies and deception, and we all play our sick little roles in keeping the grotesque facade going forever!
 
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Don't Suspend Your Job Search During Holidays - Culpwrit


University of Alabama PR students and some of their favorite professors take full advantage of networking at last month's Plank Center "Milestones in Mentoring" gala in Chicago.

During an email exchange last month with an unemployed friend who is looking for a job, we had difficulty finding a time for a Zoom call due to his jammed schedule, not mine.

When we finally talked yesterday afternoon,... he explained how busy he has been with conversations and initial interviews with several organizations. Even though the holiday season may seem like an odd time to look for a new job, he confirmed what I've preached in previous posts about creatively ramping up job search activities. As he confirmed, this month can actually be one of the most strategic and rewarding periods for job seekers. Bottom Line: If you're looking to break into the PR field or find a new job, perhaps 'tis the season. Here are some tips that may help your search during the holidays:

1. Take Advantage of Reduced Competition

Many candidates assume that hiring stalls in December, which means fewer résumés hit recruiters' inboxes. Companies still need PR support for Q1 launches, annual reports, crisis communication, and planning for the year ahead. Your application is more likely to be seen -- and remembered -- when fewer people are applying. My friend said he is finding it far easier to schedule meetings this time of year when most schedules are more relaxed.

2. Refresh Your PR Portfolio

As the year comes to a close, take the time to update your writing samples, case studies, press releases, and media placements. In addition to sprucing up your LinkedIn profile, make yourself stand out by creating a polished digital portfolio that highlights results: metrics like earned media impressions, engagement improvements, message penetration, or successful campaign outcomes. A strong portfolio is often more persuasive than a résumé alone in the PR world. If you have limited time, focus on your LinkedIn profile. In many cases, it is far more important than your résumé.

3. Network at Seasonal Events (Even Virtual Ones)

The holidays bring countless gatherings -- industry mixers, charity fundraisers, alumni events, and social celebrations. These relaxed environments can lead to meaningful conversations with professionals who may influence your next PR opportunity. Don't over-pitch yourself; instead, focus on genuine connection. Have a quick "holiday-friendly" elevator pitch ready, and follow up with a warm message after the event.

4. Use Year-End Downtime for Research

Many PR departments slow their day-to-day pace in December, giving you time to research agencies, corporate communications teams, or nonprofit organizations you'd love to work with. Study their recent campaigns, brand voice, media strategy, and leadership team. This knowledge helps you tailor your application and prepares you for interviews that often resume in early January.

5. Reach Out to Recruiters Before the New Year Rush

PR hiring managers and recruiters begin filling pipelines for Q1 in December. Sending a thoughtful outreach message -- brief, personalized, and relevant -- can put you on their radar early. Mention your availability for informational interviews; some recruiters have extra time for casual conversations before the rush starts.

6. Showcase Your Holiday-Season Skills

The holidays present unique communication challenges for brands, including promotional campaigns, crisis management, seasonal messaging, and internal communications. If you've worked on holiday-related projects, highlight them. These examples demonstrate your ability to think fast, juggle priorities, and manage high-stakes messaging. A couple of my students have volunteered to work at reception tables for PR events, such as the annual Plank Center "Milestones in Mentoring" Gala and PRSA local chapter parties, as well as similar communications events.

7. Stay Consistent When Others Pause

Continue applying, networking, and learning throughout the season. Even small actions -- like taking a PR analytics or AI course, practicing media pitching, or revising your résumé -- give you momentum heading into January. The holidays aren't a slow season -- they're a strategic advantage. By staying visible, prepared, and proactive, you can position yourself for PR job opportunities that many candidates won't even realize are available.
 
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Six mistakes that could lead to you being ghosted after a job interview


Successfully navigating a job interview can be difficult, even for the most well-prepared candidates.

Job interviews are never easy, and the anticipation of receiving feedback from the potential employer can drive almost any job seeker to the verge of insanity.

In most instances, candidates are unsuccessful because they're simply not the right fit for the job, and this can happen even if... they did all their homework and delivered the perfect presentation to the interviewer.

However, there are many interview mistakes that applicants commonly make without realising it, says Patrick Dillon from marketing agency WISE Digital Partners.

"Candidates often don't realise how certain behaviours signal disengagement or create red flags for hiring managers," Dillon said. "Understanding these missteps gives job seekers the power to keep the process moving forward."

Interviewee ghosting isn't always about the hiring company being rude or dismissive. In many cases, time constraints play a significant role as recruiters are managing dozens of open positions at the same time and providing feedback to every candidate simply isn't feasible.

However, those who put their best foot forward and avoid the common interview pitfalls stand a far greater chance of getting to the next level of the hiring process.

According to Dillon, these are the six most common and significant mistakes that job applicants make:

Showing up unprepared or unenthusiastic

Walking into an interview without having researched the company or the specific role sends a clear message: this opportunity isn't a priority for you. Dillon emphasises that recruiters are acutely aware of candidates' levels of engagement.

If a candidate struggles to answer basic questions about the organisation or seems disinterested, it often leads to missed opportunities.

"Preparation shows respect for the recruiter's time and a genuine interest in the position," Dillon states. Candidates must articulate their reasons for wanting the role to stand out positively.

Failing to respond promptly to communications

In today's fast-paced hiring landscape, timing can be everything. Dillon points out that delays in responses, whether to emails or missed calls without explanation, can signal unreliability to recruiters.

"When someone doesn't respond within 24 hours, it's often interpreted as a lack of interest," he says, adding that recruiters manage multiple candidates and adhere to tight deadlines. Prompt and professional communication is essential to remain in contention.

Providing inconsistent information

Inconsistencies between what is written on a CV and what is stated in an interview can raise immediate red flags regarding a candidate's honesty and accuracy. For instance, if your resume claims you led a team of ten, but you mention three in the interview, doubts arise.

Dillon stresses the importance of trust, explaining that recruiters need to trust the information they're presenting to hiring managers. Consistent information reassures recruiters of a candidate's credibility.

Discussing salary or flexibility too early

Initiating conversations about salary or remote work requirements before establishing your value can undermine your candidacy.

Timing plays a pivotal role in these discussions. Dillon notes that when candidates lead with compensation demands before showcasing their fit for the role, it may come across as transactional rather than collaborative.

Candidates should aim to demonstrate their contributions first before negotiating terms.

Demonstrating poor communication etiquette post-interview

Post-interview communication significantly influences how a recruiter perceives your professionalism. Following up too aggressively, using overly casual language, or failing to acknowledge communications can work against you.

Dillon advises candidates on the importance of maintaining a professional tone: "One thoughtful follow-up within 24 hours strikes the right tone."

Such communication showcases respect and professionalism, setting candidates apart

Missing red flags in your own presentation

Candidates can unintentionally signal concerns about their presentation. Poor punctuality, negative remarks about former employers, or displaying unprofessional behaviour during virtual interviews can severely impact perceptions.

As Dillon adds: "Small details matter more than people realise." Background noise, distractions, or speaking badly of past colleagues can contribute to an overall impression that may dissuade potential employers.

Dillon said the best way to prevent ghosting is to maintain consistent professionalism through every stage of the hiring process.

It is highly recommended that you send a brief thank-you email within 24 hours of your interview, one which reiterates your interest and highlights one or two key points from your conversation. The trick is to remain top of mind without appearing pushy.

"If you haven't heard back within the timeframe the recruiter mentioned, one polite follow-up is appropriate. Keep it brief and professional, simply expressing continued interest and asking if there are any updates. Avoid sending multiple messages or appearing demanding," Dillon says.

"Remember that staying engaged doesn't mean being aggressive. Respect the recruiter's timeline while demonstrating that you're organised, reliable, and genuinely interested in the opportunity. Small actions like these can make the difference between being remembered positively or getting lost in the shuffle."
 
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  • Happy to help!
    I’m a CEO at a tech consultancy and have over 40 years of tech and industry lleadership experience and achievements.
    Send to... info@TEBTECH.biz

    Attn Timothy Butts Sr
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  • Let me see the copy...

Best Ai tools for the job hunt


Losing a job hits hard. The bills don't stop, and neither does life.

Thousands of Black professionals have faced layoffs across the nation. Government job cuts, rising tariffs, stubborn inflation, and the accelerating wave of Artificial Intelligence (AI) are widening employment gaps. Structural barriers mean workers are often "last hired, first fired," leaving entire families vulnerable when the... economy tightens.

But this story doesn't have to end in loss. The same AI technology that's reshaping the job market can also help workers bounce back. AI isn't just for techies anymore. New AI tools are giving job seekers a competitive edge to advance their careers, pivot, or even start anew.

Those who learn to use these tools will move faster, smarter, and more strategically in the search for what's next. Here are five of the best AI tools to help you get back on your feet.

JobCopilot automates the entire job application process. It scans multiple job boards, applies on your behalf, and tailors each application to match the job description. For anyone juggling bills and stress, JobCopilot saves time and alleviates the emotional drain associated with repetitive job hunting. The tool utilizes AI to match your skills with openings across various industries, helping you discover roles you might not have found otherwise. It's especially useful for displaced workers looking to pivot careers without having to learn the nuances of every company's hiring platform.

Hiring.cafe is a newer AI-powered assistant that helps you research employers and prepare for interviews. It digs up recent news, company reviews, and recruiter details to give you an edge when applying. Think of it as your personal career strategist; it can even generate interview questions specific to your field. For job seekers facing systemic barriers or trying to re-enter competitive industries, Hiring.cafe helps level the playing field with information that's typically hard to find.

Sonara acts like a job-hunting autopilot. It allows you to upload your resume, set career goals, and then utilizes AI to apply for jobs that match your preferences, while tracking your progress across multiple platforms. It's perfect for people managing multiple responsibilities after a layoff, from side hustles to family care. Sonara's data-driven dashboard helps you understand which types of roles are gaining traction, enabling you to adapt your approach quickly and strategically.

Resume.io combines AI with sleek, recruiter-tested templates to help you build a resume that gets noticed. It offers automatic formatting, keyword optimization, and even tone suggestions to pass applicant tracking systems that often filter out candidates prematurely. For workers who may have been in the same role for years, Resume.io can transform old experience into fresh language that aligns with today's job market. In an environment where first impressions matter, this tool makes sure yours stands out.

Wobo AI is a personal upskilling and learning assistant. It analyzes your resume and career goals, then recommends courses, certifications, and training paths to make you more competitive in your next role. It's especially valuable for workers in industries heavily impacted by automation who need to transition into emerging fields like technology, digital marketing, or data analysis. By using Wobo AI, you're not just looking for the next job; you're building a foundation for the next chapter.

Huntr turns job searching into an organized mission. It's a visual dashboard where you can track applications, save postings, store recruiter notes, and manage follow-ups, all powered by AI reminders and insights. It helps reduce stress and chaos during what's often an emotionally draining process. For communities disproportionately affected by layoffs, organization can mean confidence, and confidence leads to better outcomes.
 
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A software engineer who landed roles at Amazon, Microsoft, and Salesforce shares his 5 tips for getting hired


He emphasizes the importance of internships, tailored résumés, and job search timing for career success.

Shubham Malhotra's Big Tech journey began during his fifth semester at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where he was juggling coursework with a co-op at a real estate-focused tech firm.

While gaining experience and refining his résumé, Malhotra -- who grew up in New Delhi, moved... to the US to study software engineering, and is now a software engineer at Amazon -- applied to roles at top tech companies.

He landed internships at Salesforce in the summer of 2021 and at Amazon AWS in the fall of 2021. During his second internship, he applied for a full-time position at Microsoft through a job portal and ultimately secured an offer for 2022.

Malhotra stayed at Microsoft for two and a half years before leaving the company in November 2024, when he relocated to the Seattle area to join Amazon.

Here are five job-search strategies he employed to secure multiple offers from Big Tech companies.

Malhotra believes that completing purposeful internships on systems-focused teams was a significant factor in his success. "Breaking into Big Tech is hardest at the beginning," he said. "For me, that breakthrough came via internships at Amazon and Salesforce, which gave me enough credibility to land my Microsoft offer."

Treating his internships like "engineering labs," Malhotra said he used these experiences to intentionally build up infrastructure, performance, and systems expertise far beyond surface-level coding.

"I wasn't just doing 'intern tasks' -- I was already solving latency and error-tolerance issues that directly affected customers and operational SLAs," he said. "This was mostly driven by my own initiative, with support from my managers."

During his internships at Salesforce and Amazon, Malhotra would ask his manager and senior engineers, "What's a real reliability or latency problem on the critical path that no one has had time to fix yet?" From there, he'd volunteer to own a slice of it, then they'd scope it out together.

"Doing this complex problem-solving also helped give me great visibility within my teams," he said.

These early experiences enabled him to craft a résumé that showcased both internships and technical depth, which he believes was key to landing his Microsoft interview. Then, the work he did to secure his internship offers meant he'd already practiced for the big leagues.

"Because I'd already been preparing through prior internship interviews, I was technically and behaviorally ready to interview for full-time positions at top tech companies."

Malhotra avoided generic buzzwords and focused on scale, reliability, and research contributions in his résumé. He also reverse-engineered company job descriptions to match his résumé with ATS filters.

"I used LaTeX via Overleaf to create a clean, technical résumé optimized for parsing and readability," he said.

Another one of his strategies was tailoring keywords for each role, emphasizing "cloud computing," "distributed systems," and "backend engineering" throughout the document. Malhotra also ensured that his résumé bullets focused on measurable outcomes, rather than just effort.

"Every bullet emphasized not just tasks but quantifiable impact -- like "reduced data latency by 40%" and "streamlined workflow to cut API response time by 25%."

Malhotra wanted to ensure that he applied for Big Tech roles at the right time. "As a fresh graduate, I learned that timing your job search is just as critical as skills," he said.

He began his application process early, around August, when most tech companies kick off full-time recruitment.

"From August to mid-November, companies fill the bulk of their head count for the next year," Malhotra said. "After a brief halt, a second hiring window opens between February and April of the following year."

Malhotra signed his Microsoft offer in October 2021. For his most recent move to Amazon as an experienced hire, his offer was also finalized in October with a November start date.

Malhotra prepped for coding interviews using LeetCode, CodeChef, and HackerRank, identifying weak areas and tracking performance.

For behavioral rounds, he followed the STAR method and mapped his stories to leadership principles. He also ramped up his preparation for interviews using white papers, books, and real-world architecture case studies to help him discuss company-specific challenges.

Malhotra said he chose his college specifically for its co-op structure, helping him gain early real-world experience and build a strong US-based engineering track record.

Feeling confident in this background, he decided to try an out-of-the-box approach to his job search. Instead of relying on referrals, Malhotra cold-applied and followed up via LinkedIn with tailored pitches.

His cold outreach strategy centered on emailing recruiters with short, personalized pitches that included how he found their contact information, a brief introduction of himself, a clear ask to review his résumé for specific roles, and a note on why he was excited about the company.

His "short, personalized pitch" strategy played the biggest role in his Amazon transition.

"I leaned heavily on concise, personalized emails and LinkedIn messages to recruiters, plus a few warm intros," Malhotra said. "Most of my serious interview loops, including the one that led to my current offer, started from that outreach rather than just submitting an application and hoping."

He also developed personal projects, such as a handwriting recognition tool utilizing AWS Textract, which he hosted on the cloud with authentication and shared functionality.

"I treated job hunting like system design -- mapping companies, targeting roles, cold emailing with personalized subject lines and value propositions," Malhotra said. "I always kept a ready-to-send project repo or research paper link handy to prove my value."

He's working on deep-seated infrastructure problems that he believes have a real impact. "It's exactly the kind of work I wanted when I first set my sights on Big Tech," he said.

If he had to look for another job in today's market, he says he'd use the same five strategies, but with one additional point.

"I'd run the same system again -- just with a bit more compounding from public work and relationships," Malhotra said. "I'd add an even stronger emphasis on building signal in public while things are going well -- open-source contributions, writing, small talks, and a tighter network of engineers and hiring managers. Those make your résumé, outreach, and timing work even harder for you when the market tightens."
 
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