2023 𝐒𝐅𝐂𝐂 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡: A Realistic Reflection
Hey folks, I'm here to chat about my job search journey in 2023 within the SFCC. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster, so I thought I'd share my real-deal experiences and some practical advice. Please share your data in the comments.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭. 𝐌𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐨
I've been in the SFCC space since 2018, with over 7 years in IT. I have a Bachelor's in Software Engineering, and I'm close to wrapping up my Master's. English? I'm fluent. For the past three years, I've been navigating roles as a senior engineer, TL, and TA. Two certs ( B2C DEV and B2C Commerce Architect )
2023: 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐇𝐮𝐡?
This year was tough, to say the least. Getting laid off was a stressful ordeal, reminding me of those nerve-wracking early days of job hunting. I ended up applying to more than 200 jobs on LinkedIn alone (85 DEV, 30 TL, and 85 TA), more than 300 in general.
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝
After all those applications, here are some nuggets of wisdom for those on a similar path, especially if you're eyeing remote roles:
1. 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭: It's clear that landing a decent remote TA job is challenging without much experience. Considering relocation? That might open a few more doors.
2. 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝: In the US, there are opportunities, but they're not what they used to be – both in quantity and pay (expect up to a 20% cut). The UK's got some remote options, but the scene's changed quite a bit. Europe? Similar story, but with a slightly better outlook.
3. 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫: The US market's got more options, both remote and on-site, but it's mainly for locals. Finding a remote gig from outside the US? Tough. Expect rates of no more than $36 an hour. The UK's okay if you're already there, with a small drop in rates. The EU offers some remote chances for mid-to-senior devs, but don't expect top dollar.
𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤: 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠
For any role, if you can and want to move, it might be worth considering. Places like Denmark, Sweden, France, and Portugal have some cool opportunities. But let's be real: a lot of it comes down to luck and who you know. Reaching out to old contacts helps, but it's not a surefire win. Personalized cover letters? I sent around 50, but can't say they made a big difference.
𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭
- 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬: The UK and US still lead the pack.
- 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝: Scandinavia is not too far off.
- 3𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞: Spain, France, Italy, Emirates and Ukraine – rates have dropped a bit but are still decent.
- 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫: Germany and Portugal are on the lower end, but don't write them off completely.
𝐖𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐩
So, that's my 2023 job hunt story. It's been a bit of a grind, and I hope my insights help you. Remember, it's a tough market out there, so stay grounded, keep your options open, and best of luck!
#sfcc
