381 lines
10 KiB
Markdown
381 lines
10 KiB
Markdown
# Job Search Strategy
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Systematic approach to finding quality backend engineer positions that match your criteria.
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---
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## Your Non-Negotiables ✅
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**Hard Requirements:**
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- Remote (100% or work-from-home)
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- No on-call/pager duty
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- $130K+ salary
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- Backend engineer role
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- Technologies: Python, Go, Rust (preferred)
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**Red Flags = Auto-Skip:**
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- On-call rotation mentioned
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- Pager duty / 24x7 support
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- "Startup hustle" culture
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- Heavy mentoring expectations
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- Not truly remote
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---
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## Three-Tier Search System
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### TIER 1: Daily (5 min)
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**Purpose:** Stay aware of new postings, catch great opportunities early
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**Boards:**
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1. **WeWorkRemotely** (https://weworkremotely.com)
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- Filter: Dev Engineering, Remote
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- Look for: Established companies, explicit remote culture
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- Why: Curated, trusted companies post here first
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2. **RemoteOK** (https://remoteok.com)
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- Filter: Backend, Python/Go/Rust, Remote, $130K+
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- Look for: Salary upfront, time zone info
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- Why: Smart filters, no guessing on salary
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3. **Built In** (https://builtin.com/jobs/remote/dev-engineering/)
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- Filter: Remote, backend engineer, Python/Go
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- Look for: Startup and scale-up companies
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- Why: Good quality postings from growth companies
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**Action:** 5 minutes, check each board, bookmark promising roles
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---
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### TIER 2: Weekly (20 min)
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**Purpose:** Broader search, check secondary sources, targeted platforms
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**Boards:**
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4. **LinkedIn** (https://linkedin.com/jobs)
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- Filter: Remote, Backend Engineer, $130K+, Mid-Senior level
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- Setup: Create saved search for notifications
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- Look for: Direct company postings, recruiter outreach
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- Why: World's largest network, catches hidden roles
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5. **DailyRemote** (https://dailyremote.com)
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- Filter: Dev, Remote
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- Look for: Freshly posted daily listings
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- Why: Curated daily, less saturated than Indeed
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6. **Indeed** (https://indeed.com)
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- Filter: Remote, Backend Engineer, $130K+, Python/Go
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- Setup: Notification alerts
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- Look for: Less covered roles, niche companies
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- Why: Largest job board, catches everything
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7. **Cord.co** (https://cord.co)
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- Just browse your matches
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- Look for: Companies interested in YOU
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- Why: Passive matching = less competitive
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8. **Language-Specific Boards**
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- Golang.cafe — https://golang.cafe (if interested in Go)
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- RemotePython.com — https://remotepython.com (Python focus)
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- RustJobs.dev — https://rustjobs.dev (Rust focus)
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**Action:** 20 minutes, check each board, bookmark 1-3 interesting roles
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---
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### TIER 3: Monthly (45 min)
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**Purpose:** Deep search, check specialized sources, target specific companies
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**Secondary Boards:**
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9. JobServe — https://jobserve.com
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10. JustRemote — https://justremote.co
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11. Totaljobs — https://totaljobs.com
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12. Hiring Cafe — https://hiring.cafe
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**Target Company Careers Pages:**
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**High Priority (Check Weekly):**
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- Stripe — https://stripe.com/jobs
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- GitLab — https://gitlab.com/careers
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- Automattic — https://automattic.com/jobs
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- Zapier — https://zapier.com/jobs
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**Medium Priority (Check Monthly):**
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- Cloudflare — https://cloudflare.com/careers
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- Vercel — https://vercel.com/careers
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- Shopify — https://shopify.com/careers/search
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- Twilio — https://twilio.com/careers
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**Growth Companies:**
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- Segment — https://segment.com/careers
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- Datadog — https://www.datadoghq.com/careers/
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- Figma — https://figma.com/careers
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- Notion — https://notion.so/careers
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**Action:** 45 minutes, check secondary boards and target company pages, find 2-5 promising roles
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---
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## Filtering Workflow
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### Step 1: Title & Location Check (10 seconds)
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```
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Does it say "Backend Engineer" OR "Platform Engineer" OR "Infrastructure Engineer"?
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Is it marked "Remote" or "Work from home"?
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→ If NO to either: Skip immediately
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```
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### Step 2: Salary Check (10 seconds)
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```
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Can you see the salary?
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→ If shown: Is it $130K+?
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→ If not shown: Check company size/location clues
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→ If clearly below $130K: Skip
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```
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### Step 3: On-Call Check (20 seconds)
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```
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Search job description for:
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- "on-call"
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- "pager duty"
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- "24/7 support"
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- "production ownership"
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- "incident response"
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→ If ANY found: SKIP IMMEDIATELY (hard requirement)
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```
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### Step 4: Tech Stack Check (20 seconds)
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```
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Does job mention:
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- Python? Go? Rust? (preferred)
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- Or Java? C? JavaScript? (acceptable)
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→ If only: C++, C#, .NET, Java only: Lower priority but consider
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→ If only: Frontend-heavy or full-stack: Consider lower
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```
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### Step 5: Company & Culture Check (30 seconds)
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```
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Company mission: Does it align with your values?
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Company size: Startup? Scale-up? Established?
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Team size: How many engineers?
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Growth: Profitable? Funded? Stable?
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→ Red flags: "Hustle culture", "startup energy", "move fast/break things"
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```
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---
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## Verification Process
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Found a position that passes filters? Verify it's real:
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### 1. Find on Job Board ✓
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- Position found on WeWorkRemotely, RemoteOK, etc.
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- Note the posting date
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- Screenshot or bookmark
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### 2. Go to Company Website
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- Search: "[Company Name] careers" in Google
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- Or go directly: company.com/jobs
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- Example: stripe.com/jobs, gitlab.com/careers
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### 3. Find the Exact Role
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- Look for same job title and team
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- Verify posting date (not old)
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- Check if "Apply Now" button is active
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- Read full job description for red flags
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### 4. Get Direct Application URL
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- Copy the direct link from company site
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- This is what you'll use to apply
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- Save in job_search.html dashboard
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### 5. Final On-Call Check
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- Read full job description one more time
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- Search for: "on-call", "pager", "24/7", "incident response"
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- If found: Flag as red, skip application
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- If not found: Proceed to applying
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---
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## Application Workflow
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Once you've found and verified a great position:
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### 1. Get Job Description
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- Copy full job description
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- Save it
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### 2. Build Resume
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```
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/build-resume [paste job description]
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```
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This creates:
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- Customized resume
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- Customized cover letter
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- Job breakdown with strategy notes
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- PDFs ready to submit
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### 3. Apply on Company Site
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- Use direct URL from company careers page (not job board)
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- Submit resume and cover letter
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- Optional: Write personalized cover letter
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### 4. Log Application
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- Update `/home/paul/.claude/projects/-home-paul-Public-resume/memory/applications_tracker.md`
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- Record: date applied, company, role, fit score
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- Set reminder for follow-up (1 week)
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### 5. LinkedIn Connect
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- Find hiring manager or team member
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- Send connection request with personal note
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- Mention: "Just applied for [Role] at [Company]"
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---
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## Batch Application Strategy
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Research shows **3-5 focused applications per week** is better than:
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- ❌ Applying to 20+ per day (low quality)
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- ❌ Waiting weeks between applications (momentum loss)
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- ✓ 3-5 quality fits with customized materials
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- ✓ Consistent follow-up cadence
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### Week 1: Find & Apply
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- Mon: Search, find 3-5 positions
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- Tue-Thu: Build resumes, customize cover letters
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- Fri: Submit all applications
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### Week 2: Follow-Up
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- Connect on LinkedIn with 3-5 hiring managers
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- Check email for responses
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- If no response from initial batch: Pursue interviews from interested companies
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### Week 3: Build on Interest
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- Interview prep for interested companies
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- Continue search for new positions
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- Repeat cycle
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---
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## Search Optimizations
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### Set Email Alerts
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- Indeed: Daily email for "remote backend engineer $130K"
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- LinkedIn: Weekly digest for saved searches
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- WeWorkRemotely: Weekly job alert email
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### Use Advanced Filters
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**Indeed search:**
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```
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(backend engineer OR platform engineer OR infrastructure engineer)
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AND remote
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AND salary:130000
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```
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**LinkedIn search:**
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```
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Title: Backend Engineer, Platform Engineer, or Infrastructure Engineer
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Location: On my own terms
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Salary: $130K-$300K
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Experience: Mid-Senior
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```
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**RemoteOK search:**
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```
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Skills: Backend, Python, Golang, Rust
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Min Salary: $130,000
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Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
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```
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### Customize Searches by Tech
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If you want Python-heavy roles:
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- Add "Django" or "FastAPI" to search
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- Check RemotePython.com weekly
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If interested in Go roles:
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- Add "Go" or "Golang" to search
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- Check golang.cafe daily
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If interested in Rust roles:
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- Check RustJobs.dev weekly
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---
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## Tracking & Metrics
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### Track These
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- Positions found per week
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- Positions verified
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- Applications submitted
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- Response rate
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- Interview conversion
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### Weekly Metric Goals
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- **Find:** 5-10 positions from daily searches
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- **Verify:** 3-5 verified on company sites
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- **Apply:** 3-5 quality applications
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- **Response:** Track replies, interviews, offers
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### Save Search Results
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After finding and verifying a position, save to search folder:
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```
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/job-search track-found [company] [role] [URL] [fit-score]
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```
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This saves search results to `/home/paul/Public/resume/search/` and updates `/home/paul/Public/resume/job_search.html` with your new position.
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---
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## Red Flags Checklist
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### Skip Immediately If:
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- [ ] On-call/pager duty mentioned
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- [ ] 24/7 support required
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- [ ] "Startup hustle" or "move fast" culture
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- [ ] Non-remote (despite claiming "remote friendly")
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- [ ] Heavy management/mentoring emphasized
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- [ ] No salary transparency
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- [ ] Unclear role responsibilities
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- [ ] Negative Glassdoor reviews about work-life balance
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### Yellow Flags (Research More):
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- [ ] Equity-heavy compensation (low base)
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- [ ] Very high meeting culture
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- [ ] Frequent "emergency" incidents mentioned
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- [ ] Rapid team turnover (from research)
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- [ ] Vague about on-call expectations
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---
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## Tools & Resources
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**Files in your project:**
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- `/home/paul/Public/resume/JOB-BOARDS-TO-SEARCH.md` — Complete board list
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- `/home/paul/Public/resume/job_search.html` — Dashboard of 35+ positions
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- `/home/paul/.claude/projects/-home-paul-Public-resume/memory/applications_tracker.md` — Your application log
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**Related skills:**
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- `/build-resume` — Build customized resumes and cover letters
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- `job-search` — This skill, for finding and filtering positions
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---
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## Monthly Check-In
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Once per month, evaluate:
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- **Quality:** Are positions good fits?
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- **Quantity:** Finding enough positions?
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- **Success:** Getting interviews? Offers?
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- **Strategy:** Need to adjust boards or search criteria?
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Update `JOB-BOARDS-TO-SEARCH.md` (in this skill directory) if:
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- A board is consistently low-quality
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- A board is consistently excellent
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- You discover new boards to add
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---
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**Last Updated:** March 18, 2026
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