Job Search Takes Months: Why Effort and Networking Beat Easy Apply

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A software developer sharing job-search advice with a friend has outlined key strategies for navigating today's difficult hiring market. Responses to applications can take anywhere from two to six weeks, requiring candidates to sustain a high volume of submissions. The author contrasts low-effort tools like LinkedIn's one-click Easy Apply — which rarely yields callbacks — with a more intensive approach involving company research and building genuine relationships with insiders. Securing an internal referral, while not guaranteed, significantly improves the chances of advancing in the hiring process. The post concludes that while current conditions in tech hiring are unusually tough, adapting to them with deliberate effort remains the most effective path forward.

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