Part 2: Must use these new strategies to crack high-paying jobs in 2025 !!
Overwhelmed by the incredible reach and engagement I've experienced
over the past few days on LinkedIn, Medium, and my YouTube channel.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone for the appreciation and encouraging messages!
You've truly motivated me to write this Part 2 article.
Reiterating my credibility to write this part 2 blog:
I've been through the trenches. Over the past 4–5 months:
I've given 70+ interviews,
Endured over 120+ auto-resume rejections (yes, I stopped counting at some point),
Faced the heartbreak of multiple revoked offers,
Yet, despite it all, managed to secure solid offers from startups, top product-based companies, and even some FAANG giants.
If you're navigating a similar journey, this blog is for you. Let's get started!Here you go:
Obviously my first blog [self promotion ikr]? Part 1
Chrome Extensions: Simplify Copilot
Job Portals:
- LinkedIn:
- Update your profile, use the "Open to Work" feature [Public/Private].
Add eg. 'Software engineer" "Java/python developer" "AWS" keywords in your headline.
2. You can experiment with setting your current location to your preferred choice — Bengaluru/Pune/Hyderabad because HRs have a filter when sending inmails.
3. Prefer reaching out to hiring managers [find such openings/posts via keywords] over HRs. Top org HRs won't entertain you much on Linkedin since they have plenty of DMS already.
Search:
"Hiring" AND "insert job term"
Both words have to be in quotes. Then filtering by "this week." Then you can see posts from people that say "I'm hiring for" or "XXXXX is hiring a XXXX"!4. Personal Opinion: Applying on LinkedIn jobs were a waste of time for me, specifically Easy Apply :p Also, refrain from commenting "Interested"- such posts crave for engagement majorly.
- Naukri, InstaHyre: Great platforms for recruiters. Please keep updating your profile/reupload resume — super frequently especially on initial weekdays. Helps to push your profile ahead. Use naukri resume checker tool, free, take in all suggestions it gives to bring your resume to top 5%.
- Indeed: For local and remote opportunities.
- Company Career Portals/Referrals: Always apply directly through the official website and try to seek referrals [direct connection/fishbowl/linkedin] Catch here: Some organizations, like JP Morgan, offer generic referrals, allowing you to apply for multiple jobs once referred. However, most companies require job ID-specific referrals, so always share the job ID with the referrer before applying to ensure it's linked correctly. Applying and then asking for referral for that job id goes in vain at times.
Networking Platforms:
- Fishbowl: Amazing for referrals and insights on company culture.
- Blind: Anonymous discussions about compensation and work-life balance.
Preparation Platforms:
- GeeksforGeeks Archives: A treasure for interview experience reads.
- Work@Tech: Excellent for DSA and system design prep.
- Leetcode Discussion Forum: Your best friend for compensation insights and interview prep. Trust me, its very valuable. I spent most of y research time here.
- https://refactoring.guru/design-patterns
- https://www.hellointerview.com/learn/system-design/in-a-hurry/core-concepts
- Youtube [Mock Interviews, top interview questions for x technology, concepts, DSA solution explanation]
- https://www.hellointerview.com/learn/behavioral/overview/introduction
- System design: Gaurav Sen on YouTube and InterviewReady.
Salary Research:
- Levels.fyi: Get a clear idea of salary ranges.
- Glassdoor: Understand company reviews and compensation.
- Blind and Leetcode Comp Discussion: Gauge whether you're being lowballed.
Niche Platforms:
- GeekWire: For reaching out to startup founders.
- Product Hunt & YC Startups Directory: For identifying promising startups.
- Links: GeekWire, YC Directory, Product Hunt, hiring.cafe [found it on reddit], wellfound [Remote]
DSA:
https://leetcode.com/tag/bit-manipulation/discuss/2960396/Bit-Manipulation-Guide-and-Tricks
Visa Sponsorship Companies:
Go to H1B visa database[https://h1bdata.info] and see companies who sponsor. Usually, when they have an entry there, they'll sponsor. Keep in mind that these days, they're more likely to sponsor higher-end positions.
Telegram Groups for Jobs:
- Influencers like Arsh Goyal, Palak Awasthi, Shubham Wadekar, and Kushal Vijay and many of them share great job updates on Telegram.
Pro Tip: If you want to stay ahead, apply on all channels, but prioritize employee referrals. HRs give referrals top priority during candidate shortlisting.
Q10: How do I seek referrals? The Right Approach Please
Avoid sending generic, copy-pasted referral requests. This is one of the biggest mistakes people make. If you want to stand out and increase your chances, here's the way:
- Personalize Your Message: Always address the recipient by name. It shows you've put thought into your request instead of sending a mass message. If possible, do mention the jobId. Pro Tip: Thoroughly read the recipient's LinkedIn profile and the company details. [I'd made the embarrassing mistake of copy-pasting a message and addressing the wrong person once (yep, cringe alert XD)]
- Do Your Research: Write at least one specific line about why you're applying to their company. Is it because of the domain, technology, challenging projects, or simply your dream to work there? Make it genuine.
- Keep It Short and Polite: Respect their time. Don't overload your message with unnecessary details. Focus on the key points.
- Highlight Common Ground: If you share a connection, such as the same college, previous company, or even a shared interest, mention it. "As a fellow [college/university/ex company] alumnus, I would love to connect with you regarding this opportunity."
- Attach a Polished Resume: Make sure your resume is clean, concise, and tailored for the job. This makes it easier for them to forward it.
Pro Tip: Out of 5 people you ask for a referral, only 1 might reply on time. Often, by the time others respond, the job ID might already be closed (yep, been there, done that XD).
To avoid this:
- Reach out to multiple people per company (but not too many; don't spam!).
- Target those who are active on LinkedIn but not overwhelmed with DMs or crazy-high engagement (e.g., people with modest activity, not viral posts every day, maybe me?).
Q11: How should I prepare for a specific company interview?
- Master the Fundamentals: Build a rock-solid foundation in the basics of your tech stack. Whether it's DSA, Java, Spring Boot, or cloud technologies, your fundamentals will be tested thoroughly. Trust me — this is the cornerstone of your preparation.
- Practice DSA: Use structured resources like:
- Striver's A2Z DSA Sheet
- NeetCode 150
- Blind 75
These resources cover almost all commonly asked coding problems.
3. Mock Interviews:
- Watch 1–2 hour-long mock interview videos for your specific tech stack or domain on YouTube.
- Examples: "Java 17 most asked interview questions" or "Spring Boot mock interview". Personal recommendation: CodeDecode YT
- Make detailed notes to revise before the actual interview.
4. Answer Using STAR Format:
- Situation: Set the context.
- Task: Explain the problem or goal.
- Action: Describe the steps you took.
- Result: Share the outcome and impact. The STAR format keeps your answers concise and professional.
Company-Specific Prep:
- Create a Google Doc: Search for the company on Leetcode, GeeksforGeeks, and Reddit. Why creating a doc is important? Trust me it will come in handy and if you get a chance to interview again, you won't have to do it from scratch and you'll save time. Happened to me for 2 companies.
- Sort questions from newest to oldest on leetcode general discussions or interview section.
- Read about the company and the team/product [in case you know]: Show genuine interest during interviews.
Q12: Any long-term strategies for improving my profile?
- Stay Interview-Ready: Even if you're not actively looking, schedule one mock interview every quarter to stay sharp.
Fun story: When I interviewed for Google, the HR asked if I needed mocks. I couldn't help but chuckle internally — I had already given a total of 58 interviews before that point. The sheer volume of practice gave me the confidence to give it a shot.
Practice never makes a man perfect.
It's the PERFECT Practice that makes a man perfect!!Key Learning: Every interview — whether it's good or bad, successful or unsuccessful, at a startup, service-based, or product-based company — is a stepping stone toward your dream org.
2. Learn in Public: Write about what you're learning on Medium, LinkedIn, GFG, Github and X. This builds your personal brand and can attract recruiters and organizations.
Pro Tip: Open source contributions can be especially valuable. But remember, fixing a typo or updating a README doesn't count as a significant contribution XD. Build or contribute to meaningful projects to grab the attention of high-paying startups and top companies.
3. Keep Learning: Focus on depth in your tech stack but maintain breadth in related areas.
Q13: How do I know which companies to target?
If you have a personal goal or domain in mind, it's straightforward: seek referrals, prepare, and go for it. But what if you're clueless? Here's my strategy:
- Leverage LinkedIn: Search for "Ex-[Your Current Organization]" (e.g., Ex-J.P. Morgan or Ex-TCS). List the organizations where your former colleagues or seniors have transitioned. This approach helps identify companies likely to value your skills and pay at least as much as your current employer.
- Network Strategically: Reach out to those individuals. Ask them about their experiences, opportunities, and the learning environment at their current company. They can give you a real-world perspective and might even refer you!
- Use Leetcode Smartly: Explore the compensation forum on Leetcode. Sort posts by "Newest to Oldest." This helps identify organizations aggressively hiring recently [eg RazorPay, Salesforce, Google, JP Morgan as of Nov 2024] and provides insights into pay ranges.
- Blind & Fishbowl: Browse company-specific forums for discussions on work culture, hiring activity, and pay scales.
- Check Funding News [Optional]: Use platforms like GeekWire and Crunchbase to track startups that have recently raised funds. These companies are often in rapid expansion mode and actively hiring.
Q14: How do I decide if I should join an org if I have an offer from there?
Ans: This is quite subjective. The priorities and risk appetite are different for each individual and that's the beauty of life- you cannot copy it from someone although seek from their learnings XD [I recall this discussion with one of my college seniors Gopala Dhar, currently working at Google]. but let me note down the parameters you can look out for:
bool decisionToJoinOrg(Parameters parameters) {
Location: Consider relocation costs. Will the new city allow you to save after accounting for housing, transport, and other expenses? [Maybe] Relocating to a new city might open a plethora of opportunities for you even if you are not able to save handsome amount. Think for the long-term.
Work-Life Balance (WLB): Research thoroughly. Some companies may promise flexibility but have demanding work cultures.
Compensation: Make sure you're not being lowballed. Cross-check market standards using resources like Levels.fyi, Leetcode, Blind, and Fishbowl.
Growth & Mobility (Horizontal/Vertical): Is there a clear career path? Can you move to different teams if you don't like the project or even leadership roles down the line? Horizontal: Title or role change. Ex: Devops to SDE, SDET to SDE. Vertical: ex: L5 to L6, SDE2 to SDE3
Impact: Will your role allow you to make a tangible difference? See if that makes you happy & proud. Look for projects that let you grow technically or strategically. Eg: for me I always love volume [metrics, statistics] and the social impact of the products I am building.
Even tho I didn't join Razorpay [after weighing other params] but
the team I was aligned was POS systems.
Their new feature development was quite intriguing for me and
it's being used everywhere these days and they plan to partner up and have a good future roadmap
- crazy volume!!Domain: Does this role align with your career interests? Or, if it's a new domain, is it something you're genuinely excited about exploring?
Opportunities: Will this company open doors to top-tier organizations in the future? For instance, even with its challenges, this was one of the reasons for me to join Amazon.
Benefits Beyond Pay: Compare perks such as insurance [parents included?], bonuses [fixed increments or performance-based?], relocation assistance, stock options [check the vesting period, yearly split] (The difference between ESOPs, ESPPs, RSUs will probably require a separate article), and retirement benefits. These can significantly impact your total compensation package.
}
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhishekgupta97023/
YouTube [where I blend tech and creativity in the world of cinematography]: https://youtu.be/uItOW3tToSc?si=MWYK22VspsryNYxL