HACKER Q&A
📣 Vishal19111999

I am an ex-founder, why is it so tough to get a job?


I ex-founder of a DevTools marketing company (which consists of 80% development and 20% marketing for reference). I am still getting inquiries for acquisition.

My clients are some of the top developer tools. I quit my company just because, I wanted to do some focussed building work, instead of spending time on servicing clients. As I am a developer and builder at heart.

Moreover people from some VCs (the main ones infact) also told me that although I might make some money, I won't be able to create an impactful company this way in which they would ever like to invest in.

I am also currently building an AI/RAG application which is getting some good traction.

In university I used to be one of the good competitive coders in the whole country. I can crack about any coding interview with some revision for sure.

When I am applying for the positions of product engineer (where they are specifically mentioning that they need someone who can collaborate with product, UX and other teams).

I am still not getting even an interview.

I can't understand why my resume is getting rejected everywhere.

I have talked to some of the best developers and product managers. And I do not feel that I am inferior in knowledge or capabilities at all. And they all have loads of offers and HRs messaging them left and right.

Infact, I think I can help companies grow even any support or help at all.

Any insight would be a great help.

Thanks


  👤 ffmDaddy Accepted Answer ✓
Don't market yourself as a founder. Market yourself as a former employee of your own company. Rightly or wrongly, holding yourself out as a "founder" is going to give a hiring manager the impression that you're going to be difficult to manage. Also, they might believe that your focus is going to be on your own business and not theirs.

I'm going to be brutally honest, the market sucks right now. I haven't seen it this bad since 2008. I just started a new role after 18 months of looking. And the only reason I got it is because I had someone on the inside who fast-tracked my resume to the right people. I have nearly 20 years of experience in software development, btw. I used to have to block recruiters because they would never stop calling. Now? Those recruiters all gave up and became realtors.


👤 beretguy
https://www.theepochtimes.com/article/why-nearly-half-of-us-...

> Companies are using fake online job openings to project an image of growth, keep existing employees motivated, and cultivate a pool of possible future candidates with no intention of hiring, according to research.

This is one of the reasons. Lots of fake job posts out there, 43% according to that article.


👤 Vishal19111999
Before starting this company I was intern at a data company that pays really well. Even as a student more companies were interested in me.