I had an interview recently where they asked me to complete an unpaid project that would probably take an entire weekend. 😅 Are candidates actually doing these assignments now? I want to stay competitive but some of these hiring requests feel excessive for mid level positions. Like… come on.

I keep hearing that networking is the key to finding tech jobs but I genuinely don’t know how people do it naturally without feeling fake. Are people mostly meeting through online communities now or are in person tech events still worth attending?

First, I believe in everyone here looking to land a tech job. It is a terrible job market and demands patience and fortitude. There are positive signs that jobs in the US are starting to turn our way. And now is anyone else feeling like a deer in the headlights during phone interviews?! I got a recruiter call this morning about a fantastic position. By the time we talked, I felt like a stammering mess. I'm not sure how it went, but it's done. I gave it my best shot. Good luck to everyone!!

I constantly read online and hear from others about the growing racism in North America for some ethnic groups. Some of this seems to be traversing in the hiring process as well with what I have read online. I personally have never had such an incident happen to me or anyone I know. Have you ever experienced racism while job hunting due to your ethnicity, nationality, or even name?

I took a two-year career break after being laid off in early 2024 to focus on my mental and physical health. I’ve worked hard to get my life back on track and feel ready to return to tech. But the job market has me wondering if I’ve hurt my career by stepping away for so long. As a woman in tech, the anxiety is getting to me. I know I don’t want to be a housewife—I want to get back to work and rebuild my career. Did I mess up my future, or can I still make a comeback?