Job searching in tech - Trying the sandwich method

This month is my 3rd month of job searching in a tricky job market. I've never job searched for this long before (even when I did a bootcamp, I was able to get my first dev role within the first month of graduating. Obviously, the job market has changed quite a bit since 2022). What strikes me the most with job searching over a period of months, vs only needing to job search for a few weeks, is needing to build a sustainable process. When I've job searched before, I've always applied the 'intense' approach - job searching 7 days a week, all day and in the evening, until I got a job. Job searching over months instead of weeks though is different and the 'intense' approach becomes much harder, and far less healthy (if it ever was healthy!) to apply. What I've been trying so far So far, I've been focusing on 3 central areas when job searching: Applying for jobs Working on personal projects Practicing coding questions (ie. codewars, Leetcode, etc.) What I've found is that I get so focused on applying for jobs and writing cover letters that I don't have much time afterwards to do as much on personal projects and coding question practice. As I can't say that job searching is my favourite activity (as essential as it is), I also find that having this take 90% of my time makes for a process that is overall not especially enjoyable. And I think the key to any sustainable process, even if it is hard, is to have moments of fun and joy mixed in with the hard stuff. Trying the sandwich method going forward Going forward, I am going to try the sandwich method. What is the sandwich method? It's sandwiching activities that are less fun/enjoyable but important (job searching) in between activities that I really enjoy (continuing to build up my personal projects, practising coding, learning more about technologies I already do know and technologies I'd like to know). I first came across the idea in Atomic Habits by James Clear. What could it look like? 8.30-10.30 - Working on personal projects For example, today, I added a sign up form to my django library project: 10.30-12.30 - Job searching Lunch 13.30 - More job searching! 15.30-17.00 - Coding exercise practice Trying it out I'm going to try the sandwich approach this week and see if it helps to make the job searching process feel more enjoyable, which I think is a great incentive when you need to keep going with any process.

Apr 8, 2025 - 11:26

Job searching in tech - Trying the sandwich method

This month is my 3rd month of job searching in a tricky job market. I've never job searched for this long before (even when I did a bootcamp, I was able to get my first dev role within the first month of graduating. Obviously, the job market has changed quite a bit since 2022).

What strikes me the most with job searching over a period of months, vs only needing to job search for a few weeks, is needing to build a sustainable process.

When I've job searched before, I've always applied the 'intense' approach - job searching 7 days a week, all day and in the evening, until I got a job.

Job searching over months instead of weeks though is different and the 'intense' approach becomes much harder, and far less healthy (if it ever was healthy!) to apply.

What I've been trying so far

So far, I've been focusing on 3 central areas when job searching:

Applying for jobs
Working on personal projects
Practicing coding questions (ie. codewars, Leetcode, etc.)

What I've found is that I get so focused on applying for jobs and writing cover letters that I don't have much time afterwards to do as much on personal projects and coding question practice.

As I can't say that job searching is my favourite activity (as essential as it is), I also find that having this take 90% of my time makes for a process that is overall not especially enjoyable. And I think the key to any sustainable process, even if it is hard, is to have moments of fun and joy mixed in with the hard stuff.

Trying the sandwich method going forward

Going forward, I am going to try the sandwich method. What is the sandwich method?

It's sandwiching activities that are less fun/enjoyable but important (job searching) in between activities that I really enjoy (continuing to build up my personal projects, practising coding, learning more about technologies I already do know and technologies I'd like to know).

I first came across the idea in Atomic Habits by James Clear.

What could it look like?

8.30-10.30 - Working on personal projects

For example, today, I added a sign up form to my django library project:

10.30-12.30 - Job searching

** Lunch **

13.30 - More job searching!

15.30-17.00 - Coding exercise practice

Trying it out

I'm going to try the sandwich approach this week and see if it helps to make the job searching process feel more enjoyable, which I think is a great incentive when you need to keep going with any process.