Cheat sheet · Career
Job search cheat sheet
Opens with creditsFor engineers looking for their next role, from students chasing a first job to experienced engineers changing company. Use it to revise the ideas behind each step of a job search, from choosing targets and writing a resume to comparing offers and starting well.
Curated by Tauseef Fayyaz8 chapters55 concepts168 glossary termsChapters
8 chapters · 55 concepts
1Know your targetDecide which roles, level and companies you are going after, and what they pay. Every later step depends on these choices.6 concepts
- 1Target roleThe specific job title and specialism you are applying for, such as backend engineer or mobile engineer, written down before you apply anywhere.
- 2Job levelThe rung a role sits on in a company's career ladder, such as junior, mid, senior or staff.
- 3Reading job descriptionsCollecting 10 to 20 real listings for your target role and noting which skills, tools and phrases appear again and again, separating must-haves from…
- 4Tiered company listA list of target companies grouped into tiers: reach (dream companies), match (a realistic fit) and safer options, each with a link to its careers page.
- 5Market payThe range companies actually pay for your role, level and location, taken from pay data sites, salary ranges in listings and people you trust.
- 6Your constraintsThe non-negotiables you set before applying: location, remote or on-site, visa sponsorship, minimum pay, notice period and the hours you can give to the search.
6 in this chapterOpen this chapter2Your resumeA one-page resume that survives a few seconds of human scanning and an automated keyword filter.7 concepts
- 1Applicant tracking systemSoftware companies use to receive applications, parse resumes into fields and let recruiters search and filter candidates by keywords, titles and answers to…
- 2One-page, single-column resumeA resume that fits on one page for early and mid career, in one column, with standard section headings, a readable font and exported as a PDF.
- 3Impact bulletsResume bullets written as what you achieved, how you measured it and how you did it, starting with a strong verb and including a number where you honestly can.
- 4Projects sectionTwo or three projects with a one-line description, the stack, one or two results or scale facts, and links to the repository and live demo.
- 5Keyword mirroringUsing the exact words a job description uses for skills you genuinely have, such as "Kubernetes" rather than "container orchestration", in your skills and…
- 6TailoringAdjusting a base resume for each group of similar roles: reordering bullets, swapping a project and matching the summary and skills to the listing.
- 7Career gapsPeriods without a job on your resume, such as study, caring, health, layoffs or relocation.
7 in this chapterOpen this chapter- Proof of workYour resume makes claims; GitHub, projects and a small portfolio prove them to a stranger in two minutes.6 conceptsOpens with credits
- Where and how to applyApply where your targets hire, lean on referrals and direct messages, and keep a tracked weekly rhythm.7 conceptsOpens with credits
- Coding and system design roundsWhat technical rounds in a hiring process look for, and how to show your thinking during them.8 conceptsOpens with credits
- Behavioural rounds and your questionsStories from your own work, calm answers to hard questions and good questions of your own. You are assessing the company too.7 conceptsOpens with credits
- Offers and compensationThe parts of an offer and how to compare them. Look at total compensation, not base salary alone.8 conceptsOpens with credits
- Negotiation and a strong startNegotiate politely with a prepared counter, then set up your first 90 days to go well.6 conceptsOpens with credits
- 9Glossary, A to ZEvery concept in the sheet and the smaller terms it uses, in one list.168 terms
About this sheet
Resume, applications, offers.
Related on Sefism
Picked from the other libraries by shared topics.
Roadmaps
See allChecklists
See all- Job Offer Evaluation Checklist for DevelopersCompare and accept a developer job offer with your eyes open: total pay, equity basics, notice, IP and non-compete clauses, benefits, remote terms, team, growth and negotiating politely.
- Layoff Preparedness Checklist for DevelopersPrepare for a layoff before it happens and act well if it does: emergency fund, documents and contacts, severance, benefits, references, a record of your work and a plan for the search.
- LinkedIn Profile Checklist for DevelopersCheck your LinkedIn profile section by section: photo, headline, About, Experience, Featured, Skills, custom URL, Open to Work, posting and privacy.
Career questions
See all- Can a fresher get a software job in Dubai?It is possible but harder than social media suggests. Most UAE tech hiring is for experienced people, and employers usually prefer candidates who are already in the country or have regional experience. Freshers do best by applying from home to companies with UAE offices, building strong proof of work, and treating a few years of experience as the most reliable route.
- How do I get a developer job with no experience when every job asks for experience?Entry-level postings that ask for experience usually mean evidence that you can do the work, not years on a payroll. Build that evidence with two real projects, a small piece of work for a real user, and targeted applications to roles where juniors are actually hired, then apply anyway when you meet most of the list.
- How do I answer "what are your salary expectations" for my first developer job in Pakistan?Research the range first, then give a range rather than one number, anchored slightly above what you would accept. If you can, ask for their budget before naming yours. Negotiate your first offer politely on base salary and on other parts of the package, and never lie about another offer.
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