I've noticed a trend in the IT job market where employers are listing an exhaustive number of requirements in their job postings. It's like they expect candidates to check every box perfectly! I took a job about 8 months ago that seemed to match my skills on paper, but now I'm feeling really stagnant and not learning anything new at all. What's the deal? How are people actually moving up in their careers these days? I applied for jobs that would have been a step up for me, but I didn't even get an interview. What's it like trying to advance nowadays?
5 Answers
As a hiring manager in a government agency, I can tell you that we have to deal with a lot of applicants who don't even meet basic job qualifications. To filter them out, we end up padding job descriptions with tons of requirements. It’s frustrating for everyone involved. Just last year, I interviewed someone without any relevant experience for a senior UNIX role. Unless you meet nearly every single requirement on those postings, you might not even get a look.
It sounds like a real nightmare trying to find the right candidates when the resumes are full of people with no appropriate experience!
It's all about supply and demand right now. There are just so many qualified professionals looking for roles that employers can afford to be picky. When they get hundreds of applications for a single position, they lean towards those who meet every single requirement. If you're not a close match, you'll probably be passed over, even if you could do the job just fine.
So true! I've seen so many roles where they're almost impossible to meet all the criteria, and it really discourages applicants.
Exactly, it’s just a game of chance these days. Even a strong resume doesn’t guarantee an interview.
To be honest, I don't think employers are really hiring right now. Some listings feel like scams or just placeholders. I’ve sent out hundreds of applications where I matched 100% of the qualifications and still got ghosted. The industry feels like it’s become more about who you know rather than what you know.
Networking is definitely key! It's annoying, but sometimes it’s just about getting your foot in the door.
It's incredibly frustrating when you put in so much effort and don't see any results.
If you want to move up, you need to take steps on your own as well. Ask for more responsibilities at your current job or work on side projects to hone your skills and stand out. Building a home lab can showcase your passion and hands-on abilities. I've found that during interviews, I was asked about my side projects and it really helped me get noticed!
That's great advice! I've always thought about building one but didn't know it could make such a difference.
Really good point! It shows you're proactive and genuinely interested in growing your skills.
The job market has definitely shifted. It used to be more acceptable to hop from job to job, but now it seems like you really have to dig in and stick around for growth. As you said, lots of roles are filled internally, and external candidates are almost an afterthought. It’s becoming a grind where you have to prove yourself, which can be demoralizing if you're feeling stuck in your current role.
Yeah, and with the economy the way it is, people are just trying to keep their jobs instead of hunting for new opportunities.
Totally agreed. It seems like the only way to level up these days is through internal promotions.
I get that, but doesn't that also scare off qualified candidates? It feels like a lose-lose situation.