My bro been trynna get a new job in tech for years. He’s more than qualified. Should he code switch in the interview?

[DreadBrown]

the coli thinks you’re a c00n for speaking differently

You coulda just made this the thread title bro you didn’t have to create a whole scenario

 

[Primetime21]

if it's been "years" code switching is the last thing he needs to worry about.

 

[mindgawn]

Man you should be you. It helps to know someone already i building though.

Mostly I find that interviews with people who feel more than qualified they come off as if they already in. Someone who seems humble but confident usually give better interviews though.

I aint in no position to sound like I know but shyt...I talk how I talk.

 

[papa pimp]

either his soft skills suck, he isnt applying enough, or his resume sucks

 

[klientel]

Depends on what you define as code switching.

If it’s just not using slang, speaking clearly, dressing professional, and just being likable/personable….that’s not code switching

That’s just being professional.

 

[#BOTHSIDES]

You don't have to code switch or do any of that goofy shyt. More than likely your cousin isn't as good as he says he is. I just got my cousin a gig as a ETL Developer a few months ago and she's only been fukking with tech for real for a few months.

If I had to guess he has a trash resume, basic technical skills, and a poor communicator.


Depending on where in the fed he wants to work, he'll need to have various certifications and possibly need to get clearance. And if he doesn't have the skillset to work in corporate America, he probably doesn't have the skillset to work for the government since they're using similar technology.

He’s an introvert but that shouldn’t really matter cuz a lot of tech folks are introverts.

Can you give a little more details? Do he currently have a job in tech or has he been unemployed for years in tech? Is he trying to get a tech job similar to his current role or a entirely differently role? For example moving from a programmer role to a network role might be difficult?

There could be numerous variables beside code switching. If he is trying to move into a leadership role (manager or above) then that might be difficult if you have no leadership experience than if you try to work in a non-leadership role. If he is trying to work for 1 of the FAANG companies (facebook, amazon, apple, netflix, google) that is more difficult than trying to work for a company in the health care industry, education, contractor, etc.

If he is just trying to get a job similar to his current role but at a higher salary, is he at the top pay grade in his current field?

There could be a lot of reasons. That is why a little more details could help.

He worked for one of the major consulting firms for about 12 years in the tech department (AI, Tanium (I think thats what it’s called) and a lot of other teams/positions but they’re letting him go. October is his last month. When asking for a promotion or raise, they were always vague about the details or would move the goal post. There was a white boy I used to work with, he told me they would do the same thing to him—being vague about how to get promoted. so that’s the game corporate plays.

He’d like to become a data scientist…I’m gonna say he’s been studying that, building, interested in that for like the last 5 years… but I think he’s open to remaining in his current role but really just wants more pay. Super underpaid. He gets interviews and ppl reaching out… I think his interview process is where he sucks. He’s open to pretty much any company not just FAANG. I told him about gov jobs that the coli bros mentioned. All his friends have changed jobs like 10 times making $120k-$250k

We know the corporate game… usually shouldn’t stay at a company for more than 2-3 years otherwise you get pigeonholed

 

[⠀X ⠀]

Code switch? How about he just speaks like a professional, if he wants to work in a professional environment.

 

[Splash]

Years my nikka?

 

[MisterMajesty]

If you work for the government you don't have to compete with Indian/Nigerian/Chinese immigrants.

Also the federal government is the largest employer of black people.

USAJOBS - Search

www.usajobs.gov

This also applies to UK Brehs. GOV.UK is an incredible way to get into tech, and it also pays very well and is super stable (well, as stable as you can get)

 

[greatone]

He’s an introvert but that shouldn’t really matter cuz a lot of tech folks are introverts.


He worked for one of the major consulting firms for about 12 years in the tech department (AI, Tanium (I think thats what it’s called) and a lot of other teams/positions but they’re letting him go. October is his last month. When asking for a promotion or raise, they were always vague about the details or would move the goal post. There was a white boy I used to work with, he told me they would do the same thing to him—being vague about how to get promoted. so that’s the game corporate plays.

He’d like to become a data scientist…I’m gonna say he’s been studying that, building, interested in that for like the last 5 years… but I think he’s open to remaining in his current role but really just wants more pay. Super underpaid. He gets interviews and ppl reaching out… I think his interview process is where he sucks. He’s open to pretty much any company not just FAANG. I told him about gov jobs that the coli bros mentioned. All his friends have changed jobs like 10 times making $120k-$250k

We know the corporate game… usually shouldn’t stay at a company for more than 2-3 years otherwise you get pigeonholed

It seems like he shouldn't have a issue with finding a job since he know A.I. and that what many say the future is going to. But I don't work in that industry so I wouldn't know.

I was a similar situation as your friend almost 2 years ago. I worked for a bad company at a low paying job. My company decided to outsource the majority of their I.T.. They paid us a severance so I took a while off before I started looking for a job. When I started to interview for I.T. jobs I experienced 2 type of interviews, the more technical interview and the more non-technical interview that want to know more about my work history and the different projects I worked on. I had more success at the non-technical interviews because I didn't have to remember programming procedures or terms I never or barely used.

Your friend probably have a idea what he struggle on interviews. If your friends has been on 50+ interviews he probably need a get a outside opinion on what he is struggling with. When I was laid off my company hired a 3rd party company to assist people in their job search, resume writing, etc. One of the service it also provide was helping people with their interviews by doing a mock interview. If your friend's company provide this service he might want to use it. If not, he might need to do a practice interview with someone. Also, his local state/city probably provide resources that will help him with the interview process.

 

[TEH]

Listen pal

These high salaries come with some compromises buddy

Watch Drake interviews and mimic everything that he says to get it right …

But yeah seriously you have to …

You have to be able to speak without any grammatical errors …

Most college graduates can do that …

And you have to overly enunciate

Changing your voice and accent isn’t necessary

 

[Professor Emeritus]

Of course he should code switch in the interview, unless it's so awkward for him that it will distract him from the rest of the work. Doesn't mean he has to do it on the job, but at least demonstrating the ability to communicate in that manner is going to make the interviewer more comfortable.

Interviews are performance art, like any audition. You should be honest and upfront, but you're performing in a particular way to demonstrate particular skills you have to get that job, and being able to talk in a manner that shows you can adjust to different environments is part of the audition. Whether or not it "should" be that way, I'm guessing homie cares more about getting the job than about making a cultural statement.

 

[Professor Emeritus]

Listen pal

These high salaries come with some compromises buddy

Watch Drake interviews and mimic everything that he says to get it right …

But yeah seriously you have to …

You have to be able to speak without any grammatical errors …

Most college graduates can do that …

And you have to overly enunciate

Changing your voice and accent isn’t necessary

I agree with that - it's not about your voice/accent, it's about grammar and vocabulary. Not just speaking without errors, but completing every sentence, enunciating your words crisply, only using slang appropriate to the situation, etc.

 

[RadaMillz]

interviewing is a skill on its own like a programming language
u have to master the art of BS'ing and say the right words in the right way
both in person and on the resume

shyt has nothing to do with the actual job, it's a broken system

I sometimes do fake interviews, I pay some indian tech hiring manager like $10 just to stay sharp

 

[JT-Money]

He spent 12 years in the same IT role and never got promoted even once?

He better have a killer resume and Oscar winning interview skills or it's a wrap.