PlanetOfOrd

I've been trying to network with successful people. I always get ignored or ostracized. And can't figure out why. During the time I'm not rejected I'll glean as much as I can.

If you’re not making those connections, something is wrong. It could be the kinds of jobs you’ve taken, eg: if they’re all solo contracts and you don’t interact with anyone on anything other than deliverables. Or you are taking roles where your output is used only by a small sunset of the company or something?

Yeah, that was typically the case, unfortunately. Those were the first companies to hire me. So then I wouldn't be able to make a strong, lasting connection with anyone. There are very few previous coworkers I've managed to stay in contact with. And the ones that do have a replay rate in months.

I haven't figured out why my relationships aren't positive. I'm usually very team-oriented and dive in and solve problems, and try to uncover what my coworkers are really passionate about, so I still can't figure out why I can't "fit in."

Thanks for the encouragement, though. Good to keep in mind.

I feel it out. To some degree EVERY job has SOMETHING that opposes my ideology. So I play it by ear.

Like there was one company I worked for that used invasive telemetry on a product. But still I served as best I could.

Then a couple months ago I was approached by a couple that was dealing with a website issue. After an hour of talking about the issue the owner said, "oh, btw, this is a p*rn site site."

My conscious bothered me. I had to walk away, despite the fact that I really needed the money.

That's what I'm scratching my head about. I'm a white guy, as plain as they come, so I should have every advantage. The only thing I figure is the fact I'm neuroatypical so I don't fit into typical techbro culture (who wants to fit in with that culture anyway?). Is that really a minority and a cause to be rejected so much, though? I don't think it is.

And, yeah, that's the implication I get for corporate speak.

I have over 10 years experience. I am senior level because a few years ago I started to get jobs labeled "senior," so I'm like, "okay, guess I'm senior level now." And freelancing I usually manage the entire project.

I'm located in a major city that has a lot of major tech companies. Got hardcore ghosted (again, with no explanation) by the majority of them years ago, though I will occasionally check back in with anyone from the company who will give me the time of day to see if they need any help.

Regarding the coding challenges. It’s never about the solution, but all about the way to get there.

That must be the problem. I am VERY nonlinear in my problem solving. If you let me go about my task without question you'll see me come up with a solution (and at least ten ways to improve it), but if you look at me doing it you'll wonder what the heck I'm doing.

Not sure how that can be trained out. Or faked. Or explained. Any thoughts?

And, yeah, I'm not sure what compensation would help. In college when I was diagnosed with ADHD (during like my last year) and got additional time on tests, but still struggled to pass them.

I think the compensation would just need to be a crazy messy situation--like a problem the company has been working on for a long time and can't find the answer to, or an open source bug in the wild. Maybe my ADHD brain just get bored in the sterile interview environment. Anyone else have any take?

That's a strategy I am employing. I've messages hundreds of business owners at least half a dozen times in the past year or 2. I'll keep being annoying.

I was wondering if that was possible. I get ignored by startups at the same rate as corporate. I'm always told you have to be dragged through the mud for months of interviews before a company hires you, but I take it you didn't have to do that?

Yes. Seems it's always a tough market. Except during the lockdown. That was awesome. For once.

Even so, I won't let that stop me. Unless you can think of an adjacent adjacent-to-tech sector that hires fast?

Yeah, unfortunately most of stuff that makes me unappealing is stuff I have no control over (at least from what I can tell; maybe I'm playing a victim?)

• As mentioned in another comment, I was fired easily for a lot of my career, and it makes it look like I was job-hopping.
• I know numbers reign supreme on a resume. I haven't yet gotten a job where the numbers of my contribution are given. Even for current clients I've worked with (gotten a product out successfully and they're 100% happy with) I get absolutely no feedback whatsoever from a numbers perspective as much as I beg and plead.

I'd love for someone to tell me why they're passing on me. Literally the only feedback I keep getting is I'm "not a good fit." And then an eerie radio silence from everyone at the company. Not a good fit how? Culture? Skill? Am I not fitting the company vision? Nobody ever tells me! I'm more than willing to adapt, but I need to know how I need to adapt.

Any ideas here is appreciated. Thanks for the encouragement.

I used to get more interviews. I've had my resume looked over by probably over a dozen professionals and nonprofessionals. My work history is definitely spotty. Early on I got fired from most companies I worked for (unmanaged ADHD & I chose companies I wasn't a good fit for) so it looks like I job-hopped.

When I did get interviews I wasn't able to pass any of the coding challenges that companies seem to have a hard-on for these days, no matter how prepared I was for them. I get test anxiety due to a processing disorder, and am unable to perform even at an average level. But when I ask for companies to compensate for that, none are willing to do it. All I can do is just move on.

I do have a bachelor of science in computer science. Been living paycheck-to-paycheck (or worse) for years, so most certs are out of the question.

I have been keeping my tech skills up-to-date, though. I'm very curious so I like to know what's hot. I even use modern tech to help in my search for that golden opportunity (like recently I used pandas to make sense of my LinkedIn connections). Not only that, but in order to establish myself as an expert I also put my 2c in for how we can positively innovate and grow. So, yes, tech does move rapidly. I agree. Good insight.

How did you get the contract? Did you apply for a job ad? Was it a human connection?