When I graduated in 2013, I posted an article summarizing my experience in finding a job ("A brief talk on job hunting experience in the Greater Washington area"), it just so happens that four years later, we have reached this juncture again. I would like to write down my own experience and share it with everyone.

After four years, there have actually been quite a few changes. Firstly, in terms of work experience, I have a lot to write on my resume. Secondly, after I have deepened my positioning in the market and my understanding of the industry, I am more confident and no longer blind.

I had the idea in June, and I was very lucky to get the offer in August. Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way.

The first thing I want to say is that Washington is a very unsuitable place to find a job. Most IT companies are small businesses and work in government-related industries. Representatives of small businesses hire fewer people, are not willing to bother with identity-related issues (consuming resources), and their salaries are not very high. For government-related representatives, you need a green card or even citizenship, and many require a security background. These are all very unfavorable factors for us. Moreover, many positions in Washington require "veteran cadres" with at least 7 years of experience, which basically excludes most international students.

Based on this, during this job search experience, I did not focus on Washington, but on Silicon Valley and Seattle. The reasons are also very simple: 1. The interview is simple and rough, just answer the questions. 2. There are many companies, many opportunities, and high wages (although consumption is high). 3. There are more friends gathered there, and it is more suitable there than Washington, where you can only go in and out. 4. It is convenient to return to China, and it is easier to connect with the country, and... I want to change places.

Compared to before, my job search this time was much more stable. I had no intention of applying overseas from the beginning to the end (it was a surprise to get the offer, because I didn’t actually start submitting my resume). I planned to hit the target when I was ready! The June plan will be officially launched in July. I plan to brush up on the questions for 2 months and start formally submitting resumes in September to catch up with the autumn recruitment of major companies. I will try to get an offer in December, then go back to China to spend the Chinese New Year and move back to work.

The plan was very good and the execution was very good, but after all, answering questions was very boring. I occasionally found friends who could recommend me, so I took the plunge. I thought that I would not stay in Washington anyway, so it would be good to take a few interviews to practice my skills. However, I later discovered that the preparation for each interview is actually very time-consuming. The basic things are familiar to you. There are many points from the basics to practice that need to be sorted out from scratch.

Oracle, which gave me an offer, was one of them. I interviewed java first, then js. I spent 2 weeks preparing for Java, and nearly a week and a half for JS, which I use every day. Not only that, during the interview and onsite preparation, waiting, and anxiety are very energy-consuming. I have to say that even if the interview is not something I take very seriously, I will still want to prepare well in the end. After all, it is a very good opportunity.

Back to the topic, if you want to find a job in Washington, you can choose from these big companies: Reston's technology circle, including Amazon, Oracle, especially Amazon has bought a building to expand its recruitment (I really hope the second headquarters will move here), Tysons also has several companies, similar to Microstragy, Capitalone, but after Trump came, they have tightened their policies towards foreigners, especially Capitalone no longer applies for H1B. The rest are all small companies, just invest when you see them.

Let’s first talk about the difference between the DC interview and the one in the west. Basically, after the HR interview in the west, there are several rounds of technical interviews, and you open the web page and write code directly. You have to pass the technical test first. The onsite is similar, but there are more links to write system design and behavior. The Eastern Conference is not that simple and violent. It pays great attention to your experience. They will ask you what you have done, what techniques you know, and ask some detailed questions (if you really know how to do it, it will be very easy. If you don't know how, you will just stop playing). It does not directly ask you to write code, but it increases the difficulty for beginners. This is more suitable for those with several years of work experience.

There are several points to note:

1. Don’t say yes if you don’t, be honest. It doesn’t matter if you fail to meet up with others. It’s not easy to make up for the loss of credibility, and the point is that you can’t get things done if you don’t know how to do it.
2. Don't make false claims on your resume. Write whatever you want on your resume. If there are any differences between technology and management or other things, it will be easy to ask.
3. When looking for a job, you look at hard skills, and everything else is just a matter of time. Getting an interview opportunity is just a matter of time, but preparing for the job is a long-term task.

Let me briefly introduce where to look for a job. I used to use Indeed and Monster before, but I found that LinkedIn is basically enough. You can just go to your door and search. It is very precise and easy to use. It is highly recommended to open a membership (not an advertisement). After becoming a member, those HRs will often send you emails (after all, paying users will actively push them to them). Of course, the best way to find a job is to ask friends for recommendations. People in the company know the company best. They know whether the company needs people and whether you are qualified. This can greatly increase the efficiency of your job search. Open your WeChat, look through your friend list, and ask!

In addition, Wish in the Western Pre-IPO is recruiting a lot of people, and the salary is very good. If you are interested, please contact me and I will help you build a bridge.

Extra chapter

Identity issue

Floating clouds, but they are also carbon monoxide, which seems useless. If it cannot be solved, just hang up.

Questions for brushing up questions

Even if you have worked for several years, you still need to study hard. This is what I dislike. The interview technology algorithm is the core, and even a small company must pass this test. Four years ago, leetcode only had 200 questions, but now there are 600 questions. I have to admire the examination capabilities of Indian and Chinese people.

There are many ways to study the questions on the Internet. Basically, you need to study for 6 hours a day for 3 months. I bought a copy of Crack Coding Interview and studied it for half a month. I have done all the above questions before starting to study. The basics are still very important. If you feel that you are not very good at it, you can also buy a course. A few hundred dollars can release you a lot.

but! The point I want to say is not how to solve the questions, but to say that solving the questions is not a panacea, nor does it mean that you can get an offer after completing all the questions. For example, writing questions is like a whetstone, which can sharpen your knife to a very bright finish, but if your knife is only one centimeter long, it will be useless no matter how bright it is. So the key is that you have to get a good knife first. How do you get a good knife? Study hard, do more projects, try more meaningful programs, and do some small things by yourself. These are all ways. If the knife is not good, try to find a way to make it better. Don't just answer the questions. No matter how polished it is, you won't get an offer.

Supplement: The good skills mentioned here refer to ability and experience. The interview process is not just about algorithms. Algorithms are just a stepping stone. When you get to the onsite, they will look at your behavior and ask some very tricky questions. If you have no experience, you will be exposed immediately.

Issues about returning to China

Don't think about working in the United States for a few years before going back. You should go back as soon as possible. The United States is like that. If you stay here for a long time, you won’t be able to go back. There are many more opportunities in China than in the United States, and many conditions are even better than those in the United States.

Of course, not everyone is suitable to return to China. If you want to live a comfortable life and feel that you are not a person who can change the world, it is better not to go back.