Django was the first Python framework that made sense to me and that I enjoyed working with. Also got me my first Python job after years of Java development.
I have moved on to other things since, but I miss it's simplicity and the general "it just works" aspect of the framework.
> Got a near full-tuition scholarship from a T200 public university to study undergrad in the US
I think this alone is an incredible opportunity that not many people get in their lives.
IMO, you have the rest of your life to focus on your career. And is much better to spend these couple of recession/stagnation years in uni instead of in the professional world.
> Unfortunately even if you feel like your resume is super strong, getting a job now requires to literally excel in every single step of the interview and having the luck of having the team feeling you as a perfect fit for the team. Even a single meh would mean instant rejection
I'm part of the interview process for a role we're trying to fill, and it's 100% like you describe it. I lost count of how many people we interviewed already (and mind you, we're not looking for anything out of the ordinary).
I have seen this more and more as well. In my experience, it tends to be developers who are aiming to switch to project management at some point in their careers.
I don't know why people are so often surprised about the number of employees in a company.
My company has half the number of employees, we're not remotely as relevant as SO.
> I work on the principle that the best people usually come in via your network and are highly employable. So, that puts the pressure on to act quickly and decisively when you come across a good reference.
I completely agree. However, at my current job, referring someone for an open position just means throwing their CV in the mix along with everyone else's. There is no way to bypass even a single step in the weeks-long hiring process.
And I suspect this is slowly becoming the norm.
Companies hiring you at a lower lever and then making it very difficult to you to level up due to "processes" are a dime a dozen.
Start by doing the bare minimum at your current job, including taking long(er) breaks during the days if you happen to work from home.
Totally agree. I have some hope that the current high-profile layoffs makes (at least some) non-technical people to leave the industry.
I have even started seeing more and more developers that have 0 interest in programming and are in it for the money, and it shows.