How to get a new job in a different tech stack with 3 years work experience

Question

Hey all, iv been programing in c/c++, python, and bash, in a work environment. I have about 3 years total of work experience now.

However, I wanted to make a jump to a new tech stack, usually C#, with .net, or javascript.

However, every-time i apply to these jobs, i always get asked if i have related work experience, which i obviously do not. Now i believe i can do the job, because i have coded a lot in C# and .net on my personal projects, but if i'm being honest with the recruiter and tell them that i have no job experience in these programing languages. I just immediately shot down by the recruiter, and ghosted.

Now i'm just unsure what to do, i feel like i pigeon holed my self in my current tech stack, and want to break out. I mean the only other thing i can think of is just lying and saying i had experience with that tech stack at my current job.

I was wondering what you all do in this case, when today it feels like if you never had job experience in a certain tech stack you don't even get a chance, even if you been working as a software engineer.

Tensorcore · Accepted Answer

Just deploy a web app and try out selenium and say that you've done deployments to help automate your work tasks and manage tests in dynamic environments. Then just sell yourself as a self starter within the company that has been the defacto C#/Java guy

TomFisher · Answer

The recruiters are myopic. In my opinion you can lie to them a little and say you’re familiar with the language. The actual engineers you will work with will all know that if you can do C++ obviously you can figure out C# or javascript.I always tell recruiters “oh yeah I learned that language in college and stay up to date on updates to it” if I haven’t worked with it directly, which is sometimes true and sometimes not.

EYEDEETENTANGO · Answer

I was there. I started in C++ in embedded, and had a similar experience trying to move into the backend. You need to be able to prove that you know how that tech works. I built a mobile app and a backend service so that I could show that I knew how it worked. I never recommend that entry level people do projects because they’re usually terrible at coding, but mid level folks like yourself should be able to code a project to a decent level without the kind of guidance they’d need. Go build something in the stack you want to move into, and then get brutal feedback from someone who will actually give it to you on it, and iterate until it’s shiny. Then you can show that to people. That’s what I did.

madscience · Answer

Are there possibly any work-related projects you can do in your current job that utilize the stack you're looking for? That might help bridge the gap with specific professional experience in that stack.

How to get a new job in a different tech stack with 3 years work experience

About

Tech

Members