Background

In early 2023, I embarked on my job search journey. For approximately 3.5 years, I served as a senior software engineer at Ant Group. This tenure proved to be a remarkable experience, enabling significant growth in both my career and skillset.

I had the opportunity to work on a payment system handling high traffic volumes, allowing me to delve into designing a robust, highly available system. This experience was eye-opening, as it deepened my understanding of business, product, and technical architecture decisions.

However, as time went on, I found myself facing a sense of stagnation. It seemed as though my learning curve had flattened out for a while. I yearned for new challenges and this prompted my decision to take a leap and pursue a fresh endeavour.

Expectations for my next company

After thoughtful consideration, I have outlined several aspects that I seek in my next company:

1. Work-life balance: At this stage of my career, nothing holds more significance than maintaining a healthy work-life balance. I cherish moments spent with my family, engaging in reading, and pursuing continuous learning. Thus, I yearn for more time to invest in myself.

2. Smaller & nimble team: Throughout my career, I have not yet experienced working in a startup environment. I am genuinely enthusiastic about understanding how products are developed in a smaller team and infrastructure.

3. Flexible working arrangement: Recently, my team adopted a work-from-office policy, and it made me realise the value I place on flexibility and autonomy in executing my responsibilities. In my upcoming role, I will actively seek a remote or hybrid position, allowing me to enjoy a more adaptable working arrangement.

Job search is hard

I began my job search by sending out my resume primarily to companies in the United States, with a specific focus on those offering remote opportunities. In pursuit of this, I utilised several well-known websites dedicated to remote work opportunities. 

At first, I held a rosy vision for my future job prospects. However, that vision was shattered when I received an influx of rejection emails and encountered a lack of responses from the majority of the companies I had applied to.

One prominent reason for the lack of responses was the fierce competition in the job market. It became apparent that many positions listed on these websites garnered thousands of applicants, making it a monumental task for recruiters to sift through all the resumes. 

The situation was further compounded by the significant layoffs that had occurred across the US job market in early 2023, resulting in a vast pool of highly qualified candidates seeking new opportunities.

Despite these challenges, I remain undeterred in my pursuit of the perfect opportunity and continue to refine my approach to stand out amidst the competition.

First interview and it did not go well

After 1 month of diligently sending out my resume on a daily basis, I received positive responses from two startups, and needless to say, I was elated at the opportunity.

The interview process comprised of 5 rounds:

1. Preliminary HR screening

2. Hiring Manager/Founder Screening

3. Coding Test

4. Front End Coding Test (for full-stack position)

5. System Design

To prepare for the coding test, I dedicated significant time to practicing various coding questions, covering a wide range of topics from basic data structures like LinkedList, Queue, Stack, to advance topics like Dynamic Programming, Binary Trees, Search Algorithms and so on.

As for the hiring manager/founder screening round, they delved deeply into my past projects. Fortunately, I have a habit of conducting detailed retrospectives for the projects I completed, which enabled me to articulate the technical intricacies of my work with ease.

I successfully advanced to the System Design round for both interviews. However, just when I felt I was on the cusp of securing the job, I received disappointing news. 

Regrettably, I was informed that I did not get the job. The feedback I received was that they had more suitable and experienced candidates already in the pipeline for the role. 

Looking back, I recognise several areas where I could improve. For instance,

1. I realised I hadn’t given sufficient attention to non-functional requirements during system design. Overlooking these aspects was a significant oversight, as factors like latency, throughput, and consistency are important inputs for crafting the appropriate system architecture.

2. Additionally, I observed that I leaned too heavily on the interviewer’s input while designing the system. This might have conveyed the impression that I am lack of the capability to think independently.

I was devastated by the setback and it took me some time to come to terms with the outcome. However, I made up my mind to transform this experience into a learning opportunity.

I am determined to further refine my skills and relentlessly pursue the perfect opportunity that aligns with both my expertise and aspirations.

Gather myself, pivot and try again

I quickly came to the realisation that securing a remote job in the United States posed considerable challenges. The competition stems from a global pool of candidates, many having greater years of experience than myself. Secondly, the timezone difference is also a barrier for effective team communication to happen.

In response, I made a strategic shift, directing my efforts toward the Singapore job market. Singapore offers distinct advantages due to my residency status, cultural proximity, and the reputation I’ve built within my network. In navigating this market, I employed three primary sources for job searching: LinkedIn, Headhunters, and Internal Referrals. 

As I engaged with these avenues, I began to receive interview invitations — a prospect that filled me with excitement. Moving forward, my immediate focus lies on interview preparation, ensuring I am well-prepared for the upcoming challenges.

Interview preparation

Balancing a full-time job while preparing for job interviews can undoubtedly be an arduous task, often leaving one feeling drained. Here are some essential tips that have proven effective for me:

1. Establish Topic Baselines: Begin by forming a comprehensive outline of the topics you intend to cover — such as data structures, algorithms, system design, operating systems, and networking. This holistic understanding sets a clear goal and prevents you from dedicating time to lower-priority content.

2. Utilise Short Time Blocks: My routine involves waking up at 7:30 a.m. and tackling one leetcode question right at the start of the day. During my commute, I review key technical subjects commonly addressed in interviews. For efficient study sessions, I compile materials beforehand, focused on specific topics. I cap off my day with a mock system design interview in the evening.

3. Retrospective Analysis: After each interview, conduct a retrospective evaluation of your performance. Document key takeaways and areas for improvement. Over time, this approach bridges knowledge gaps and diminishes the likelihood of making elementary mistakes.

I got the job !

At last, the culmination of my interview journey arrives with a happy ending. I’ve secured a remote position with Immutable, a Web3 startup based in Australia. The company’s primary focus involves integrating games onto the blockchain and engage gaming partners to use their developed blockchain products. This role aligns remarkably well with my expectations, and the excitement I felt upon receiving the offer was unparalleled.

Luck undoubtedly has its place on this job search journey, but the combination of persistence and strategic adjustment is equally pivotal. My success story might not have happened had I not reevaluated my strategy and redirected my attention to the Singapore market.

Learning & Takeaway

While the job search journey can prove challenging, I find immense satisfaction in having undergone this process. It also serves as a journey of self-discovery, unveiling my core values and shaping my aspirations for the upcoming phase of my career.

Three key takeaways stand out, which I’m eager to share:

1. Discovering the Right Path: Reflect on where you envision yourself five years from now. Clarify your goals and pinpoint decisions that propel you toward achieving them. This step carries the utmost importance, as even the most strategic planning is futile if you’re heading in the wrong direction.

2. Maintaining Optimism & Open-Mindedness: Though I encountered numerous roadblocks along the way, one crucial mantra I held close was to remain optimistic and focus on the positive aspects. Every setback presents a chance for introspection and self-improvement.

3. Crafting and Enforcing a Plan: The significance of a well-structured plan cannot be overstated. It enables me to track my progress visually and offers insight into the topics I need to cover. Overcoming the resistance to tasks like leetcode challenges or reading articles becomes simpler since they are already part of my planned agenda.

As I look back on this journey, I am not only armed with a newfound position but also with invaluable insights that will continue to guide me in my career endeavours.

Final words

For those who are currently grappling with the challenges of job hunting, my hope is that my personal journey serves as a source of motivation, urging you to persist in your pursuit of your goals.

Stay tuned for my upcoming article where I’ll delve into my study tips and resources tailored for interview preparation across various types of companies in Singapore !