“Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship?”

…We all dread that part of the job application. It’s a question uniquely designed to filter out international students or immigrants during the application process.

There have been times when I ticked yes and I got a rejection email almost immediately! No way the resume was reviewed by an actual person.

And all of that was during the boom. The market was very favorable towards applicants, it’s the norm to submit 100+ applications until you land a suitable role.

But this year has been ugly, the last quarter specifically has been terrible. Lay-offs across various fields. It’s scary, to say the least.

But in today’s letter, I’d like to share some tips on how to get a job or at least how to stay sane in the middle of this insane job market.

Essentially it’s a number game. That’s probably the most important thing to keep in mind in all of these. Apply to as many places as possible. Far and wide! Before it used to be 100 applications, now think 500+.

All you need is a single yes and the pain of all the process before the yes would dissipate.

Because the market is currently saturated with skilled people looking for jobs just like you, it’s not strange that you’re getting rejected for positions you’re well qualified for.

The point is; don’t judge your effort by the number of interview invites you’re getting. But rather adjust your success metrics to the number of rejections.

The easiest way to think about this; if you’re not getting enough rejection emails, it means you’re not submitting enough applications. The number of applications you submit is within your control, as against the number of interview invites you get.

I’ve helped friends get their first interview with HR just by passing their resume along. It’s not uncommon for this to happen. As a matter of fact, it’s the easiest way to get a job these days.

So tap into your network, and let them know you’re in the job market. Sending LinkedIn messages to acquaintances in your network. This is not spam but rather an introductory message. This is particularly helpful if there is an opening in their company.

Now is not the time to self-isolate, feed your body and soul appropriately, and socialize as much as you can. This feeds back to my previous point; you want to leverage your connections.

Applying for a job is very difficult, and there is no easy or fun way to go about it, but you owe it to yourself to do your best to keep sane. Whatever that means to you; strive to achieve it. Running? rewarding yourself with episodes of your favorite TV show? make it happen!

I like to hang out on subreddit, and X, it’s a space to connect with people in similar situations and read about how they’re navigating the entire process, this in itself can be very therapeutic.

For H1Bs:

If you have a job and you’re about to get laid off, be sure to ask about the severance package!

Ask your boss for recommendations, and most importantly, don’t burn bridges. It’s a small world, don’t ruin your future chances on the way out.

…

That’s all I have for you this week, don’t forget to share this newsletter with a friend!

Augustus.