I decided to summarize my more than ten years of experience searching for a job in the U.S. IT market. The issue is quite relevant and is often discussed in the Russian diaspora.
For someone unprepared for the realities of competitive struggle in the U.S. market, many considerations may seem rather exotic, but it's better to be informed than to remain in ignorance.
Basic Requirements
Before deciding to look for a job in the U.S., it makes sense to familiarize yourself with immigration requirements and work rights in the U.S. It is also advisable to have a solid understanding of how to create a resume, be a professional in your field, and, as they say in the youth environment nowadays, 'fluent Albanian' aka English is a huge asset in the job search process. In our specific case, we will leave the basic requirements out of the discussion in this article.
Recruiters
A recruiter is the 'front-line' of any job advertisement in the U.S. The recruiter serves as the first point of contact for the hiring company.
You should distinguish between two types of recruiters – an internal recruiter of a company who is hired and works for the employer company on a permanent basis. This is the best scenario if internal recruiters from companies call you regarding your advertisement placed on one of the sites in the U.S. (for example, ) because it indicates that your resume is properly crafted and you have hit the overall technological trend that is currently in demand in the labor market.
The second type of recruiter is one from a recruiting company that profits by reselling you to employer companies. In established jargon, such companies are referred to as 'pumpers.' The main task when contacting a 'pumper' is to determine the existence of a real position and the presence of an exclusive agreement between the 'pumper' and the employer, a term well-established in English as 'primary vendor.'
For laughs, it's worth noting that many of our compatriots have found themselves in situations where, upon starting a new job, they discover that they are working through two or three 'pumpers' with their new employer.
Interviews
Typically, an interview for an IT position consists of several stages:
A call from a recruiter usually lasts 15-30 minutes, during which all basic requirements for the position are discussed, including technical aspects, payment, and, as I mentioned, legal aspects regarding work rights. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, the relationships between companies are also addressed.
Technical phone interview – pre-screen. Typically lasts from 30 minutes to one hour. The purpose of the technical phone interview is to determine how well the candidate's professional level matches the open position at the company. Often, candidates are asked to write code during the interview, so it's advisable to review how this works beforehand to avoid confusion. I've had to use Google Docs or, for instance, collabedit.com.
Interview at the employer's company. Here, you are usually expected to spend several hours getting familiar with the company, its product, the manager, and the team you are anticipated to work with. In large companies, it is quite possible that the interviews are conducted by 'specially trained' individuals with whom you will not have to work afterward.
There can be various outcomes. It is entirely possible that you will be invited for a second interview, or for some reason, the hiring team may reject you but recommend you to another team as a good candidate.
Interview Format
Each interview usually follows this format:
The introductory part begins with the introduction of the interview participants and a brief description of the position being discussed.
Questions for the candidate. It is advisable to provide a detailed answer to each question unless specifically mentioned that a brief response is acceptable. It is encouraged to restate the question in your own words, ask clarifying questions, and ensure that you have understood the essence of the question correctly. It is strictly discouraged to ask questions during this section as it goes against the regulations and format of the interview. Time for your questions will be provided, which is generally anticipated.
Questions for the candidate. Good etiquette rules suggest that you are well-acquainted with the company's product; therefore, you should frame your questions accordingly. Usually, questions are prepared in advance at home after studying the company’s website and the position description.
Your goals for each stage of the interview
At each stage of the interview, you must clearly understand the sequence of your actions.
Let me explain. In the order of participants in the interview from the conversation with the recruiter, you should clearly identify several things:
- the compensation amount meets your expectations
- the recruiter has an exclusive contract to schedule your interview with the employer
- if all previous conditions satisfy you, achieve a scheduled interview
In a technical phone interview, you should understand how interesting the project is to you and from the level of questions, gauge what technologies are expected to be used in the new workplace. It is also worth noting that you can easily prepare for technical questions by reading reviews about interviews and technical questions on the internet on sites like Glassdoor, careercup, and others.
In the main interview, act according to circumstances; the format can vary. As a matter of good etiquette, I would highly recommend asking for a list of interview participants with their positions and the interview schedule. Sometimes just knowing the list is enough to abandon further consideration of the position.
What to expect from technical questions, for example, for a Java developer
Questions can be conditionally divided into three main blocks:
- Basic questions about Java taken from Java certification books
- Questions about technologies and frameworks
- Algorithms
It is also important to understand that often many interviewers try to put candidates in awkward positions by conducting a sort of question pressure to see how the candidate behaves in situations close to 'combat'. This should be taken lightly; you can laugh it off together... overall, anyone can mess up.
Time to search for a new job
Based on experience, the situation unfolds as follows:
The first week is spent on phone interviews with recruiters and technical 'prescreens'. It is quite possible to have two or three each day. As a result of these efforts, by the second week you might be called to the employer's office for an interview. If you continue in this manner and work full-time on the job search, by the end of the third week, you could end up with three to five interviews with employers.
It should be noted that this refers to the 'Silicon Valley' in California during the 'hot' market in IT. It is difficult to talk about other states as the hiring process there tends to be slower than in the 'Valley'.
Wow! – it's taking off!
Well, finally there’s the first job offer (from now on we will use the English term 'offer').
Rule number one – don’t rush. Try to assess all the important aspects of the 'offer' besides the fact that the job should be interesting and you'll have the opportunity to learn new technologies. You should also evaluate the entire compensation package, which usually includes:
- health insurance
- vacation (usually three weeks in the US IT industry)
- a signing bonus for the 'offer'
- an annual bonus based on company performance
- 401K retirement contributions
- stock options
Try to gather as much information about the company using perfectly legal means, starting with comments and reviews on GlassDoor and ending with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the US. .
The main thing at this stage is to, if you’re lucky, wait for a second 'offer'. Then you have the unique opportunity to dictate your requirements to the hiring company. You can express your conditions for accepting the 'offer'.
It is clear that you can state your terms if you have one 'offer', but often this is counterproductive, and the company usually withdraws its 'offer' if you refuse to sign it in its original form.
Conclusion
I would like to share another important consideration about undergoing a phone interview. Don’t hesitate to use a second computer or hints posted on the walls. It's quite logical to invite as many people as possible, because if something useful comes up, they can jot it down on the board – you will just have to read it. In fact, you can start enjoying a beer even before the interview begins; try to get as many positive emotions as possible from the job search.
Wishing everyone a successful job hunt!
Source: habr.com
