This is my experience applying to software developer/engineering roles over the last 1.5 years.

Posted by BrosefFTW21

26 comments

  1. Data gathered from a private spreadsheet.
    Visual tool used: sankeyart.com

  3. Where are you finding in person applications in 2025?
    Last in person application I found was 2009. All my other attempts were, “thanks for asking; please apply on line.”

  4. What is an in person application? You walk into a software company with your resume? Networking events? Or something else

  5. Uhh ehh, so you just showed up in their offices asking for a job? Without referring to any opening?

    Edit: I didn’t want to express skepticism, I geniuinely didn’t understand what OP meant by “in person”. Did they call? Were they referred by someone? Did they chose to visit companies with or without open jobs?

  6. *Not the Boomer advice!* 🫣

    Jk. So for the 3 in person applications, did they have a job ad up in the window or something? Or did you just shoot your shot? 

    I just got done a hiring round on Indeed and I swear, if someone decent had walked in off the street, I might’ve hired them. 

  7. Targeting small to medium companies and never applying online have been the best career advice for over a decade

    People hate to hear that cuz “click to send application” is way less work

  8. As a Manager for a small-medium size company (120ish employees), I will always give precidence to people that come in-person and ask to meet or hand in an application.

    You actually get to learn something about the person as opposed to receiving a generic resume that has been sent to 100’s of other places. A little effort goes a long way.

  9. Most of the businesses I apply to will not see anyone in person, or even engage you in any manner outside of through the portal they choose, and will not respond to any HR emails. I have often asked to send a cover letter when the form does not allow for it. No one has ever responded.

    If you show up in person you would be tazed until you can’t grow eyebrows.

  10. Might not be relevant but I applied for a position via LinkedIn and received zero response from the company. I then applied through their website and received a call the next day. 

    So many people just hit the quick reply button on LinkedIn that I bet the HR person that reads them gets overwhelmed. 

  11. This is the way. I’ve been hiring software developers for 20 years. You’d be surprised how difficult it is to find quality people. And putting an ad up to find a developer is a very similar experience to using online dating sites to try to find a girlfriend.

  12. As soon I see the applitrack I don’t even bother

  14. I think the issue is applying on linkedin, not that you applied online. You’re supposed to just use linkedin/indeed to find the jobs, then you go to the company’s website to apply through their own application portal. Regular job hoppers know this.

  15. This is exactly what happened to me. I wanted to go in person to see what kind of place it was, and I left my resume. It remained an anecdote since it was for an online recruitment company.

  16. I have had an inkling for a while. Without personal communication you are pretty dead in the water. Good on you with the initiative!

  17. Hopefully not a dumb question, but what do you mean by applying in person? In my experience software companies don’t often have “help wanted” posters in the window

  19. 3 in person job applications resulting in 3 interviews. Bro are you like the luckiest man on the planet or something?

  20. That’s exactly how I got my current programming job- walked in and introduced myself to the receptionist. My previous application was a 7-interview nightmare where I never met anyone in person. After that I decided to start walking into places with a resume printed in color on high quality paper. One office visit later I had an offer in hand. I know, boomer solution, but it’s a real thing. Target the exact small or medium size business that is a fit for you, research their staff and know who the admins are. Get your outfit calibrated to match their staff, pick the right moment in the day when they aren’t busy if possible, and then take your shot. Yes, first I filled out the online application so they had my info electronically. Then dropped a resume off anyways and had a few minutes of invaluable small talk at the front desk. In a world where they get thousands of online applications, being the ONLY person to show up in person has got to be worth something. If nothing else it shows you are a real person who is in the right zip code.

  21. While I suspect outcomes vary I can say having started a shop that grew to about 40 people we hired nearly everyone that came by in person for one role or another.

    I believe initiative is one of the most important traits a person can have and an in person effort shows that right off the bat. It also provides a sense of how a person will fit in better than an online resume does.

    From a technical perspective having them talk for a minute with a skilled operator was far better at identifying the ones who knew their stuff than a CV.

  23. Yep, if I’ve had a track of all my applications, my graph would look very similar.

  24. I had two interviews in person. It was pretty interesting to go to the final round in person.

  25. I think I applied to 15 jobs myself and 70 via recruiters and I had 25 interviews. 10 2nd rounds 7 final rounds and 3 offers.

    So I would say the market is pretty hot, expected salary for these are all 100k ish

  26. I think I applied to 15 jobs myself and 70 via recruiters and I had 25 interviews. 10 2nd rounds 7 final rounds and 3 offers.

    So I would say the market is pretty hot, expected salary for these are all 100k ish

    All this over the course of 6 month.

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