“I’ve applied to 850+ companies…and I’m too lazy to prepare for interviews.”That one sentence, shared anonymously on Reddit, has resonated with thousands of programmers and new graduates who have navigated tough markets in recent years.The post was not just a denial. It showed that many young people are struggling with it in silence – tiredness from looking for a job. Hundreds of applications, months of uncertainty, interviews that don’t follow a clear path, and the fear of falling behind have left many wondering if they’re preparing for the right skills at all.
850 software engineer jobs spark controversy in today’s hiring market
Eight months, hundreds of applications and only eight interview calls
The software engineer, who has one year of technical experience and six months of full-time experience in backend development, shared that he applied to more than 850 companies.Of them, only eight companies responded.Some interviews resulted in offers, while others ended without contacting the employer. The offers he eventually received, he said, came from organizations whose work life did not match his expectations.The incident left him questioning everything.He admitted that he gradually stopped doing data structures and algorithms (DSA) because most of his interviewers did not focus on them.Instead, the interviews revolved around real conversations.“They didn’t ask anything about my resume,” he wrote, adding that the interviewers were more interested in clear concepts, backend concepts and simple middle-of-the-road conversations than competitive programming questions.For someone who had spent months preparing for a typical technical interview, the experience was jarring.
“Hire playbook seems to be broken”
The post attracted hundreds of comments from engineers, employers and job seekers who said they were facing similar challenges.An experienced software developer noticed that the industry was facing unusual shocks.“On the one hand, companies are not finding the right people to fulfill their positions. On the other hand, candidates are not receiving callbacks or being given jobs because their skills do not match the company’s expectations.” We are in a very strange situation.Several users reported that there is no longer a single mode of communication.Some companies emphasize DSA and system design. Others focus on information about the job. Startups may prioritize problem-solving skills, while larger organizations often emphasize communication, ownership and teamwork along with technology.Many commenters noted that this lack of transparency has been one of the biggest challenges for applicants.
“Don’t let eight interviews define the market”
Perhaps the most encouraging responses came from experts who had gone through similar phases.One engineer, who had just been laid off, admitted that being rejected repeatedly after several rounds of interviews was exhausting.One user summed up the uncertainty of today’s job market with a simple message:“Go ahead. Everything changes on Tuesday evening.”Some reminded the original poster that asking eight questions does not represent the entire job market.One commentator advised her to accept the best opportunities available, to continue applying elsewhere and to continue preparing for interviews without putting too much pressure on herself.Several members of the community also shared a list of remote platforms and recruitment websites around the world, encouraging him to expand his search instead of relying on traditional job portals.
What students and graduates can learn
For engineering students and recent graduates, this workshop provides valuable information.Preparing for coding interviews is still important, but employers are looking for more than just LeetCode. Practical skills, internships, communication, backend concepts, cloud technologies, management skills and understanding of global software systems are becoming equally important in many organizations.Another lesson is psychological.Job hunting today is no longer a numbers game where every application guarantees an answer. Rejections often reflect market conditions, hiring freezes or changing business priorities rather than the candidate’s skills.Career experts often advise graduates to keep learning, keep building, ask for feedback after interviewing if possible and get comfortable with their first job.A first job may not always be a dream job—but it can be a stepping stone to one.The anonymous Reddit post may have started as a cry for help, but the responses it received were a powerful reminder to the thousands of young professionals reading this: in today’s job market, courage can be just as important as technical skills.Disclaimer: This article is based on a public discussion on Reddit. The experiences shared are individual opinions and may not represent the practices of all companies or technology companies.