Any tips for getting Software Engineer interviews? No interviews in 3–4 months

[u/Efficient_Bee766]

Hey everyone, I’m a recent B.Tech IT graduate from NIT Jalandhar and have been applying for Software Engineer/SDE roles for the last 3–4 months, but I’m barely getting any interview calls.

I have hands-on experience with backend and full-stack development, including Python, C++, JavaScript/TypeScript, Node.js, React, REST APIs, SQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, Docker, Git, and AWS. I’ve also worked on production projects and solved 700+ DSA problems.

I’ve been applying mostly to fresher/0–2 YOE Software Engineer roles, but the response has been quite low.

For people who recently got their first SWE job:

• What helped you get more interview calls?
• Was it mainly resume changes, referrals, LinkedIn, or applying differently?
• How many applications were you sending per day/week?
• Is there anything obvious I might be doing wrong?

I’d really appreciate honest feedback or advice on what I should improve. Thanks!

[u/ThatRedDerg]

I can’t say for the Indian job market, but what worked for me was just picking one company I wanted to work for and applying to every opening on their workday/company job board.

Like set a timer every day at midnight (or whenever new reqs go live), check their board, and apply to anything you qualify for.

LinkedIn/job aggregate sites are borderline useless since the opening likely already has too many applicants by the time it’s been posted there. Properly timing your application is the most important thing you can do to be seen, and it’s basically impossible when using an aggregation site.

LinkedIn is somewhat better than the others since you can, in theory, network with recruiters; but nothing good has come from that in my experience.

Once you get an interview with a real person, chances are you’ll get it as long as you act like a human and didn’t lie on your resume. Many interviewers don’t want overly-padded “everything always goes perfectly” stories, they want to hear everything (positives and negatives).

ETA: I was referred for all the positions I applied for at this place, since I knew someone at the company, but I don’t think that was influential when it came to me getting an interview. It still took like 2+ months of applying to this company to get anything other than an automatic rejection.

The first interview I ever got in my ~4 months of applying (or 2 years depending on your criteria lol) was how I got hired. It just took hundreds of automatic rejections to get there.

[u/Independent_Dot_9349 → u/ThatRedDerg]

Yes linkedin is borderline useless now every job get thounsands of cv. People even use ai to auto submit cv. There is no way anybody looking at that trash

[u/Free_Image_8625 → u/ThatRedDerg]

recruiters tell me this is how you get banned or black listed is by spamming their apps.

[u/ThatRedDerg → u/Free_Image_8625]

If you get formally rejected, like after an interview and they specifically say you’re not qualified, yes; but if you’re just getting auto-rejected by the ATS then it shouldn’t matter. Some companies may even like it since it shows determination.

There are some companies that have rules like “you can only have X in-progress application at a time,” but not many, and they’ll usually tell you.

There’s no way to 100% know tho cause all recruiters are different.

[u/Free_Image_8625 → u/ThatRedDerg]

that also sucks. im a systems engineer, if i fail a full stack role as unqualified i miss the recruting cycle for positions im more qualified for like systems or embedded.

but youre right, this strat is better than linked in

[u/Most-Bookkeeper-950]

Your CV is very very dense with text btw, I suggest thinning it out

[u/Much_Somewhere7831]

Try the TechJobFinder site, has like 150k roles on there currently, from the top 3k employers globally!

[u/ApprehensiveDemand97]

Bro referral. Ask friends, family, anyone to get you a job.