I've been looking for a developer job for 7 years and can't get one. Why not?

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For the last 7 years, I have been the IT Director at a marketing company. Pretty much since I started, I have been looking for another job, but I’m having trouble even getting interviews.

About me:

• I’m a male in my early 30s.


• I’m responsible for all aspects of IT for my current company, including development.
  
  
  • I’m very skilled in Python, Django, PostgreSQL, Linux, HTML/CSS, and Bootstrap.
  
  
  • I’m pretty skilled in AWS and JavaScript.
  
  
  • I’ve done a couple projects with React - not a beginner; not super proficient.
  
  


• I have a B.S. in Mathematics.


• I completed the coursework for a M.S. in Mathematics (including a master’s project), but to make a very long story short, they require a 3.0 GPA to graduate, and I had a 2.9, so I didn’t graduate. (Fun times.) I denote this as “coursework” or “credit hours” on resumes and the like. This was immediately before I started my current position.


• I started teaching myself about computers when I was an early teen and I am self-taught. I recently got the AWS Developer certification, and for what it’s worth I’m a 3CX Intermediate Engineer (a phone system). I also got an associate-level CISSP but let that lapse (a security certification).


• I have one fairly-decent project on GitHub. It’s enough to prove that I have an in-depth knowledge of Django and can write clean, clear Python.


• I have 1,000-1,500 reputation on StackOverflow (on another account).

About my current company:

• Roughly 25 employees. Been in business roughly 40 years.


• The company specializes in direct-mail marketing and email marketing (more commonly known as junk mail and spam).


• The main company website is awful. But, our CEO designed it himself with Squarespace, and he’s in love with it.


• Our other public websites are pretty basic, and the snazzy client-facing websites are proprietary and require logging in, so I don’t feel like I can share my best professional work.

I’m looking for $90k+ as full-stack web developer (Python/Django, PostgreSQL, etc) in the Dallas area or remote. The 50th percentile StackOverflow career calculator returns $99,000/year.

Why can’t I find another job? Below are all the possible reasons I can think of:

1. I don’t have a degree in computer science.


2. I didn’t finish my master’s degree.


3. It appears that I have a senior-level position and am applying for junior- to mid-level positions. Or, I can’t qualify for a senior-level position because I’m competing against people who are full-time developers, while I can only devote part of my day to development.


4. The city in which I live isn’t big on Django, and the competition to get a remote job is more intense.


5. I currently work in a disreputable industry.


6. My company’s website is awful and this reflects poorly on me.


7. I need to develop a better portfolio.


8. I need more certifications.


9. I need to get professional help for my resume and cover letters. (I think it's fine, but you never know.)


10. I’m not doing anything wrong; I just need to keep applying for more jobs.

None of these seem like they’re dealbreakers, yet I remain unable to get interviews or find a new job. Why?

job-search

share

asked 4 mins ago

Wallace N. Gromit

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For the last 7 years, I have been the IT Director at a marketing company. Pretty much since I started, I have been looking for another job, but I’m having trouble even getting interviews.

About me:

• I’m a male in my early 30s.


• I’m responsible for all aspects of IT for my current company, including development.
  
  
  • I’m very skilled in Python, Django, PostgreSQL, Linux, HTML/CSS, and Bootstrap.
  
  
  • I’m pretty skilled in AWS and JavaScript.
  
  
  • I’ve done a couple projects with React - not a beginner; not super proficient.
  
  


• I have a B.S. in Mathematics.


• I completed the coursework for a M.S. in Mathematics (including a master’s project), but to make a very long story short, they require a 3.0 GPA to graduate, and I had a 2.9, so I didn’t graduate. (Fun times.) I denote this as “coursework” or “credit hours” on resumes and the like. This was immediately before I started my current position.


• I started teaching myself about computers when I was an early teen and I am self-taught. I recently got the AWS Developer certification, and for what it’s worth I’m a 3CX Intermediate Engineer (a phone system). I also got an associate-level CISSP but let that lapse (a security certification).


• I have one fairly-decent project on GitHub. It’s enough to prove that I have an in-depth knowledge of Django and can write clean, clear Python.


• I have 1,000-1,500 reputation on StackOverflow (on another account).

About my current company:

• Roughly 25 employees. Been in business roughly 40 years.


• The company specializes in direct-mail marketing and email marketing (more commonly known as junk mail and spam).


• The main company website is awful. But, our CEO designed it himself with Squarespace, and he’s in love with it.


• Our other public websites are pretty basic, and the snazzy client-facing websites are proprietary and require logging in, so I don’t feel like I can share my best professional work.

I’m looking for $90k+ as full-stack web developer (Python/Django, PostgreSQL, etc) in the Dallas area or remote. The 50th percentile StackOverflow career calculator returns $99,000/year.

Why can’t I find another job? Below are all the possible reasons I can think of:

1. I don’t have a degree in computer science.


2. I didn’t finish my master’s degree.


3. It appears that I have a senior-level position and am applying for junior- to mid-level positions. Or, I can’t qualify for a senior-level position because I’m competing against people who are full-time developers, while I can only devote part of my day to development.


4. The city in which I live isn’t big on Django, and the competition to get a remote job is more intense.


5. I currently work in a disreputable industry.


6. My company’s website is awful and this reflects poorly on me.


7. I need to develop a better portfolio.


8. I need more certifications.


9. I need to get professional help for my resume and cover letters. (I think it's fine, but you never know.)


10. I’m not doing anything wrong; I just need to keep applying for more jobs.

None of these seem like they’re dealbreakers, yet I remain unable to get interviews or find a new job. Why?

job-search

share

asked 4 mins ago

Wallace N. Gromit

1

New contributor

Wallace N. Gromit is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

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up vote
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down vote

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For the last 7 years, I have been the IT Director at a marketing company. Pretty much since I started, I have been looking for another job, but I’m having trouble even getting interviews.

About me:

• I’m a male in my early 30s.


• I’m responsible for all aspects of IT for my current company, including development.
  
  
  • I’m very skilled in Python, Django, PostgreSQL, Linux, HTML/CSS, and Bootstrap.
  
  
  • I’m pretty skilled in AWS and JavaScript.
  
  
  • I’ve done a couple projects with React - not a beginner; not super proficient.
  
  


• I have a B.S. in Mathematics.


• I completed the coursework for a M.S. in Mathematics (including a master’s project), but to make a very long story short, they require a 3.0 GPA to graduate, and I had a 2.9, so I didn’t graduate. (Fun times.) I denote this as “coursework” or “credit hours” on resumes and the like. This was immediately before I started my current position.


• I started teaching myself about computers when I was an early teen and I am self-taught. I recently got the AWS Developer certification, and for what it’s worth I’m a 3CX Intermediate Engineer (a phone system). I also got an associate-level CISSP but let that lapse (a security certification).


• I have one fairly-decent project on GitHub. It’s enough to prove that I have an in-depth knowledge of Django and can write clean, clear Python.


• I have 1,000-1,500 reputation on StackOverflow (on another account).

About my current company:

• Roughly 25 employees. Been in business roughly 40 years.


• The company specializes in direct-mail marketing and email marketing (more commonly known as junk mail and spam).


• The main company website is awful. But, our CEO designed it himself with Squarespace, and he’s in love with it.


• Our other public websites are pretty basic, and the snazzy client-facing websites are proprietary and require logging in, so I don’t feel like I can share my best professional work.

I’m looking for $90k+ as full-stack web developer (Python/Django, PostgreSQL, etc) in the Dallas area or remote. The 50th percentile StackOverflow career calculator returns $99,000/year.

Why can’t I find another job? Below are all the possible reasons I can think of:

1. I don’t have a degree in computer science.


2. I didn’t finish my master’s degree.


3. It appears that I have a senior-level position and am applying for junior- to mid-level positions. Or, I can’t qualify for a senior-level position because I’m competing against people who are full-time developers, while I can only devote part of my day to development.


4. The city in which I live isn’t big on Django, and the competition to get a remote job is more intense.


5. I currently work in a disreputable industry.


6. My company’s website is awful and this reflects poorly on me.


7. I need to develop a better portfolio.


8. I need more certifications.


9. I need to get professional help for my resume and cover letters. (I think it's fine, but you never know.)


10. I’m not doing anything wrong; I just need to keep applying for more jobs.

None of these seem like they’re dealbreakers, yet I remain unable to get interviews or find a new job. Why?

job-search

share

asked 4 mins ago

Wallace N. Gromit

1

New contributor

Wallace N. Gromit is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

For the last 7 years, I have been the IT Director at a marketing company. Pretty much since I started, I have been looking for another job, but I’m having trouble even getting interviews.

About me:

• I’m a male in my early 30s.


• I’m responsible for all aspects of IT for my current company, including development.
  
  
  • I’m very skilled in Python, Django, PostgreSQL, Linux, HTML/CSS, and Bootstrap.
  
  
  • I’m pretty skilled in AWS and JavaScript.
  
  
  • I’ve done a couple projects with React - not a beginner; not super proficient.
  
  


• I have a B.S. in Mathematics.


• I completed the coursework for a M.S. in Mathematics (including a master’s project), but to make a very long story short, they require a 3.0 GPA to graduate, and I had a 2.9, so I didn’t graduate. (Fun times.) I denote this as “coursework” or “credit hours” on resumes and the like. This was immediately before I started my current position.


• I started teaching myself about computers when I was an early teen and I am self-taught. I recently got the AWS Developer certification, and for what it’s worth I’m a 3CX Intermediate Engineer (a phone system). I also got an associate-level CISSP but let that lapse (a security certification).


• I have one fairly-decent project on GitHub. It’s enough to prove that I have an in-depth knowledge of Django and can write clean, clear Python.


• I have 1,000-1,500 reputation on StackOverflow (on another account).

About my current company:

• Roughly 25 employees. Been in business roughly 40 years.


• The company specializes in direct-mail marketing and email marketing (more commonly known as junk mail and spam).


• The main company website is awful. But, our CEO designed it himself with Squarespace, and he’s in love with it.


• Our other public websites are pretty basic, and the snazzy client-facing websites are proprietary and require logging in, so I don’t feel like I can share my best professional work.

I’m looking for $90k+ as full-stack web developer (Python/Django, PostgreSQL, etc) in the Dallas area or remote. The 50th percentile StackOverflow career calculator returns $99,000/year.

Why can’t I find another job? Below are all the possible reasons I can think of:

1. I don’t have a degree in computer science.


2. I didn’t finish my master’s degree.


3. It appears that I have a senior-level position and am applying for junior- to mid-level positions. Or, I can’t qualify for a senior-level position because I’m competing against people who are full-time developers, while I can only devote part of my day to development.


4. The city in which I live isn’t big on Django, and the competition to get a remote job is more intense.


5. I currently work in a disreputable industry.


6. My company’s website is awful and this reflects poorly on me.


7. I need to develop a better portfolio.


8. I need more certifications.


9. I need to get professional help for my resume and cover letters. (I think it's fine, but you never know.)


10. I’m not doing anything wrong; I just need to keep applying for more jobs.

None of these seem like they’re dealbreakers, yet I remain unable to get interviews or find a new job. Why?

job-search

job-search

share

asked 4 mins ago

Wallace N. Gromit

1

New contributor

Wallace N. Gromit is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share

asked 4 mins ago

Wallace N. Gromit

1

New contributor

Wallace N. Gromit is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share

share

asked 4 mins ago

Wallace N. Gromit

1

New contributor

Wallace N. Gromit is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

asked 4 mins ago

Wallace N. Gromit

1

asked 4 mins ago

Wallace N. Gromit

1

1

New contributor

Wallace N. Gromit is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

New contributor

Wallace N. Gromit is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

Wallace N. Gromit is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

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