5 Job Search Tips I Wish I’d Known Before Moving to Google

Updated 2026/10/16

A job search is less like a competition or an exam and more like a blind date.

Early this year I sent out 100+ resumes and went through three to four months of anxiety before I finally got into Google. Today I want to share five things I wish I’d known before job hunting or switching jobs. I hope they help!

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Mindset: Get Your Head Right and Hold On to Your Belief

The first step in a job search is getting your mindset right. When people face roles or companies with demanding requirements, they often blame themselves for every rejection, and end up frustrated and unsure of themselves. During my search I got rejections from dream companies every day, sometimes within seconds, and for a while I doubted myself and wondered whether my resume just wasn’t good or competitive enough.
Later I realized that a lot of what happens in a job search is out of your control, for example:

• Another suitable candidate finished the whole process before you
• The role was frozen or changed at the last minute
• An internal transfer or promotion took the role
• The experience or personality the team needed just didn’t match yours, so you couldn’t fill the gap they had

There are many factors like these that you can’t control. A rejection may come down to one of them, or the role may simply not be right for you yet, and you might not have enjoyed it anyway. So don’t let a few rejection letters knock you down. Focus on what you can control, like learning new skills and improving your resume, and trust that when the time is right, the right company and role will come along!

Application Order: Build Experience Step by Step

One of the things you can control is the order in which you apply, so you build up enough interview experience to perform at your best.

In my case, I interviewed for my first Google role very early in my search, and unsurprisingly I was quickly rejected because I lacked real interview practice. That’s why I decided to stretch out my search and give myself enough time to build interview experience. I finally got the offer on my third application.

What I learned is that interview performance depends a lot on applying in a sensible order. Along with the mindset from the first point, application order is a big part of being in good shape for a job search, because it largely decides whether you can be at your best in interviews. If you’re at your best when you interview, the interviewer’s first impression of you will be better too.

Looking back on my search, one big realization, and something I didn’t notice back then, is that interview performance improves with practice, and that practice usually comes from real interviews and mock interviews. In my first few interviews, for example, I had prepared a very thorough bank of answers, with dozens of common questions and my draft responses, but when you’re not in the right state it’s really hard to do well.

So if I could do it again, this is how I’d plan my interviews:

• Give yourself plenty of time: plan a timeline of at least three months and prepare for a long haul. Remind yourself that you won’t land a job in one step, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Schedule some rest during that long stretch too.
• Fail fast, fail often: early in your search, don’t rush to apply for your dream job or dream company. Start with roles at what you consider Tier 2 or even Tier 3 companies, so you can get used to being in job-search mode and pick up some interview experience and industry knowledge.
• Self-reflection: early on you’ll try a lot and fail a lot. After each failure, look back and think about what you didn’t do well in the interview or on your resume, so you can adjust before the next application.

Referrals: Build Your Network and Raise Your Conversion Rate

As this chart shows, out of the 89 applications I tracked, 3 of the 5 interviews I eventually got came from referrals.

If I’d known referrals converted that well, I would have spent more time setting up coffee chats and reaching out to people, instead of just mass-applying.

Later in my search, I found that standing out sometimes takes an unconventional move. Besides dutifully applying through job sites and company websites, I needed to find real, living people at those companies and connect with them. Referrals were only part of the reason. By showing curiosity and enthusiasm, I got the chance to learn a lot that you can’t find online. If they share what their workday looks like, the challenges they face and the skills the job needs, that information can help a lot with your interview answers!

These conversations also made me more confident in my search. Reaching out works far better than leaving your resume stuck in endless screening systems. A relaxed coffee chat helps the other person get to know you and leaves a better impression. Next time a new role opens up, they might think of you first!

In short, the next time I switch jobs or look for one, I’ll put more effort into connecting with real people instead of trying to win by sending out a flood of resumes. I’d also encourage you to do more coffee chats and build connections with people inside the companies you want to join. You’ll get more inside information, they’ll get to know you, and you’ll be more competitive in hiring. Connecting with people also builds confidence, so the job search feels less lonely.

Deliberate Action: Prepare Thoroughly and Be Ready for Opportunities

A job search means deliberately learning about your target industry and role and putting in targeted effort. Beyond adjusting your application order, building connections and even making a point in interviews of showing the homework you’ve done, I’d also recommend getting broad exposure early to the industries and roles that interest you.

When I was moving into tech, I didn’t understand the industry’s non-technical roles, so early on I had no clear direction and applied for everything from project manager to product manager to marketing roles. If you get broad exposure early, for example by listening to podcasts or following experts in the field, you’ll have a better sense of direction. Taking in this information on purpose helps you build up knowledge faster, so you can act right away when an opportunity shows up.

Often dozens or hundreds of people are competing for the same role. So when your dream company happens to post a fitting role that also matches your level and years of experience, being prepared ahead of time lets you stay calm and apply without scrambling.

Find Allies: Get Through It Together

Last of all, remember to check in with yourself. Take time to stop and notice how you feel and what you think, reflect on your motivation and passion, and get your drive and confidence back. I completely ignored this at first. I thought a job search was like an exam, something I could fight through alone to the end. But one thing I strongly encourage is to find allies to prepare with.

I talked about mindset in the first point, but you’ll still have discouraging or depressing moments during a job search, and it can be hard to share them with friends who are at a different stage of life. Besides friends, try finding strangers who are also job hunting, or stay in touch with other candidates you meet during interviews. Trading job search tips and sharing what’s on your mind relieves stress, and sometimes it puts you in better shape for interviews.

Some forums can help you find like-minded people, such as Dcard’s job board and open LINE groups. Back then I didn’t look for allies there or share job search progress with anyone, so I had no one to lean on through that hard but meaningful stretch.

Final Thoughts: A Job Search Is Like a Blind Date

Finally, keeping a calm, healthy mindset is what helps your job search the most. Like blind dates, getting a polite “you’re great, but…” is completely normal. It just means your perfect fit hasn’t shown up yet. There’s an analogy I think fits job hunting well: when two people are being chased by a bear in the forest, you don’t need to outrun the bear, only the other person. From the company’s point of view, you don’t need to meet every requirement perfectly. You only need to beat the other applicants and be the best fit. You don’t have to be perfect, only a good fit in every respect.

Try not to be too anxious, and don’t sell yourself short.

I hope this post helps. See you next time!