Ask A Recruiter - Tech

I really struggle in technical interviews and have been passed over some good jobs. However, I am very capable and get amazing job reviews every year. I’m getting promoted at my job. But I feel like I… more

I wish I had a recruiter friend who showed me their stack: ATS, sourcing tools, AI resume screeners, outreach automation… With all these tools, is there something simple we’re overlooking? Do you feel… more

I was chatting with our Cloud Ops lead about our latest AWS bill, and the shift from training costs to "inference costs" is staggering. We’re now hiring specifically for engineers who understand how to … more

Just when we all thought AI peaked and bubble is about to burst, new stuff comes along and pushes the limit. It's been good 2 years now of the AI bubble is going to burst. IMO, I dont think the bubble is going anymore, … more

I once went through a hiring process where the technical interview was great, but the recruiter conversation felt rushed. It made me realize how important that first interaction is in shaping the over… more

Can't help but think that my colleague that coasts all the time once was chosen by a recruiter and hiring manager. How do you fall into the trap? Do you have a method to catch coasters?

Expecting my first child in two months and currently interviewing for Staff-level roles. When is the best time to bring up paternity leave? I’ve stayed quiet so far to avoid bias, but I won’t compromi… more

Recently I spent quite a bit of time updating my resume and realized I kept adding more technologies instead of explaining the impact of my work. It made me wonder what actually matters more from a re… more

I work at a big tech company and I don’t agree with their broader political stances (specifically with AI). Has anyone left a company over political or social issues?

I'm curious what's the highest salary you've ever hit in tech and how long did it take you to get there? Not TC, just base. And did it feel like enough when you got there?

Communication might be the most important skill in tech right now. I once interviewed a developer who explained everything perfectly in the interview… but later daily updates from him were one-liners.… more

When recruiters reach out on LinkedIn and we respond late, does that reduce interest? Sometimes messages get buried. I’ve always wondered how timing affects perception.

Apparently, working at many different places is a red flag? I'd imagine tech recruiters know how the tech world is with all the constant layoffs, but somehow every time I've been interviewed, … more

I keep getting ghosted after final-round interviews, and I give up after one follow-up. Am I not doing enough, or am I right in thinking that if I haven't heard after that follow-up, I haven't… more

What’s something you used to optimize for in your career (title, comp, prestige, stability) that you now realize wasn’t actually the right metric? I’m noticing priorities shift as markets shift, and i… more

How do you personally define “high potential” in a candidate? Is it pattern recognition, speed of learning, communication style, risk tolerance? I think everyone uses the term, but I’m not sure we mea… more

I am currently a PM but want to make the change/shift to management. What’s the best way to show I am ready for a management role?

I worked for the same company for five years, but under three different contracts that involved three different legal entities, and this is reflected in my CV and LinkedIn. After receiving a rejection… more

Is it okay for candidates to be honest that they are exploring multiple offers? I prefer transparency, but I’m not sure how recruiters interpret that. Does it help move things faster or create pressur… more

If you’ve been laid off before, did it change how you interview or evaluate companies? I feel like once you’ve experienced it, you start listening for completely different signals in interviews.

For those who’ve hired before: what’s one green flag on a resume that most candidates don’t realize is powerful? Not buzzwords — something subtle that instantly signals maturity or ownership.

Are tech recruiters still prioritizing formal degrees, or are portfolios/GitHub profiles becoming the main deciding factor? I need to figure out what the change I need to focus on is, because I'm … more

Does it happen more often that you onboard someone to fix a mess or to create something new? I noticed that sometimes you are told that you are joining for a new greenfield amazing project only to rea… more

I’m curious how much “timing” actually drives hiring decisions. Have you ever passed on a strong candidate simply because the team dynamic or business priorities shifted that week? How much of recruit… more

I recently applied to a tech company in Detroit. I was not aware that Detroit had a tech start up scene. Anyone from that area that can vouch for tech start ups in the Detroit area?

When candidates are slightly overqualified for a role but genuinely interested, how is that perceived? I sometimes worry recruiters assume we’ll leave quickly. Does that concern come up often?

At what point do you think about switching jobs due to stress? I’ve been pulling all-nighters recently for work. Working on weekends, everything.

I was recently asked to apply for a different job that I had originally applied for earlier. Is it common for a company to change job description and requirements midway through an interview?

I prepare questions for the end of the interview every time, but sometimes I fear it feels scripted. When do a candidate’s questions feel on point to you? What signals tell you they get what the role … more

Do recruiters actually check portfolios, GitHub, or side projects for experienced developers? I always wonder how much those influence decisions beyond the resume. Are they still valuable?

Are candidates welcome to ask about the operational/functional approach of the existing team of the company you're interviewing for? I feel like every time I ask about it, there's a weird sile… more

How do recruiters view candidates who prefer staying individual contributors instead of moving into management? In tech, many of us want to stay hands on. Does that ever get seen as lack of ambition?

Have you been recruiting during / after an acquisition? It is not that uncommon for people to find themselves in the middle of a merge these days... What changed in the way you work?

We just wrapped a pilot using autonomous AI agents for our tier-1 support, and the results were humbling. It didn't just "automate" tasks; it forced us to realize how messy our internal documentatio… more

I've been using LinkedIn for awhile to find jobs but it seems like Im always competing with 1000s of applicants. Is Indeed better? Last time I used Indeed, my inbox was flooded with recruiters fro… more

What’s the best way to negotiate travel? There is a job I really want but the travel requirement is higher than I want because I have young kids. How can I negotiate that without risking losing the op… more

When candidates follow up after interviews, does it actually help or just add more emails to your inbox? I always debate whether to send a note or not. What’s your honest take?

Just had an interview and got asked how many and which AI tools I'm proficient with. Is that the new requirement? I've spent no time upskilling in that area, and it seems that not getting to i… more

At what point does an IT Master’s degree start to lose its 'shelf life'? I’m two years post-grad and working in the field, but I opted for a broad IT education rather than specializing in a sp… more

What could a be a way of regaining a chance even if I got officially rejected?Just ended a tech interview that didn't go that well... I made some mistakes, but I really liked the role and I still … more