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PaperclipPerfector  2mo ago (text post)   2955 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for September 21, 2025

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Any strategies for bypassing automated screenings or similar?

Networking. Make a list of your Linkedin contacts and where they work today. If it's something relevant for you, and they know who you are (otherwise why would they be in your Linkedin?), send them a nice message asking for internal referral. Doesn't matter if you haven't talked to them for ages - just say something "we were colleagues once, now I am looking for job, does your company hire? Could there be something you could refer me for?" something like that. Worst thing, they would refuse or ignore and you wasted one email message. Best case, you have a good way around most initial screens.

Also, being fired is super stressful. There's no way around it. Take time to self-care and do whatever helps for you - the gym, walks, music, food, whatever it is - take time to self-care. Financial par is important, but psychological part is no less important.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll probably start adding people on LinkedIn this week in preparation.

And yeah it is! I was very young during the GFC and confused why people were freaking out about losing their jobs—isn't that a good thing? You get to stay at home all day and relax! Now I understand. I can only imagine what it's like to get laid off while having a family to support.

Networking

I don't know how common references are in your field these days, but it'd probably be good to trade non-work contact info with colleagues who would be willing to be references for each other if necessary. It's common to lose access to corporate resources immediately in these situations today, so it might be hard to get the phone number of the guy one desk over who you've worked with daily.

OP: it sucks, I've been through it. Take solace in that it's not about you as a developer, and doesn't reflect on your abilities.

This is a great idea. Thanks!

I should clarify that I'm not a developer, but an equipment and process engineer in a semiconductor fab, so tech-y but not "tech" in the traditional sense. Regardless, thanks for the kind words.

I've heard that's a tough field in terms of work-life balance. There does seem to be a lot of US interest in it of late (I guess I can't speak to the last 6 months), at least moreso than a decade or so back. I wish you the best of luck!

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