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

[JLova]

If you black you gotta have a corporate voice. Practice that shyt until you start to speak like that on accident on some sorry to bother you steez

Sad, but true.

As for getting jobs. You gotta come in confident, knowledgeable and friendly in the interviews. I have a good resume, but also have mastered the interview process. Gotta know how to speak professionally and out the interviewer at ease. Cuz they are already pre judging you.

 

[Complexion]

A lot of the best positions in tech are filled internally or via personal recommendation, not the interview. They hold those just to make it look like they gave everyone a fair shake but its often already decided long before then so tell him to work on his connects in the field.

 

[Buddy]

 

[#BOTHSIDES]

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.

Good tips bro. I’ll let him know.

 

[#BOTHSIDES]

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.

Yup it’s sad. I’m happy they’re letting him go in a way. He was over his position. it really forces him to do something else. It’s either sink or swim at this point

 

[O.T.I.S.]

It’s a thing, especially out in the corporate world.

In government and military, not so much.

Just tell him to be cool and talkative

 

[O.T.I.S.]

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

True but it’s hard being a person of color and introvert.. especially black

I notice they don’t like the quiet type of black man. You kinda got to go with the flow of things. Got to be one of the smart ones AND at the least be a cool person to converse with.

AI isn’t as poppin as people think imo, but I’m not in the corporate world. My cousin got in the game with minimal experience because he knew his shyt with coding and is comfortable/confident talking to white people (his wife is a darkskinned black woman too, but she is also comfortable doing the same).

This antisocial militant shyt many portray on here will have you fukked up in the tech field

 

[#BOTHSIDES]

True but it’s hard being a person of color and introvert.. especially black

I notice they don’t like the quiet type of black man. You kinda got to go with the flow of things. Got to be one of the smart ones AND at the least be a cool person to converse with.

AI isn’t as poppin as people think imo, but I’m not in the corporate world. My cousin got in the game with minimal experience because he knew his shyt with coding and is comfortable/confident talking to white people (his wife is a darkskinned black woman too, but she is also comfortable doing the same).

This antisocial militant shyt many portray on here will have you fukked up in the tech field

Big facts!!! Good tips bro. I appreciate it

 

[Complexion]

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

In that case its time to show and prove if he wants an in. Not his field but lets say he worked in cyber security he could sniff the network, escalate then send the CEO an email from himself mentioning how he should employ him then tell him to check his schedule for the appointment he's already booked in using his secretaries credentials.

Thats the script, he'll just have to adapt it to his environment, if he has the skills. Thing is with the field is that its oversubscribed in the areas everyone picks and thus there is a handful of star players that are up on whats really needed. Lots of solid C class coders but only a few A+++ all day who make the pay grade. People training now to catch up are too late because those one step ahead are rinsing the current prospect whilst quietly learning whats next because they work at the cutting edge so its always the same horses leading the pack.

Introvert or not its the network that will get him the placement as he'll know about the script because programmers roll with crews and always pull their team in as that increases their access to information which means they'll be one step ahead again. The firms are also remarkably lazy in upping someone pay unless you step to em because they bank on the programmers being meek and taking what they're given vs any possible anxiety they may feel when saying "Give me more or I leave". Actually I've just had an idea:

Tell him to find a specialist recruiter (the kind that charges a placement fee) and ask him to appraise his CV and chances. That will show him the lay of the land and may just land him an interview because outside of personal recs the recruiter has next.

 

[The Plug]

In that case its time to show and prove if he wants an in. Not his field but lets say he worked in cyber security he could sniff the network, escalate then send the CEO an email from himself mentioning how he should employ him then tell him to check his schedule for the appointment he's already booked in using his secretaries credentials.

Funny but that might be doing too much.

 

[Complexion]

Just an example to show what gets attention in a field thats quite competitive for those who aren't. Its the creativity they crave. Someone who can think different and does it because then the only thing that matters is results and they'll pay whatever you want to use your skills.

Most of the best in opsec went from black to white hat using a similar approach because it says "I'm indispensable" by way of their actions and thus is an advert itself. Extreme but illustrative of the field.

 

[GreenGhxst]

just be cool

I hate how some black folks confuse having good communication skills with c00ning and selling out

no nikka, you just unsociable and dont have enough charisma to be charming and professional

 

[greatone]

Yup it’s sad. I’m happy they’re letting him go in a way. He was over his position. it really forces him to do something else. It’s either sink or swim at this point

It might be best for him in the long run. Since being laid off I make way more at my new job. I actually get raises at the new job. At my old job my raises were trash (1.5-3%). All my former coworker who were also let go make way more money now at their new job. That should let you know how underpaid my old company was paying us.

 

[↓R↑LYB]

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

I'm introvert as well so that shouldn't be an issue.

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.

Like I thought, sounds like your cousin has old technical skills. If he's at the same place for 12 years and he hasn't got a promotion or raise it's likely because in 12 years he hasn't learn any new technologies.

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 doesn't take 5 years to become a data scientist. It also sounds like he's lazy. One of those dudes that talks about what he wants to do but never does it.

He's an introvert, with washed skills, and he's lazy. No wonder they're letting him go

 

[↓R↑LYB]

True but it’s hard being a person of color and introvert.. especially black

I notice they don’t like the quiet type of black man. You kinda got to go with the flow of things. Got to be one of the smart ones AND at the least be a cool person to converse with.

AI isn’t as poppin as people think imo, but I’m not in the corporate world. My cousin got in the game with minimal experience because he knew his shyt with coding and is comfortable/confident talking to white people (his wife is a darkskinned black woman too, but she is also comfortable doing the same).

This antisocial militant shyt many portray on here will have you fukked up in the tech field

Y'all really gotta stop pushing this narrative, especially if you don't have any first hand experience in the corporate world.

It's like hearing someone say black people are hated globally and they've never been on a plane.

You can be an introverted, quiet black man in corporate America and nobody is going to bother you. The only thing that matters is if you're effective at your job.

You don't have to tap dance, c00n, or any of the shyt you regularly hear from dudes on here.