"How do I get a job at a FAANG company?"

This is by far the most common question I get asked when people book a free call with me.

FAANG offers a lot for your career:

• A reputable name on your resume
• A multi-six-figure salary to build your savings
• Excess resources to pour into your growth as a dev

Regardless of my feelings about FAANG – People clearly want in.

And landing a FAANG job is something I've done before.

Here's the thing:

Everybody already knows what TO do

It's the same process as every other job:

Get Skilled ➡️ Apply ➡️ Interview ➡️ Sign

But the reason most people don't get in is because do the WRONG things.

So I'm not going to tell you what to do.

I'm going to tell you what NOT to do.

Here are the 3 things I would NOT do to get a job at FAANG

(or any big tech company):

Apply Once

This is BY FAR the main thing I see people get wrong.

Them: "I got rejected by Google"

Me: "How many times did you apply?"

Them: "Once"

This is the best way to never get in.

KEEP APPLYING.

Here is how many times I have applied at each of these FAANG companies:

Amazon – 11 applications – 2 Interviews – 1 offer

Google – 9 applications – 2 Interviews – 0 offers

Microsoft – 6 applications – 0 Interviews – 0 offers

All of these took place over 5 YEARS

Sure, there are easier ways to get in.

Some people get in right out of college.

But if you are coming from:

• An average city
• An average education
• An average background

As I did – Then you're going to have to PUSH to get in.

Show them you are serious.

Not Understanding the Company

I know everybody likes to group FAANG companies into one neat little "big tech" box.

But each of these companies has:

• Unique systems
• Unique values
• Unique goals

Not understanding these before you step foot in the interview is going to show them that you did no research about the company.

The last thing any company needs is a "bad egg" who doesn't understand (or care about) the company culture.

Take some time to understand the company:

• Why they exist
• How they operate
• Where they are going

They will appreciate that you did the research.

It shows you care.

Thinking The interview is Just LeetCode

This is another mistake people get wrong – and something I think I got wrong myself.

During one of my interviews at Google, I was told:

"dress however you want"

What did I wear?

• A dingy grey T-shirt
• A broken-in pair of jeans
• Some sneakers that I always wore

In every interview I went into I was the worst-dressed person.

At the time I didn't realize I did anything wrong.

Later on, I realized that it was a bad Idea.

PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE

They make subconscious judgment calls in the blink of an eye.

Those subconscious judgments influence their conscious thoughts.

Which of these guys looks like they are getting a $200,000/yr job?

Sure their skills will have to be proven, but that snap judgment you just made in an instant will subconsciously influence every conscious judgment you make throughout your entire interaction. Don't assume anybody is above this.

• How you dress
• How you walk
• How you speak

Will always matter

They always will.

With that being said:

• Dress well
• Practice speaking
• Actively work on yourself

It all adds up.

_______________________________

Thank you for reading this week's newsletter.

I appreciate all of you who read to the end.

Email me at swdlodonnell@gmail.com with any questions

Check out my free course if you are learning to code

Book a free 30-minute call with me if you want to chat or have any questions.

Until next week!